Envelope, Please!
April 28, 2009
It's an odd thing, lying on a cushioned table with my belly exposed, watching the monitor jump to life as the sonogram wand passed over my torso. And there, for the fourth time, was our baby: sleeping soundly, heart thumping.
Yesterday morning was our 18-week appointment. Before our session began, we told the sonogram tech we didn't want to know the baby's gender right away. Instead, we handed her a piece of paper and an envelope.
We saw the baby's bladder, and stomach, and arms and legs. We saw both hemispheres of its brain, took a profile shot with its tiny nose turned up, and then watched as it began to wake up, batting its arms and kicking its legs before settling into sleep again.
The hours ticked by slowly yesterday - no, make that excruciatingly slowly - and the longer I was aware that our baby's gender was there, known, the more I wanted to tear into the envelope and read its contents, or at least hold it up to the light, hoping I would be able to make out whether it was a four- or three-letter word. More than anything, I just wanted to confirm my suspicions. Roger kept the envelope close to his heart, tucked into his shirt pocket, out of my grasp. (Except for that one time I snatched it from him, and he nearly wrestled me to the ground for it. My husband is strong, is all I'll say.)
That night we headed to my mom's house, the house in the country, the house where I grew up. As we drove down the long gravel driveway, I glanced down at my hot pink tee and realized what I was wearing. "I bet you anything mom will assume we're having a girl, since I'm wearing this shirt." Earlier in the afternoon she had been trying to get me to divulge whether our baby was a boy or a girl, and I was having too much fun teasing her to let her know that we didn't actually know yet. We were saving that for just this moment, to share with her, for her to open the envelope and tell us whether our child was a son or daughter.
As soon as I got out of the car, she took one look at me and exclaimed, "You're having a girl!" I raised my eyebrows and looked sideways at Roger. My mom can be so predictable. And then we went into the kitchen, where she plucked the envelope out of Roger's pocket, and finally no one tried to stop her.
I realized I was holding my breath when she peeked up at me and smiled.
Turns out, a mother is always right.
Comments
Congratulations!
Posted by: Julie | April 28, 2009 02:13 PM
Aw, Jes, a GIRL! I'm slightly misty now. I can't wait. And now it'll be way less awkward when you name her Holly. I mean, a boy might have been teased...
Posted by: Nothing But Bonfires | April 28, 2009 03:26 PM
Girls are the best!
Congrats!
Posted by: MarathonMom | April 28, 2009 03:56 PM
Congratulations! And I will warn you now, try not to look at the cute baby girl clothes at stores. You will go mad with desire. You will want more than any one child could possibly wear. Pace yourself. Really.
So glad Baby Girl is thriving.
Posted by: nicole | April 28, 2009 04:07 PM
Wow that was suspenseful. Congrats!
Posted by: skiplovey | April 28, 2009 04:32 PM
Sweet!! Now you can buy that pink BumGenius diaper and diaper pail liner from Holly!! :-)
Posted by: Jenny B | April 28, 2009 04:40 PM
What a neat way to find out! I bet your mom really appreciated it. :)
Congratulations! I'm SO EXCITED!!!
Posted by: my life is brilliant | April 28, 2009 04:44 PM
congratulations!!!
girls scare me but i think a girl is perfect for you!!!!
i have little tears in my eyes right now so happy for you!!!
brunch??
Posted by: willow | April 28, 2009 04:59 PM
Many, many congrats!
Posted by: rosalicious | April 28, 2009 05:36 PM
Posted by: fidget | April 28, 2009 05:39 PM
eeeeeeee!!! I am so excited for you guys. It was really fun hanging at the salt lick with you. Hope to see some of those cute sonogram pics that you described. :)
Posted by: Amanda | April 28, 2009 05:40 PM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Jessica | April 28, 2009 06:50 PM
Baby girls rock! I was a little nervous about having one but we're almost five years in and she's the best thing ever. :-)
p.s. I don't like pink either, and I dressed Annalie in blue and boys' outfits all the time. Of course, everyone assumed she was a boy so I took to always having a girly pink or lavender receiving blanket on her carseat or stroller.
