Week 15

Baby is the Size of an Orange 

This time next week we'll know if we are having a boy or a girl.  I'm so excited that I could burst.  I am totally content with having either- seriously- but I just want to know!  I have no idea how people wait to find out (more power to you!) but, I would explode from impatience.  My husband is leaning towards a boy because he knows he won't sleep for the next 22 years if we have a girl.  I would love for him to experience the incredible bond of a father and a daughter, but I'm just as excited to experience a mother and son bond of my own.  Either way, we only have to wait six more days to find out.  In the meantime, let's see what the old wives have to say about it...

Heart Rate:  GIRL.  It's a boy if the heart rate falls in the low range (110-130s).  It's a girl if the heart rate falls in the high range (140-160s).  Baby Hall's heart rate was 165 today (8/18/14).  

Morning Sickness:  GIRL.  They say if you are nauseated it's a girl and if not it's a boy.  Fortunately I never threw up, but I did experience a lot of nausea in the first trimester.   

Chinese Calendar:  BOY.  You have to enter your birthday and the due date to calculate the gender of the baby.  Obviously this is completely accurate.  

Cravings:  GIRL.  If you crave sweets, it's a girl.  If you crave salty or sour foods, it's a boy. I just shoved a Krispy Kreme down my throat.  

Skin:  BOY.  If you have acne, girl.  No acne, boy.  I'm assuming my pre-existing eczema doesn't count so I'll go with boy.  

Sympathy Weight:  GIRL.  They (whoever "they" are) say that if your significant other gains weight then it's a girl.  Let's just say that Mike ate two donuts last night, after he ate four tacos.  Love you, honey.

Ring Test:  BOY.  Tie a ring to a string and hold it still above your belly.  If it goes in a circle, it's a girl.  Back and forth, it's a boy.    

Mommy's Prediction:  UNDECIDED.  I have no idea. 

Daddy's Prediction:  BOY.  Based on zero scientific evidence.  

Looks like we're almost 50/50.  Bows (big ones) or bow ties?  

15 weeks, 4 days

Baby is 4 inches long.

How far along? 15 weeks

Maternity clothes? Maternity jeans are the best.  THE BEST.  I also tried the Bella Band this week and was not a fan.  

Stretch marks? Still no

Sleep: Slept like a baby this week.  That was probably due to the fact that I was back at work and was getting up at an unreasonable hour.  

Best moment(s) this week: 

-Having people ask if they could touch my belly.  I know this totally freaks some people out, but I love it!  If I know you, touch away! 

Miss Anything? Pumpkin beer.  It's only August and it's already here.  Pumpkin beer is my favorite, especially if it comes with a graham cracker rim.  Mike had a couple this week and I smelled it repeatedly.  More times than I'd like to admit.  I'm going to have to store one away in the fridge so that I can enjoy it after the baby is here.   

Movement: I swear I felt something the other day, but it was probably just a donut passing through. I can see which side of my belly the baby is on sometimes, which is pretty neat.  

Food cravings: Donuts and milk.  I don't think I have ever purchased donuts for my home in my entire life, but up until five minutes ago there was a box of glazed Krispy Kreme donuts sitting on my kitchen counter.  Who wants to bring me a refill?

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not this week! 
Gender: 1 more week to go! 

Labor Signs: No

Symptoms: 

-Nothing noteworthy.  Unless you count excessive oohing and aching over every item in Baby Gap.  I feel human and happy! 

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! Except for the most recent Army Wives episode.  Did Claudia Joy seriously have to die??  There's going to be no one left on this show! 

Looking forward to: Our gender reveal party next week!  Thank you to Nicole, Jessica, and Erika for throwing this for us!  We are so grateful to have wonderful friends like you.  AND both sets of parents are coming!! Yippee!!!!!!