The Gender Prediction Project: Final Countdown (Episode 1)

Yes, you read that right. I am doing yet one more Gender Prediction Project series. If you are using this to form the conclusion that I am, in fact, pregnant, well then you would be right. Michael and I decided that we would jump on this crazy little ride called parenthood one more time, and what would a Gordon pregnancy be without a fun filled GPP series? 

As usual, and to many people's disgust, we won't be finding out the sex of this baby until s/he arrives in April 2018. However, that doesn't stop me from actively predicting the sex of our newest Tiny in as many wacky, crazy ways as possible. I'll be doing all of our old favorites, with any new methods I manage to find thrown in, so please let me know if you have any suggestions! I'm willing to try anything almost anything.

No reason to delay, let's get started with some of our tried and true methods of prediction!

Mother's Instinct

If you have followed any of our previous Gender Prediction Project series you know that I have exactly no instincts, or at least very little. With our oldest my instinct's didn't kick in until 25 or 30 weeks, though I was correct that time in predicting that our first child would be a boy. However, when I was pregnant with our youngest son I was sure that we were having a little girl. I was absolutely certain about that fact until I was mid-push with him and the midwife said "Here she comes!" and I thought to myself "I'm wrong! It's a boy!" I suppose you could argue that I had a moment of mother's instinct strike me about 30 seconds before he was born, but I don't count that. 

My instinct was also completely off with poor Eleanor, who I was so convinced was another little boy that I actually asked "Where is his penis?" when she was born instead of accepting the fact that I had a daughter. I think it is safe to say that my mother's instinct is broken.

So far this method of prediction has about 33% accuracy rate for us. I'm right around 17 weeks now, and my current prediction is that we're having another little boy this time around. Michael and Eleanor hope that I'm wrong, while the boys seem to be leaning more towards team blue this time around. We'll find out in about 25 weeks one way or the other though. 

Mayan Gender Test

This is a fairly simple prediction method even if it isn't always so accurate. You simply take the year of conception and the mother's age at the time of conception and use those two numbers to figure out the sex of your unborn baby. If both numbers are even or odd you should be welcoming a daughter. If one number is even and the other odd, which number doesn't matter, you'll be having a little boy. For example, a mother who was 30 when she conceived in 2010 would welcome a little girl into her home. If the same mother conceived in 2013 before she turned 33, so at 32, she should have a son. 

I was 24 when we conceived our oldest in 2008, I was 26 when we conceived our middle in 2010, and I was 30 when we conceived our current Earthside youngest in 2014. According to the Mayans this means that I should currently have three daughters, but we all know how that turned out. 

This is another prediction method where we have only a 33% accuracy rate so far. Given that I was 33 when we conceived this tiny one earlier this year (2017) I should be expecting yet another little girl. Your guess is as good as mine though, and we're all probably just as likely to be accurate as the Mayans. 

First Word

This is one of the few old wive's tales that doesn't apply unless you already have children, so I'm sorry to the FTMs (first time moms) out there. You won't be able to do this one until you are on your second baby. 

The story goes that your child's first word can determine the sex of your next child. If they said "Dada" first your next baby will be a boy. If they first yelled out "Mama" then your next baby will be a girl. Obviously this doesn't apply to my oldest. We just got lucky with him, I guess. However, his first word was "Dada" after I spent months working on it while his daddy was deployed. This predicts a son for our next child, which we had. However, his first word was also "Dada" which means that our daughter should have also been a boy, which she most certainly is not. 

We currently have a 50% accuracy rate with this one. After months of trying by both my husband and I, our daughter's first word was "Mama" (I cried) which predicts a little girl for us in the spring. Fingers crossed. 

Math Has All The Answers

This is one I didn't do during the other GPP series, but I can easily do it for all 4 pregnancies now. It's also simple, even for those of us who are not naturally math inclined. You only need to add your age at conception to your month of conception. If the sum is odd you are having a girl. If the sum is even you are having a boy! Congratulations! (Please don't actually make any major decisions about your child based on this. I have no idea what you are having!)

For example: With my oldest I was 24 and we conceived in July. 24+7=31 so odd=girl Then came Bash. I was 26 and we conceived in November. 26+11=37. Another odd=another girl. With Eleanor I was 30 and we conceived in January. 30+1=31 which is again odd=girl. Much like the Mayans, math seems to think I should have three daughters. I don't. 

With an unimpressive 33% success rate so far I have doubts that my age of 33 in July means that 33+7=40 (those numbers keep going up) and even=a little boy this time around, but it's as good a method of prediction as any of the others we've seen today. 

If you're keeping track, and who isn't, that has our current predictions even at Boys:2 vs Girls:2. This is probably as accurate as we're going to get considering it puts our odds right at 50/50. 

Have you tried any of these methods of prediction? Were they right for you? Do you have something you think I just have to try? Let me know, and I'll see you next time. Until then, happy predicting!

