The Gender Game

The day that we found out we were having a girl was the scariest day of my entire life. The sonogram felt like it went on forever checking heart chambers, lungs, bones, and everything between. Then she asked us, "Do you want to know the gender?" It was like the movies, this didn't just really happen to us. And I really didn't know what we were going to say. I remember looking at Dave's face just to make sure. We had gone back and forth about it about a million times. Finally, we said yes.

"It's a girl!" (nurse)
"Oh NO!" (mom)
"You can't say oh no!" (dad)

As we walked down the hall way, I was in a daze. I got ready to give my 299th ounce of blood for the billionth screening. Another nurse looked at me and said, in her southern accent, "it's all about how you raise them." This comforted me in a strange way I still can't explain.

Today, I couldn't imagine anyone different than Lilli. Almost like it was meant to be. I wanted a little boy so badly because of how much having a girl scared me. Now, I feel like if there is a next one, I would happily take another girl.

We can't keep someone from making mistakes, no matter the gender. Just because it is a rough journey, being a girl, doesn't change that it is a rewarding one. I want her to be happy just being who she wants to be and I'll do my best to teach her well.