Whaddya Know?

I am in total shock. It's a girl!

The ultrasound went very well. All the measurements were on target and there was no sign of any problems.  Matthew and I could see everything very clearly because they had a second screen on the wall in front of us (genius). Lowell was a little spooked but he could see the baby when it was in profile and piped up every time to let us know. He also insisted on holding my hand because he was a little concerned about what the strange lady was doing to me. I was very nervous because I was sure I was going to see a penis flash every time the technician panned southward. When it finally came time to look down there the baby's legs were crossed (should have been my first hint, I guess). We jiggled and jostled but could not get a good look. The tech told me we'd try again when the doctor came in to look at the screen. After she left I chomped a couple of emergency M&Ms we had been slipping discreetly to Lowell and shook my belly around. When the doctor came in and took a look the baby's legs had uncrossed and he zoomed right in. "Right there, you see the stripe between the legs?" I thought, oh my god it's a girl, no wait, does that mean it's a boy? Matthew thought, it's a zebra? The doctor clarified, "It's a girl."  "It's a girl!" we yelled.

I was so instantly overjoyed that I started to cry. We told Lowell that he was going to have a little sister although I'm not sure it penetrated the M&M high. On the way home I just had crazy thought after crazy thought that kind of alternated between total glee about having a daughter and things like "sh*t, now I have to deal with Disney Princesses." Matthew had a similar reaction. So shocked and happy but also worried about the whole front-to-back wiping thing. It really adds an unexpected element of surprise to the second kid experience which is exciting and daunting at the same time. Not to mention I will one day (god willing) have a 14-year old daughter. This gives me pause. (And it also might have been what was behind the slightly maniacal note in my mother's otherwise delighted shrieks over the phone). But I am getting a little ahead of myself. Right now I am just happy that she is healthy and doing well and I am so, so, thrilled that we're having a girl.

Comments

[supa]

OMG! Congratulations! I confess I was shocked too. But oh, how sweet. And sewing for girls -- what fun. And a boy AND a girl -- you get both.

Aww.

Congrats again.

[HoorayForSaturady]

Glad to hear everything looks good.
Congrats to you and family.

[Belgianwaffle]

Fantastic! Have to let you know, with a girl you will be experiencing difficulties long before she turns 14 (evil cackle). And you thought Lowell was tantrumy, har di har (evil cackle again). But girls are amazingly quick to do things. Obviously, it all evens out in the end but as small children girls seem to be a lot faster and smarter and, ahem, more manipulative. Actually strike the evening out bit. Seriously, congratulations, I'm delighted for you all.

[Nicolle]

Congratulations! So exciting and you never know, we have yet to go through pink/princess crap so there's always a chance she'll frown upon it.

I'm so excited for you, if it weren't 9am I'd so have a pálinka in celebration!

[Braine]

Congratulations! That's what we've got, a boy and a girl; zee Fronch call it le choix du Roi. It's working so far.

[wordgirl]

Congratulations! Let me know how the Daisy Princess thing goes...not to mention the wall-to-wall pink Barbie aisle at Target.

[mama snee]

I am most comfortable as a lurker, but had to come out of the shadows to say CONGRATS!
We have a 19-month old girl, and with some firm grandparent boundary-setting and strategically paired boys' hand-me-downs, you CAN escape the pretty princess crap...

[juliloquy]

Yay yay! Yay for elder brothers and baby girls! We put possible names up on the fridge last night, and my husband said "it's strange to see all these girl names." Did you shop? Our families couldn't help themselves after we found out; we have already received two pink baby outfits from them.

[lea]

wow! I can't be as shocked as you both are, but I thought boy all the way myself. I can't believe the family boy streak has come to an end...this will now solidify your place in the grandchild hierarchy as the favorite!! can't wait to hear names??? and I can't wait to shop for her! but I really don't think I can do pink - is that okay?? so glad all is as well as can be expected. and i can't think of a better mother to have a daughter. much love. xoxoxo.

[lea]

the scrubs musical rerun is on right now!!! how fitting!

[Jill]

The Millionaire's family. Well done! So lucky! Just like us, only the other way around. Don't worry, Summer is already outgrowing the DPs. She won't wear anything but plain white underpants because Laura Ingalls Wilder did not have princesses on her underpants. Enjoy!

[Jane]

Hooray!

This made me snort, by the way: "So shocked and happy but also worried about the whole front-to-back wiping thing."

[kara]

don't worry about the disney princess/barbie thing, i got it covered.

[Xdm]

Congrats! Juliloquy sent me over here as I, too am due with a girl and have a toddler boy. (I'm around Oct. 26th... you?) I'm friends with MB (Sup), too so I have no idea how I missed you in the blogosphere for so long.