*Disclaimer: This, and all posts for The Gender Prediction Project, is something I am doing for fun. I am not a doctor, and I make no claims that these methods of sex prediction work. This should in no way shape or form be taken seriously. Please do not go out and buy clothes, furniture, toys, paint, or wallpaper based on any of the prediction methods you see here. These blog posts should be taken with a grain of salt, and if you choose to participate in them along with me, realize that there is no way to know the sex of your baby 100% until they are in your arms and you are looking at the evidence with your own two eyes. Even ultrasounds can be wrong, so join in at your own risk! ;) Happy predicting!*

The Gender Prediction Project Two: Wrap Up

I don't think I got the "Wrap Up" post posted last time until Sebastian was almost 9 months old, so I would say I'm improving. Eleanor is just at three months old now, and if you missed her very exciting birth story be sure to read it here. Here's a hint...I had her in a van. ;) 

In the interest of saving time, and space, I'm not going to put details about the tests in this post. If you want to read more about each prediction method please click on the method you are interested in, and it should take you to the post where I'll go into the methods in more detail.  

Mother's Instinct

Given the fact that I frantically asked where my child's penis was at Eleanor's birth we can assume that this method was incorrect this pregnancy.

It's had a 33% accuracy rate for our family. 

Mayan Gender Test

For the first time out of our three this method was correct this pregnancy. 

It has a 33% accuracy rate for our family.

The Ring Test

I do not remember what this predicted for our oldest son, so I have to take him out of the statistics, however this method was correct this pregnancy. 

It has a 100% accuracy rate for our family...I think. 

First Word

Sebastian's first word was "Dada" making this method incorrect this pregnancy. 

This method has a 50% accuracy rate for our family.

The Breast Test

Since my breasts really haven't changed as far as which is larger this method was incorrect this pregnancy. 

It has a 66% accuracy rate for our family.

The Bread Test

For the first time ever this method was correct this pregnancy. 

It now has a 33% accuracy rate for our family. (I'm sensing a trend.) 

Heart Rate

Another one that has always been wrong for me, this was actually correct this pregnancy.

It has a 33% accuracy rate for our family. 

Family History

This method was correct this pregnancy. 

It has a 66% accuracy rate for our family. (But can't be used if we choose to have another, so I don't know what to do!) 

Necklace Over Your Palm

Unlike the ring over your belly, this method was incorrect this pregnancy. 

It dropped down to 33% accuracy for our family. 

Morning Sickness

I am not one of those people who are blessed to avoid "morning" sickness with any of my pregnancies. For the first time ever that made this prediction correct this pregnancy. 

This method has a 33% accuracy rate for our family. 

Cold Feet

This time around this was incorrect with this pregnancy.

It has a 33% accuracy rate for our family. 

Rapunzel! Rapunzel!

Yes, it's about your hair. This theory was incorrect this pregnancy. 

It has a 33% accuracy rate with our family.

Oval or Heart?

For this first time this method was actually incorrect with this pregnancy. 

It now has a 66% accuracy rate for our family. 

To Key or Not to Key?

This prediction makes so sense, but had been accurate until it was incorrect with this pregnancy. 

It now has a 66% accuracy rate for our family.

Sweet or Sour?

Don't ask me what happens when you crave nothing. I have no answers, but this method was incorrect this pregnancy. 

It only has a 33% accuracy rate for our family.


Chinese Gender Calendars

This one is a little more complex since I used several different versions of this "ancient" calendar that you can find online. I will list each calendar and whether or not it was accurate for us. You can then check them against your own pregnancies if you wish. (Links to each chart are in the original post.)

Parents.com: Was accurate only 50% of the time for our oldest two. I was unable to take it this pregnancy. 

ChineseGenderChart.info: This chart was incorrect this pregnancy dropping it down to only 66% accuracy for our family.

babygenderprediction.com: This chart was incorrect this pregnancy keeping the trend of 0% accuracy for our family.

The Bump: This chart was incorrect for us if you used only the information asked for, but correct for us if you use your lunar age. (Which not all charts require, but I like to be thorough.) So, this chart has either 33% accuracy or 100% accuracy for our family depending on if I use my lunar or non-lunar age. (Lunar age was more accurate on this chart for me.)

iVilliage: This chart is exactly the same for us as The Bump's chart. Incorrect with my actual age but correct with my lunar age (which they don't ask for), so wavering between 33% and 100% accurate for our family.

About.com: This chart was incorrect for this pregnancy no matter which age I used. I think it's safe to say that it has 0% accuracy for our family.

thelaboroflove.com: There are two methods of prediction on this site, and both were incorrect this pregnancy. This gives us a 0%-66% accuracy rate on these charts for our family.

webwomb.com: This chart was incorrect this pregnancy and has only a 33% accuracy rate for our family.

fortunebaby.com: This chart was incorrect this pregnancy and maintains it's 0% accuracy rate for our family.

babygendertool.com: This chart was incorrect this pregnancy and has a 33% accuracy rate for our family.


