Let me first start by saying that both Matt and myself do not place any truth to these ... because they are what they are ... TALES! They are just rumors that have passed from generation to generation with no scientific substance to them whatsoever. But, I figured I would list out some that everyone continuously tells me (OH, Kristy it's a {insert sex here} because {insert wives tale}). We will then (hopefully, if Baby Murphy cooperates) be able to find out if these hold any truth whatsoever (in 6 days!). Its all a 50/50 chance so it could easily swing either way. We have also found that when people tell us what sex they believe it to be ... if they know Matt better, its ultimately a boy ... if they know me better, they say girl. Hmm.. go figure, Matt's a manly man and I'm a girly girl ... so it only makes sense. OK here they are, only time will tell...
GIRL * Baby Heartrate (Higher than 140=girl, Lower than 140=boy)
BOY * Carry High = girl, Carry low = boy
GIRL * All out front = girl, Weight gain all over = boy
BOY * Baby is Active = boy
GIRL * Face breaks out often = girl
GIRL* Dad is gaining weight = boy
GIRL * Craving Salt=boy Sweet=girl
GIRL * Hair on legs grows faster = girl
BOY * Feet are colder than normal = boy
BOY * Not much morning sickness = boy
GIRL * Chinese Birth Calendar
GIRL * Craving Protein = boy
BOY * Having Headaches = boy
GIRL * Craving Fruit = girl
GIRL * Refuse to eat the heal of a loaf of bread = girl
GIRL * You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an odd number = girl
BOY * Dry hands = boy, Soft hands = girl
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Ophthalmophobia
No, this is not some fancy medical term nor does it have anything to do with babies or pregnancy. Ophthalmophobia is the fear of being stared at.
Since I can remember I have always had issues with people staring at me. Its just rude. And I feel like the older I get, the more people stare and the longer their gaze lasts. I've tried to make it a game over the last couple years where I will stare back until I can say "I win". Then I make them feel uncomfortable like they made me.
Staring at things, staring at people has been part of the human experience for as long as we have been around. We stare for hours at little babies, at oceans or lakes, or at flickering firelight. We stare at roadside accidents as we drive by, trying to incorporate the threat of accident into our reality. We stare endlessly at animals, a favorite pet or a deer in the wild, for they are unselfconscious- their lack of awareness gives us license to stare all we want, for as long as we want. So how far does this license extend?
Now that I am pregnant ...
People look at me. They look at my belly. Look at my belly some more. Then they look away.
For people who know I am pregnant, I am completely fine with them looking because its only natural. However, when meeting with clients and being around people who I don't know personally - JUST ASK ME! Its not like I have ballooned up all over the place, so far only my belly has grown. Its now getting to the point where its pretty obvious I'm pregnant. I talk to these people and do they think I don't notice they are staring at my belly 97% of the time??? Seriously! One of my clients was being so rude I almost just bursted it out. Its kind of a hard topic to bring into conversation though .. "Ms. Smith, this is the Empire Ballroom, its 6,000 square feet big, I am pregnant.." No ... that doesn't really mesh well. This whole experience kind of makes me feel like I have the big boobs that I never had. I've never had issues with people not looking me in the eye until now.
At least now I can better grasp why people are staring at me... obviously, they are trying to figure out if I am pregnant. I still can't figure out what all the staring was about before. Luckily, I still have five months of freedom from my staring complex thanks to my baby! And then when Baby Murphy comes along ... everyone will stare at baby. Wow, looks like I am all set, problem solved. Ophthalmophobia cured!
Since I can remember I have always had issues with people staring at me. Its just rude. And I feel like the older I get, the more people stare and the longer their gaze lasts. I've tried to make it a game over the last couple years where I will stare back until I can say "I win". Then I make them feel uncomfortable like they made me.
Staring at things, staring at people has been part of the human experience for as long as we have been around. We stare for hours at little babies, at oceans or lakes, or at flickering firelight. We stare at roadside accidents as we drive by, trying to incorporate the threat of accident into our reality. We stare endlessly at animals, a favorite pet or a deer in the wild, for they are unselfconscious- their lack of awareness gives us license to stare all we want, for as long as we want. So how far does this license extend?
Now that I am pregnant ...
People look at me. They look at my belly. Look at my belly some more. Then they look away.
