I always get worked up before ultrasounds. It’s hard going weeks without seeing the baby or hearing a heartbeat and not knowing how things are going in there. Nick and I were both worked up before this one. We knew this was the big ultrasound when they do all of the measurements, check for birth defects and determine the gender. But then once you see the baby move and hear that sweet heartbeat, all that anxiety slips away. Ultrasounds are like drugs for pregnant women – we fiend for them. Some people even go crazy for the portable machines for them. Some of my friends have machines they got for other reasons (with one friend getting theirs from https://www.butterflynetwork.com/covid-19), but we all love them for seeing our baby ahead of time.

For Thanksgiving, Nick and I had our own dinner, just the two of us. We knew we had this ultrasound the following morning, so we did not go out of town like we usually do, and Ella and Charlie were with their mom and step-dad. It was both relaxing and romantic; enjoying this time alone together. We sat at dinner and talked about the future, about what to buy for a nursery, and potentially buying a bigger house (yikes). When there’s a baby on the way, you always think you need more space. Moving house does seem quite stressful right now, so we decided to see how we got on in our current home. My friend recently got home additions to give her family some more space in their home. Perhaps we could do that if our home gets too cramped. That would probably be easier than packing all our stuff up and moving to a new home. That’s something for us to think about though! Finally, we got around to the topic of baby names. We had previously picked out two boys names and three girls names that we both really liked, but had yet to narrow the lists down. I asked Nick if he could narrow down the girl name list to one, knowing that I had already done so and picked out my favorite. Instead of telling me he likes them all, like I thought he would, he replied with the same sweet name that I had had rolling around in my head for weeks now. And we just knew. We both had a strong feeling that it was going to be a girl – so much so that when we tried to narrow the list of boy names, we couldn’t do it.

So, yesterday morning, bright and early, as the nurse went through the measurements and pointed out each sweet finger and toe, she finally got to the point that she could determine gender. There was certainly a reason for our inability to narrow down a boy name. The nurse told us that we’re having a girl and my heart exploded. Nick and I both cried, and as she continued measurements I imagined what she will look like and what she will be like. Will she have her dad’s sweet chin dimple (I hope) and will she have my dark eyes? We cried again when the doctor told us everything measured great and she looks perfectly healthy – for this, Nick and I are so eternally and completely grateful.

Baby girl, I need you to know, I love you so badly already and I cannot wait to meet you.

XOXO – Em

| white maternity dress c/o Ingrid & Isabel | similar white dress non-maternity – only $80! | another similar white dress non-maternity only $20! | Loren Hope necklace | Loren Hope bracelet | similar red heels | Sephora Collection Lipstick in #20 Wanted Red |

photo: Emma Parker Photography