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11 August 2014

The results are in!


The Andersons are seeing blue!  We can't wait to meet him in just a few more months!

04 August 2014

Boy or Girl?


We are 1 week from finding out the gender of Baby Anderson.  And yes, we are finding out.  We are so impatient.  

In celebration of the big event, we looked up some Old Wives Tales to make some predictions. 
Here Goes- Enjoy!

Old Wives Tale #1: Heart Rate
If the baby’s heart rate is above 140 bpm, it is said that the baby will be a girl. If it is under 140 bpm, then it will be a boy.
Results: Baby’s heartbeat has always been in the 150s
Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #2: Shape of Belly
If you are carrying high with a big, round belly, you are having a girl. If you are carrying low with a smaller belly that sticks straight out, it’s a boy.
Results: I asked Evan, he said it looks high to him
 Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #3: Ring Test
Using a string, hang your wedding ring over your pregnant belly. You are having a girl if the ring swings back and forth and it’s a boy if it swings in a circle.
Results: It was definitely going in a circle.  For the record, Evan is having a girl :)
 Prediction outcome: BOY

Old Wives Tale #4: Acne
If you have acne while pregnant, it’s a girl. It’s thought that acne during pregnancy is caused by the extra hormones.
Results: I think mine may have actually cleared up
 Prediction outcome: BOY

Old Wives Tale #5: Cravings
People believe that if you are craving salty foods while pregnant, you can count on having a boy. If you crave sweets, fruit, and orange juice, you are having a little girl.
Results: I crave sweets, but they make me sick so I have to limit them. So hard!
 Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #6
More hair on your legs than normal, count on a boy.
Results: I think I have less hair
 Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #7
If your face swells and gets rounder, it’s a girl. Long and narrow face, a boy.
Results: It rounded
 Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #8: Legs
If your legs get really big, you’re having a boy. If your legs stay in shape and lean, it’s a girl.
Results: My darling husband says they are the same.
 Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #9: Moodiness
If you are really moody, you are having a girl since you have another extra girl hormones in you.
Results: There have been instances, but for the most part in control.
 Prediction outcome: BOY

Old Wives Tale #10: Chinese Gender Chart
The Chinese Gender Chart claims to have an accuracy rate of over 90%. It is based on how old the mother is at conception and the month that she conceived.
Results:
 Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #11: Mom’s Beauty
Basically you are having a girl if your beauty disappears during pregnancy. It is said that the girl “steals” the mother’s beauty. If you think that pregnancy has never made you look more beautiful, a little boy it is.
Results:  Evan said, “Why in the world would I answer that?”  My Sister-in-Law said I look too pretty to be having a girl, I'll take her word on it.  And send her another big thank you!
 Prediction outcome:  BOY

Old Wives Tale #12: Dream of Gender of Baby
If you have dreams that you are having a boy, you will have a girl. If you dream about having a girl, it will be a boy.
Results: I’ve had 3 dreams, 1 was a girl, 2 were boys.
 Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #13: Clumsy vs. Graceful
If the pregnant woman is graceful throughout her pregnancy, she’s having a girl. If she becomes clumsy, she’s having a boy.
Results: I am bruised all over…
 Prediction outcome: BOY

Old Wives Tale #14: Side You Most Rest On
If a pregnant woman prefers to lay on her left side, she’s having a boy. If she prefers resting on her right side, she’s having a girl.
Results: I usually sleep on my left, I was also told to sleep on my left because the other side has the big artery.
 Prediction outcome: BOY

Old Wives Tale #15: Dad’s Weight Gain
If the dad-to-be gains weight while you are pregnant, it’s a girl. If he doesn’t gain weight, you’re having a boy.
Results: Evan: "GIRL"
 Prediction outcome: GIRL


Old Wives Tale #16: The Linea Nigra
If the linea nigra stops at the belly button, it’s a girl. If the linea nigra goes all the way to the bottom of the rib cage, it’s a boy.
Results: I don’t see it yet
 Prediction outcome: INCONCLUSIVE

