Ties or Tutus?

There are a dozen old wives' tales for predicting the baby's gender. I decided to try some of them out. For any of my friends who are moms, I am curious to know if you tested any of these and which ones "worked." I won't know until the end of February, but it is a fun way to pass time!

Ring on a String
This is the test where you tie a string around your wedding ring and dangle it over your belly. Side to side motion = Boy. Circular motion = girl.
Result: I've done this test multiple times (how bored AM I?). The most recent result was side to side. BOY. *P.S. Once I had Scott hold the ring and it literally did nothing. Multiple times. As soon as I grabbed the string it started moving again. Scott witnessed that my hand was still! Crazy...

Mayan Calendar
Aka the Even/Odd test, the legend examines the mother's age and the year of conception. If one number is odd, one even = Boy. If both are even or both are odd = Girl.
Result: Conception was 2015, and I was 25. GIRL.

Chinese Calendar
Result: According to this Chinese gender chart, I'm having a BOY.

Baking Soda
I'm so tired of peeing in a cup, but this was for a good cause. You put a couple tablespoons of baking soda in a cup and then add your urine to it. If it fizzes like soda, Boy. If it's flat, Girl. This one has "worked" for so many people! The science behind this suggests that the gender of the baby changes the mother's hormones, thus changing the mother's acid content in her urine.  I let Scott be a witness on this.
Result: BOY!! It started fizzing immediately before we even looked.

Acne
The tale is that a baby girl steals your beauty, so if I'm having a girl, my skin would be breaking out.
Result: Yup. GIRL.

Dry Skin and Cold Feet
Carrying a boy is said to give a mother dry skin and (literal) cold feet.
Result: Well, it's Utah and I am always cold, and I always have dry skin, especially in the wintertime. But I'll give this one to Team Blue.  BOY.

Salty vs Sweet
One wives' tale says it's all in the cravings. Craving salty and savory? It's a Boy. Thinking of all things Sweet? It's a Girl.
Result: I've always had a sweet tooth, especially while pregnant, so this one may not be fair. GIRL.

Heartbeat
If the baby's heart beat is below 140bpm, Boy. If it's higher than 140bpm, Girl.
Result: Today at 14.5 weeks, the baby's HB was 150. But don't get too excited...4 weeks ago it was 161, and 4 weeks before THAT it was in the 170s. This one says GIRL but it's definitely slowing down to the 140 line.

Total Tally:
Boy: 4
Girl: 4

What should I do for my tie breaker?

Oh and here's another text message conversation with Scott, for your entertainment. As of right now, I'm still in the closet....

Update: I'm safe now. And eating tacos. Not in the closet.

Jelly Bean

It started with THIS:

Hmmm...what do YOU think? Well it had Scott and I going crazy all day. Did we really see a faint line? Are we just imagining it? The next test was much clearer:

We did something special for the reveal with each family. For example, my mom opened this card and my two sisters each unwrapped a binkie. I'm really glad Scott recorded both of the reveals on his camera. We treasure those videos!

I had my first ultrasound on Scott's birthday (December 16) where we first saw the little Jelly Bean, as we all lovingly refer to our growing embryo.

When I tell someone the news, the first question I'm always asked is how I feel. I haven't thrown up, but I was constantly queasy Weeks 6-11. However, if it weren't for all the changes happening to my body, I would have no clue that I was growing a little human. Other symptoms? Well, here are some of the texts my husband gets from me while I'm at work (mine are blue, his are gray):

           

Scott has been an absolute ANGEL through all this. He never complains and is always eager to serve. I'm very grateful.  And YES, I'm already reading 3 or 4 books about pregnancy/childbirth. Would you expect any different? ;)  I waited to announce it until after my next doctor's appointment. My cousin Lauren was in on the secret, and she did a photo shoot for us.

Despite common opinion, pregnancies are never perfectly planned. I believe in a Divine Father who has a plan of His own, and I trust that He is invested greatly in the timing of sending his spirit children down. I don't understand it, but I'm so grateful for this opportunity. Most of our family is on team Girl, but Scott and I pray only for a happy, healthy baby to call ours. (I think Scott desperately wants a boy, because the thought of being completely surrounded by more things PINK is too much!)