Have you ever wondered what it would be like to find out your baby's sex in the delivery room instead of on an ultrasound screen? Many couples can't wait to find out whether they will have a boy or girl so they can begin decorating the baby's nursery in pink or blue, but here are six reasons to keep the gender a surprise and go team green!

The wait to find out my baby's sex has been exciting, but it also exercises my patience, as I am just dying to find out if Liana will have a baby brother or baby sister to tease (ahem.. I mean, "play with"). Personally, gender doesn't matter to me. I could buy all neutral colored items and me and my baby would be just as happy as buying everything in shades of pink or blue. Society will pave a different path for my little one in the future, but for now I'll proudly wave the "team green" flag.

1. Pure bond
The bond between my baby and I is that of pure love for the life I helped to create and for this period of coexistence. We don't know much about each other right now, but we're both dependent on each other, and helping each other to thrive. By not knowing whether my baby is a boy or girl, I am eliminating all expectations based on gender from our current bond. I am not bonding with my baby's sex, I am bonding with the life inside of me.

2. Relieving gender stereotypes before birth
Will my child be a famous athlete? A dancer? A lawyer? A nurse? An accountant? A social worker? A police officer? A computer technician? These are all equal possibilities, but by knowing whether my baby is a boy or girl, people will create subconscious expectations based on gender. We all do it, I am guilty as well. When I was pregnant with Liana, I imagined her wearing lots of bows and wondered if she would like playing with dolls or taking dance lessons. With our new little bundle, I imagine a different array of moments. The first swimming lesson, which sporting events or extracurricular programs I will attend, and the art pieces I will get to hang on my fridge following each Mother's Day. See the "team green" difference?


3. Functional gifts
By not knowing the baby's sex, you are more likely to receive gifts that you will actually use. There are many functional items than can be gifted without having gender in mind (diapers, baby toiletries, carrier, high chair, stroller, car seat, bottles, pacifiers, baby-proofing supplies, possibly nursery decor, and even some clothing!). Without even thinking about it, most people want to buy "cute" gifts, which usually involve the pink or blue categorization.

4. Inclusive planning
Many people think they have to know their baby's sex in order to decorate the nursery (which will undoubtedly include pink or blue as the base color), but what about an animal theme? A storybook theme? Or classic but neutral color schemes (gray or white can be paired with pretty much any color)? Liana's nursery was a Studio Ghibli theme and although we knew we were expecting a girl, it would have been perfect for either a boy or a girl. The same mentality goes for picking out your child's first toys or clothing. Their world will be crowded with pink or blue as soon as the word gets out, so why not provide them with other stimulating colors from the start?

5. Maintaining one surprise for BTDT parents
All pregnancies are different, and each has the possibility to surprise you when you least expect it. But as a "been there done that" (BDTD) mum who has only been through one pregnancy, I am still finding the whole process a bit "stale". I feel very prepared for the changes my body is going through and I know what to expect at each prenatal appointment. My baby's sex is the main aspect that is still a surprise (other than the birthing experience, because who really knows when that will be or what will happen!). To maintain the excitement of my tiny soon-to-be addition to the family, I am letting the "boy or girl?" question remain a mystery for now.


6. Endless possibilities
We are currently taking a time out with the baby naming game. I have written many little lists of [girl and boy] names that I like, but I know it is hard for Ashton to comment on them because he knows the baby's sex and doesn't want to ruin the surprise for me. However, I have been having a quite a bit of fun creating inclusive lists of names, since I don't have the limit of imagining our little one with a specific gender just yet. We could be having a little 'Marlow' or a tiny 'Charlotte'. In my mind, the possibilities are endless!

Maintaining the surprise until birth isn't for everyone. I honestly don't think I could have gone team green during my first pregnancy. I REALLY wanted a daughter, so I elected to find out whether we'd have a boy or girl as soon as I possible. But this time, I don't have as strong of a preference. I'd love for Liana to have a sister that she can share all of her secrets with. I'd also love to have the experience of mothering a son. I can't say for sure if I will definitely wait until delivery to find out, but as for family and friends, they'll have to wait until they visit in the hospital to see whether baby's first hat is pink or blue!

First off, I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and hope that you all took a moment to think of the things that you are truly thankful for in your lives. There are so many things that bring me joy and smiles and laughter and excitement every single day and most of all, I am thankful to be living a healthy and happy life. I'm truly grateful for all of my family and wonderful friends who have stuck with me over the years. I'm thankful for my boyfriend and all the love he shows me every day, and for our little peanut in my belly. I love you all! ♥


Ashton and I went to my mom's for Thanksgiving, which was a lot of fun, but I wish Deasha could have been there for dinner too. Everyone was of course wondering about the news of our little one and waited as patiently as they could. I waited until after dinner (I'm surprised my mom could wait that long!) to share the news. Before the big reveal, I had my family play a little trivia game with questions that were all about the baby (which I actually only just thought up on one of my many pee breaks prior to dinner!). I came up with eight questions and gave out little treat bags of chocolate truffles as prizes for the person who got the question right first. It was fun to have everyone participate and to see who reads my blog, haha. Desiree got three questions right first and three bags of truffles, and I believe everyone else at the table ended with one bag of truffles. I was surprised my mom didn't dominate the game! Even my little cousin got a bag of truffles for saying "pickles!" before I got a chance to ask the last question, lol. Lastly I got a quick poll of who thought baby was a boy or a girl (2 votes boy -- even though mom lied about her vote, and the rest voted girl) and then Ashton and I went in the other room to get our surprise dessert. Ashton tied a pink ribbon around my tummy and we came back in carrying a platter of red velvet cupcakes with white frosting and pink sugar sprinkles!