For people who know I am pregnant, I am completely fine with them looking because its only natural. However, when meeting with clients and being around people who I don't know personally - JUST ASK ME! Its not like I have ballooned up all over the place, so far only my belly has grown. Its now getting to the point where its pretty obvious I'm pregnant. I talk to these people and do they think I don't notice they are staring at my belly 97% of the time??? Seriously! One of my clients was being so rude I almost just bursted it out. Its kind of a hard topic to bring into conversation though .. "Ms. Smith, this is the Empire Ballroom, its 6,000 square feet big, I am pregnant.." No ... that doesn't really mesh well. This whole experience kind of makes me feel like I have the big boobs that I never had. I've never had issues with people not looking me in the eye until now.
At least now I can better grasp why people are staring at me... obviously, they are trying to figure out if I am pregnant. I still can't figure out what all the staring was about before. Luckily, I still have five months of freedom from my staring complex thanks to my baby! And then when Baby Murphy comes along ... everyone will stare at baby. Wow, looks like I am all set, problem solved. Ophthalmophobia cured!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Fruit of the Week: Avocado
Every week we receive an email update on everything baby. They always compare Baby Murphy to some sort of fruit or vegetable. This week: AVOCADO. As I'm typing this, I am just now learning that an avocado is actually a fruit, not a vegetable. Hmm.. learn something new everyday. The emails also mention that the next three weeks are huge for growth and development. In the next three weeks the baby will DOUBLE in size. (It is now approximately 5 inches and 4 ounces.) Wow, that's alot of growing! So, I'm guessing I better apply extra coats of cocoa butter each day, because it seems my belly is going to balloon!
BABY MURPHY'S SEX TO BE REVEALED IN THIRTEEN DAYS!! September 4th at 10:50am Baby Murphy better be spread eagle showing its goods because its time to start decorating!
Its Alive!!!
That might be an understatement.
So I just visited with the doctor on Monday for my 16 week checkup and he was telling me that some woman begin to feel movement around week 16, but some not until 18-22 weeks. Last week I had felt a flutter here and there but it only lasted a second and before I could say anything to anyone … it had stopped. I wasn't completely convinced that it was the baby … and this point in my pregnancy there are many other things it could be … and I will leave it at that.
It all started yesterday with peanut butter crackers...
We were on our way to Charleston (after having to take an hour detour due to I-95 being closed because of a tractor trailer accident {what else is new right?} so we stopped to get something to munch on). I ate a few peanut butter crackers and the party in my belly began. I started to wiggle around a bit because I wasn't quite sure what I was feeling or what was going on in there. It almost felt like something was rubbing/tickling my belly from the inside. This lasted for about a half hour or so and I was overwhelmed with excitement!! For so long you know you are pregnant and know that there is something inside of you, but there is no proof (other than your bulging belly!). I desperately wanted Matt to feel what I was feeling.
My wish was granted. The baby danced all night!
For those of you who know me well, I am a very healthy eater ... because I enjoy healthy food and always have. For the first time (ever) I ordered chicken nuggets at McDonald's. (hard to believe, I know) We didn't have much choice, but I was also craving honey. McDonald's made the baby happy. When we got back to the hotel - from the moment I layed down it felt like I had a gymnast inside of me. The party went on ALL NIGHT LONG! {insert music: Lionel Richie's "All Night Long"} I told Matt to put his hand under my ribcage on the left side and he got to feel it too. It was a pretty cool moment for both of us.
Matt then quickly passes out as soon as his head hits the pillow (as always) and I am left trying to convince myself that there is not an alien inside of me trying to escape. If you let your mind wonder it can begin to freak you out. Its kind of like a slow moving wave machine inside of me that is threatening to reorganize my innards. (if I don't cooperate and eat more chicken nuggets!)
So I just visited with the doctor on Monday for my 16 week checkup and he was telling me that some woman begin to feel movement around week 16, but some not until 18-22 weeks. Last week I had felt a flutter here and there but it only lasted a second and before I could say anything to anyone … it had stopped. I wasn't completely convinced that it was the baby … and this point in my pregnancy there are many other things it could be … and I will leave it at that.
It all started yesterday with peanut butter crackers...
We were on our way to Charleston (after having to take an hour detour due to I-95 being closed because of a tractor trailer accident {what else is new right?} so we stopped to get something to munch on). I ate a few peanut butter crackers and the party in my belly began. I started to wiggle around a bit because I wasn't quite sure what I was feeling or what was going on in there. It almost felt like something was rubbing/tickling my belly from the inside. This lasted for about a half hour or so and I was overwhelmed with excitement!! For so long you know you are pregnant and know that there is something inside of you, but there is no proof (other than your bulging belly!). I desperately wanted Matt to feel what I was feeling.
My wish was granted. The baby danced all night!
