33 weeks, side by side

Ready for another side by side comparison?

 (I feel like I'm actually writing this to myself... does anyone read this if I don't post it on FB?)

I still think I look much smaller with this baby than Dax BUT it could be the way I'm standing or my clothes... who knows ;)

Gender Predicting

Can you tell what is still on my mind? Okay when is it EVER off my mind ;) Since it is growing increasingly obvious that we will not be having another prescribed ultrasound (which is really, truly a good thing because NEEDING one is really not something we wanted either) we decided to have some fun with all the old wives tales and gender predicting 'things' found on the internet. So here goes nothing, going to try as many gender predictors as possible and see what we find out.... if they are all right then it MUST be right, RIGHT!?!?

The following tests came from my friend Ariel's blog post on Daily Mom. You can check out the link here:

http://dailymom.com/expect/5-early-gender-prediction-methods/

Sorry for the random highlighting in the post- I did that on accident and then can't figure out how to get rid of it. Oops!

Test 1--Ramzi Method, supposed to be about 97% accurate. According to this one the placenta placement can determine the sex. If it's on the left, girl and if it's on the right, boy. I remember very clearly when the tech told me "here's your placenta," because of our history of placenta previa with Dax it was high on my concern list. It was definitely on the right.
    Our results: BOY!


Test 2--Skull theory

So the idea is that if you have a really good profile picture from your ultrasound you can tell if the baby is a boy or girl. I love this picture. Definitely my favorite from this baby. Just love that the baby is sucking his/her thumb and perfectly profile. SO what do you think, does the forehead look more rounded or more flat and slightly sloped backwards? I think it looks pretty rounded.
     Our results: GIRL!

Test 3--DNA testing:We will NOT be doing DNA testing to determine the sex. If we were at all concerned about any problems with the baby we might consider it but definitely will not be dumping that much money into finding out if the baby is a boy or a girl.

Test 4--The Cabbage Test: basically this is testing the PH of your urine. I boiled two cups water with two cups chopped red cabbage for 10 minutes- will be a deep blue color. The boiled and then cooled cabbage water is mixed, in equal parts,with urine and the color reaction is supposed to determine gender. If the water, changes to red or pink then it's a boy and if it is purple then it's a girl.
      Our results:  GIRL

Test 5--Baking Soda Test: More pee! ;) So the idea is that if you mix your urine with baking soda the reaction or non reaction can determine the sex. If it bubbles, boy and if no reaction, girl.  I waited until I REALLY needed to go to the bathroom so as to not have a diluted sample, poured it in with maybe 2 tablespoons of baking soda and there was definitely some bubbling going on! Not vinegar and baking soda volcano bubbling but definitely some kind of reaction. I was completely shocked that it actually worked! Also had a friend, who has had it confirmed on several ultrasounds that she is having a girl try this-- no reaction!
    Our results: BOY!

Test 6-- The Ring Test: Who HASN'T heard of the ring test? Not one that I put a lot of faith in as I think it depends on how jittery the person is more than anything else. Oh well, nothing to lose so decided to give it a whirl. If it the ring goes in a straight line, side to side then boy, if it swings in a circular motion then girl.
 This was fun because my friends Ruthanna and Mandie did it with me. Ruthanna held the string-- actually my hair and Mandie helped determine what it was doing. When we first started the test I burst out laughing and so did Ruthanna-- hoping that didn't influence the results. ;)
   Our results: BOY!

Test 7-- pencil and needle: so this one was something Ruthanna had done when she lived in Alaska and was pregnant with her boys. She said it was accurate for both of them-- and her ultrasound with her second was actually quite WRONG! So you stick a needle in the eraser end of a pencil, thread the needle with string or Mom's hair and then hang over the belly.
   Our results: BOY!

The other two 'tests' come from Amazon. The first was recommended by a friend who had correct results with her last child. The test said boy and she indeed had a little boy! When I went to look up the tests my determination on whether we'd try them or not was if they were under $20 a test. Well what do you know, they were! ;)

The first test and the one recommended was Intelligender Gender Prediction test.

