Sunday, June 3, 2012

Sisters

The technician gave this "personalized" picture to A


It's official. Although I've long suspected it, our ultrasound confirmed it - we will be welcoming another little girl into our family.

The first time was a surprise (although I also suspected I was having a girl). It was a wonderful surprise to have at the moment of birth. I would have done the same again this time, if it were not for the 15 boxes of girls clothes we have packed away in our tiny storage area in the basement. I absolutely refused to worry about reorganizing/packing clothes if we ended up having a boy, as most of the stuff we have is not gender neutral.

This pregnancy seemed different from the start. I began having cravings almost immediately, in the form of lots of red, salty meat. Most people who know me know that I enjoy eating mostly vegetarian (although I'm not strict about this in the least - I also really enjoy fish and humanely-raised chicken). However, within days after conception, I was craving big steaks, meat pies and yes.....I'll admit it.....even a McDonald's hamburger (yuck, I hope I never have to write that again!)

So hubby and I started suspecting it might be a boy. Although we both desired a healthy baby, regardless of sex, I think hubby had a secret wish for a boy - who can blame him, growing up with two older sisters? Even our dog is a girl!

But when the midwife first heard the heartbeat at 9 weeks, I knew immediately it was another girl. I totally believe in the midwives' tale of determining sex by the heart rate - girls have higher heart rates, and boys have lower heart rates. This is, obviously, not always the norm (and if you have a baby in the middle, say around 135-140 beats/min, it's hard to tell!); but in a lot of the cases it can be a good predictor of sex.

So appointment after appointment, the heart beat has been a steady 150 beats/min. And I slowly realized that my daughter would have a younger sister. Plus, after the first inital cravings passed, my pregnancy has followed the same pattern as my first - lots of nausea, vomiting and headaches!

I don't have a sister - a super awesome brother, but no sister. Almost everyone I know who has sisters seem to have close relationships with them. Yes, I know, most of the time they fight like cats and dogs in childhood, but as adults, wonderful friendships can develop! (and if you have experienced otherwise, don't burst my bubble!)

Both hubby and I left the ultrasound very excited, and since then, we've been brainstorming names and talking to A about her new role as Big Sister. And although we've decided to reveal the sex of the baby, we will be keeping our name choices close to our hearts - no pregnant mama needs any opinions on her name choices!

I'll be back here again soon to post a belly pic and celebrate my 2-year blogiversary, so stay tuned!

Did you grow up with sisters? Tell me about the good experiences, and gloss over the bad :)

13 comments:

  1. That is the sweetest gift! I have a sister who is eleven years older than I am, and I still think that she is the coolest person ever. I have been following her around emulating her all my life. I can't imagine my life without her. I think the heart rate thing is a myth--not only did I ask the doctor, but it turned out to be wrong for us. (We're keeping the sex of the baby a secret just between the two of us.)

    Her five-year-old daughter, on seeing my latest ultrasound photos? "That doesn't look like a baby!" What did your girl say?

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    1. lol, I guess the heart rate thing only works for me! I read the post about your sister - i loved it! Ya, my little girl really didn't get the whole ultrasound. She thought we were going to be bringing the baby home that day!

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  2. Congratulations and sweet picture (I love Sound Diagnosis they are awesome there). Having two kids of the same gender is a wonderful thing, I think they're much more likely to be friends as well as siblings. Are you even more excited now that you know for sure?

    And I'm with you on keeping name choices to yourself ;) It's such a personal thing, plus it's fun to surprise everyone.

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    1. Yes, I'm very excited now! I thought I might regret finding out the sex, but I'm really not!

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  3. I grew up with an older AND a younger sister AND even a younger brother. Blessed am I! Congratulations! Daughters are wonderful....

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    1. Four children sounds like so much fun. If only...lol!!

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  4. I have an older brother & an older sister. To this day my brother & don't get along very well (he's too buggy) and although me & my sister have had our differences growing up & still have the occaisional disagreement, we get along pretty well now that we are adults. (20 & 23, 3 1/2 year difference). To solve all fights, buy all toys exactly the same! ;)

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    1. I love that idea - same toys! Although they'll probably just find something else to fight about, lol

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  5. I grew up with a twin sister (identical) and an older sister. There are simply no words to desribe the power of a sister relationship. Especially with my twin sister, her exsistance is all I have ever known. Our fights can be epic battles of will, and hateful mud slinging, and then literally dissolve into a fit of giggles, or simply end with a, 'Feel like watching a movie?'. No matter what has happened over the years our loyalty to each other remains constant. The fierce protection, eternal devotion and often volatile emotions, indeed the very nature and complexity of our relationship can be explained in 3 simple words. She's My Sister. :)

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  6. So excited for you and your family! As an only child I have nothing constructive to add about sisters except I would have liked to have one ;)

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  7. Congrats Misty! Two little girls will be awesome!

    We go next Friday for my 20 week scan and hope to find out the sex. Any tips on how to make sure the little fella/lady is lively and not hiding their boy/girl parts? I have heard drinking a big glass of cold juice just before your ultra sound?

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    1. yes!! I find fizzy drinks the best...dunno why, cause obviously the bubbles can't get through to the placenta, lol. Hope it works out and you can find out!

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