Old Wives Tale #17: What Do You Think?
71% of the time, the mom-to-be knows what she is having.
Results: I don't know if it's just because I've heard it so much, but I keep thinking girl.
 Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #18: Morning Sickness
If you had a smooth pregnancy with no morning sickness, it’s a boy. If you were sick or felt really nauseous during your pregnancy, count on a girl.
Results: Some sickness early on, thank goodness that is over!
 Prediction outcome: GIRL


Old Wives Tale #19: Dry Hands
You got dry hands; it’s a boy.
Results:
 Prediction outcome: BOY


Old Wives Tale #20: Protein
When a pregnant woman craves meat and cheese, count on a boy.
Results:  When I'm not craving desserts. Especially steak. And cheese.
 Prediction outcome: BOY

Old Wives Tale #21: Feet
Are your feet colder now that you are pregnant? If so, you just might be having a boy. If your feet have stayed the same before pregnancy and during, you’re having a little girl.
Results: I've always had chilly feet, I think it's the same now.
 Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #22: Headaches
If you are having headaches, you might be carrying a boy.
Results: Hooray for no headaches!
 Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #23: Baby Names
It is said that when you can only think of specific names for a boy or a girl, you will have that particularly baby.
Results: We've only talked about girl names, still can't agree on one though. 
 Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #24: Urine
What color is your pee? If it is bright yellow, you will have a little boy. If your urine is a dull yellow, plan on a girl.
Results: With the amount of water I drink… it’s clear
 Prediction outcome: GIRL

Old Wives Tale #25: Garlic
If you eat garlic and the odor seeps out of your pores, then you’re having a boy.
Results: I don't eat that much garlic, but I did smell it on me the other day...
 Prediction outcome: BOY

Old Wives Tale #26: Heartburn
If you experience heartburn or indigestion during pregnancy your baby will have a full head of hair.
Results: Just began to experience this joy
 Prediction outcome: Head of Hair :)

Old Wives Tale #27
If you eat the ends of bread, it’s a boy. If you eat the middle of the load, it’s a girl.
Results: I eat all the bread?
 Prediction outcome: INCONCLUSIVE





 Overall result:
15 girl predictions
9 boy predictions
A full head of hair
and 2 Inconclusive results

What do you think?

25 July 2014

Dopplegangers

For this post, I have to tell to seemingly unrelated stories then bring them together.  Bare with me.

Recently, my body has decided it doesn't want to sleep.  This has not been an issue in the past, but apparently it comes with being pregnant.  Yay!  So to help, I've been putting in a movie to get to sleep. Last weekend I watched Ever After.  I was letting it run while I got ready one morning and it came to the scene where Danielle is at the market and Pierre Le Pieu comes to talk to them.


A few months ago, I found out I was pregnant.  This meant I needed to find an OB.  We weren't telling anyone yet, so I wasn't sure who to ask for a recommendation and I didn't really know how to go about looking.  Evan has been doing his practicum at a pediatrician's office, so he asked the nurses for some recommendations.  He is so good to me :)  He came back with three names.  I googled them and tried to make a decision.  Two were female doctors and one was a male.  The two women work at Conway Regional (the hospital system here), the guy works at his own practice down the street.  As far as google reviews, the guy had the best.  A 4.9 / 5 on healthgrades with raves from patients on every site I checked.  The thing was, something about his picture just didn't sit right.


The best reason I could come up with was, "He's bald."  Evan said that wasn't a good enough reason to disregard the many great reviews.  So, I made an appointment with him.  I ended up really liking him.  He's the only doctor I see, he runs my whole appointment (with the exception of getting my weight and blood pressure), if I have an urgent question after hours he is the doctor I get transferred to, rather than the on-call doctor at the hospital.  He swears he'll be there through my labor and delivery, even though my due date is Christmas day (I totally wouldn't hold it against a doctor for not being available on Christmas day, or Christmas Eve, but he has assured me over and over).  So I have gotten over the bald part.

