I always knew our first child would be a boy. I don’t know how I knew, but somewhere burrowed down into my soul I just knew it was so. Adding up my theories, which included having an older brother, Scott being the first born boy, and, well, girls just needed older brothers, I had enough ammo to be confident in this thought. And somewhere along the lines my rational comfortably settled on it.

I made homemade pickles because, well you know, pregnant chicks like their pickles!  You can check out the sweet & spicy recipe here!

My mind drew pictures of our new family of three. A little boy in button downs and oxfords, thick blonde floppy hair and a giggle to make your heart melt. Boy visions of learning to fish and soccer practices and miniature-sized monster trucks sporadically placed as trip hazards around the house. And these visions, no matter how mud and muck laden they were, they were endearing to me.

So we threw a “Sex Party” and gathered to share with our family and family-esque friends to celebrate this special occasion – the big reveal.

The incredible cake that my co-worker, Sharon, made for our reveal.  Sharon, you are perfection in the kitchen!

As everyone made their predictions, and my fate and visions decidedly set, something growing inside told me a different story. Even as I doubted the tricks of my mind, I wrote down my 4-letter word, Girl.  My reasoning?  “You’ve destroyed my body.” We tallied up the votes, 10 for boy and 2 for girl.  Apparently I wasn’t solo in my original theory of thinking.

And as much as I had planned for and pictured this little blonde-haired boy running around in my visions, a girl, well, a girl tickled my soul in a selfish indulgent way that only the milky pink of an inside of a cake could allow to set in. I tried excitedly to rewind my thoughts… to start them fresh once again. And like an old school cassette tape shoved in your grandpa’s hand-me-down Caprice Classic, rewind led to the frail brown tape being pulled out and trashed. No need to rewind this tape, the new idea of our family officially started at this moment. At this sweet, savored moment.

And as I sit here and savor the last slice of pink-hued cake amongst layers of strawberry filling, I allow it to sink in, the sweetness of it all. A girl. Our little cricket to hold hands with, joining us in our brand-spankin’-new family of three. A blonde ringlet cutie to fall head over heels in love with her daddy. Because it’s inevitable, she’s going to be as big of a mush for her dad as he will be of her.  Just you wait and see!

We’re changing our story, a welcomed change.  And I’m sure it’s just the first of many to come.  I look forward to that, it keeps us on our toes.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got new visions to tend to.  This time about tutu’s, nail polish on carpets and obnoxious leggings…

*And a BIG shout out to Brad and my mom for hosting the wonderful evening!  Much love and thanks – it was just perfect!

Suggested Listening:  Rawnald Gregory Erickson The Second  /  Starfucker