IT'S A GIRL!!!

Katie and I are thrilled to inform our readers that we are expecting a little GIRL! I know it is not the 23rd like our voting system said, but we were able to get our sonogram early. Since we were visiting with Katie's family over the weekend we thought it would be so fun to make it a surprise. Little did we know, however, that on the morning of our appointment, the Baltimore/DC area was going to flood! I'm not talking about just enough rain to make the roads slick. I'm talking about enough water that as Katie was going to the appointment, she drove through a river (people were literally kayaking down the road)! The water level was half way up the side of her doors...and she drives a Land Rover! Thankfully she made it through (though several of our friend's cars were flooded out) and our appointment went very smoothly.

When the technician, who was incredibly good, told us she was a little girl both Katie and I were in awe. With all the boys being born recently amongst our friends and the fact that my family is filled with boys, we were pleasantly surprised to be having a girl! Just to be safe, Katie asked exactly how sure it was that this was a girl and not a "shy boy". The lady looked at her (a little begrudgingly - since we were at Hopkins) and said is was "definite". As you can see from the first picture, the 3 lines in the middle are the "girly parts". If you imagine a camera in your seat when you sit down, that is the angle of the photo. The second photo is Sweet Pea doing her baby yoga. She was quite the little wiggle worm during the exam (just like Katie's last appointment). It was hilarious! Every time the technician tried to get a picture of her hand or foot she would either rollover or punch/kick Katie is the bladder (Katie is just beginning to feel kicks). And the third picture is the profile of our beautiful little girl!

We're also happy to report that our OB physician reviewed the anatomy and measurements, and everything looks perfect! So great to hear as a 1st time father! After viewing the baby on the ultrasound screen and hearing the heartbeat, she seems so real! Now we can begin considering names, registering for some girly things (not all gender neutral), and imagining our lives as parents of a sweet baby girl!