Every Woman Needs.....

....the Isadora Chameleon Dress

My friend, Miriam, recently showed me this dress on Etsy and I am in LOVE. I have decided that I am willing to put a dent in my budget to buy this dress and wear it 19 different ways....yes 19 ways!!!



It is made of awesome material, available in every color, that will stretch with my pregnancy. Its cool, comfortable, and super glamorous.

I have decided that every woman needs this dress as it is perfect. Imagine the possibilities....a little black dress that can be worn 19 different ways!!!! My suitcase to Europe would have been a lot lighter had the Chameleon dress been there!!!

Watch these videos to see just how versatile this dress is!

...oh, did I mention they also do wedding and bridal party dresses???

Breakthrough!

Kannon slept in his crib last night for the first time!!! He was going through his usual fussy hour (between 8-midnight) and I put him in the MOBY wrap until he passed out. A few minutes later, we put him in the crib with some Bob Marley on the radio and we didnt hear a peep.

5 hours went by and Dale woke me up in panic, "go check the baby, he hasnt waken up yet"....of course, I raced out of the bedroom, heart pounding to see Kannon sleeping soundly. I stared at him longingly and returned to bed so proud of our little one! Another hour later, he finally woke up to be fed and passed out in his crib for another 4 hours! It was the most solid sleep yet!

Apparently, our little man likes room to stretch! All this time, I thought it would be such a traumatic transition and as it turns out, he sleeps better in his crib! We finally have our bedroom back and hopefully the sleep habits will keep up!

I think I was the one holding the process back. I really wanted Kannon to learn to sleep solo, but something about it seems so wrong....Our dog sleeps in our bed, but our baby cant???? However, since Kannon slept so well last night, I dont think we will be turning back (as much as it breaks my heart).

PS Listening to the baby monitor last night had Dale and me in hysterics. About every 20 minutes we heard a few grunts, coos, and even laughter (!!!) out of this sleeping child. Dale is convinced that if Kannon could talk he clearly would be talking about boobs in his sleep. Talk about sweet dreams. Hehehe.

Its the FINAL coutdown!!!

The last two weeks I have been pacing around the house wondering when this baby will be born--waking up each day questioning whether those pesky contractions would die down or lead to labor. I have cleaned the house daily, washed sheets twice weekly, packed and repacked my hospital bag hoping that all the cleaning would send me to L&D.

I was really hoping for labor to start spontaneously. I envisioned my water breaking, heading to the hospital in hurried excitement, and walking the hallways and doing pelvic rocks a top a yoga ball to handle contractions instead of using drugs. For months I have dreamed the perfect birth, as I imagine every woman does, and now I sit here staring at the clock waiting for our 5am departure for our hospital induction.

I have tried all the home-induction techniques (everything short of castor oil) and have been walking for hours on end each day hoping that labor would occur. Now that my blood pressure is elevated, fluid retention high, and my due date passed, we are waiting no longer. I had hoped to avoid making this decision and have so many fears for tomorrow, all compounded by feelings of guilt for agreeing to induction. However, I understand the serious nature of childbirth and want to ensure the safety and health of my soon-to-be son, so sometime tomorrow, I will be a new mom.

There is a huge sense of relief in knowing that tomorrow is the day. I feel like a weight has been lifted and rather than questioning whether each day is the "day" I can focus on my birth experience, relaxing, meditating, and anticipating our son's arrival. I still intend to keep our birth natural and am confident that with the strength of myself, Dale, and family, I will be able to accomplish this.

So, today, is my last day pregnant and while I am excited to count 10 fingers and toes, I am going to miss my beautiful belly, my glowing skin, and long nails (a first for me!) and eating 6 times a day! I look forward to sharing an intimate night with my husband, dinner with my family, and getting what will be my last night of sleep for quite a few days!!

We will keep you posted in every adventure along the way, however, please understand if our blogs are not as consistent as they have been! I cant guarantee when our birth announcement will be made but please check our hospital's website: http://www.newbabynews.net/hospitals/com28/public/ at some point this week to see if our little one has made the headlines!

Anniversary and Eggplant Baby!!

Today marks our 1-year wedding anniversary but we celebrated early (on Thursday) I think hoping that the baby would come early! We shared an intimate evening, first stopping in at our favorite watering hole, James Bar, for some cheap drinks and eats to set the mood. Then we headed to RedBird, which ended with us walking out on account of poor service and bad vibes and strutted our heels down to Scotty's Table instead. Our last fancy meal out was on my birthday and we went to Pearl for what I thought was the most amazing meal of my life--truth is, I had another amazing meal (don't hate me Pearl!)

