Calling My Baby By Name

I have to admit my level of anxiety has grown over the past few weeks, as we've gotten closer to April 23rd. From our first doctor appointment in February, Nik and I have spent countless hours dreaming of what the future will hold for us and the new addition to our family. Yet, we have held-off on our "important" planning until we officially find-out if we're having a boy or a girl.

Although it really didn't matter to me whether the baby was a boy or a girl, I had to quietly hope that it was a boy for the standard muchismo reasons: 1) A boy will carry on the family name 2) I understand boys. 3) I have no idea what do with a baby girl. What I found difficult to deal with was the waiting. Waiting to get the ultrasound to be scheduled, or for the day of the ultrasound to come. It seemed like waiting forever while the doctor checked everything over on the baby... except its gender. She began by looking at the heart... both boys and girls have hearts (except teenage girls but that's another blog). Then the lips... both boys and girls have lips, too. Eyes, ears, toes, fingers, spinal column... none of which is gender exclusive. Well the baby was laying on its side and being very polite in not showing the goods (if you know what I mean). So much so, that she made a comment that led Nik and I to think that our child's modesty was going to get in the way of our finding-out what we wanted to know. Finally, the doctor seemed to get all the pictures and measurements that she needed, and requested that Nikki roll over on her side to try to get our child to cooperate with our gender analysis. Finally after a little coaxing, the doctor was able to get a picture that made it very apparent that we are having an Andrew Ryan Palmer. We couldn't be happier!