I decided to do two posts in one here, my OB appointment on Monday and my weekly update that should have been done on Tuesday, oops! (Thanksgiving kinda took my attention away from my blog!)

+++ OB APPOINTMENT +++
After our anatomy scan on Wednesday, I was super super happy and thought nothing could ruin my mood or bring me down, even the slightest. That changed, however, when I stopped feeling the baby move on Friday. I usually feel her move at least once a day. Saturday and Sunday came and went and still no movement. I told Ashton Saturday night that I hadn't felt her and I went to bed with a sinking feeling in my stomach. Sunday morning getting ready for work was terrible. I laid in bed pushing on my tummy and it felt like there was nothing in there. I was so sad that I couldn't help but cry and work was the last place I felt like going. I really tried taking my mind off of it at work, but I just couldn't lift myself up. I cried again in the bathroom before I left work and just couldn't wait to go home and lay down and be alone. I was glad to have an OB appt on Monday so I could hopefully hear her heartbeat.

I was so ready to go into my OB appointment crying and telling her the baby wasn't moving anymore, but to my surprise, baby starting tumbling around on the car ride to the appointment! I should have known, since she is always moving around on our way to appointments. I still told my midwife of my concern and she was surprised that no one told me that the placenta is actually at the front of my abdomen where movement is usually felt, so it won't be uncommon for me to not feel movement every day, at least for a few more weeks until the baby is bigger and stronger. I was so relieved! I think she wanted to reassure me, because she let us listen to baby's heartbeat for extra long this time. It was also really neat that we could hear both of our hearts beating at the same time. Hers was so loud and fast and mine was slower and faded in the background. I really liked hearing them together and was so glad that she is perfectly healthy. My midwife also briefly went over numbers from the anatomy scan and told us again that everything is in perfect ranges and she is growing and developing at a healthy rate. Once again, I couldn't have been happier! They can't officially change the expected due date this late, but I noticed on the paperwork that the anatomy scan suggested a due date of April 19th instead of April 22nd. It's not really important since the baby can be born plus or minus two weeks of a due date anyway and still be considered "on time", but it is interesting to take note of!

I was also asked for the sixth time, I think, if I wanted a flu shot. The nurse that takes my vitals before each appointment and my midwife and doctor all ask at every appointment. I know they are just doing their jobs, but it has to be in my file that I have declined so many times already! This prompted Ashton to voice his dislike for our OB doctor because of how she treated us in the appointment we had with her, and Elizabeth said it was totally fine to switch doctors or schedule more appointments with her, rather than the doctor. So we set up our next two appointments, one in December with Elizabeth again and one in January with a new OB doctor. :)



How far along? 19 weeks
Total weight gain? 7 pounds
Stretch marks? None!
Maternity clothes? Still in my regular jeans, but I have noticed a few shirts are getting too short to cover my tummy!
Best moment this week? Getting through the weekend and finally feeling baby move on Monday. I don't think I was terribly worried that something was wrong, I was sad more than anything. I actually cried about it twice. :(    --- Aww, she is trying to make me feel better by rolling around right now, hehehe. I love her.

So I've come across about a million old wives' tales, all trying to tell me if my bump is a girl or a boy. I thought it would be fun to put some of these to the test. Here are my results!

Old Wives’ Tale #1 – Key to Pregnancy If you pick up a key by the round end, you're having a boy. If it's by the long end? A girl.
>>> Always the round end. My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #2 – Carrying High or Low?
If you are carrying low, it’s a boy, or if you’re carrying high it’s a girl.
>>> My belly isn't that big yet, but has definitely grown. It seems to be growing over my pants though, so maybe I will carry high? My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #3 – Is Your Skin Dry or Soft?
If your skin is dry, you’re said to be having a boy – and if it’s soft, then a girl is on the way.
>>> Soft as a baby's bottom! (lol) My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #4 – What’s Baby’s Heart rate?
First, to set the record straight, until it’s born, your baby’s heart rate will not be affected by it’s sex. But so they say, if you’re carrying a girl, then baby’s heart rate will be above 140bpm (beats per minute). A boy is said to have a heart rate under 140bpm
>>> Last I remember the heart rate was 167 I think? My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #5 – Mood changes.
If you're experiencing pregnant mood-swings, expect a baby girl to arrive soon.
>>> I've had mood swings since the very beginning. First I was being bratty, but now I'm more apt to burst out crying... My result: Girl 

