Much to the mirth of the bulging women and ageing receptionists in the MUMS centre I scuttle over to my wife, who has been sat in the waiting room wondering where I am as I sit in another waiting room wondering exactly the same thing. I was nervous, you see, and not thinking straight. I couldn’t even work out why I was nervous; after all, it’s not like the sonographer was going to scan me to see what gender I am. I’m 99% sure I’m male. If I’m not, peeing standing up is a bad decision.
I have two boys, my heirs, so I’ve never really been fussed about what sex our third baby is, until this moment. As long as it’s healthy, as the cliché goes. My wife, on the other hand, had convinced herself that we were having a third boy, and as such the willy:woo-woo ratio in the family would be a rather intimidatory 4:1. She was sure that she would never get to dress up a little girl in pretty dresses, brush her hair, discuss periods, and all of those other things that mums do with daughters.
We’re led into the sonographer’s room by a lady who looks rather similar to Jessica Ennis. So similar, in fact, that I am tempted to look at her more than the ultrasound monitor.
"The monitor is behind you, sir."
"I know."
The sonographer squirts the gel and starts scanning, describing our baby as having a “beautiful spine”, which is probably not suitable as a chat-up line – along with “a very normal head circumference” and “regular length thigh bones”. All the while, my wife and I are thinking Yeah, it’s great that he/she is OK, but would you just look between the legs already?
The sonographer, perhaps picking up on our telepathic messages, duly obliges.
“So, you have two boys at home?” he says.
We nod. And then he tells us we’re having a girl.
My wife pulls this face.
Suddenly, I care about the sex of my baby: and I’m over the moon. A girl! Two boys and a girl! I envisage myself snatching the hairbrush off my wife and back-combing my daughter’s hair. I’ll be the over-protective dad who, when she brings home her first boyfriend, will grill him to within an inch of his life about his intentions. And, of course, I’ll be the one footing the bill for her wedding. Oh, that doesn’t matter. With a bit of tinsel even the cheapest registry office can look pukka.
A girl. Amazing. For the rest of the day I find myself shaking my head and muttering “a girl” to myself, especially when we flick through the racks of baby clothes in H&M, picking out a sweet little dress and a pink babygrow with strawberries on it.
It looks like there’s going to be another woman in my life pretty soon. And then, by the time my wife has grown used to sharing her time with Jessica Ennis lady, we’ll have a daughter. A girl. My baby girl.
WOW! congratulations! Fantastic news! My husband still struggles with Miss G’s tights, so get practicing as soon as you can
I’ll practice on my wife! x
ahh Congratulations! That’s brilliant news……..except that girls really are devils in disguise!!
I’m sure I’ll find that out pretty soon! x
Congratulations – what wonderful news for you both and such a wonderful blog post
Thank you, that’s very kind! x
Yay. Congratulations Ben!
Thank you! x
Oh how lovely, congratulations! My partner and I have 3 boys and I suspect the next child will be a boy, which I’m fine with but think I would be thrilled with a girl too.
Fingers crossed!
Congratulations! What a lucky little girl she’ll be having 2 big brothers to look after her
You made me cry again I hate you
I read this post twice because I like it so much. Congratulations! Your love for this new girl in your life is already apparent, what a lucky girl she is. X
Congrats! Love the way you presented this…too funny! lol
Thanks!
Congratulations! Be ready for super diva behaviour… or that may just be my 20 month old daughter. I’m sure they’re not all that bossy…
Oh hooray! A little girl
When Charlotte was born, and for a few weeks afterwards we also did the ‘oh it’s a girl!… Fancy that! A girl!… We have a girl!…’ thing. It’s a beautiful thing – enjoy the rest of the pregnancy
I know it’s pretty impossible to make this sister of yours cry but you made me well up. Achievement.
Congratulations, how lovely. Great you both wouldn’t have minded as long as the baby was healthy. The father/daughter bond is really special too. Enjoy!
Blimey this post should come with a warning *dries eyes*.
Girls rock. I am a total daddy’s girl myself but didn’t see to what extent or how it worked until we had our daughter. Imagine how protective it will be to have 2 older brothers! Lovely family unit!!!
I need to tell you something. Girls are over rated. You have a shock to come, from the simplicity of boys to the manipulative evil of girls!!!!
Aww congratulations. Now will you start thinking about names (lol I have a blog post on that don’t you know).
I have tagged you – but you probably already been tagged in this very popular meme http://pinkoddy.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/question-of-twelves/ )
Well hello. I’ve just stumbled upon your blog via twitter, and what a lovely post to walk into. Congratulations on the little girl, they are the shades of grey where little boys are black and white… Well unless you have a boy like my youngest who is all manner of colours and proud of it to boot.
Love the blog and congratulations! Never heard of a woo-woo though! Oh, and that thing about girls being easier – not really true, fun though ….
Thank you! People keep telling me they’re more difficult!
Aah, congratulations. Girls rock!
(boys are pretty cool too though aren’t they)
Lovely post xx
Awww *sniff* this made me slightly emotional.
Congratulations xx
Congrats on the girl….”peeing standing up is probably a bad idea” keeps running through my mind though…lol