I am having a baby. Duh…

This is one of the most common questions behind “How are you feeling?”

First of all, sex and gender are two different things. Sex has to do with anatomy, gender has to do with the person’s decision of how they would like to be identified. Sex is biology, whereas gender is more focused on cultural norms and identity. Or at least this is how I have interpreted it; society seems to think differently than I do with all these “gender reveal parties.”

So yesterday we found out the sex of Baby W.

I successfully didn’t open the envelope before I got home to open it with Tom. This was an intense couple hours of waiting!

 We wanted to find out for a few reasons. Finding out for us, makes the baby more real. We are still in a state of shock most days that this baby is actually happening. We could put a name to our ninja baby, instead of calling by “it” or various pet names. Finding out for us means that we can connect more to this little nugget. We aren’t really changing how we plan and what we buy for the baby since we are staying pretty neutral. But knowing something about our baby, allows us to come together more as a family. It may sound weird, but it was what worked for us. I know many people who are surprised during labor, and that works for them. I think this is a decision that is up to each couple, and we should respect why they decide to find out or not. As long as they are going to love that child no matter the outcome!

Plus finding out ends our name debate. We can finally focus on what we are going to call this little human. This is the hardest thing for Tom and I! (This topic is a post for another day.)

You will have to come back this Sunday for the big reveal on Baby W.

I know I am cruel.

I thought it would be fun to see how accurate some old wives tales are on predicting the sex of babies. (I stole this idea from Alex at Munchkins and the Military.)

I got these from this site. Some of them were kind of odd, so I didn’t use all of them.

• Rumor has it that if you are carrying your baby high, it’s a girl. Carrying low? Stock up on blue. Similar tales say if you carry in front, you’ve got yourself a little boy, and if you expand horizontally, it’s a girl. I can’t really tell on this one. I have only filled out in front a little, so I am going to say BOY.
• Legends say that if you are having a little girl, she’ll steal your beauty. So, if you’ve got acne and other not-so-pretty skin blemishes, you’ve got a little princess coming your way. Dry hands and cold feet are signs of a boy. So, if you’ve got these ailments, break out the baby blue. I have had acne really bad for me, and no changes in my hands or feet. GIRL.
• Your baby’s heart rate might be an indicator of its gender. If your little one’s heart rate is under 140 beats per minute, you’re having a little boy. If it’s over, get ready for your little girl! The heartbeat has been in the 170s until yesterday when it was 156. GIRL.
• Craving sweets? According to some, that means your going to have a little girl. Salty and sour cravings indicate a boy. I have really only craved meat and peanut butter. I guess the peanut butter puts me on the side of BOY. 
• Chinese Predictor I have put it in by both conception date and due date, and they both come up GIRL.
• The Mayans used a similar method. They looked at your age at conception and the year your baby was conceived. If both are even or odd, it’s a girl. If one is even and one is odd, oh baby — it’s a boy! At conception both Tom and I were 28, and it was 2013. BOY.
• Morning sickness means pink. If you’re stricken with a queasy stomach during your first trimester, think ribbons and bows. If you sail through your pregnancy with nary an upset stomach, it’s blue all the way. As you all know, I have been so sick. GIRL.

So according to all of these “predictors” we are having a girl. Wouldn’t you like to know if it is correct?! Come back Sunday to see which of these are right!

What do you think we are having?  (Family and friends who already know keep quiet!)