Old Wives’ Tale #6 – Where Are You Carrying Extra Weight?
Even those extra pregnancy kilos are said to give us an insight into your baby’s sex! If you are carrying extra weight at the front, then you’re having a boy… but if you are carrying extra weight on your bum and hips, then you have been carrying a girl. What about dad-to-be? If he’s gaining weight with you, apparently you’re having a girl. If he’s put on no weight, a boy for you!
>>> Oh, shoot! I don't think my bum's gotten bigger.. But my boobs definitely have! My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #7 – Numbers…
Because if you combine your age at the time of conception with the number of the month you conceived and the resulting number is odd – then it’s a girl on the way. If the resulting number is even, then it’s a boy for you.
>>> 24 + 7 = 31. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #8 – Sweet, Salty or Sour?
Are you craving sweet foods like juice, fruits and chocolate? If so, old wives say that you could be having a girl. But if you’re craving sour or salty foods, then you could be having a boy.
>>> My first cravings were fruit and berries (strawberries, mostly!) but I didn't want chocolate at all. Then I really wanted hot chocolate, but also needed to add salt to my mashed potatoes? Haha, also, I recently snagged some free sour candies from the breakroom. However, my most prominent cravings have definitely been cake and ice cream. I have been saying for weeks that all I want is to mash vanilla ice cream into chocolate cake. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #9 – Wedding Ring Test
Get your wedding ring (or other ring/needle/pin) and attach it with a strand of your hair or some string. Lie down and dangle the ring over your belly. If it starts moving in circles, you are having a boy, or if it moves like a pendulum from side to side, then you are having a girl.
>>> Pendulum, no matter how many times.... My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #10 – Got Morning Sickness?
Did you experience morning sickness in early pregnancy? If you did, then you’re said to be carrying a girl, but if you didn’t have morning sickness, then it’s a boy.
>>> No sickness or nausea at all!! My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #11 – How About Those Cold Feet?
If your feet get colder than they used to pre-pregnancy, it’s a sign you have a boy on the way. If your feet are the same, then it’s a girl!
>>> Same. My result: Girl
 
Old Wives’ Tale #12 – How Do You Look?
Do you look better than ever while pregnant? Or has the pregnancy done your looks no favors? As it goes, if you look great during pregnancy, then you are carrying a boy. If you don’t look too flash, you’re having a girl, because she’s stolen all your good looks!
>>> My acne has been acting up, but I don't think I look terrible.... My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #13 – The Breast Test!
If you look in the mirror at your breasts, which one is larger? If it’s the right one, you’re carrying a boy and for a larger left breast, then it’s a girl.
>>> Left. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #14 – Pimples, Schimiples…
If you get acne during pregnancy, apparently you’re having a girl, and if you don’t, then you’re carrying a boy.
>>> Oh! :( Yes to acne. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #15 – Are You A Lefty or a Righty?
When you sleep, do you sleep on your left? Because if you do, then it’s a boy for you! On your right, a girl is in sight.
>>> Both? I like to fall asleep on my left. I usually wake up on my back. Then I roll over to my right. I will go with left since I choose that side first! My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #16 – Check Out Your Wee!
Okay…. now apparently if you have bright yellow urine, then you’re carrying a boy, but if it’s dull / clear, then you’re carrying a girl.
>>> Lol, I guess dull. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #17 -What Does Your Belly Look Like?
A basketball or a watermelon? Because if it looks more like a basketball, then old wives say boy, but if it more resembles a watermelon then it’s a girl.
>>> So far, basketball. Definitely very round right now lol. My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #18 – Hairy Legs?
Has the hair on your legs grown faster than normal? Or has it grown just like normal? Because if it’s growing faster than it did pre-pregnancy, then you’re said to be having a boy.
>>> Not really. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #19 – Show Me Your Hands!
Palms up, it's a girl. Palms down, it's a boy.
>>> Palms up! My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #20 – Graceful or Clumsy?
If you feel as though you're gliding through the day, you'll have a girl. Stumbling? It's a boy.
>>> I don't know about gliding, but like I've said, I've barely felt pregnant for a couple of weeks now and I'm just merrily strolling along, haha. My result: Girl

Overall Results:
Boy: 6  
Girl: 14

There you have it! 70% chance of having a girl!!

Since the day I found out I was pregnant, I have wanted a girl and was expecting a girl. I still would really love a baby girl, but I have been getting weird feelings that it is a boy, and when I imagine telling people, I imagine saying "It's a boy!"

Our anatomy scan is on Wednesday so I hope we can peek at the goods if she is behaving. My next OB appointment is the following Monday so if baby doesn't behave for the anatomy scan, I may just ask my midwife to try on Monday! I'm very hopeful for Wednesday though because baby has been extremely well behaved for our last two ultrasounds. :) We'll see in just a few short days! Then I get to have cake to celebrate. OMG I can't wait!!