We brought our own wine, which Dale picked out, a beautiful and smooth malbec from Argentina, and pared it with braised beef with a marscapone polenta and sherry demi-glace, a pork confit with tomato-bacon remoulade with brioche and a delightful over-easy egg, and topped the whole night off with a flourless chocolate-raspberry torte. Needless to say, we walked away happy and full, enjoying what will probably be our last night out for a while!

So Friday morning, I woke up having these horrible stomach cramps...I thought it may have just been the rich meal we consumed the night before, but these cramps did not go away! We ran a few errands, walked around, took a nap, and the cramps kept coming back! I was running around trying to decide whether I should get my bags packed or sleep it off. Of course, Dale and I were super excited that this might be the start of labor only to be disappointed when the cramps slowly faded away--2 days later and I get a cramp maybe once every hour. Now, I realize that it was probably false labor!

I know every one says "you will know" when its labor but for all the women I have spoken with (my family included) none have known until the baby popped out 45 minutes after arriving to the hospital! In fact, most of them thought it was a stomach ache! We have a doctor's appointment in the morning and we will find out if any of these contractions were productive!

In all the hullabaloo, Dale and I were doing everything in our power to continue contractions. I walked, drank raspberry leaf tea, ate spicy Wasabi sauce over my burrito, walked more, and finally decided to distract ourselves by preparing what is believed to be a "guaranteed" labor inducer: Scalini's Famous Eggplant Parmigiana (http://www.scalinis.com/Bambino.htm) 24 hours later and I am still sitting here (there is still hope, as they guarantee labor within 48 hours) so I am not convinced of any of these tales but at least I am fat, happy and full with a belly full of eggplant! The recipe was easy and soooooo delicious it had our cat begging for more!!! You can follow the recipe on the link, which makes a ridiculous amount of food, so I would suggest cutting it in 3rds.

Pregnancy Resources

Now that I am nearing the end of my pregnancy I have been thinking a lot about how I felt earlier in my pregnancy. These last three weeks are almost as long and painful as it was waiting for the home pregnancy test to turn pink--it could be any day and the anxiety is killing me!!!

However, I have been able to relax and enjoy what little free time I have myself. I have been re-reading and re-watching movies and pregnancy guides that I read in those initial weeks. I thought I would share some of those resources not only for my memory but also to see if my opinions change post-baby!

Books:

1.) What to Expect When You Are Expecting

2.) Dr. Miriam Stoppard's Guide to Pregnancy

3.) Ina May's Guide to Childbirth--I wish this had been the ONLY book I read while I was pregnant, it was inspiring and positive and really explain pregnancy and childbirth well, especially if you are aiming for a natural childbirth experience.

4.) Belly Laughs-Jenny McCarthy. This bitch is hilarious, enough said.

5.) Feed the Belly--Frances Largeman-Roth. This was a nutrition guide that had lots of easy recipes and natural food cures for pregnancy ailments. It also explained our cravings!

6.) The Happiest Baby on the Block--Dr. Harvey Karp. He explained the idea of our 'fourth trimester' and how to calm a baby using the 5 S' (Swaddling, Stomach lying, Shhhing, Swinging, Sucking).

7.) How to Make a Pregnant Woman Happy--Uzzi Reiss. This was a great help to Dale as it explained a partner's role in pregnancy and offered great tips on pleasing pregnant women.

8.) The Essential Guide to Breastfeeding--Marianne Neiffert.

9.) Unbuttoned--Maureen Connelly. In this one, women share stories about the pain and pleasures of breastfeeding.

10.) Marley & Me--John Grogan. Okay, so its not your typical pregnancy book, but dont dismiss it! It was way better than the movie as it captured the story of a growing family and challenges and rewards that accompany it. During half of the book, his wife is pregnant and it is about his struggles trying to adapt to becoming a father and a better husband. It really opened my eyes to what my husband is experiencing plus it gave me plenty of laughs and tears.

Movies:

Fiction:
10. For Keeps?
Yes, there were teen pregnancies before Juno. Back in 1988, when Molly Ringwald was still an ‘80s It girl and John Hughes’ muse, she shocked everyone by playing a high school senior named Darcy who gets pregnant, gets married and tries to make it. Such drama.