Back to watching Ever After.  So I was watching the scene in the market, and Le Pieu smiles at Danielle.  I had to rewind it. And pause it.  I immediately pulled up a picture of Dr. Wood and ran to show Evan.  


THAT is what his picture reminded me of!  Luckily, I met him (the doctor) and came to like him as my doctor before I made this comparison.  I'm not sure I could have followed through with the appointment otherwise!  The more I look at it, the more the comparison fades, but for that one day, it was like looking at twins.


The adventures in pregnancy continue!


28 June 2014

And the dreams start

I don't usually remember my dreams, but recently they have become more frequent.

Last night I had a dream my brothers, my dad, and I flew fighter planes to go hiking.  Only my brothers  went home instead and one of them crashed his plane.  He was fine, but he couldn't go anywhere else.  My dad and I ended up at a hike called something like "Tigger's Resort."   There was a tiger that lived on a rock at the beginning of the trail.  Apparently, it was a friendly tiger because it started walking toward me and I looked for a tree to climb, then it walked past me to go sit on its rock.

We never ended up going on the hike, and instead met my brother's back at the house.  I don't know how we got there.  

While there, I tried to figure out how I was going to set up the nursery.  I guess I was living with my mom again.  I figured out eventually there just wasn't enough room and decided to ask my dad to use his house.  One room for Evan and I, and one for the baby.  It could work.

At some point my OB (except a totally different one) called me to inform me I was pregnant with twins.  Not just "Surprise!  we found a second one!" No.  It was, "In addition to the baby already growing inside of you, you are also pregnant with twins that will be born 2 months later."  I spent the rest of the dream trying to figure out how that was physically possible.  And woke up thinking- "Does my insurance cover that kind of maternity leave?  I don't have enough sick leave accrued! How will we raise three babies?!"  Then remembered it was a dream.  

I went downstairs to tell Evan, but apparently he got up early to watch Wimbledon (because of the time difference, the matches start in the early morning for us), and is now taking a nap.  So eat it up blogging world! 

24 June 2014

Baby stuff and girls camp

Last week we had our 12 week appointment for the baby.  It is so magical to look at the screen and see the little blob has turned into a tiny person.  We got to hear the heartbeat and see all the bones forming.  Honestly, I wish I could sit in there and look at the little thing for hours.  But, doctors have other things to do I suppose.  It is still kind of unreal to think about.  It is hard to believe there is another human growing inside of me!  

Yesterday Evan came home and I had done absolutely nothing with my day off.  He had a classmate over to study and we were standing in the kitchen and Evan said, "Hold on, I'm hugging my wife, she worked hard today."  My first thought was, he was making a jab at my complete lack of doing anything today, then he said, "You grew a baby today!"  I know it was partially a joke, but it came from his heart. It was very sweet of him to say to me =)   Growing those little fingers and toes is exhausting somedays!

Around 6 weeks, I started to battle some light nausea.  It really wasn't all that bad.  Just queasiness around lunch or dinner.  It was enough to make me feel bad, but I could still function.  At our first appointment, the doctor gave me a prescription for Zofran to help with it.  I was surprised at how hungry I was when I didn't feel sick all the time!  I'v tried to only take it when I know I will need it.  Like at school, I took it before lunch just in case it decided to creep up.  I didn't like feeling sick and trying to teach.  Or if we went to somebody's house for dinner, I would take it.  Once school let out, I only took it if I started to feel sick.  

I had volunteered to go to Girls Camp before I found out I was pregnant, and once the news got out, I had parents and other leaders volunteering to go in my place.  "You don't want to go if you're sick, it's hot and dirty!"  or other stuff along those lines.  I've never been to girls camp, I really did want to go!  I assured people "I'll be almost through the first trimester, the nausea should be wearing off, and if it doesn't, I have medicine that helps a lot."  I was prepared, I made sure I had enough medication to get through the whole week, and plenty of snacks  (I've found that sometimes the nausea is because I'm hungry).  The whole week I did not have any sick feelings.  It was the longest I've gone without the Zofran since I filled the prescription.  And as soon as I got back, I needed one.  