You can check it out by going to Amazon and searching for the name. There are definitely mixed reviews, as with any gender predictor. It was super easy to use and results were pretty clear.
    Our results: BOY!

The second test was one that was just featured on Amazon and was also, under $20. It has a SUPER original name: Boy or Girl Baby Gender Predictor Test. DO NOT buy this test. I wish I hadn't. It felt like a joke test (which it is but at least the previous test felt a little more like it would be accurate) from the second I got the padded envelop out of the mailbox. It was so tiny and the directions were horrible. It doesn't even tell you how many drops to put on the test, just to put drops of urine on the test. Ummm... okay.... So I did 5 drops from the teeny tiny dropper, waited the 15 seconds it said and it definitely didn't turn blue but a deep purple/blue which, according to the very unprofessional looking instructions means boy. While the results were consistent with most of the other testing we did, I would still not suggest this test.

    Our results: BOY!


SO if we go off of all eight tests, it looks like we're having a
BOY!

Or at least 6 out of 8 tests say boy... we shall see in just a few weeks ;)

Merry Christmas 2013

Aw it's Christmas Eve and as I take a few minutes to sit down this morning before the wonderful madness begins, I can't help but feel grateful for all the family we still get to visit with each year. I know that it will probably slow down or be more limited sooner than I'm ready for as traditions start to change. We have three beautiful great grandma's that our traditions are guided around and when they are gone (which better not be for a very long time) I know that things will change as our family travels great distances to mainly spend time with the great grandmas. For now though, I want to take advantage of building memories for Dax with these wonderful women and all of his aunts, uncles and cousins! It's often hard to find that balance of seeing everyone, running around like crazy and also really trying to feel the spirit of the season.

Sometimes it seems we forget that it is not about us adults who do the running but the kids whose eyes light up when we talk about going somewhere else to celebrate Christmas or who love spending time with their cousins running and playing. This year, I want to focus on this especially since it's our last Christmas carting around only Dax on Christmas. His last Christmas day with just him. I know next year will be amazing and beautiful with two little ones to share Christmas morning with and THREE for Christmas eve but there is something sweet about just spending it with Dax, one more only him Christmas. He asks on a daily basis when the baby will be here, he's excited! I love his excitement!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderfully Happy New Year!

Comparing... ;)

Okay... just for comparison sake and oh my gosh I can't believe I liked my hair like that... LOL ;)

25 weeks with Dax and 26 weeks with Baby #2

 Yes, think I was slightly bigger with Dax than this baby.

26 weeks!

Well, actually, today I am 27 weeks pregnant but haven't taken a picture yet and, really, haven't changed that much since last week. Baby is doing really well and so am I. Gaining weight at a steady pace and not feeling sick anymore. Sensitive to the smell of protein cooking but usually able to power through it and finish cooking... or overcook the elk steaks that had to go somewhere other than the stove top. Ha! Still struggling a bit with not knowing the sex of this little one but trying to move past that. ;) Baby appears to be growing right on track and moving like crazy so we probably will not have another ultrasound. I am thinking about asking my Dr. for another one but pretty sure I know the answer... and insurance won't pay for just a random ultrasound. So different having a completely normal pregnancy after a slightly more crazy one. Grateful for it though!

Dax has been feeling the baby move a lot lately. The other night he was laying partway on my tummy and the baby started to move around- he asked what that was, I explained it's the baby moving. He responded with "what is the baby saying?" "I think the baby is telling you to GET OFF ME!" Dax started giggling! It was very sweet. He is really very excited for this new baby and more times than not tells me that the baby will sleep in the baby bed in his room and expresses that he can't wait to snuggle the baby and help take care of the baby. I hope this continues after the baby arrives. ;)

Oh baby, how different you are...

 Every pregnancy is different, I have heard that SO many times but until you're in a second (or more) pregnancy you don't realize how true it is!  I've already noticed some serious difference, beyond cooperation at an ultrasound, that have stuck out to me!

