I still can’t believe it.

The ultrasound was so much fun – all of us talk about it every day. Yesterday morning, I woke up and made pancakes (this is rare, friends), sat down and ate while making my meal plan for the next two weeks (this is rare, too), I showered by nine (again! rare!) and sat down at my computer to edit photos.

She begin kicking and probably dancing, I think. (by the way, she has a beautiful name but we aren’t making it public but it’s perfect and it will be so worth the wait) Anna and Noah were outside with friends, Brian was in the shower, Eli was sleeping. Finally, movement strong enough to share with someone and no one was nearby. I just sat back and closed my eyes and pictured her happily jumping and testing out her new muscles and reflexes.

Brian came down and was able to feel her. HER.

Oh my gosh.

It was so much fun sharing this news with you on Friday. I called my Mom directly after the ultrasound, she had been predicting girl. She even had a dream it was a girl. She’s visiting my brother in Colorado Springs, she was on the golf course and she said “well?!?!?!?!” I said “IT’S A HEALTHY BOY!” and she seemed surprised, like, really? Are you sure? But she laughed and said “well that is just perfect! A boy!” And then I said “just kidding, it’s a girl.” and oh, she laughed and yelled and cried and her reaction was priceless and so much fun.

Anyway.

I have such a busy day today. This pregnancy is flying by and I’m pretty sure I can blame having three busy kids and a busy photography business on that. I’m not upset, by any means, but life is just so busy. I just wanted to stop in and say Hi and also warn you that my pretty blog will become even prettier over the next 16-40 hours or so, so if you come here and it looks broken, it’s not, it’s just in the dressing room getting a fresh application of make-up and a pretty new outfit. (I’m really excited!)

I hope you all are having beautiful weather and can take some time out of your busy day to just breathe in the blessings of your life.

Eli and I are hanging out in the kitchen eating breakfast. This has been a long week as far as Eli has been concerned. First a virus then four molars poking through, he hasn’t been himself, has hardly eaten and only wants his Mama.

Our new bed arrived yesterday and it’s truly heaven on earth.

And we had THE ultrasound on Wednesday.

If you recall, with Eli, we had the ultrasound tech write down the gender of the baby on a piece of paper and place it in an envelope. We then hung it on our Christmas tree for a few days, finally opening it after opening gifts on Christmas day.

Remember this photo? When Brian read “IT’S A BOY!“

This time, when we finally announced to the kids that we were pregnant, Anna said “can we not play any games, can we just go into the room and find out if it’s a girl?”

We laughed and sighed and said okay.

I had the ultrasound scheduled for four weeks. The kids counted down. I knew it was a boy and so did Brian. It wasn’t until two weeks before the ultrasound that I started to have other thoughts and it only happened when I felt movement. I would lay in bed and feel the baby move and I’d instantly think “oh! She moved!”

But still, I felt deep down that this was a boy. I think. Or maybe I had convinced myself it was a girl and I didn’t want to get Anna’s hopes up. And it’s not that I hoped it was a girl but I did love the idea of giving Anna a sister.

We entered the doctor’s office on Wednesday. Noah put his hands together, did the sign of the cross and said “please God. Please make this baby a boy. Amen.” I reminded him that our prayers should be for a healthy baby and he did the sign of the cross again and said “please God, Please make this baby healthy but mostly make it a boy.”

We entered the room with so much excitement. I couldn’t wait to catch a glimpse of the baby. It was then that a million emotions hit me. I just wanted this baby to be healthy, I needed to see a heartbeat, I had to see the feet and the legs and a profile and nothing else mattered.

She started with a profile shot. The instant reaction in the room by our sweet little family was so awesome. All of us ooohing and aaahing over how beautiful that baby was and it was at that moment, that we all forgot about genders. We just watched and marveled and okay, maybe the kids got a little bored with the measurements, but still, it was wonderful.

And I sat there surrounded, fully aware that this would be the last time in my life I’d hear “it’s a girl!” or “it’s a boy!” (at least for my own children) and how blessed I’ve been already. It was a little more than my pounding heart could take.

She moved to the legs and measured bones. (the kids loved that) And then she moved to that area. And I knew, instantly. I said “look at that.”

And the tech confirmed exactly what I already knew.

It’s a baby sister.

Isn’t she beautiful?

And even now, two days later, sitting next to my coffee, having just laid Eli down for his morning nap, my tears fall because I AM SO VERY BLESSED.

HAPPY Friday, friends.