We're having a GIRL!

We had our 20 week ultrasound on Monday and were delighted to find out that we are having a baby girl! The due date of July 13th is right on target, so it seems Allie (whose birthday is July 12th) will be receiving a very exciting birthday present (or at least we hope she'll think it is exciting). The pregnancy is progressing very well. Our baby girl is very active. I first began feeling movements around the 14th or 15th week, and they are strong enough now that I can see my belly move ever so slightly with some of the kicks. The night before the ultrasound, she was extremely active and Alex was there to feel her moving too.

Allie is very into babies right now and points them out everywhere she sees them. She gives our baby/my belly kisses several times a day. And today she was looking through her books and brought the "I'm a Big Sister" book to me so we could read it together. All in all, I don't think she's comprehending much about the baby, which will be arriving in 4.5 months. I'm sure she'll love her and I hope she'll be gentle with her (I'm a little nervous about this as lately Allie has begun banging her baby dolls, along with other toys, on the ground when she is angry!).

We're thrilled that Allie and our new baby girl will get to share the bond of sisterhood and, as parents, we look forward to watching the joys and challenges that come along with their relationship (i.e. tea parties, singing & dancing, playing house and, of course, in later years, fighting over clothes/the phone/boys). In the meantime, we are taking one day at a time and enjoying these final months as a family of 3.

Thanks for sharing this exciting time with us! Love - Janelle, Alex and Allie