It's A….

GIRL!!!!

Flowers, bows, ruffles, and all things pink!! Could not be more excited! Let's be honest, would've been equally excited if Baby Bailey was a boy but happy we were in a no-lose situation.

When we went in for the ultrasound at week 19 we were eager to find out the news but it ended up being the last piece of information we learned during the appointment. First, we learned all about how she was growing and just how much of a personality she has already. The first image of her made me cry, duh. She was no longer the first image we had of her at week 7 - an alien looking thing - here's what she looked like then:

I mean seriously, she had a beak and a tail… was a little pleased to get that image out of my head and instead replace it with a more human baby looking one. We started with an up-close shot of her head. Perfectly round and no beak. Phew! Then the doctor said let's get a look at her face. I was so excited, no more beak, round head, let's see those eyes, nose and little lips. So then Baby Bailey turned slightly, looking "right at us" and did this…

Not exactly the image we were hoping for. Talk about replacing one creepy picture with another, she looked like the Terminator/Crypt Keeper! What you can't see is how this pose took place. The Dr. kept saying "come on, let's get a good look at those eyes" and she turned, opened her mouth slightly, one eye really wide and her hand (which was in a fist next to her opened eye), as if saying "hi, I'm here!". While we can now appreciate how rare and sweet that moment was, in the moment it was a little scary. Nate and I both gasped and I asked "where's the other eye??". Giggling, the Dr. said it's just not open and moved the camera showing us a better view after she closed her one very wide eye and mouth. Phew, she's normal!! Already showing a little personality, we continued on.

It was amazing, actually amazing doesn't describe it well but I can't think of any other way to express the feeling. Amazing to see her. Amazing as we went through all the measurements and learned she's growing very well in "perfect" form.

Nicely formed skull and if anything like her father a soon to be scarily big head (to house a huge brain as he says when his is referred to freakishly large).

Sure to be little ham hawk thighs.

Anytime the Dr. would say let's get a look at anything, she would hide it as if she could hear her. It was really funny. We were going for her other arm and she turned and tucked it away. When we went for the toes she dug them into me, hiding them. When we got too close she would shove and twirl around. When we were just looking at her in general she would flip around as if showing us her tricks. Sassy little thing, couldn't be more proud ;)

Speaking of flipping around, it was crazy to see her make those moves on the screen and then connect it with the feeling I had. It was a moment of "that's been you the whole time??" I had been having butterfly feelings in my stomach and weird little what I would describe as bubbles and now I could recognize them as her moving and doing her tricks. A few days before our appointment I felt her first little kick or nudge and told the Dr. where it was. Sure enough, it was one of the areas she was liking to stretch out her legs and feet. I was so excited, I had been feeling her for about a week and didn't know it. So I started crying again.

All measurements were done, everything looked great and just as they should so now it was time to try and find out gender. We of course agreed to not say it out loud so she wouldn't try to hide as she had her little ankles crossed when she wasn't doing her flips and twists. I was craning my neck, Nate was on the edge of his seat and the Dr. asked if we could see it. No, I couldn't see anything, Nate couldn't either. She told us to keep looking and we were. But finally I said "there's no penis" which caused more giggles from her as she said "that's because it's a GIRL!"

I had been looking for a penis as we, along with a majority of everyone else, were guessing a boy. Not entirely sure why although on Nate's part it was a wishful guess. He had all his favorite MSU basketball and football players names ready to chose from to name his little boy. Now we were looking at our little girl. Nate had a smile mixed with an unrecognizable look of fear and it puzzled me. But knowing he was sure it was a boy, I gave him his space to let the shock wear off.

We gathered all our pictures and headed home. When we got home Nate was really quiet. I could tell he was thinking, just sitting there deep in thought. I was too but I had a small smile as I imagined all the ruffles, bows and everything we were going to spoil her with. A little concerned I asked him if he was ok and what was he thinking. He slowly looked up and said "I don't want her to be too pretty." Um… what?! I asked why he wished that and he said "because we'll have to get a lot of guns." Melted my heart. This whole time the shock turned into a fear and realization for him of how he was going to protect his little girl. I guess with a boy you worry less about that, or maybe moms do more than dads. I reassured him that everything was going to be just fine and that we had at least 15 years before we would have to worry about her dating. I immediately knew in that moment that he is going to be even more of an amazing father than I could ever imagine.

We're so thrilled and can't wait to meet our precious little girl!