Daddy's Weight

This method was correct this pregnancy (if Michael is to be believed about his weight) and has a 66% accuracy rate for our family.


Nipple Color

Though always correct before, this method was incorrect this pregnancy giving us only 66% accuracy rate for our family.

Front or Back 

This method is another that had been accurate for us before this pregnancy. However, it was incorrect this pregnancy and now has only a 66% accuracy rate for our family.


Show Me Your Hands!

This had been incorrect with us for both of the boys, but was correct this pregnancy, giving us a 33% accuracy rate for our family.


Cabbage Test

I didn't try this method out with either of the boys, so I only have one child to base this on. Unfortunately for cabbage, this method was incorrect with this pregnancy and now has a 0% accuracy rate with our family.


Baking Powder/Soda Test

Another test that I didn't do for the boys, this method was incorrect this pregnancy and thus has a 0% accuracy rate for our family.


Skull Theory

I said at the time that I was no expert, and I'm not, but this theory was correct this pregnancy so far as I could tell. However, it still only has a 66% accuracy rate for our family to my untrained eye.


Flip a Coin

Seriously. Or don't, sine this method was incorrect this pregnancy and has a 0% accuracy rate for our family.


Beauty or Beast?

Unfortunately for me this was actually correct this pregnancy making this one of the rare methods with 100% accuracy for our family.


Ramzi Theory

Despite the people who swear by this method it was incorrect this pregnancy.

It has only a 33% accuracy rate for our family.


Left or Right?

It doesn't matter. This prediction method was incorrect this pregnancy. 

There is a 0% accuracy rate for our family using this method.


North vs. South

Believe it or not, this was correct this pregnancy. 

Even more shocking is the 100% accuracy rate that this method has for our family so far.


Public Opinion

I generally don't put too much stock into it, and it seems I'm correct since the public was incorrect this pregnancy.

This method has a 0% accuracy rate for our family, so...you know...do with that what you will.  


Your Child's Hairline

This method was incorrect this pregnancy.

There is a 50% accuracy rate using this method for our family.


Look Into My Eyes

Actually you look into yours, and this method was incorrect this pregnancy. 

It has a 0% accuracy rate with our family.


Look Into My Eyes, Again!

No, you're still looking into your own, though this method was correct this pregnancy.

That gives it a 100% accuracy rate for our family. I have my doubts.


High Or Low

As with both of my other pregnancies, this prediction was incorrect this pregnancy. 

This prediction method has 0% accuracy rate for our family.


Once Upon A Dream

I have no instinct while awake or sleeping. This was incorrect with this pregnancy. 

My dreams have a 0% accuracy rate for our family. (My Mommy Instinct is broken.)


Massively Moody

As much as I hate to admit it, and I'm sure Michael hated experiencing it, this method was correct this pregnancy. 

This method seems to have 100% accuracy rate for our family. Poor Michael.


Catching Their Interest

This prediction method was correct this pregnancy, but that still only gives us around 50% accuracy for our family.


Dental Health

This prediction method was incorrect this pregnancy. 

This method has a 66% accuracy rate for our family.


Mother's Hair Color

This has to do with your mother's hair, not yours, and was incorrect this pregnancy. 

This method has a 33% accuracy rate for our family.


Increasing Bust

This method has always been, and still was, incorrect this pregnancy. This means we have a 0% accuracy rate for our family.


Craving OJ

This method was correct this pregnancy, but that only brings it up to 33% accuracy for our family. (I love OJ!)


Pinocchio

Apparently, pregnancy can change your nose. For the first time ever this method was accurate this pregnancy. 

This method has a 33% accuracy rate for our family.


Oh My Head!

Another one that, unfortunately for me, was incorrect this pregnancy. This method only has a 33% accuracy rate for our family.


Mugs & Jugs

This method was incorrect this pregnancy. 

It has a 66% accuracy rate for our family.


Dull or Bright

Another method involving bodily fluids, this one was correct this pregnancy!

That makes this one a rare prediction method with 100% accuracy for our family...but since I only did ot for one of our three I'm not sure that counts.


Little Red Riding Hood

This has nothing to do with capes and everything to do with your hair. I was running out of cute names. Either way, this method was correct this pregnancy, though that still only makes it around 33% accurate for our family.


Linea Nigra 

This is a rare prediction method that does not apply to me. Like, at all. I've never had this line, so am unable to use it as a form of prediction in any of my pregnancies. Sorry.


My Heart Burns For You

For the first time I had heartburn this pregnancy, making this method correct this pregnancy. (She also had hair, making this a 2 for 1 in correct predictions!)

This method is 100% accurate for our family!


Leg Hair

This prediction method was correct this pregnancy, but this was the only time.

This method has a 33% accuracy rate for our family.


Lean or Large Legs?