 1. I had a Placenta Previa with Dax and nothing at all like that with this baby. I did not realize how much the placenta cushioned some of the different baby movements that I feel very clearly with this one. In other words, I had no idea what getting kicked "down there" felt like! Yikes is all I have to say! By the time Dax's placenta was out of the way, he was already head down and I didn't go through anything like this with him. It's not painful just..umm... odd??

2.HEARTBURN! Oh my gosh! I had horrible heartburn with Dax but it wasn't until much later in the pregnancy. Already have a bottle of liquid antacid in the bathroom. I'm scared. 

3. Definitely much more achy with this baby. I was warned by my doctor that the scar from C-sections don't stretch like the rest of your skin-- that it does not! While round ligament pain is about the same, so far, as my scar pulling, I definitely don't jump up or move quickly without my body reminding me to SLOWDOWN!

4. This one makes me feel really guilty and I'm hoping to remedy it soon--- by this point with Dax, we knew his name. We have NO idea yet what this baby will be named. I'm blaming it on not knowing if we're having a boy or a girl... that's probably just passing the blame but I really just can't get my head around having to pick two names. I am definitely more used to the idea that we might not know until the day of delivery what color of blanket to wrap baby in BUT I would like to have some names to refer to. ;) There has been so much distracting us that has nothing to do with the baby as well, my other excuse. Ha!

--Funny name story- Dax was at Gigi and Papa's house eating Olives and he looks up and says "Mama, we should name the baby Olive" Then goes back to eating. My Mom, having heard this, says, "actually that is kind of cute" OH HELL NO! I am not having the story of coming to my child's name be "well your brother was eating olives one day and it just stuck" Of course, by the end of the evening he also wanted to name the baby salad and cheese... just don't think this will work. :)

5. With Dax, I practically KNEW he was going to be a boy before it was confirmed. With this baby I change my "mommy feeling" everyday. One day I lean so much toward girl and then the next I'm dreaming it's a boy. Geez! ;)

Overall, I feel great! I am still able to do most of my normal tasks and am still keeping up with Dax. That I am more than grateful for!

 I am excited for this baby and I know that the second we see him or her, every other concern or frustration will melt away. It's so hard for me to believe that this baby will be here in about 15ish weeks, depending on when the C-section is scheduled. In less time than I've been pregnant we will have a new little one to love! That in itself is something to celebrate. :)

A Mystery

I am a planner. I have been since...hmm... well always. I like to have my ducks as much in a row as physically possible, I like to have an idea of what to expect in the future. I think this stems from having an anxiety disorder- order and planning make me just plain feel better. Chaos, flying by the seat of my pants and having no idea what to expect-- scare the crap out of me. Ha!

So imagine the whirl wind when we find out at the ultrasound...nothing! We find out there is a super cute baby in my tummy, we find out our dates are correct for expecting this little lovely but we do not find out if we are expecting a boy or a girl. I felt a little out of place, a little confused leaving the appointment. I really expected this to go as quickly as Dax's first ultrasound - first 10 seconds- Look, it's a ____.  Nope! Not to be this go around apparently.

This is so odd to me. I just can't get my head around how to plan for this baby. How to name a baby I can't say "yes, we're having a baby ___ and his/her name is ___." I will get over this, we will find two baby names and life will be just find and dandy but I just am not there yet. I haven't even brought up names up with Dustin except the occasional, "Dax thinks the baby should be Goldilocks" or "Dax and Gigi think Olive is a cute girls name." Which is both not serious and quite funny.

I did get the answer to my prayers though. I did pray that the ultrasound would show a healthy baby and it did. I remind myself of that daily. Our ultrasound this go around was "good" instead of finding an issue like Dax's 1st ultrasound did. There is something HUGE to be said for that! I am eternally grateful for that.

Here's what I've decided: We will know the baby's birthdate (or at least when we schedule it), we will know two names (or more) BUT the one true surprise will be when the doctor announces if we have a boy or a girl. That will be exciting! It will. :) Pray for me...