I really needed to be at camp with the Young Women.  Heavenly Father watched out for me and made sure I was able to get through the week and stay positive.  It was an amazing experience.  I feel so much closer to the Young Women I went with, and I was able to see their best selves.  Being away from the world and its influences made them all a little bit shinier.  I can't wait to go back next year!  Of course, we'll have a 6 month old, so there may be some logistical problems, but I hope I can.  I've loved serving with the Young Women, and I am so grateful for the opportunity we had to bond together at camp and share our testimonies together.  

26 May 2014

I'm back bloggers!

With some exciting news...



Baby Anderson coming Christmas 2014.  We are beyond excited to welcome the little gummy bear into our lives.

26 March 2014

I just can't Let It Go anymore

I consider myself a fairly intelligent person.  I mean, sure, I let my fourth graders say 14-9 = 3 the other day and didn't realize I was wrong until that afternoon when another student looked at me incredulously and counted it out on his fingers for me.  But other than that, I consider myself fairly intelligent.  So when I started seeing arguments fill my newsfeed about the hidden agendas of Frozen I was shocked.

(One of the many arguments found here) (Granted, this one is much more detailed than many I have read before.  I still disagree. Also note the edit that was made in the post- Just supporting my point of forming your own rationale opinions)

How had I missed it?

I read the arguments, I watched the clips on YouTube, I even re-watched the movie on my flight last week really looking for the hidden messages.  To be honest, I just don't see it.  I was going to just ignore the fact, but it keeps popping up on my newsfeed and it is starting to get to me.

The biggest issue I have with the movie Frozen, is that so many people have been duped into believing it is somehow teaching our children that there is no right or wrong.  I am more worried our children are being taught by the multitude of bored mommy-bloggers that the world is a scary place and they should shut themselves away from it.

And the evidence for this hidden agenda?  EIGHT WORDS. "No right, no wrong, no rules for me." 8 words from an entire feature length film.  Let's do a little perspective.

8 words from 1 song


This song is Elsa's anthem.  She has spent her entire life hiding away who she is.  She was told "conceal, don't feel" (why isn't that an issue?) and she finally gets found out because she can't hold it in any longer.  So she runs away.  Hoping if she lives in isolation she can finally be herself.  She barely knows her sister.  Even when the girls become orphaned, Anna is left by herself because Elsa can't let anyone see who she really is.  So she goes up the mountain, and in the context of the song, No right No wrong means something more along the lines of "It's ok to let my feelings out and be proud of who I am."



8 words from a soundtrack
There are many great songs in the movie, all performed by top notch talents.  With Idina Menzel performing as Elsa, it's no wonder "Let It Go" has become the standout.  She has an incredibly strong voice that conveys a lot of emotion.  The message of the song seems to be foggy to a lot of people, so it has sparked debate. I stand by my belief the song is Elsa discovering herself as she was meant to be.  She is no longer accepting the role of strong young woman hiding in the shell of a meek girl too scared to leave her room. But that is no reason to completely ignore the other wonderful and sing-along-able songs on the soundtrack.  Let's take a look at "Fixer-Upper" or whatever the song is actually called.



The trolls are trying to convince Anna that Kristoff is a catch.  Even though he's grumpy, dirty, and has a weird relationship with his reindeer Sven.  They specifically tell Anna she can't change him, because people don't really change at the core.  However, with some love, those things no longer matter.  I think it's not so much about how to fix him, but that if she gives in to love she will be able to see past his flaws (and he see past hers).