I was wishy washy on this method to begin with, so the fact that this was correct this pregnancy means absolutely nothing really.

I guess you could say that this one is around 33% accurate for our family, but I'm still not really sure.


To Sleep or Not to Sleep?

This method was incorrect this pregnancy. Given the fact that it was also incorrect with both boys, this method has a 0% accuracy rate for our family.


Smell of Garlic

I suppose this is marked as correct this pregnancy, which would give it a 100% accuracy rate for our family, but since I only did it with Eleanor I wouldn't bet on those stats.


Clumsy or Graceful?

This was incorrect this pregnancy, ut still has an accuracy rate of around 66% for our family. (I'm naturally clumsy.)


What's In A Name?

This prediction method was incorrect this pregnancy. 

There is a 66% accuracy rate for this method in our family.


Aggressive...Sexually? ;)

I'm still not going into details. This method, however, was correct this pregnancy. 

This method has a 100% accuracy rate in our family.



Ultrasounds

I almost forgot to add ultrasounds. While we, of course, don't find out the sex of our littles until their arrival, we do have the doctors look during our 20(ish) week ultrasound, print a picture, and then send it to my grandmother. She has known the sex about 20 weeks before everyone else with each pregnancy and, with the exception  of my grandfather (who she asked before telling), hasn't told a soul each time.

As before, this time our ultrasound was accurate with Eleanor's pregnancy. Ultrasounds, though they apparently don't for some, have a 100% success rate in our family.



With 38 predictions for a boy and only 26 for a girl the odds seemed to have been stacked against Eleanor. However, here she is, just as much a girl as her brothers were boys. I think all we proved here was that the Old Wive's Tales are fun to do, but not very accurate. As I've said 1,000 times, don't make any hard plans based on any of them. Still, I hope you had fun. I did. If I ever decide to do this pregnancy thing again I'll be sure to do another Gender Prediction Project series. Keep an eye out. Until then, happy predicting!

The Gender Prediction Project Two: Final Predictions

I made it! Here we are. It's October. I wanted Bean to make it to October, and s/he has obliged. It's nine days until my "guess date", and while I don't know if Baby Bean will be "on time" or "late", (After Bash, I don't even consider "early" as an option anymore.) I feel it is time to take one more opportunity to review the 2014 round of predictions and take any last minute bets. 

We covered a ton of Old Wive's Tales and other methods of prediction this time around. With the help of my readers and some in depth Google searches, I came up with many methods that I hadn't covered during the first Gender Prediction Project. I believe the final count was fifteen posts for the Gender Prediction Project Two covering over 60 different ways to predict the sex of your upcoming baby. That's a lot of Old Wive's Tales!

If you missed any of our previous posts, don't worry. This is your chance to catch up, because I'm going to cover all of the Old Wive's Tales from The Gender Prediction Project in this post. Sometime after Bean arrives I will do a Wrap Up where I review which methods were spot on and which didn't quite hit the mark.

I'm looking forward to finally holding the little person who has been kicking around in there all these weeks, not in the least because we'll finally know if we have a beautiful little girl or another amazing little boy! Until that happy moment arrives here are the Final Predictions! Enjoy!

Gender Prediction Project: Part One

Gender Prediction Project: Part Two

Gender Prediction Project: Part Three

Gender Prediction Project: Part Four

Gender Prediction Project: Part Five

Gender Prediction Project: Part Six

Gender Prediction Project: Part Seven

Gender Prediction Project: Part Eight

Gender Prediction Project: Part Nine

Gender Prediction Project: Part Ten

Gender Prediction Project: Part Eleven

Gender Prediction Project: Part Twelve

Gender Prediction Project: Part Thirteen

Gender Prediction Project: Part Fourteen

*Remember, if you haven't done so yet, you can still go and vote on our online baby pool to let us know what you think we'll be having. The pool will be open until Bean arrives, and at that time points will be awarded for whoever's guesses were the closest. Come get in on the fun!*

Gender Prediction Project: Part Fifteen

Final Prediction Count:

I know in my last post I had the final count at 37 for boys, but when I was doing this final predictions post I found that I had miscounted several posts back. It's bound to happen every once in awhile. :) 

So, there you have it! Above you have the final prediction for The Gender Prediction Project: Part Two. Any day now we will know which of the methods of prediction were correct got lucky in their guesses and which didn't. I genuinely look forward to reporting the results after Bean arrives! Keep an eye out. Very soon there will be pictures of our beautiful little boy or girl Earth side! I can't wait to show him/her off!

Until next time, happy predicting! :)

The Gender Prediction Project Two: Part Fifteen

I have only three weeks until Baby Bean's "guess date". I admit, I'm exhausted. I'm not sure exactly why I thought that being 9 months pregnant and teaching my two very active little boys every day would be a good idea, but I certainly feel like it's taking it's toll on me. In a good way though. I am exhausted at night, but I can lay there and feel my newest little kicking and twirling while going over in my mind whatever I was able to teach and do with my older littles that day...It's a good kind of exhausted. (The having to get up to pee 4,000 times a night isn't helping much though, and that isn't fun.)

