Are you someone who enjoys a gender reveal? I have to admit I love scrolling through blog posts and Facebook feeds filled with pink and blue décor, family members guessing which way the scale will tip, and the big reveal videos with parents’ surprised faces. I enjoy seeing how creative people get when they decorate and celebrate.
For me, though, throwing a big gender reveal party felt like more effort than I wanted to invest. My own family lives far away, and although my husband’s family is nearby, mine isn’t, so we wouldn’t have a huge crowd. A friend jokingly suggested we should at least get a cake—because, really, any excuse to eat cake is a good one—and I liked that idea instantly.
Free Printable
We went in for a sneak-peek ultrasound on Tuesday. A few weeks earlier my doctor had asked if I wanted to find out the gender before the routine 20-week appointment, and I jumped at the chance—so I paid the optional fee and kept my fingers crossed that our baby would cooperate.
Etsy
I brought my husband—Coach, of course—and our daughter, Miss A, who is three and a half. She is absolutely enchanted with the idea of a baby. She walks around patting her pretend belly and announcing that the baby is moving. Her current name for the baby is “Watermelon,” and she has an entire itinerary planned: she will feed, burp, dress, and play with the baby, put it down for naps, take it shopping—everything a proud big sister should do.
In the ultrasound room, the techs began searching for the anatomical markers. At first their view was blocked by the umbilical cord, so it was unclear. They moved the wand, tried different angles, and waited for the baby to shift. After a few attempts, one of the techs suddenly and matter-of-factly announced, “it’s a…”
GIRL!!!
She confirmed a few more clear views, and there was no doubt: this baby is a girl. I honestly would have been thrilled either way—after two difficult years of trying, loss, and hoping for another child, all I want is a healthy baby. Still, there’s something extra-special about the idea of another daughter. I’ve kept Miss A’s clothing, and since their birthdays are less than a week apart, many outfits will match the season perfectly. It’s a small practical perk that feels almost like fate.
Evin Photography
Part of my joy comes from my own childhood. I grew up with five younger brothers and always wished for a sister. I longed for someone to share secrets with, have sleepovers with, or borrow bows from. I dreamed for years about a sister who would be a companion through those small, everyday moments—so the thought that my daughter will now have a sister feels deeply meaningful. In fact, it’s almost surreal to realize I’ll have two daughters in the family after all those years of wishing for just one sister for myself.
Our home will soon be filled with more pink, princesses, tea parties, impromptu dance sessions, hair bows, painted nails, twirl-worthy dresses, and the bright laughter of little girls. That vision feels warm and full of promise.
Etsy
When we told Miss A in the ultrasound room that the baby is a girl, she reacted with the confident air of someone who’s been expecting this all along. “Duh,” she seemed to say—she’d been convinced it would be a sister from the start. Her longtime name choice, Watermelon, shifted quickly to “Caroline” now that it’s official, though we’re keeping our actual baby name under wraps for a little while longer. We do have a name chosen, but it will stay a sweet secret until the time is right.
To our little girl on the way: we have prayed for you and wished for you for so long. Mommy, Daddy, and Big Sister can hardly wait to hold you. Big Sister asks every morning when you’ll be ready to come out and play. We are counting down the days until we can see your face, wrap you in our arms, and share all the love we have for you.