Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
My Current Quest for baby #2
Let me tell you about what I have been doing for the past couple of months.....Tracking my ovulation.
Now, let me tell you why I have been tracking my ovulation for the past couple of months......To try and increase my chances at conceiving a girl.
When I tell people this I usually get the same responses. A) That's crazy, how will tracking your ovulation help your chances of having a girl, B) Why would you want a girl, so much drama, I would love to have all boys, C) Just be happy with whatever you get.
Let me address each one of those responses here:
A) By pinpointing the exact day of ovulation you increase your chance of conceiving, this applies to anyone trying to conceive regardless of gender preference. There are many different ways to track ovulation and I have only chosen to do a few. The first is a Basal Body Thermometer (BBT). You take your temperature at the same time every morning and over a few cycles, you'll see patterns that indicate when ovulation typically takes place for you. The other way I help pinpoint ovulation is through Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPK's). These are much like pregnancy tests except they test the monthly LH surge- the sudden increase in luteinizing hormone present in your urine just before you ovulate. The presence of the positive ovulation test indicates that you will likely ovulate within 12 to 36 hours. If you are trying to have a girl, you'll need to begin timing sex during the period at least 2 to 3 days before you anticipate ovulation to take place. This method favors the slower but larger and more resilient X-chromosome sperm (girls). Intercourse further away from ovulation favors the larger slower moving X (girl) sperm. The weaker Y (boy) sperm will die more quickly in the more acidic preovulatory vaginal / cervical secretions and by the time of ovulation there will be a much larger concentration of X (girl) sperm available to fertilize the egg. Hence, your chances of conceiving a girl are greatly increased. At least according to this theory of thinking known as the Shettles Method.
B) I'm glad that you would be happy with all boys but we are different and that's ok. Please don't judge my desire to have a daughter. And since when did having a girl automatically invoke people to say things like "Drama and Way more work than boys?" I'm here to tell you that I have a son and OMG he is a lot of work. I just think that boys and girls have different issues than each other, not to say that either are more or less easier to deal with on the whole parenting spectrum, just different. I also want a daughter for things like bows, pink, purple, glitter, dresses, accessories, shoes, dress up, shopping, girly movies, prom dress shopping, wedding planning, being a mother to my daughter when she is pregnant one day, long talks about boys and what all the celebrities are doing, this list could go on and on forever. And Yes, I am aware that not all girls are into all of these things but the likelihood that a girl would be more into some of these things over a boy is pretty high. I already have a son and know I will get to enjoy all the absolutely fabulous things usually associated with having a boy that you may not get to experience with a girl. So why wouldn't I want the same thing with a girl? Sorry I'm coming off so defensive but I have quite frankly been shocked at the response I have gotten to my desire to have a girl. You never hear the same reactions I have received when you hear a father express the desire to have a boy. It just kinda seems skewed to me.
C) This response bugs me a lot. Of course I will be happy with whatever God decides to give us. But don't look at me like I just told you I'm going to steal the lady next to me on the OB floors baby girl when I tell you that I'm trying to increase my odds of having a girl by tracking ovulation. Seriously, it's not that big of a deal. Yes, I know that many people are desperate to have a child regardless of gender at all. I feel for these people (some of which are some of my readers) so badly and I can not imagine having to go through all the things that you have had to go through mentally and physically just to try and conceive at all. But I also think that it is OK to desire a child of a certain gender and not to be judged because of it.
So, that's my rant for the day. Thanks for listening. I'll try not to drive you all crazy as we begin this wild ride again into parenthood for the second time with all my bodily functions, mental ups and downs and just plain ole' TMI that seems to take over many women when they are trying to conceive and especially when they get pregnant. That could be a whole other post entirely. =)
Now, let me tell you why I have been tracking my ovulation for the past couple of months......To try and increase my chances at conceiving a girl.
When I tell people this I usually get the same responses. A) That's crazy, how will tracking your ovulation help your chances of having a girl, B) Why would you want a girl, so much drama, I would love to have all boys, C) Just be happy with whatever you get.
Let me address each one of those responses here:
A) By pinpointing the exact day of ovulation you increase your chance of conceiving, this applies to anyone trying to conceive regardless of gender preference. There are many different ways to track ovulation and I have only chosen to do a few. The first is a Basal Body Thermometer (BBT). You take your temperature at the same time every morning and over a few cycles, you'll see patterns that indicate when ovulation typically takes place for you. The other way I help pinpoint ovulation is through Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPK's). These are much like pregnancy tests except they test the monthly LH surge- the sudden increase in luteinizing hormone present in your urine just before you ovulate. The presence of the positive ovulation test indicates that you will likely ovulate within 12 to 36 hours. If you are trying to have a girl, you'll need to begin timing sex during the period at least 2 to 3 days before you anticipate ovulation to take place. This method favors the slower but larger and more resilient X-chromosome sperm (girls). Intercourse further away from ovulation favors the larger slower moving X (girl) sperm. The weaker Y (boy) sperm will die more quickly in the more acidic preovulatory vaginal / cervical secretions and by the time of ovulation there will be a much larger concentration of X (girl) sperm available to fertilize the egg. Hence, your chances of conceiving a girl are greatly increased. At least according to this theory of thinking known as the Shettles Method.
