The Official Baby Prediction Post

Thanks to the inspiration of my friends Meg and Rebecca, I decided to start a prediction pool for those of you who seem so sure you know what we're having. As you know, we're not going to learn the sex of the baby before s/he is born, but there are plenty of supposed predictors out there for us to play with--we'll see how accurate they are when the baby comes. And just to add to the fun...there's a prize! Read on to hear the details....


1. Alison is carring Baby Morrow:
a) High (girl)
b) Low (boy)

Answer: Baby Morrow is riding high--so far!

2. Alison sleeps with her pillow to the:
a) North (boy)
b) South (girl)

Answer: Her pillow is always firmly placed at the south end of the bed.

3. Alison's feet are:
a) Colder than before pregnancy (boy)
b) The same as before (girl)

Answer: While her general body temperature is definitely going up these days, her feet are the same as before.

4. When it comes to bread, Alison:
a) Refuses to eat the end of a loaf (girl)
b) Prefers the end of the loaf (boy)

Answer: Not sure how much this tells us, since Alison always refuses to eat the end, regardless of whether or not she's pregnant!

5. Darling husband Daniel is:
a) Gaining weight right along with Alison (boy)
b) Keeping the scale steady (girl)

Answer: Well, he was gaining weight, but lately he's lost a little, so who knows what the means!

6. Alison's mom's hair color when Baby Morrow was conceived was:
a) Gray (girl)
b) Not gray (either naturally or dyed) (girl)

Answer: Mom's quite fond of highlighting her hair, so I think that counts as dyed--although we're not sure what her hair has to do with Alison's pregnancy!

7. Alison had morning sickness early in her pregnancy:
a) Yes (girl)
b) No (boy)

Answer: No morning sickness for Alison--just ravenous hunger!

8. Alison's complexion is looking:
a) Particularly good during pregnancy (boy)
b) Not so good (girl)

Answer: After starting off with some crazy skin issues, things leveled off around month four, so now she's looking pretty darn good!.

9. During pregnancy, Alison's chest has:
a) Dramatically changed (girl)
b) Changed very little (boy)

Answer: Let's just put it this way: she and Dolly Parton have a lot more in common these days--Holy Cleavage, Batman!

10. Alison's age at time of conception: 29
Conception took place in the month of: April

Mother's Age
- # of conception month
Odd number = girl
Even number = boy

Answer: 29 - 4 = 25--odd number!

11. When a ring tied onto thread is hung over Alison's belly, the thread moves:
a) In circles (boy)
b) From side to side (girl)

Answer: This test was conducted by the hygenist's at Alison's dentist, and they insist they've always been right--the ring moved from side to side.

12. Alison has been craving:
a) Sweets (girl)
b) salty/sour food (boy)

Answer: This hasn't changed much from pre-pregnancy, either--her whole life Alison has been a big fan of sugar!

13. Alison has also been craving:
a) Meat and cheese (boy)
b) Fruit (girl)

Answer: This one is a little dicey. Has she craved fruit? Not exactly, although she has been more likely to eat it, mostly because she knows she should for the good of the baby. She definitely did not crave meat, but she was still somewhat predisposed to cheese. Guess we'll give the point to fruit.

14. Alison's nose has:
a) Grown wider (boy)
b) Stayed the same (girl)

Answer: Her nose has stayed the same.

15. Baby Morrow's heart rate is:
a) Above 140 beats per minute (girl)
b) 140 or less (boy)

Answer: While the heart rate started out at exactly 140, it has been faster the last three times it had been measured--and getting faster every time!

16. Alison's feelings towards Orange Juice:
a) Doesn't like OJ (boy)
b) Must have OJ every day (girl)

Answer: Alison has never liked OJ, and it hasn't changed since she's been pregnant, either.

17. Alison has been getting headaches:
a) Yes (boy)
b) No (girl)

Answer: Well, this one is a bit dicey, too--she had them quite a bit in the beginning, then she didn't for a while, but lately she's been getting them again...gues we'll say yes.

18. Alison's belly looks like a:
a) Watermelon (girl)
b) Basketball (boy)

Answer: What, "torpedo" isn't an option? Guess that means we'll go with watermelon.

19. If Alison shows someone her hands, she:
a) Shows them palm up (girl)
b) Shows them palm down (boy)

Answer: Palms down.

20: How does Alison pick up a mug?
a) By the handle (boy)
b) By the body of the mug (girl)

Answer: Usually by the handle.

21: Alison is carrying her pregnancy weight:
a) All our front (boy)
b) Around hips and butt (girl)

Answer: Well, she honestly thought it was all out front until a couple months ago, when she got a good look in the mirror--this is definitely a hips and butt baby.