Best line: “I'm pregnant. Can you pass the turnips?”--Darcy
9. Junior
Oh, Arnold, what possessed you? As scientist Dr. Alex Hesse who, as part of a fertility research project, agrees to carry a pregnancy in his own body, the Schwarzenegger mostly pulls it off. Still, what a bold career move.

Best line: “Does my body disgust you?”--Alex
8. Father of the Bride 2
In the delightful Father of the Bride, Steve Martin’s George Banks has to reluctantly give away his darling daughter in marriage, so the logical step for Bride 2 would be for said daughter to get pregnant thrust George into grandfather-hood. Except in this scenario, Banks’ lovely wife (Diane Keaton) also gets pregnant at the same time. Oy vey!

Best line: “Now, going to the movies, that'll be economical: one child, two seniors, thanks.”--George
7. Nine Months
The whole nine yards from the male perspective--in this case a selfish commitment-phobe, played by Hugh Grant, who realizes he might have to change his lifestyle for better or much, much worse when he finds out his longtime girlfriend (Julianne Moore) is pregnant. Sound familiar?

Best line:
“I'm ten days late.”--Rebecca
“And there's no way you could have had it and just not noticed?”--Samuel

6. Waitress
Keri Russell plays a very unhappily married waitress/pie-maker extraordinaire who is none too pleased to find out she’s pregnant. Of course, things happen for a reason and her mind starts to change, especially when she starts an affair with her obstetrician (Nathan Fillion).

Best line: “Dear Baby, I hope someday somebody wants to hold you for 20 minutes straight and that's all they do. They don't pull away. They don't look at your face. They don't try to kiss you. All they do is wrap you up in their arms and hold on tight, without an ounce of selfishness in it.”--Jenna

5. She's Having a Baby
This is John Hughes’ take on the whole concept of parenthood, as experienced by a yuppie couple, Jake and Kristy Briggs (Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern). Being young, they are perhaps a bit unprepared for the full reality of it all--but that’s when it gets fun.

Best line: “And in the end, I realized that I took more than I gave, I was trusted more than I trusted, and I was loved more than I loved. And what I was looking for was not to be found but to be made.”--Jake Briggs

4. Baby Mama
Tina Fey hits the nail on the head, playing a single, successful women, who is told her uterus is too hostile to have a child, and so goes the surrogacy route--except she doesn’t expect to be saddled with working class moocher Angie Ostrowski (Amy Poehler) as her baby mama. Ah well, it all turns out OK in the end.

Best line: “Can I just spray a little PAM down there right before the baby comes out?”--Angie.

3. Knocked UpA classic case of the “Ooops!” When total slacker Ben (Seth Rogen) inadvertently hooks up with hottie Alison (Katherine Heigl) for one night of drunken pleasure, they don’t expect the results of a misused (or NOT used) condom. Yep, knocked up indeed.

Best line: “You know how they say to never drink and drive? Well, never drink and bone.”--Ben


2. Rosemary's Baby
OK, probably not the most enlightening or happy view of pregnancy but nonetheless important to note for this feature since poor Mia Farrow goes through hell, quite literally, during her first pregnancy--carrying the child of SATAN, that is.

Best line: “He chose you, honey! From all the women in the world to be the mother of his only living son!”--Minnie Castevet (Ruth Gordon)
1. Juno
As unwanted teenage pregnancies go, Juno (Ellen Page) proves it doesn't have to be a totally unhappy experience. She knows she can’t keep the baby, so she finds the right set of parents (Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman), and although things don’t necessarily go as planned, Juno handles it with a fair amount of wit, charm and warmth.

Best line: “Yea, if I could just have the thing and give it to you now, I totally would. But I'm guessing it looks probably like a sea monkey right now and we should let it get a little cuter.”
Some other faves:
Where The Heart Is, 2000
Saved, 2004
How to Deal, 2003
Fool's Rush In (MY FAVORITE!)

Non-Fiction:

1.) Business of Being Born-Although this movie was a little one sided it presented a lot of information regarding our health care and maternity system and really just asks that women remain informed and in control in their birth process.

Internet Resources:

1.) http://community.babycenter.com--This site allows you to connect with pregnant women around the world, exchanging information, frustrations, tips and tools and much more!

2.) http://www.youtube.com/user/lifebodyfit--This woman created video logs for each week of her pregnancy and uploaded them on youtube. These videos were interesting, informative, and absolutely necessary during those lonely days of thinking nobody understands your pregnant frustrations!

