House full of girls

Everything was great at the ultrasound! Doctor was wonderful, technician was nice and explained everything through the ultrasound, and Alyssa was excited. Okay all are true but the last one. She talked up having a sister so much that I tried to get the idea it may be a boy in her head. Just so she wouldn't be disappointed, ya know. Well, then she decided she did in fact want a brother, so the first thing out of Big Sister's mouth was, "No, I want a brother." Lucky for us, I could say, "But you have a brother, and now you have a sister." She didn't care, she seemed actually disappointed. But the great thing about almost-3 year olds is they change their mind so quick. We went to lunch, called the family, then went to pick out a gift for baby sister. Alyssa has this way of picking up the first cute animal she sees and is determined that is what she wants. So baby sister gets a brown bear from the movie Brother Bear. (We have never seen it) But it is cute and she picked it out herself. It is currently in bed with Alyssa so we will see how much it is really baby sister's. Welcome to the family little girl!

Walking to the doctor's office.

Finally upside-down excited for a baby sister.

Watch out Daddy, here come the girls.

Boy or Girl?

Tomorrow is the big day. It really does seem like a big day, something I have looked forward to since week 9, my next meeting with our baby. All three of us go tomorrow at 10am for the 20 week ultrasound. I thought it would be fun to take Alyssa and see her reaction. Plus she will love seeing the baby. She gives him/her hugs and kisses and says "I love you baby." Okay -- so I told her one night at bedtime, "tell the baby you love him too," but she does it on her own now. She gives the baby stickers when she is passing them around, one for me and one for my belly. She is just so cute, I thought she can only make this day better.

So, what do we want? You may not ask, but everyone thinks it. Alyssa said for the longest time, I want it to be a girl, like us. "What if it is a boy?", I ask. Not even an option, "I want a sister." But within the last week, she has now flipped to "it's a boy." So much for her being my fortune teller. Bottom-line I think she will be happy either way. Me? I am truly mixed. I would love to have another little girl. Girl is all I know, and I love it. And we don't have any sisters or many girls around here, so that would be fun to watch... for a few years anyway. But of course, I want to experience the joys of a boy. And I want Ethan to share that bond. I want to have a boy to get back a little of what I missed with Noah, but I don't want a boy, so that nothing ever comes close to replacing him. These are all good things. It means I can find the joy in either sex. And I am anxious to see where my joy will come from.

NOAH

I was in labor with Noah a year ago tonight. Over the next week or so, I invite you over to Noah's blog as I retell the story of his life.