I think this will probably be our last edition of the Gender Prediction Project this time around. After all, though I have given Bean very firm orders that s/he is not to even think about coming before October arrives (12 days from now at the earliest), we all know that babies will come when babies will come. Considering I am not yet completely packed or fully ready for this newest little, and considering the fact that it is the exact opposite of what I want, this baby could come any time now.

I am going to try and relax and enjoy these last few weeks as much as possible. (And, of course, I will be posting a final predictions count in a special blog before bean arrives so that everyone can see where we stand before the happy day.)

Smell of Garlic

You won't be able to do this one if you are a vampire. Sorry to any fanged readers I might have out there. ;) According to the Old Wives, if a pregnant woman eats a clove of garlic and the smell doesn't come out of her pores, it's a little girl! If the odor of garlic is absolutely seeping from her, it's a boy. Easy peasy, unless of course you are a normal person who doesn't go around chomping on cloves of garlic on the regular.

I'm not sure who would want to do this. I certainly didn't. In fact, I couldn't quite bring myself to eat a clove of garlic. I enjoy the fact that my husband and children like to snuggle and kiss me far too much to put that at risk. :) I do, however, still eat garlic in some things, so I decided that would just have to be enough for this one. You could argue that I can't accurately predict this one, because I'm not actually munching on a clove of garlic, but I'm just not doing it people. If you want to try it and tell me your results that's fine, but I'm not going to sit around and snack on garlic like I would grapes. (Oh, grapes sound yummy! I might have to go get some grapes!)

So far as I was willing to participate in this one, it is predicting that we will have a little girl any time now. While I eat garlic in several things, I have never noticed an odor, and neither has my husband. So, take that for what you will. I will be taking it with a clove of garlic. ;)

Clumsy Oaf of Graceful Swan?

I have never been what you would call a graceful person. Perhaps this is because I am destined to have only boys, because the Old Wives say that if you are clumsy it means you will have a boy. If you are graceful all signs point to a girl. I don't necessarily turn into more of a klutz while I'm pregnant, but I certainly don't glide around like the Duchess of Cambridge either! Heels? Forget about it! 

This was accurate for both boys, and I suppose this means that we can expect another little boy in our home very, very soon. 

What's In A Name?

If you listen to the Old Wives, the sex can be found in a name, or at least in the names you and your partner can agree on. Legend has it, if you can only agree on girl names, you will be blessed with a girl. If you are only able to agree on boy names, a little boy will be yours. That's very simple, and convenient too! 

What happens if you can't agree on a name at all, because that's where my husband and I are at only 21 days before our little is "expected" to come? Of course, this could also be another argument for why my husband and I will only have boys, because we have a much easier time agreeing on boy names than we do on girl names. (Though we are having a tough time with it this time around. I think this means my boy name should automatically win, since he hasn't come up with one. :) Logic.) Girl names? Let's just say, if Bean is a girl, I really hope she comes out with the perfect name written across her forehead, because she might be nameless for life otherwise.  

Since we have an easier time with the boy names, it was accurate with both of our older children, I'm going to call this another one in the books for a little boy joining our family any time now.

The Aggressive One?

This one is very, very simple. Who was the "aggressor" at conception? The sex of your child will be the opposite.

I can't believe I'm even going here.  

I have family who reads this, so I am not going into any detail at all. Let's just say that this has been fairly accurate so far, and we should have a girl when Bean arrives. 

Well, there you have it! The Gender Prediction Project 2014 has come to a close! The final count has team boy in the lead with 37 predictions for a little boy vs. 26 predictions for a little girl. If you missed any of the fifteen posts, don't worry. I will be posting a "Final Predictions" post shortly that will cover everything in one prediction filled explosion! Until then, remember that you can still go to our online baby poll to give your opinion on what you think we will have, and keep your eyes open for Bean's birth announcement! It really could be any time now. (Though I would appreciate it if s/he waited until October.)

Until then, happy predicting!

*Disclaimer: This, and all posts for The Gender Prediction Project, is something I am doing for fun. I am not a doctor, and I make no claims that these methods of sex prediction work. This should in no way shape or form be taken seriously. Please do not go out and buy clothes, furniture, toys, paint, or wallpaper based on any of the prediction methods you see here. These blog posts should be taken with a grain of salt, and if you choose to participate in them along with me, realize that there is no way to know the sex of your baby 100% until they are in your arms and you are looking at the evidence with your own two eyes. Even ultrasounds can be wrong, so join in at your own risk! ;) Happy predicting!*

The Gender Prediction Project Two: Part Fourteen: You Decide Results

Less than a month to go until we should be meeting our little Bean. Saying I am excited would be the worst of understatements, but I am not sure that there is adequate verbage in the English language to describe my feelings. Everyone in the Gordon household is anticipating Bean's arrival with an enthusiasm that mirrors Christmas or a birthday! (Okay, the boys might not be quite as excited as they are for Christmas, but the excitement is still very real!)