B) I'm glad that you would be happy with all boys but we are different and that's ok. Please don't judge my desire to have a daughter. And since when did having a girl automatically invoke people to say things like "Drama and Way more work than boys?" I'm here to tell you that I have a son and OMG he is a lot of work. I just think that boys and girls have different issues than each other, not to say that either are more or less easier to deal with on the whole parenting spectrum, just different. I also want a daughter for things like bows, pink, purple, glitter, dresses, accessories, shoes, dress up, shopping, girly movies, prom dress shopping, wedding planning, being a mother to my daughter when she is pregnant one day, long talks about boys and what all the celebrities are doing, this list could go on and on forever. And Yes, I am aware that not all girls are into all of these things but the likelihood that a girl would be more into some of these things over a boy is pretty high. I already have a son and know I will get to enjoy all the absolutely fabulous things usually associated with having a boy that you may not get to experience with a girl. So why wouldn't I want the same thing with a girl? Sorry I'm coming off so defensive but I have quite frankly been shocked at the response I have gotten to my desire to have a girl. You never hear the same reactions I have received when you hear a father express the desire to have a boy. It just kinda seems skewed to me.
C) This response bugs me a lot. Of course I will be happy with whatever God decides to give us. But don't look at me like I just told you I'm going to steal the lady next to me on the OB floors baby girl when I tell you that I'm trying to increase my odds of having a girl by tracking ovulation. Seriously, it's not that big of a deal. Yes, I know that many people are desperate to have a child regardless of gender at all. I feel for these people (some of which are some of my readers) so badly and I can not imagine having to go through all the things that you have had to go through mentally and physically just to try and conceive at all. But I also think that it is OK to desire a child of a certain gender and not to be judged because of it.
So, that's my rant for the day. Thanks for listening. I'll try not to drive you all crazy as we begin this wild ride again into parenthood for the second time with all my bodily functions, mental ups and downs and just plain ole' TMI that seems to take over many women when they are trying to conceive and especially when they get pregnant. That could be a whole other post entirely. =)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Wordless Wednesday-Texas Vacation!
Here are a few pictures we took on our vacation to South Texas with some of our friends.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
I'm Back....Sorry for my recent MIA Status!
Hi Everyone,
I can't believe that it's been a month since I last blogged. It's been a crazy past month around here. Lot's of house guests, vacations, reunions and just plain ole' burn out on my part. But I am back and I missed all of you! I can't believe it's been almost four months since I first started this blog back in April. It's been an amazing outlet for me to share stories and pictures of my little life and to also learn about so many of yours. I have "met" so many amazing people through this blog that I never would have met otherwise. I've discovered how to use Twitter, which FYI to any bloggers out there that don't have a Twitter account for your blog, you must get one now. I think that it is almost a requirement if you want to expand your readership and its also a great way to stay up to date on whats going on in the bloggy world. Even though I haven't blogged in a month, I have been on Twitter so I don't feel completely out of the loop. I've attended Twitter parties and actually won prizes. I finally figured out how to use a hashtag and how to see who unfollows you through Qwitter. I swear I could be on the computer 24 hours a day for the rest of the year nonstop and still not know half of the things I feel I should know if i really want my blog to be successful. Which I do! I've seen some of the people that I follow that are involved in some kind of Bloggy Boot Camp that I plan on researching that I think helps you to become a better blogger. So, I am going to try and be 100% committed to this blog from now on with no more one month hiatus. I missed you all too much. Even though I must say that I am a little thankful that this Blogher 2010 conference is almost here and over because I don't think I can stand to see all the #Blogher hashtags anymore and contain my immense jealousy that I am not going to be attending this year with all of you fabulous women and men. Maybe next year!
I can't believe that it's been a month since I last blogged. It's been a crazy past month around here. Lot's of house guests, vacations, reunions and just plain ole' burn out on my part. But I am back and I missed all of you! I can't believe it's been almost four months since I first started this blog back in April. It's been an amazing outlet for me to share stories and pictures of my little life and to also learn about so many of yours. I have "met" so many amazing people through this blog that I never would have met otherwise. I've discovered how to use Twitter, which FYI to any bloggers out there that don't have a Twitter account for your blog, you must get one now. I think that it is almost a requirement if you want to expand your readership and its also a great way to stay up to date on whats going on in the bloggy world. Even though I haven't blogged in a month, I have been on Twitter so I don't feel completely out of the loop. I've attended Twitter parties and actually won prizes. I finally figured out how to use a hashtag and how to see who unfollows you through Qwitter. I swear I could be on the computer 24 hours a day for the rest of the year nonstop and still not know half of the things I feel I should know if i really want my blog to be successful. Which I do! I've seen some of the people that I follow that are involved in some kind of Bloggy Boot Camp that I plan on researching that I think helps you to become a better blogger. So, I am going to try and be 100% committed to this blog from now on with no more one month hiatus. I missed you all too much. Even though I must say that I am a little thankful that this Blogher 2010 conference is almost here and over because I don't think I can stand to see all the #Blogher hashtags anymore and contain my immense jealousy that I am not going to be attending this year with all of you fabulous women and men. Maybe next year!
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