Boy-or-girl

Today, I had my 20 week ultrasound. You know, the one where you have to drink a ton of water, refrain from using the bathroom, and then lay patiently for an hour, while a technician presses, pokes and jiggles a large vibrator-looking thing across your bladder?

I think I peed the world's sixth ocean when it was over.

The 20 week ultrasound hopefully delivers much positive news— that your baby has two arms and legs, doesn't have a third eye hovering directly above it's nose, and is the correct weight for it's gestation.

Mine has all limbs accounted for and weighs in at 14 oz., which is totally within normal range, but in no way accounts for the 13 lbs. I've gained thus far.

But the most suspenseful part of the whole experience, is looking for signs of a penis to pop up on the monitor. 

Cue Jaws music— da-da, da-da, da-da, DA-DA-DAAAAA!!!!!

"What's that?" my husband asked excitedly.

"Either an arm or you're giving birth to the next Dirk Diggler," said the technician. (I think she just said, "it's an arm" and I imagined the rest.)

During Mazzy's 20 week ultrasound (more than two years ago), I hadn't fully admited to myself that I had a preference until that warm blue goop was unceremoniously splurted onto my stomach. Every time anything remotely resembling male genitalia would appear on the screen, my heart would sink. 

That's how I knew I really wanted a girl.

Mike, of course, was having the complete opposite experience— he had always dreamed of having a son.

In fact, one of the reasons we found out the gender was because Mike didn't want his first reaction to his child to be one of disappointment. He wanted to know what was coming and prepare himself accordingly. 

I understood completely.

It took him about a day to digest but by the end of it, he was thrilled to be having a girl.

And of course, we all know how well it worked out for him. Mazzy lives and breathes for her father. And I can't imagine any boy could possibly rival my daughter's devotion to the Giants.

This time around, I honestly don't have a preference.

A girl would mean that Mazzy would have a sister which is very special to me since my sister is my best friend. A girl would mean that Mazzy and the new baby could more easily share a room and perhaps we could put off buying a new place for a few more years. A girl would mean that we would save money on new clothes, new decor, and new toys (I know that sounds like one huge gender stereotype, but it's true).

A boy would mean that we would have the experience of raising both genders. A boy would mean that Mike's dream would be fulfilled and there would be no begging a few years down the line for me to consider a third kid. A boy would mean that I would get to experience the kind of love I hear only exists between a mother and her son, similar to the kind of bond a father has with his daughter.

We haven't told Mazzy that we are having a baby yet, but we have asked her if she would prefer a brother or a sister.

"A brother."

She is adament. We've asked her on many different occasions and her answer never wavers. 

I then follow up with, "But what if you had a sister? Don't you think that would be fun too?"

"Yes," she says.

"What would you name her?"

"BOY!"

Well, we now have the answer, officially confirmed by the technician, unless the technician sucks at her job.

But just revealing it would be no fun.

So let's play a game…

You guess the gender of my baby in the comment section below and then I will randomly select the winner from the people who guessed correctly.

The winner will get a gender-neutral "NYC Baby" gift from my favorite little downtown children's shop— Piccolini. Prize package includes a copy of the children's book "A Walk in New York", a Metrocard rattle and a Keith Haring bib set.

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Check out Piccolini's online shop for a carefully curated selection of baby books, toys and clothes, including a big emphasis on music themed baby gifts.  

As always, please only enter if you are a Mommy Shorts Facebook Fan or subscriber. Or become one, just for the ocassion— that's cool, too.

Winner will be announced one week from today on Tuesday, July 9th.

Ready?

Do you think I am having a boy or a girl???? 

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Top image sourced from Hart to Hart Digital.