Today we're going to review something I first posted about back in July where I asked you for your opinion. What do you think Bean will be when s/he arrives? I've posted a few reminders for people to go and cast their votes on our online baby pool, and today is the day we find out the results! (Up until now at least. You are still able to go vote if you want. Once Bean arrives there will be points assigned and a "winner" is chosen based on whose guesses were closest. Good luck!)  

Popular Opinion

*drum roll please* According to you, Baby Bean will be a little BOY! Team boy didn't win by much though, having only 53% of the votes vs. 47% for team girl. I'm not sure how much of that opinion was based on what people want us to have and how much was based on educated guesses, but the Old Wives seemed to give some weight to public opinion so I figured that I would too. I honestly don't remember what most people thought with Parker, and I know there was a strong push for girl with Bash, (including from myself) so public opinion has at least a 50% fail rate with us. Either way, it will be interesting to see if the public was right this time around in predicting that we'll have a little boy in just about a month!

Thank you for voting. We will see how right you are very soon. 

*Feel free to keep voting on our online baby pool if you haven't already, or if you just want to add another guess. ;) I'll be keeping the pool open until Bean arrives and will give the final results for this, and all of our "predictions" in a post baby edition of the Gender Prediction Project.* 



Only one prediction method this week, yours, and it added another notch in the belt for the boys. Our current count is now 35 predictions for a boy and 24 predictions for a little girl. Not many more weeks for predicting before Bean will be here in my arms! I can't wait to share him/her with the world.

*Disclaimer: This, and all posts for The Gender Prediction Project, is something I am doing for fun. I am not a doctor, and I make no claims that these methods of sex prediction work. This should in no way shape or form be taken seriously. Please do not go out and buy clothes, furniture, toys, paint, or wallpaper based on any of the prediction methods you see here. These blog posts should be taken with a grain of salt, and if you choose to participate in them along with me, realize that there is no way to know the sex of your baby 100% until they are in your arms and you are looking at the evidence with your own two eyes. Even ultrasounds can be wrong, so join in at your own risk! ;) Happy predicting!*

 

The Gender Prediction Project Two: Lucky Part Thirteen

Wowza, what a week it has been! Parker started Kindergarten this week, where he goes to the Home School Academy one day a week and then schools with my at home in our very own Curious Quill Academy for the rest of the week. There is a learning curve to this home school thing, and I am far from having it all figured out even after doing it last year. We had a lot of fun though, and I'm hoping that we'll be into enough of a rhythm by the time Bean arrives that it won't disrupt us too much. *crossing fingers, toes, and eyes*

Now it is Friday though! School is over for the week, it's Michael's day off so he's getting some quality time in with the boys, (Thank you so much, amazing husband, for taking them to the grocery with you so I could sit here in a silent house and just breath.) and I can take a few moments to put up my feet, sip on some Postum (wish it was a glass of wine), and publish the latest edition of The Gender Prediction Project! Lucky number 13! (Which really is my lucky number, in case anyone was wondering.)

I am 35 weeks pregnant today, which means I also have 35 days until my "expected due date". I don't give a ton of credit to EDDs. After all, only something like 5% of women deliver on that magical date, so it's really just a "guess date". I'm hoping I don't go early, or at least not too early, and have fully prepared myself to go late. (After Sebastian came when he did I would be a fool not to prepare to have another late little!) Either way, I think we still have plenty of time to get some more fun predictions in before Bean bursts Earth side. Let's make these last few weeks count, shall we?

Mistress Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Leg Hair Grow?

I made myself giggle with that up there. ;) Sorry. It matters though, at least for this prediction. Believe it or not, it can tell you the sex of your baby! Who knew, right? The Old Wives knew. According to them, if your leg hair is growing faster it is because of the little boy in your womb. If the rate of your hair growth is slower than usual it is because of your daughter.

I never noticed it growing any faster with either of the boys. I can't say 100% that it didn't, but I don't remember it. All I can say is that, to the best of my recollection, this has a 0% accuracy rate for us so far. This time around I've noticed that my hair seems to be growing at a slower pace than usual, which is good since I've spent much of the Summer in skirts and shorts, which would mean that Bean is a little girl if the Old Wives are correct.

Lean or Large?

I'm asking about your legs again. If you have noticed a difference in their shape or size it might be able to tell you the sex of your little womb dweller. If you are noticing that your legs are looking leaner first off, lucky lady! Secondly, it is supposed to mean that you will be welcoming a little girl into your family very soon. Have your legs been getting bigger? If so, they say you can expect a little boy before long. 