3.) http://www.pregtastic.com/--Online radio full of pregnant women experiences.

4.) http://www.youtube.com/user/DadLabs#play/all-- My husband died of laughter watching these clips! Especially check out Daditudes/Preg-o Man when Owen gets pregnant!

The $38 "Green" Nursery

After two baby showers and very generous family Dale and I had baby stuff coming out of our ears. Our living room was a mine field trying to navigate the way from the bedroom to the bathroom during the night. Originally we weren't going to set up the baby's room until later but after too many stubbed toes, cursing, and more stuff we decided enough was enough and turned our spare room into an awesome little nursery for $38. Crazy, I know!

I had the perfect nursery pictured in my mind but Dale and I are limited in funds and really against buying new stuff only to fill our garbage with more packaging and waste. We aren't super "green" people but we are eco-conscious remembering to recycle, use reusable bags, and live a close to waste-free lifestyle. So imagine my excitement when I found two gallons of low-voc paint downstairs that had been left behind by a former tenant. The creamy latte and olive green paint inspired my nesting instinct and by the end of the day, our formerly wood-paneled spare bedroom was colored and ready for set-up!



Dale spent 4 hours one morning cursing from the bedroom as he set up the crib, but in a matter of time and patience the crib was settled into its final spot. We had a dresser that fits a changing pad perfectly, a rocking chair and ottoman that we bought for $10 at Goodwill, and a rug that came from my office. All that was needed was some wall art and a few shelves.



Dale suggested putting maps up and after all those years of collecting travel maps and post-cards I found a use for them! Maps of Italy, Germany, France, and Amsterdam fulfill our travel-bugs and post-cards that line the crown-molding will hopefully someday inspire our little one!



I found a shelf in the garage and added a coat of paint and with one trip to Target we found our nursery complete. We found a garbage can, mesh laundry bags (perfect for cloth diapers!) and organizational baskets (in addition to a few other items) for $28.



With a little creativity and some extra paint, we were able to turn our formally drab spare-room into a comfortable room that truly feels like a vacation within our home...and all for the low price of $38. The best part, it was all recycled, gifted, and (almost) waste-free. And of course, when I realize that I am changing a diaper full of shi* all I have to do is look up at the map of Paris and reminisce my days of parading the Champs d'Elysee.

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Did I mention that we also scored a free bassinet from our neighbors to keep at our bedside for those early weeks??? Amazing.

28 Weeks--Update

We had our 28 week appointment today and as usual, everything was perfect, we have so much to be thankful for!! I have gained a total of 16 pounds so far, passed my glucose screen with 104 (its supposed to be under 140), and my bp was its usual 117/80. The baby measured exactly on target at 28 weeks and 2 days and had a heartbeat of 150 bpm. My doctor wants us to come back in a month (32 weeks) and then we will start having appointments every 2 weeks. October seems so far away because it is a completely different season, but it is approaching so quickly!!! Our homework for this week: find a pediatrician and register for childbirth classes!!!

I completed the survey way back when I was 8 weeks along and again at 20 weeks, I thought it would be cool to update it again!
PREGNANCY:
Mother Name: Kat
Age: 23
Birthday: January 28
Height: 5’3"

Father Name: Dale
Age: 27
Birthday: October 23
Height: 5'6"

FIRSTS:
Is this your first pregnancy?: Yes
How did you find out you were pregnant?: We werent actively trying, we just stopped using birth control in December. I woke up at 4am and realized I was late. I told my husband that I would wait a couple more days just in case. Sure enough, at 5weeks1day, I couldnt stand waiting and got a BIG FAT POSITIVE at 4am. We cant believe it happened so quickly!

What kind of pregnancy test did you take?: First Response

How many?: Just one. And then, a week before my first doctor's appt I took another, just to make sure I wasnt crazy.

What were your first symptoms?: 4am thirst, starving, cravings for kale & swiss chard, headache and general achiness.
Who did you tell first?: Husband and then a few friends and SIL.
Who was with you when you found out? Myself and of course, my dog who follows me everywhere, even into the bathroom.
Was baby planned?: Yes.. We were completely surprised that it happened so fast!
When was baby conceived?: Between Jan 30 and Feb 3. (Birthday baby!!!)
How far were you when you found out?: 5 weeks 1 day

My BABY:
Due date:: October 27th
Do you want to know the sex?: I always thought it was going to be a boy (all the old wives tales were right!!!) and then we thought maybe it was a girl, but it turns out our original thoughts were right!