For those of you who know me well, I am a very healthy eater ... because I enjoy healthy food and always have. For the first time (ever) I ordered chicken nuggets at McDonald's. (hard to believe, I know) We didn't have much choice, but I was also craving honey. McDonald's made the baby happy. When we got back to the hotel - from the moment I layed down it felt like I had a gymnast inside of me. The party went on ALL NIGHT LONG! {insert music: Lionel Richie's "All Night Long"} I told Matt to put his hand under my ribcage on the left side and he got to feel it too. It was a pretty cool moment for both of us.
Matt then quickly passes out as soon as his head hits the pillow (as always) and I am left trying to convince myself that there is not an alien inside of me trying to escape. If you let your mind wonder it can begin to freak you out. Its kind of like a slow moving wave machine inside of me that is threatening to reorganize my innards. (if I don't cooperate and eat more chicken nuggets!) Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Baby Bump
Bump: 1)something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from a form [syn: bulge, hump, jut, prominence, protuberance, protrusion, extrusion, excrescence] 2)the defining feature of pregnancyWEEK 14: So there is no such thing as “sucking in” for me anymore. The baby pooch is gone, and the baby bump has arrived. Finding clothes for work each day is getting more and more challenging… dresses that I can grow into have become my friend. People who see me on a regular basis know my belly has grown, however people who don’t might still think I’m just getting fat! I just want to tell these people (or hang a sign around my neck) that says “I’m not fat, I’m pregnant”. It is all happening so fast now… which makes us excited because that means our baby’s birthday is getting closer!
"My bump ... my bump my bump my bump ... my lovely baby bump"
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Babies 'R' The Murphys
With Kristy closing in on week #14 of the pregnancy and a busy fall approaching quickly, we decided to get a head start on registering for the never-ending list of baby "stuff" there seems to be. So with our Consumer Reports Best Baby Products from A-Z in hand we headed off to the land of breast pumps, bouncy seats, and wall to wall baby furniture better known as Babies 'R' Us. With this being a new experience, we had little idea of what to expect upon entering. Within five minutes we had a list of suggested "necessities" and a laser gun ready to shoot everything that we came in contact with. We soon came to find out that almost everything is color coordinated...meaning that you can't really pick out much of anything until the sex of the baby is known. That is unless you want lots and lots of green and yellow. As many already know, that would be impossible for Kristy. You see, if this baby is a girl she will have more pink than Barbie.
Speaking of finding out the sex of Baby Murphy, yes we will be finding out. That will happen about four weeks from Monday. So check back then. After people ask if we are going to find out the sex, the inevitable next question is "So what do you want it to be?" Our answer is always the same "We just want a healthy baby!!" At which point we get "No really, if you had to choose..?" We just keep reiterating the point that we truthfully have no preference.
As we moved through the aisles of strollers and pack-n-plays our anticipation for our new arrival grew. We found joy in looking at cribs and activity gyms as well as anxiety in the many choices we must make before our baby's arrival. You also begin to realize that once the baby comes home you will never spend another penny on yourself!!
It is truly amazing how even now at an even six months until the due date, we find all of our decisions revolving around the baby. What will our next car be? Should the baby dress up as Pooh Bear or Tigger for Halloween? Should Santa visit the baby at home its first Christmas? Will we ever go on vacation again?
In the end we made it out alive and are better prepared for when we go back knowing whether we are there for the pink or the blue. Everyday we feel more and more blessed and very excited to welcome a new baby into our Murphy world!
Speaking of finding out the sex of Baby Murphy, yes we will be finding out. That will happen about four weeks from Monday. So check back then. After people ask if we are going to find out the sex, the inevitable next question is "So what do you want it to be?" Our answer is always the same "We just want a healthy baby!!" At which point we get "No really, if you had to choose..?" We just keep reiterating the point that we truthfully have no preference.
As we moved through the aisles of strollers and pack-n-plays our anticipation for our new arrival grew. We found joy in looking at cribs and activity gyms as well as anxiety in the many choices we must make before our baby's arrival. You also begin to realize that once the baby comes home you will never spend another penny on yourself!!
It is truly amazing how even now at an even six months until the due date, we find all of our decisions revolving around the baby. What will our next car be? Should the baby dress up as Pooh Bear or Tigger for Halloween? Should Santa visit the baby at home its first Christmas? Will we ever go on vacation again?
In the end we made it out alive and are better prepared for when we go back knowing whether we are there for the pink or the blue. Everyday we feel more and more blessed and very excited to welcome a new baby into our Murphy world!
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