8 words from 102 minutes of dialogue and song
Sure there are parts that have no dialogue, but this is no 2001: A Space Odyssey.  The movie has plenty of other words besides those eight. In the end, Elsa does have to face her decisions and deal with the consequences.  She leaves Arendelle thinking she can escape all consequences of who she is.  She goes from hiding away to running away.  Eventually, she is brought back to Arendelle and has to deal with the consequences.  No one cleans up her messes for her.  She is the one who ends up reversing the spell that has cast her kingdom into infinite winter.  Of course, she first has to learn from Anna exactly how to do that, but she figures it out in the end.  So couldn't we say those eight words were foreshadowing that, in fact, there is a right and wrong, and there are rules?   She just didn't realize it yet.  Can we dare to think that, maybe, Disney has intelligent people working for them that are able to see the big picture? And they put trust in their audience that we too can see the big picture and tie the beginning to the end? Or is that putting too much faith in the world?

Looking at the movie as a whole, the message is one children should hear and discuss with their parents.  You cannot hide from who you are, and you cannot run from your responsibilities.  You have to admit to your weaknesses and make them work for you.  Any person that only sees the "rebellious themes" of this movies and refuses to see anything but that has missed the forest for the trees.

We are taught to live in the world, not of the world.  This requires a balance.  We cannot expect to find danger lurking in every corner, and impose it on the world.  This will lead to us hiding away in our rooms, hiding from anything bad that could possibly happen.  We have to face the world and make the right choices.  Of course, we cannot be naive and ignore the dangers that are trying to creep in.  We just need to be aware.

There were two plans proposed in Heaven.  One gave us the opportunity to come to Earth, make choices, and try to live a righteous life that will lead us back to Celestial Glory.  The other would purportedly make sure everyone returned to Celestial Glory by removing all agency.  There would be no opportunity to make a mistake. While Elsa was locked in her room, unable to choose right or wrong, which plan was she being forced to follow?  And the consequence of that, was her running away and sending all of Arendelle into an eternal blizzard.  However, by the end of the movie she is able to repent, make right her wrongs, and continue to live and make choices that will help her to become a better person.

When we over-shield our youth, from the world, we are taking away precious opportunities for them to exercise their agency.  When instead, if your 3-year-old trots to the dinner table singing those dreaded eight words, make it an opportunity for discussion instead of removing her favorite movie from the shelf.
"What do you think it means when Elsa sings that part? Do you think she really doesn't have to follow the rules?  What happens at the end of the movie? You're right! She says she is sorry and she fixes it and everybody is happy again!"
Now that child has learned many lessons:
1) Sometimes good people make bad choices, but they can fix it.
2) Sometimes we don't want to follow the rules, but there are still consequences.
3) To really understand a story, we have to look at the story as a whole.  When parts are taken out of context, we end up with a different, and skewed, interpretation than what was intended.

I think of my future children, and how much they are going to have to love singing along to Disney movies simply because of how much their parents do.  I think of how they will be challenged to form their own opinions by using what they have been taught.  I think of how they will make wise choices because they will have had plenty of exercise using their agency when they are young.  If I have to remove all media myself that has even the smallest taste of possibly being seen by some as "bad" so my children won't get the wrong idea, then I have failed as their parent.  If my future daughter watches Frozen and decides there really is no right or wrong, and it's ok to just walk away from wrongdoings, then I have failed to teach her how to be a wise young lady.  THAT is a truer tragedy than all of these theories of Disney "going off the deep end to please society."

I suppose I should end with this:  Just because I said it doesn't make it true.  This whole post started with my being irritated that so many people were reading blog posts and believed them.  So if you read mine and just believe me, then I think I'm still upset with you.  Please world, especially women of the world, make up your own minds.  By all means, read other people's thoughts, consider it, mull it around, but then come up with your own ideas before you start toting around other people's influences. That is far more dangerous than anything Disney is going to try and sneak into our homes.

PS- I love Disney, and without more evidence that is clearly not conspiratorial, I will not and cannot believe they have a hidden agenda.  Other than money making,  but that isn't hidden.