Do you know the sex?: Yeppers!
If so, boy or girl?: BOY!
Any names?: We are not telling!!!

Any ultrasounds?: One at 8 weeks 2 days, one at 12 weeks 2 days, one at 20 weeks 2 days, one at 24 weeks, and another at 26 weeks. (He's a bit camera shy!)

Have you heard the heartbeat?: Yep, many times now, strong and fast! (154bpm)
Who do you think baby will look like?: I have no idea. I hope my dark hair and skin and DH's greenish/greyish eyes.
Will baby have any siblings?: OMG, yes. We want 3-4.
Have you and dad felt baby move?: Moves like crazy, especially at night, Dale is constantly amazed at how hard the baby kicks!

MISCELLANEOUS:
Did you have any cravings?: At first, I had major Taco Bell cravings! As well as, cravings for fried pickles with mustard, navajo tacos, and stuffed red bell peppers. Now I crave anything with coconut and of course, lasagna.

Did you have any mood swings?: Unfortunately! My DH thinks I have multiple personality disorder!

Are you a high risk pregnancy?: Nope, everything is perfect.
Any complications?: None so far. Keeping my fingers crossed to stay that way.
Formula or breastfeeding?: breastfeeding, in fact I have had several dreams where I was breastfeeding with ease.
Have you bought anything for baby yet?: I have knit 2 blankets, several hats, and we have a mountain of gifts in our living room.

When did you start to show?: Around 12 weeks.
How long could you wear your regular clothes?:I started wearing maternity jeans at 20 weeks but I am still wearing most of my shirts and dresses.

Are you excited?: Ecstatic!
Who will help with baby after their born?: Hubby and BUNCHES of family, I swear we are going to have over 20 relatives here!
What is your favorite thing about being pregnant?: Having an excuse to rest and sleep all day and the awesome hair and nails!
What is the worst thing about being pregnant?: Feeling lazy and bloated. Most days I feel like the Goodyear blimp.
What’s one thing do you miss doing since being pregnant?: Margaritas on an especially stressful day.
Any days you wish you weren't pregnant?: Not days, just nights when I curse waking up 4 times to waddle across the house to go pee in sweltering 100 degree weather.
Are you ready for baby?: As ready as you can be.
Do you have insurance?: 100% maternity coverage!
How many kids do you want?: I would love 4! 2 girls and 2 boys.
Do you talk to your baby?: A little, my hubby talks to the baby more than I do! I sing to it in the car and the baby kicks back!
Do you still feel attractive?: Most days.
Have you had your baby shower yet?: We have had two!!

Do you like kids?: Absolutely! I used to teach pre-school but now I work in a high school...I love them at all ages.
How far along are you now?: 28 weeks
Did you have morning sickness?: None!
What kind of birth are you hoping for?: We would really like to have a natural childbirth. I have a lot of trust in my body and no that it will be hard but I will be focusing on breathing, meditation, and relaxation to manage my pain.

Cloth or Disposable: Cloth!!!

26 Weeks

After many unsuccessful attempts to get a clear ultrasound we were scheduled to try again today. However, our little baby is very camera shy, always moving away from the ultrasound wand with his little arm in the way. It really is rather adorable that our baby has already discovered his favorite sleeping position, with his arm nestled next to his face, quietly sucking his fingers. (This happens to also be my favorite position to sleep in--of course, without the finger sucking!)

We were able to get some photos, while not the greatest quality, still show some detail into our little one's world.

The baby is currently breech, which is normal for this stage, and is super active with a strong heartbeat, measuring 153. We will go in August 6th for our last monthly appointment and then from there our appointments will be every 2 weeks!



Tomorrow, I will go in for a glucose screen, which involves chugging a sweet syrupy soda and measuring blood sugar an hour after. So, I am fasting tonight, and hoping to wake up before my stomach, so I can take the test without hunger pangs!

We will also be pre-registering for our delivery tomorrow!!! I have been filling out piles of paperwork, including a birth certificate form! This will hopefully save us some relief come the big D-Day!

In the meantime, I have found a TLC 'Baby Story' DVD that has been accompanying me as I clean the house and prepare for the arrival of my brother! Of course, not without stopping to eat every twenty minutes as I am now constantly FAMISHED!

Baby Registry....DONE!