Posted by: bethany actually | April 28, 2009 06:52 PM
Girls are awesome. I'm so excited for you! By the way, I KNEW I was having a girl, but wanted a boy. Now? I want a houseful of girls, that's how much I'm enjoying my little girl. And there's NOTHING cuter than a daddy with his daughter. Nothing.
So, so happy for you guys.
Posted by: jonniker | April 28, 2009 06:52 PM
Baby girls rock! I was a little nervous about having one but we're almost five years in and she's the best thing ever. :-)
p.s. I don't like pink either, and I dressed Annalie in blue and boys' outfits all the time. Of course, everyone assumed she was a boy so I took to always having a girly pink or lavender receiving blanket on her carseat or stroller.
Posted by: bethany actually | April 28, 2009 06:53 PM
YAY JES!! I am thrilled for you. THRILLED! Now tell me your due date. And email me your new address because I want to send you something! XOXO (SO THRILLED FOR YOU!)
Posted by: Emily | April 28, 2009 07:34 PM
I saw the photos on Flickr first but reading the post gave me chills! WHEEEEE! Congrats!
Posted by: Heather B. | April 28, 2009 07:40 PM
GIRL. So! great.
Posted by: Kerri Anne | April 28, 2009 07:51 PM
Wow, so exciting, congratulations! I think that was such a lovely way to include your mom in finding out the sex of the baby. Yay for a girl!
Posted by: Laura | April 28, 2009 08:21 PM
Congrats!
PS I've seen lots of cute lime green and yellow stuff for girls lately.
Posted by: -R- | April 28, 2009 08:51 PM
I already knew and this post still had me on the edge of my seat and brought me to tears. :) I'm so happy for you and Roger, Jes. I can't wait to see you Friday!
Posted by: Lisa | April 28, 2009 08:53 PM
Huge congrats!!!! :)
Posted by: Abra Leah | April 28, 2009 09:47 PM
Congratulations!!!!!!!!! :)
Posted by: Ki | April 28, 2009 11:12 PM
Do they make baby glitter?
Posted by: Erica | April 29, 2009 08:22 AM
I don't know, but I'm putting you in charge of finding out. I can't believe I haven't thought about how much fun GLITTER will be!
Posted by: chirky | April 29, 2009 08:37 AM
Congratulations Jes! That is very exciting...seems like all of the people I know who are pregnant are having girls lately (as opposed to the group of boys around when Cooper was born). I guess that's how the world evens out! :)
Posted by: Mel | April 29, 2009 09:08 AM
Congrats!!! I'm very excited ... can't wait to see you. Blessings for baby Holly.
Posted by: D | April 29, 2009 11:36 AM
What a perfect way to find out (if you leave out the suspenseful time you had where you wanted to know earlier than the planned time).
Congratulations again!
Posted by: sunny | April 29, 2009 01:21 PM
That was such a cool way to find out!
Posted by: Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah | April 30, 2009 09:17 AM
Wow, congratulations!!!!!!
Great post to let us know, btw.
You must be so happy!
Posted by: Angie | May 1, 2009 09:08 AM
Awww, yay!! Congratulations, you guys! I love how you guys are announcing this pregnancy one bit at a time with the amazing scrabble notes and this envelope unveiling! It's all so exciting! :)
Posted by: claire | May 4, 2009 09:17 AM
YAY!! You are going to make the CUTEST little girl, I can just tell.
You were a runner-up in my Welcome, Little One giveaway, check your gmail!
Posted by: Elizabeth | May 6, 2009 04:33 PM
It was a precious moment. Thanks for making us a part of it! I'm SOOOOOOOOO happy about it.
Posted by: Mom | May 8, 2009 12:57 PM
What? How did you not call me immediately? The thing is, I actually found out because Jenni Cribbs read this on your site, but the last time i was here I read the Quiche post and thought it was the most recent, but nay, it wasn't. I missed the MOST IMPORTANT announcement you have made since you sent me the scrabble announcement.
Anywho, I am SUMO excited for you. I mean, retired that word SUMO and it's usage and now I am bringing it back.
Posted by: eddo | May 13, 2009 09:50 PM
:) What a wonderful way to find out!! Congrats again, my dear!
Posted by: Courtney | June 4, 2009 03:50 PM