The Big Gender Reveal (continued...)

I am a bit late in posting this, but my normal routine has been quite crazy lately between Christmas, the ultrasound drama, a second Christmas celebration, and a New Years Eve birthday party for my dad's wife. Anyway, the gender is finally in!

As I said before, the ultrasound technician at our official 20 week scan was unable to determine the gender, but she said that it was most likely a girl. We had planned a little gender reveal party for family and close friends the following evening, so the time crunch was on! Unless we were to cancel the party and just hope for another scan, we would have to do an elective ultrasound. As soon as I finished writing last week's post and the reality of gender-neutral planning set in, I started researching elective ultrasounds.

The very first search result in Google turned out to be the closest and least expensive place around, so I went ahead and called InnerView Ultrasounds in Malvern. I explained that we had already done the 20 week scan and that it was inconclusive. I said that I was really itching to find out what it is and that I would love an appointment in the next week or so before I go back to work and my schedule becomes much less flexible. She responded, "How about tomorrow? Twelve noon?"

I immediately called C at work and told him that I had good news, but I hoped he wouldn't be disappointed. I had made the appointment for noon, but it looked like he wouldn't be able to come because he was working. He was still happy to know that we would be finding out and went back to work. As soon as he told his boss, however, that we were able to schedule a second scan, but that it was tomorrow during the work day, his boss freaked out, but in a good way. He insisted that C was not to miss this appointment under any circumstance and told him to come in early, then take another long lunch. It was all set!

In the past few days, I have basically become a walking commercial for this place. Both the husband ultrasound technician and the wife receptionist are super pleasant and our DVD, ultrasound and prints package was $99. Whereas during the 20 week scan, I laid on a metal rack with nowhere to put my arms other than crossed on my chest in a freezing cold room, this place has full ultrasound suites with a leather sofa for family, a comfy chair for Dad and a real reclining twin bed for Mom. They also project the entire hour-long scan onto a movie screen in front of you instead of sitting with your neck turned at the little machine for an hour.

When we arrived, there was no one else there and it seemed like the technician took some extra time for that reason. The room was lovely and warm with ambient music playing, like I said before, a vast improvement over the previous experience. After a few minutes of scanning and friendly conversation, he asked us if we had any names picked out. We said that a girl would be called Helen Carey and a boy would be Charles "Charley" Everett. He responded, "OK, good. Well, I only ask for names when I know the gender. I like to introduce your baby by name."

Just then, he froze the image on the screen and introduced us to our son, Baby Charley. It's a boy! He showed us dozens of angles and pictures of the head, face, hands and feet. He told us about the way he was sitting and captured video of his squirming and even sucking his thumb. It was really an awesome experience.

I whisked C back to work, then I promised my mom that I would tell her as soon as that afternoon. I went to her house and showed her the DVD, then we went to the grocery store and party supply store to get food and decorations for our little party. Within a few hours, I had pizzas and a baked ziti in the oven, salads and snacks on the table and I whipped up some special cupcakes with a hidden blue center. At the right moment when everyone was there, everyone was allowed to bite into their cupcake and find out! It was a really good time and I can't remember the last time I saw C so happy. <3

This weekend, we did another of those big milestones to which I have been looking forward for a long, long time -- we went to Babies R Us and started our registry! C normally hates shopping, but we went through that store for a little over two hours and he never complained once. He was even patient and helpful as I weighed the options and looked up online reviews and even pushed the cart around with the bedding set in it as I painstakingly matched the colors. (Did I mention I am a little compulsive when it comes to things matching?) It was yet another wonderful experience -- better than I ever imagined.

Ever since finding out, we are both so excited! Not that we ever had real marital problems before, but this experience has really bonded us closer and really made us share in mutual joy unlike any graduation, promotion or accomplishment ever has before. We are truly so happy! <3