A few weeks ago I posted about my miseries in trying to establish a baby registry. For all those who think it simply involves the click of a scanner gun, be aware! Registering for baby is not for the faint-hearted and weak stomachs.

It involves a complicated process of looking at product reviews, checking safety recalls, and of course deciding between price, color, model, and brand. For each item, it takes me about 20 minutes of reviewing all the information, sometimes more.

For example, I wanted to register for a stroller. I looked at strollers, checked out the ones that all the required features, looked at those with the highest reviews, checked safety recalls, and finally narrowed down by price, only to discover that the stroller I want isn't even available through Target. All that took 45 minutes.

Maybe I am a baby registry overachiever but we plan on having multiple children and the stuff we buy, we want to it to not only be safe but last more than a few years. My time as a preschool teacher has also led me to have a certain attitude about what things are appropriate and necessary. Returning to the stroller concept, in experience, rear-facing strollers are better for children. They provide better bonding opportunities, reduce anxiety, and increase language acquisition. Therefore, the standard stroller wont do. Call me a baby merchandise elitist, all those years learning to be a teacher have forever cursed my outlook on child rearing.

Aside from choosing quality and safe stuff, there is the problem of sorting through absolute baby junk. All the buying guides insist that you buy a diaper stacker or a wipe warmer, or some other useless piece of crap. A diaper stacker is a hanging cloth tent that stores diapers, convenient for diaper changes. $20 later and a few months of frustration stuffing the damn thing, may cause the diaper stacker to lose its appeal. Baby buying guides are specifically geared towards first time moms who have no experience with baby stuff and prey on our emotions and sensitivity convincing us that we need all this CRAP. So after weeks of deleting the most unnecessary stuff, I finally narrowed down to what I actually need, what I want, and of course, those cute little extras like fuzzy socks.

After a month of torture, spending my evenings off scrolling product reviews I am pleased to announce that we have completed our baby registry! You can find us at Target, online or in store, just search our names and our long list that was proudly put together can be viewed for your pleasure. Or follow the link: https://www.target.com/registry/baby/2VG2RY1JPOSYZ

I look forward to reporting more about this whole baby registry process, because I am sure that in a year's time I will be complaining about the POS stroller or play yard failing to meet all of my high expectations, or cursing every time I have to use a cold wipe in the middle of a Montana winter on my crying baby's ass (thinking to myself that I should have gotten the wipe warmer, of course). In any case, I hope to further study the issue and maybe one day create a baby registry that meets every parents needs in a safe, efficient, cute! and cost-effective way.

Enough of my rant.

PS Target apparently doesnt let you register for most clothing items, books, and nursing apparel, most likely because their selection varies so much store to store. This is another frustration I plan on fixing!

Gender Predictions

I am on an online baby board (babycenter.com, guilty as charged!) and I must confess that I waste several hours each day scrolling this board. Mostly, I am curious as to how other women are handling their pregnancies. Sometimes, when I think "is that normal" I rush to my baby board and see if other women are experiencing the same. The rest of the time, I peruse useless blogs and posts that somehow make my 8-hour workday disappear into Internet oblivion.

Long story short, several women have been experimenting with gender predicting old wives tales. At first, I tried to ignore all the superstition but my impatience has got the best of me and Dale came home last night to find me boiling cabbage....

From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I knew it was a boy. I just had that feeling. Yet, I cant seem to bring myself to look at boy clothing or boy names, so perhaps I am wrong. I started researching old wives tales and have interesting results.

1.) Chinese Calendar Gender Predictor- Boy
This test is based on the age of mother and month of conception.


2.) Red Cabbage Test- Boy/Girl
Boil red cabbage for ten minutes and then add first-morning urine to the cabbage water. If the pee turns bluish/purple, its a girl. If it turns redish/pinkish, its a boy. I did this test five times, changing the temperature of the cabbage water each time. When it was hot, it was boy. When it was warm, it was boy. When it was cold, it was girl. Who knows?

3.) Cravings- Boy
If you crave salty/spicy foods - you're having a boy. If you crave sweet foods - you're having a girl. I am hungry for pickles and cheesy appetizers. My sweet tooth disappeared and two pints of chocolate ice cream remain untouched in my freezer.

4.) Where do you carry your weight?- Boy
If you carry your weight around the middle - girl.
If you carry your weight in front (you can't tell you're pg from behind) - boy.

5.) Heart Rate- Girl
The theory states that if your baby's heart rate was 140 beats per minute and above, you would be having a girl. If the heart rate was under 140 beats per minute, then you would be having a boy. Our heart rate was 159.

