I’ve been up since 4:30 this morning. Nothing’s wrong and I’m feeling fine, but I just have something on my mind… like the GIANT SURPRISE IN MY BELLY that I can’t un-mystify for 48 more hours. In the meantime, I thought I’d have some fun with this while the suspense remains…

I’ve “known” since the moment I found out I was pregnant–no kidding–that this baby was going to be a boy. When I saw that second line on the pregnancy test (and then the plus sign, 2nd second line, and “pregnant” readout on the digital test–it took 4 tests to convince me), everything in me just screamed boy. Every time I told someone we were expecting, I added “and it’s a boy”. As time has passed, people have started to make guesses based on some common old wives’ tales. I thought it would be fun to document them now–before I know–and we’ll see how accurate they are on Monday morning. (Hopefully. This baby had better cooperate, or it will be sooooo grounded!)

Carrying High/Low:
My internet research indicates that if you’re carrying high, it’s a girl, and if you’re carrying low, it’s a boy. I seem to be carrying dead in the center. Seriously. So I’m calling this one a tossup.

Heart Rate:
Allegedly, if you’re having a girl, the heart rate will consistently be above 140. For a boy, it will be lower. Ours has been in the 150-175 range, so that would indicate GIRL.

Cravings:
If you crave sweets, it’s a girl, and if you crave sour/salty, it’s a boy. I haven’t wanted too much to do with sweets (other than my mother-in-law’s insanely wonderful Homesteader cookies), but I can’t get enough savory snacks. This one would definitely indicate BOY.

Weight Gain:
The tale goes that if your husband packs on pounds while you’re pregnant, it’s a girl. If not, it’s a boy. Another score for the blue team, as Mike seems pretty much the same. BOY. Another version says that if the mother gains weight only in her belly, it’s a boy. If she gains in the hips and thighs, it’s a girl. BOY again.

Mother’s Face:
If your face is round and rosy, you’re carrying a girl. If not, it’s a boy. My face is just as angular as ever, so another mark in the BOY column.

Morning Sickness:
If you couldn’t keep anything down, it’s a girl. If your appetite was just fine, it’s a boy. Pink wins this round. GIRL.

Orange Juice:
This one goes that if you absolutely MUST have orange juice every day, it’s a girl. If you can’t stand it, it’s a boy. I could take it or leave it, so it’s another tossup.

There’s also a test that involves mixing the mother’s urine with Drano–No, I did not make this up. Google it.–but I’m not doing that one. I also skipped the wedding ring over the belly test because it would be too easy to manipulate the results.

Tallying up the score, it looks like we have two tossups, two marks in the GIRL column, and four votes for BOY, so the Old Wives seem to support my gut instinct. There’s a part of me that will be totally shocked if the baby turns out to be a girl (still thrilled–girl clothes are so cute!–but shocked nonetheless). There’s also a part of me that recognizes that pretty much everything about this experience has been a huge surprise, so why should this be any different? We’ll find out soon…