I can't, for the life of me, remember what my legs looked like with the boys. Heck, I probably went days at a time without even seeing them, so it's not really surprising that I have no clue what was going on with my legs. I lost a significant amount of weight with both of them, so I can only assume that my legs looked smaller, but I'm not comfortable guessing either. I'm sorry, but I have no idea what the accuracy rate of this one is for us so far. Maybe I'll go back at some point and look at pictures. (I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it though.)

I'm losing weight this pregnancy too, so it would make sense that my legs look leaner, and sometimes I think they do. Sometimes I think they look larger, though Michael assures me that I am crazy and I look great. (I think husbands might be obligated to compliment their pregnant wives, so I'm not sure how accurate his statements are.) I think that I might actually be swelling some days, which never happened with the boys, and would explain why some days I think they look larger and some days I think they look leaner. If I look at myself 100% objectively (which is pretty much impossible to do, by the way) I guess I would say that they look leaner the majority of the time, which would make this another prediction for a little girl in my life. (I could change my mind about this tomorrow though. Be prepared.)

To Sleep or Not To Sleep? 

Insomnia. What pregnant woman hasn't suffered from insomnia at some point? Especially now, at almost 9 months pregnant, I have to wake up every single time I want to roll over. (Rolling over at 8+ months pregnant should be an Olympic sport. I'm serious. You have to wake up, then sort of grab your belly, and then you have to work and huff and puff to get it to come along with you while you move. It's not pretty, but it's impressive!) 

I suffered from insomnia with both boys. It wasn't just frequent waking (either to roll over or pee, your choice), but there were some nights that I was 100% incapable of actually falling asleep. I was exhausted, though I also enjoyed those moments, in the wee hours of the morning, laying there as my little one tumbled, kicked, and wiggled inside. Knowing that I would get to hold them in my arms soon, but also knowing that I would never be quite this close to them again. They were beautiful moments, even if they left me with impressive bags under my eyes. I wouldn't give up those moments for anything. They do mean that this has a 0% accuracy rate for us up to this point.

This pregnancy I'm at the point where I am waking frequently, and I often go to bed much later than I should, but I also have no issues falling back to sleep once I have either rolled over or peed. :) I also would have zero issues curling up to take a mid-afternoon nap if that was ever an option for me. I'm tired, and I don't feel like I'm getting enough sleep, but I also don't feel like I'm suffering from insomnia. That means that Bean should be a little boy, right? We'll see very, very soon.

The ladies won another post. I'm shocked. That's two in a row, with 2 predictions for a girl against only 1 prediction for a boy this time. Overall, the boys are still in the lead with 34 for a boy in comparison to only 24 for a girl so far. The gap is closing, slowly, but it's closing. 

Do not forget to get your own vote in on our online baby poll! I will be reviewing the results on the blog in a week or two, so get your's in now! 

*Disclaimer: This, and all posts for The Gender Prediction Project, is something I am doing for fun. I am not a doctor, and I make no claims that these methods of sex prediction work. This should in no way shape or form be taken seriously. Please do not go out and buy clothes, furniture, toys, paint, or wallpaper based on any of the prediction methods you see here. These blog posts should be taken with a grain of salt, and if you choose to participate in them along with me, realize that there is no way to know the sex of your baby 100% until they are in your arms and you are looking at the evidence with your own two eyes. Even ultrasounds can be wrong, so join in at your own risk! ;) Happy predicting!*

The Gender Prediction Project Two: Part Twelve

Sorry. It's been a little longer than I had planned between posts. August is a busy month for us around here even when we aren't trying to prepare for a new baby. :) I skipped it last week because of all of Sebastian's birthday festivities, (I can't believe he's three!) but I'm back and excited about this week's predictions! You might even get two posts of predictions this week. Who knows? (Maybe not. This week is the beginning of our school year, and Parker will be headed off to his first day at the Home School Academy on Tuesday! Expect a teary post. Or two.)

Don't forget to go and make your own prediction on our online baby pool. I will be reviewing those predictions in a post sometime in September. What you think matters. ;)

Dull or Bright?

Warning: If you are adverse to discussing bodily fluids, skip this one. I'm about to discuss urine. 

Most of us know that the color of our urine says a lot about our hydration, which is an important thing to keep track of even when you aren't pregnant, but the Old Wives have added another meaning to your urine color. They say it can tell you the sex of your unborn little. Cool right? Or gross. I'm leaning more towards gross, but I felt that I needed to add this one to the Gender Prediction Project or else how could I honestly say that my "research" was as accurate as possible?

Is your urine dull and pale? Apparently, there is something about female hormones that cause this, meaning you can expect to have a little girl in your arms in just a few months. Is the color of your urine bright and cheery? Thank the little boy growing in your uterus. (Or drink some more water, because you need it.) 

I have no idea what this was for the boys. I honestly didn't want to spend any more time than necessary peering into a toilet bowl, so I avoided it at all costs. This time around I've been paying more attention, because I take this work very seriously, and I can happily report that I seem to be getting enough to drink this Summer. In Old Wive's terms: I can expect a little girl in 6 weeks or so. 