6.) Husband Weight Gain- Boy
Another old wives' tale uses your husband's weight gain to predict your baby's gender. If your husband gains weight, you will be having a girl. If he doesn't gain weight, you'll be having a boy.

7.) Hungry?- Boy
Some women pregnant with boys eat like a teenage boy. If you are starving all the time, its a boy. If your appetite is unchanged, its a girl. I am famished 24/7. I once woke up at 4 am and made Dale get me food.

8.) Morning Sickness- Boy
Its thought that women pregnant with girls have more morning sickness because of all the extra hormones. If you are sick as a dog, its a girl. If you are lucky and had none, its a boy!

9.) Great hair and nails? - Boy
Midwives believed if your hair and nails are growing fast and looking great, its a boy. If your hair is stringy and nails slow to grow, its a girl. I was a notorius nail biter and now, I cant keep up! The nails are growing fast and strong as well as my hair!

10.) Dreams- Girl
If you dream of labor & delivery and the doctor says, its a ____. Then it will be whatever you dreamed. I had a dream that the doctor said, "its a girl" and we named her Ella. No boy dreams though.

11.) Drano Prediction-????
I haven't done this yet, but lots of women swear by it. Simply add urine to 2tbls of Crystal Drano. If the mixture darkens to a brownish color within the first 10 seconds - It is a boy.If there is no darkening or color change after 10 - 15 seconds - It is a girl.

As you can see there are many mixed results. For the most part, it looks like its a boy. We are eager to find out hopefully this month but it may be next month. My brother has $20 bucks on us that its a girl, but everyone else thinks boy. I am determined to get that $20 so I am still guessing boy!

The Business of Being Born

After weeks of searching the library I finally found a copy of the 'Business of Being Born'. I was so excited to watch it while Dale was at work. I set up shop on the couch and even put on the projector for a wide-screen movie effect.

The movie was very interesting and offered lots of historical evidence about the myth of midwives. However, I felt that the movie was very one-sided and in the end, I felt guilty, like I made the wrong choice choosing to use a doctor/ob-gyn instead of a midwife.

Midwifery is an important practice and there is a lot of truth about the facts that were presented in the movie. Europeans do use more midwives and have a lower birth rate. It is true that some doctors rush women during childbirth and use more interventions. Overall, it is a personal choice. Women must be presented both sides and be allowed to choose. I don't think bashing the medical field is really a way of persuading women to use midwives.

Personally, I would love to use a midwife. However, this is my first child and I am in constant fear about the process of labor. If something goes wrong, I would like it to be handled as quickly as possible. Living in a rural area that fear is doubled because I don't want to drive 25 minutes to a hospital during a life/death situation. My health insurance also only covers using an ob/gyn. I do plan on making a very clear birth plan and will understand that if after 20 hours of labor and the baby is breech that plan is followed, that is okay. Ultimately, the choice comes down to women and whatever choice that is should be respected and understood.

One thing that came to my attention during the movie was the practice of epidurals and pitocin. I did a little research to investigate the consequences of using pain medication and pitocin. Lake and producer Epstein were correct on this point. Using pain medication during labor slows the process of labor down. When that process is slowed, doctors issue pitocin to increase contractions and speed labor up. Of course, the epidural wears off and more pain medication is given and then pitocin is given and the baby can go into distress. Women in labor should be made aware of that rolling effect. If we practice using natural childbirth the need for interventions may be less likely, but who really wants to deal with the pain?

I was already toying with the idea of natural childbirth and after researching the effects of epidurals and pitocin I have decided that I would like to go natural. Women have been having babies for hundreds of years. Some tolerate the pain some don't, its a personal choice. I have a very high tolerance for pain and I am also very confident about my body to go natural. Of course, when I am in labor and feeling those contractions my opinion may change. Regardless, I am just glad to be informed about the options.

People ask me "what kind of birth are having" and I was so perplexed. Everyone around me has had elected c-sections and I just assumed that was the practice these days. I have come 180 and and am glad to have researched the various options, opinions, and perspectives concerning childbirth. 'Business of Being Born' may have been one-sided but it did inspire me to look further into childbirth practices in order to make a personal choice about my childbirth experience. Ultimately, that is whats most important.

After watching the movie I also watched 'Pregnancy for Dummies' which portrayed a more medical perspective of pregnancy and childbirth. This movie provided very valuable information and made me less nervous about childbirth. For all you moms-to-be wanting a clear answer to those pregnancy concerns, check this movie out!