THE FINAL SCORE:
Girl: 14
Boy: 7

So...do you agree? Cast your vote by posting a comment, and while you're at it, try your hand at your predicting skills by also guessing what Baby Morrow's stats will be:

Date of birth:
Time of birth:
Weight:
Length:

(By the way, according to the doctor, the baby's estimated due date is December 26, for what it's worth.)

"So hey," I hear you asking, "I thought you said there was a prize?!" Yes, yes, here it is: my new novel, "Violette Between", will be released this May, meaning I should get my first box of books somewhere around March or so. Whoever is the closest with his/her guesses gets a free copy before the street release. So start thinking, and get in your vote! The "polls" close December 14. (Unless the baby comes early!)

For those of you who haven't posted on a blog before, just click on "comments" at the end of this post. (It will say how many comments there are, like "4 comments.") You'll be taken to a page where all the previous comments are listed, and there will also be a place for you to write your own. (Be sure to put your name if you're posting anonymously!) Then type the confirmation code (a random string of letters) into the proper field and click "login and publish." Or you can email me with your prediction and I'll post it for you.

Let the guessing begin!

Baby 101

Last night was the new baby care class at the hospital. Ah, such fun--where else can you get a full-color Poop Chart? Actually, it really was interesting, albeit obscenely basic at times, although I guess it's possible that there are people who have never once in their lives diapered a baby before. (I hate to break it to them: it's a LOT more difficult do to with a squirmy baby than it is with a doll.) Probaby the most interesting part of the evening was the segment we got to watch from "Happiest Baby on the Block." The pediatrician who made the video (and wrote the book with the same title) talks about the first three months of life being like a fourth trimester, and explains that babies are most comforted when we recreate as best we can the environment the baby was in before birth. So, for example, swaddling, which most people do anyway, is important because it makes the baby all squished up like it was in the womb. Sidelaying is another trick: instead of laying them on their back, holding them in your arms so their back is against you and they're on their side makes them feel less vulnerable. Shushing in a continuous stream of noise right at their ear mimics the sound of blood rushing through the arteries next to the womb. Gently jiggling them mimics the sensation they experienced when their mother was walking and active.

It was incredible to watch the video of the doctor picking up a screaming baby and utilizing these tricks one after the other until the baby suddenly stopped crying, like a switch had been thrown. Their little bodies would relax and their eyes open up and one of the babies actually smiled.

So, do I feel prepared to handle my baby? Heck no! But at least I have some great charts and diagrams and info packets to flip through when I'm clueless. :)

Hiccups

At first they were cute. Now they're just plain annoying. This kid gets hiccups, like, three times a day! What's up with that?! For those of you who don't know first-hand what this feels like, imagine a very faint, gentle tapping low in your gut that NEVER STOPS. Well, okay, it does stop eventually, but it's one of those things that, once you notice it, you can't un-notice it, and every second, literally, you feel it. The first time it happened I was all excited that it was the baby kicking, and I was like, "Wow, this baby totally has rhythm! All that belly-patting while I sing paid off!" But apparently babies aren't coordinated enough to be that rhythmic. Bummer.

Oh my gosh, it finally stopped! Hallelujah!

Oh wait, no it didn't.

Blast.

A.Ma.Zing.

Today we saw our baby!!!!!

Technology is truly, truly amazing. At one point Dad said, "Hey, it looks like Alison did when she was born!" Now, maybe that's just because all babies share that chubby-cheeked midget look, but still, it's incredible that you can see the features SO clearly.

Unfortunately, s/he wasn't cooperating fully--there was a lot more sleeping going on than anything else. But it was so cute to see it laying there, using the placenta for a pillow--which it was clutching with its little fist--and occasionally trying to shield its face with its arm, as if to say, "Hey, a little privacy, please!" But it was at least facing the right way for us to get good photos and video, and it only flipped over away from the "camera" once (and eventually flipped back).

So now, the part you've all been waiting for (yes, I'm already turning into those mothes who thinks everyone is as enthusiastic about seeing pictures of her child as she is)...the photos!

Here's a good general shot of his/her face:


S/he kept putting his/her arm like this--we got a couple great shots of the armpit. :)


Look at the cute little pinky!


Huge feet, just like mother had when she was a baby. Mom always said I was like a puppy; I had to grow into my feet, which were just way too big for a baby my size. Looks like it runs in the family:


Easily the best shot we got all day, and of course it was the very last picture the tech was planning on taking. What's even better is that, on the video, s/he actually swivels its fist around the way bodybuilders do. It was hilarous; we were all totally cracking up:




So that's my baby. THAT is my BABY. Un-freaking-believable.