Is there something in the water?

As of this moment, I know 10 women who are pregnant – all due at different times of the year. These are people I actually know, not just celebrities and their pregnancies. I remember a couple of years ago, I knew 14 women who were expecting! That’s a lot of babies. And a whole lot of baby showers! And then the birthday parties! (And we don’t need to mention all those diaper changes, clothing changes and laundry, right?) 😉

So it got me thinking, could it be something in the water? Or is it a cyclical pattern that women get pregnant every so often? Or is it, perhaps, that I’m just at a phase in my life when almost everyone in my age group is moving on to the next phase of life? Whatever it is, it’s quite amazing that I know so many women who will be giving birth and holding a new bundle of joy within the year.

Congratulations to all my family and friends!

Just for fun, here’s my list:

1. Kisha – Due June 2009
2. Anya – Due June 2009
3. Jessica – Due August 2009
4. Minnie – Due August 2009
5. Abbie – Due August 2009
6. Ana – Due September 2009
7. Kimmy – Due October 2009
8. Lisa – Due October 2009
9. Christine – Due October 2009
10. Grace – Due January 2010

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le•top Takes: Out of the Mouths of Babes!

No, I did NOT say that!

…submitted by a le•top blog reader

My husband and I are “trying” again, so we can give our 4 year old daughter, Siena, a sibling. I give answers that are more scientific in nature than the fairy-tale kind because Siena is seriously unsatisfied with my answers unless they’re very systematic and every facet of her question is explained (yes, of course I think she’s a genius) 😉 ! When she asked me (yet again!) how babies are made, I explained by saying that daddy puts something in mommy and plants his seed so the baby can grow. My daughter then started yelling:

I want to see Daddy’s seed!! I want to see Daddy’s seed!!”

Startled, I said calmly, “Sweetheart, you can’t see Daddy’s seed”, and Siena got SO UPSET!! I could hardly control myself from bursting out in laughter in front her, as I thought, geez, wait until I tell everyone at work about this one!

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Dear le•top: My Husband Really Wants a Baby Boy?

“My husband and I have three darling daughters. He desperately wants to have a son to pass on the family name. Can you give us some tips on making a baby boy?”
— Carol, Forest Hill, MD

I have four brothers, therefore my parents were quite successful in making baby boys. But there is no way I’m going to ask my parents about… Shhh! Whisper it… SEX. (I’d rather ask a priest or a nun.)

Here’s what I’ve found doing my own unscientific “research”:

• We’ve learned that male sperm swim faster, so try for conception the day the woman ovulates so that there is an egg present when the male sperm reaches it.
• A woman who eats more meat and salty snacks can increase the chances of producing a baby boy.
• Dads-to-be need to drink up on soda.
• Women should sleep to the left of their partners.

Share your thought with us. We would love to hear from you.

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Dear Le Top: How do I Make a Baby Girl?

“I have two boys whom I love dearly. My husband and I want to get pregnant again but want to try for a girl this time. Any secrets on how to make a baby girl?”
— Michelle, Renton, WA

Is there a secret to making a baby girl (or boy)? My friends and I have had many discussions about this topic…whether it’s dependent on the time of the month the woman is ovulating, or the time of year the couple conceives…I wonder if there is a science to this? So, I did some “research”, and here are some interesting theories on making a baby girl:

• The older the man, the more likely it will be a girl.
• If the man has recently been on a flight, the chances of having a girl is higher.
• Male sperm swim faster but female sperm live longer. If you try for conception earlier in the woman’s ovulation cycle (when the egg isn’t present yet), chances are the female sperm will be around when the egg finally does come out. The male sperm will get there faster but will die off before the egg appears.
• A woman who eats more dairy, fish, vegetables and chocolate can increase the chances of producing a baby girl.
• Moms-to-be should initiate sex.

Do you have your own theories? Family lore? Old wives’ tales? We would love to hear from you!
(Stay tuned tomorrow for tips on how to make a baby boy.)

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