Some Good Pregnancy Movies

My husband is working all weekend so I rented some good pregnancy movies! If you have some time, check them out! Also, if you have other suggestion, let us all know!
10. For Keeps?
Yes, there were teen pregnancies before Juno. Back in 1988, when Molly Ringwald was still an ‘80s It girl and John Hughes’ muse, she shocked everyone by playing a high school senior named Darcy who gets pregnant, gets married and tries to make it. Such drama.

Best line: “I'm pregnant. Can you pass the turnips?”--Darcy
9. Junior
Oh, Arnold, what possessed you? As scientist Dr. Alex Hesse who, as part of a fertility research project, agrees to carry a pregnancy in his own body, the Schwarzenegger mostly pulls it off. Still, what a bold career move.

Best line: “Does my body disgust you?”--Alex
8. Father of the Bride 2
In the delightful Father of the Bride, Steve Martin’s George Banks has to reluctantly give away his darling daughter in marriage, so the logical step for Bride 2 would be for said daughter to get pregnant thrust George into grandfather-hood. Except in this scenario, Banks’ lovely wife (Diane Keaton) also gets pregnant at the same time. Oy vey!

Best line: “Now, going to the movies, that'll be economical: one child, two seniors, thanks.”--George
7. Nine Months
The whole nine yards from the male perspective--in this case a selfish commitment-phobe, played by Hugh Grant, who realizes he might have to change his lifestyle for better or much, much worse when he finds out his longtime girlfriend (Julianne Moore) is pregnant. Sound familiar?

Best line:
“I'm ten days late.”--Rebecca
“And there's no way you could have had it and just not noticed?”--Samuel

6. Waitress
Keri Russell plays a very unhappily married waitress/pie-maker extraordinaire who is none too pleased to find out she’s pregnant. Of course, things happen for a reason and her mind starts to change, especially when she starts an affair with her obstetrician (Nathan Fillion).

Best line: “Dear Baby, I hope someday somebody wants to hold you for 20 minutes straight and that's all they do. They don't pull away. They don't look at your face. They don't try to kiss you. All they do is wrap you up in their arms and hold on tight, without an ounce of selfishness in it.”--Jenna

5. She's Having a Baby
This is John Hughes’ take on the whole concept of parenthood, as experienced by a yuppie couple, Jake and Kristy Briggs (Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern). Being young, they are perhaps a bit unprepared for the full reality of it all--but that’s when it gets fun.

Best line: “And in the end, I realized that I took more than I gave, I was trusted more than I trusted, and I was loved more than I loved. And what I was looking for was not to be found but to be made.”--Jake Briggs

4. Baby Mama
Tina Fey hits the nail on the head, playing a single, successful women, who is told her uterus is too hostile to have a child, and so goes the surrogacy route--except she doesn’t expect to be saddled with working class moocher Angie Ostrowski (Amy Poehler) as her baby mama. Ah well, it all turns out OK in the end.

Best line: “Can I just spray a little PAM down there right before the baby comes out?”--Angie.

3. Knocked UpA classic case of the “Ooops!” When total slacker Ben (Seth Rogen) inadvertently hooks up with hottie Alison (Katherine Heigl) for one night of drunken pleasure, they don’t expect the results of a misused (or NOT used) condom. Yep, knocked up indeed.

Best line: “You know how they say to never drink and drive? Well, never drink and bone.”--Ben



2. Rosemary's Baby
OK, probably not the most enlightening or happy view of pregnancy but nonetheless important to note for this feature since poor Mia Farrow goes through hell, quite literally, during her first pregnancy--carrying the child of SATAN, that is.

Best line: “He chose you, honey! From all the women in the world to be the mother of his only living son!”--Minnie Castevet (Ruth Gordon)
1. Juno
As unwanted teenage pregnancies go, Juno (Ellen Page) proves it doesn't have to be a totally unhappy experience. She knows she can’t keep the baby, so she finds the right set of parents (Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman), and although things don’t necessarily go as planned, Juno handles it with a fair amount of wit, charm and warmth.

Best line: “Yea, if I could just have the thing and give it to you now, I totally would. But I'm guessing it looks probably like a sea monkey right now and we should let it get a little cuter.”
Some other fave's:
Where The Heart Is, 2000
Saved, 2004
How to Deal, 2003

ENJOY!!!