The Grays

Bill and I have had boy and girl names picked out since last summer.  We decided to keep the baby’s name a secret until our little girl is born so that we can keep something special to ourselves for a bit longer.

When I was growing up I loved the names Alexandra, Erin, and Emma for a girl.  I had dolls with each of these names and thought that some day they would share a name with my daughter.  The past few years my love for these particular names has waned and I have found it much easier coming up with names for boys.  In fact, now that we know we will be having a girl we are mulling over our original choice.  We are definitely keeping our boy name for a later date, however…

Below is a list of the most popular baby names in America, as published on the following website (which is oh so much fun – check it out!):  http://www.babynamewizard.com/

*Note:  Our current choice name does not appear on this list

Today Bill and I went in for our 22-week ultrasound and got the news we have been waiting for:  We’re having a baby girl!  We were both overjoyed and spent about 40 minutes with the ultrasound technician and doctor checking her out from head-to-toe on the 3D ultrasound.  We saw the hippocampus, blood pumping through the four ventricles of the heart, the femur bone and everything in between.  We even have a video of the whole thing!  Our little girl was upside down and breech – she was all folded up and practically kicking herself in the face with her feet when we first saw her (we are already calling her Yoga Baby)!

Within the first few minutes of the ultrasound the technician told us we were looking at the legs and bottom of our baby.  She then pointed to something that seemed to be sticking out from between the legs, asked us if we wanted to know the gender (yes!), and said calmly, “do you know what that is?”  Bill and I both immediately thought penis and were surprised when she told us we were staring at the labia!

Today I am 22 weeks!  I weigh 14 ounces and measure about 11 inches long.  The ultrasound technician said that since I was all folded up I was about the size of a pound of butter (mantequilla).  Mom and dad saw everything from my brain, nose, eyes, heart, kidneys, and feet – all the vital organs are there and I’m busy moving about, although I prefer to stay down low in mom’s belly.

The doctor said that I measure closer to 21 weeks than 22 weeks, which has been consistent with previous ultrasounds.  He may decide to make my due date a few days later – we’ll just have to wait and see!

Tomorrow we find out if our little one is a boy or girl. We have been looking forward to this appointment for the last four weeks. In fact, our last two ‘weekly’ photos seemed rather inconsequential and served mainly to pass the time leading up to tomorrow’s milestone.

Kristy and both Moms are now guessing that Baby Gray will be a girl. The record shows that Kristy has flip-flopped on this issue like a good politician. I really have no idea and am withholding judgment accordingly.

My mom asked how we would communicate the gender of our little one. Just a couple years ago she probably wouldn’t have to ask. Now we must decide between broadcasting on facebook, twitter, this blog, email, and the countless other marginally impersonal communication channels that technology has brought us. I think my mom and dad will still get a call tomorrow afternoon.