Little Red Riding Hood?

This has nothing to do with a cloak or cape, but I'm running out of clever ways to name these predictions. I hope you can forgive me. This prediction concerns your hair instead of a cape. More specifically, it concerns your hair's highlights. (Natural highlights, not highlights that you got at the salon. Sorry ladies.) According to the "experts", if your hair starts to develop reddish highlights during your pregnancy it means that you will be having a little girl. Any other color, or no highlights at all, and you will have a little boy. Simple, right?

Most people experience some change in their hair color during the Summer months, particularly if you are one of those people who spend a ton of time outside. Often people with darker hair will notice that they get a series of sun kissed blond highlights over the course of the Summer. (And they will pay big bucks to keep those year round too. ;) ) I've never been one of those people. When my hair starts getting it's Summer time highlights they are always more auburn or reddish. This year has been no different. Based on that, I should have a little girl in October. However, my hair always does this, so it could just be how I'm made and have exactly nothing to do with my growing little. (I'm leaning towards the latter theory, but you never know.) 

Linea Nigra

Even if you have never seen one, I am sure you have heard of it. That dark, vertical line that about 75% of women get on their stomachs during pregnancy. It's the linea nigra, or "black line" in the Latin. (Though it's really more of a brownish color.) Scientifically, it's caused by the same hormone that causes darker nipples when released by the placenta. Non-Scientifically, it can tell you the sex of your unborn child.   

Some women only get this line from their belly button down. (I suppose it would also be possible to get it from only your belly button up, but I've never seen it.) This is a "half" linea nigra, and it predicts a little girl for you according to the Old Wives. It is also possible to get a "full" linea nigra, which stretches the entire height of your stomach, belly button down and belly button up, and it predicts a little boy for you. Congratulations.

What about that other 25% though? Those women who don't get a linea nigra? Again, Science says that the lighter your natural pigmentation the less likely you are to have the linea nigra, and that seems to be true for me at least. I'm pale enough to reflect sunlight at a blinding level, and I've never even had a hint of the line. Unfortunately for me, and anyone else who has the same issue, this means that there is no way to predict the sex of our baby using this method. Luckily there are many, many other Old Wive's Tales to help us out. For the rest of you, what are you predicted? Does/did your line say that you have a little girl or a baby boy on the way? Is it accurate? The 25% are curious. :)

My Heart Burns For You!

...Or because I've recently eaten a salad. Either way, it burns! There is a bright side to the pain though. The Old Wive's think that heartburn can tell you many things about pregnancy, one of those being the sex. Is everything from wings to water making you feel like your insides are on fire? Blame your daughter. No heartburn regardless of what your cravings are and you can thank your new son. 

Despite the complete and total misdiagnosis of my severe gallbladder issues as "heartburn" during both of my previous pregnancies, (and after) I didn't actually experience heartburn during either of my first two pregnancies. Since both of my boys are very much little boys, I can say that this prediction method has 100% accuracy for us so far. Though I, thankfully, have no gallbladder/Pancreatitis issues this pregnancy, (Thank God I finally found someone who could take care of it for me!) I have experienced heartburn this time around. Not much at the beginning, but as Bean has grown so have my instances of heartburn. It's a new, and not entirely welcome experience for me, but it means that the Old Wive's would predict a little girl for us this time around.  

Heartburn is also said to be an indication about how much hair your babies have. I had a sizing scan last month, and the tech went out of her way to mention how much hair she saw. I laughed and said I would believe it when I saw it. Of all the things my children have, mass amounts of hair is not one of them. :) (Though Sebastian's was so dark that it seemed like a ton of hair compared to his brother, who was white blond at birth.)

Unusually, this post heavily leans towards team girl! As a matter of fact, our of 4 Old Wive's Tales in this post, there are NO predictions for a little boy, 3 predictions for a little girl, and 1 method that doesn't apply to me. The boys are still in the lead overall, with a total of 33 predictions for a boy vs. 22 predictions for a girl. (The ladies finally broke into the 20s!) If slow and steady wins the race maybe the girls have a chance of closing the gap a little more over the next several weeks. I wouldn't bet any money on it, but it could happen. ;)

Until next time, happy predicting!  

*Disclaimer: This, and all posts for The Gender Prediction Project, is something I am doing for fun. I am not a doctor, and I make no claims that these methods of sex prediction work. This should in no way shape or form be taken seriously. Please do not go out and buy clothes, furniture, toys, paint, or wallpaper based on any of the prediction methods you see here. These blog posts should be taken with a grain of salt, and if you choose to participate in them along with me, realize that there is no way to know the sex of your baby 100% until they are in your arms and you are looking at the evidence with your own two eyes. Even ultrasounds can be wrong, so join in at your own risk! ;) Happy predicting!*