Gender predicting

Well, for future reference, the old wives tales that apply to me and my having of a girl are as follows:

I have a high up bump.
I have a sweet tooth.

The old wives tales that (incorrectly) have me with a boy are:

My wedding ring suspended on a thread spins in circles
I haven't put on weight other than the bump
I'm not covered in spots nor do I have lank hair.
Her heartbeat is less than 140.
The Chinese gender chart says I am to have a boy also.

So, one can safely say it's all a load of bull.

My own genius observations are based on last time/this time so could be simply the difference between twins/a singleton.

I haven't gone off the same things. I have gone off coffee a bit, last time I didn't. Last time I went off Coke, this time I am drinking pepsi max to excess. I am able to eat but don't really want to much.

My belly is probably hairier than last time so that can't be attributed to testosterone or twins.

Um. I'm crazy for sweets, last time it was cheese.

I feel relatively human, unlike last time at any stage, but I am way sorer than I was last time.

Talking of which: a moan. My back is killing me and the things I can't do include:
Lie down
Walk
Sit

So standing it is. I am seeing a physio tomorrow so I expect a miracle cure to be produced in the form of a support/pillow/painkillers that don't hurt bubs.

Ha.

We have pretty much decided on what bay will be called, it is the name O would have had if he had been a girl and which is universally acknowledged as a Nice Name. Except by chav person of no taste whatsoever but I take that as a good thing. There's lots of songs about this name, I like that, and I own a lot of them, which I like even more. Although, if I was choosing a name entirely based on a song, she'd be Victoria. Hubby says (facetiously) that she'd be Lola if we're doing (Kinks) songs but I'd be forever stuck on "walks like a woman, talks like a man, that's my Lola", and I don't think I'd be able go introduce her without going "L-o-l-a Lola". No offence to Lola, it's a perfectly lovely name if you like the Kinks less than I do.

Baby may not end up with this name, but she kind of IS it now. The boys were calling her Sarah, but I've gone off that. Although everyone has said "nah, not Sarah" which kind of makes me want it again. But assuming I shall not be hormonal and vile forever more, I shall repress that thought process...

Many things

More buggy hunting. Today I was offered a used mamas and papas all terrain buggy complete with footmuff etc, which is ace (and very kind) but rather massive. So marvellous for any trips to beaches and general walking, not so good for taking in the car. As this is offered gratis, that frees up funds for a lightweight buggy.

Enter the Quinny Senzz. I think that's how you spell it? Solves the ooh-the-Quinny-Zapp-is-ace-and-small-but-a-bit-difficult-yet-the-Zapp-extra-folds-separate-from-the-seat issue by being almost as compact but folding intact. And it has a decent shopping basket. And it comes in burgundy, which is important (but as it has a pink lining does somewhat depend on the baby being female).

So that's today's decision. Plenty time to change my mind again; I have a currently private wish list that I update almost daily with the latest buggy choice.

Today's pregnancy related excitement was to find baby located up beside my belly button. Baby is a very wrigglesome baby indeed, she (unspecific means female - or something) stays in one position for no more than 30 seconds. That may be due to the hard machine prodding it of course. That didn't bother R though, he was chilled and relaxed through each scan. O was a very very wriggly foetus!

I seriously hope baby allows a peek at what gender s/he is, I simply can't wait until the birth. They nearly didn't find out with O at the 20 week scan as he wouldn't stay still. Urg.

Symptom of the moment: backache. I cannot lie on my back, it is veh veh painful. I know this is normal much later on in pregnancy but I'm not sure why now. Tummy lying is out, it just all feels a bit squashed, and lying on my right makes me feel queasy. Happy days. Or nights to be precise, sleep is tricky. I tried a pillow between the legs but that did seem to aggravate the problem last night.

It's ok until I try to lie down. Which makes sleeping easier. Usually.

Assuming it works out with my employer, I plan to take maternity leave as soon as I am entitled to at 29 weeks. I seriously don't think I can handle working, being pregnant and juggling childcare through the summer holidays. Admittedly this creates a problem for next summer if/when I go back, but I will need to have "proper" childcare in place, and I won't be pregnant then.

So, if all tallies with leave and whatnot, I have two months left to work.

That's still ages, even coming off early. And I'll have the joyous third trimester with two 5 year olds at home all day...

On second thoughts I may work through the holidays and sign the boys up for every playscheme going. Maternity leave can start when they go back. Which is the way to sanity??