ITS A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are so very blessed! We went in for our 16-20 week check up last Friday and my doctor asked if we'd had our sonogram yet. I said "Nooo..." and gave her a look that said "I REALLY want one!" She asked if she could get us in that afternoon, would we be available? ABSOLUTELY!

Her amazing nurse, Angie, finagled us an appointment at 1:30 that afternoon.

That would be just the first of several surreal experiences that day. We waited almost an hour to finally get in to see the sonogram tech, then she got started. Everything checked out perfect...baby's lungs, heart, brain, spine, kidneys, arms, legs, belly, hands, feet, face, nose and lips were all just as they should be.

Finally, the tech asked us what we already have at home (child-wise) and we said, "Two boys." Her response was, "Well, I think you might be getting your girl!" I looked at Christopher with tears in my eyes and sobs caught in my throat. I could not believe what she was telling us. It was such a tremendous relief for me to finally have my intuition confirmed and I think Christopher was in shock!

It took her a few more minutes to get the baby to move into a position where she could prove it to us. Finally, money shot! There was the little line from her bottom to the classic white lines and nothing else in between the legs! YAY!!!!

The tech was only allowed to give us an 85% assurance rate that she was right, but also told us that in 12 years of doing ultrasounds she hasn't been wrong yet (that she knows of!). I've gone back and looked at it so many times, compared it to other "girl" ultrasound photos, compared it to the photos I have from the boys and from other boys and it seems pretty certifiable .

I was on such an adrenaline high when we left the ultrasound that literally nothing could have brought me down. I decided to take the rest of the afternoon and start the weekend a little early so we could celebrate. That meant heading to my favorite maternity/baby boutique - Marshmallow Kisses. I bought a t-shirt that said "It's finally a girl!", an adorable homecoming outfit for the baby and a baby book I'd had my eyes on for a while. It was so exhilerating! We then went upstairs to the Marshall's superstore and I found a little Polo dress and gift set with a hat, bib, onesie, gown and sleeper...so cute! Everything was pink of course!

The next day, I got to drive up to Des Moines where my cousin Kim was visiting from Colorado with her baby girl, as well as to see my ailing grandfather. Most of my extended family was at my grandparents' house and everyone was so ecstatic to hear our news! It took my parents and brother the longest of everyone to notice what it said on my shirt, but my mom about broke my back she hugged me so hard when she figured it out.

I finally started to come down a bit on the drive home Sunday, but I continue to pinch myself in disbelief. Christopher's family is thrilled for us and his mom in particular is on cloud nine. I really didn't believe it was possible, even as strong as my feelings were.

I can't wait to start decorating the nursery and filling her room with sweet little girl things!

The boys are thrilled, too. Thomas was so excited that he'd guessed right, though I'm not sure Andrew really understands what it's going to mean to have a little girl joining the family!
My co-workers have been so sweet...I had a pair of tiny pink ballet slippers and a pink sleeper waiting for me when I got in on Monday from two of the girls on my team. It's been so fun!

In other news...my belly is truly impossible to miss at this point. I am feeling Sweetpea moving more and more every day. She'll have a busy moment, then rest for what feels like forever. As much as she was moving during the sonogram, though, I'm really only feeling a fraction of her movements...mostly just the kicks, twitches and punches. She's doing full sommersaults, twists and flips that I'm not even feeling!

Our appointment also went well. Her heartrate was in the 150s and in the upper 140s during the sonogram (just like the boys! Take that old wives!).

We are over the moon we're so happy and I can't wait to hold my little girl!!!!