Baby #4
When I was pregnant with Ella, I really had no preference for a boy or a girl.
I was delighted when she turned out to be a girl, and while lots of people make comments about wanting to have an oldest boy, I’m the oldest child in my family (a surprise to exactly zero people who have met me in person), and so an oldest daughter didn’t seem at all strange to me.
I didn’t think I had a preference with Ani, but the night before my ultrasound, as I was lying in bed, I suddenly realized how DESPERATELY I wanted another girl. It was such a happy moment the next morning when we found out that she was indeed a girl.
With Star, I was back to feeling like either a boy or a girl would be equally fun, although I was thrilled when we found out she was a girl too (I surprised myself by bursting into happy tears when the tech told me).
I knew with this baby, everyone would be making comments about FINALLY getting a boy, from the very get-go (and really, they started when I was pregnant with Star; people would find out we were having third girl and tell me we’d have to try at least once more for a boy).
But secretly, I was really hoping that a fourth baby would be a girl.
A friend of mine here has six boys and when I told her I was pregnant, she said, “At this point, I’d be really sad to give up my all-boy family card.”
I knew EXACTLY what she meant.
Having all girls has become a big part of my parenting identity, and I’d be sad to give that up.
Plus, I’ve always loved the idea of a Little Women or Little House or All-of-a-Kind Family of my own.
On the other hand, a boy would be something new and different for our family, and I loved loved loved having two little brothers after the three of us girls when I was growing up.
And I watch my sisters with their little boys and know I’d love being a mom to a little guy too.
Last week, on my birthday, I had an early morning appointment that included an ultrasound. And a few minutes into it, the tech told me that our future looked like this:
Because of some early bleeding, I’d already had ultrasounds at 12 and 13 weeks with two different techs, both of whom independently said it looked like a girl to them, so I’ve suspected for many weeks that we were having a fourth girl.
But oh, it’s nice to have it confirmed.
I just can hardly believe that, come the end of February, we’ll have a little four-girl crew at our house.
If Ani weren't already Ani. Amy would be a really good blog name for this new little one! Congratulations.
How wonderful!!! Congratulations!
Aww congrats!! Your girls are so adorable, and I'm sure they will all be wonderful friends throughout their lives! Maybe they will even do the next generation of raiding my sister's closet 😉 Hope you are feeling well!
Congratulations Janssen! I of course have no direct experience with this, but in seeing friends and family find out the gender of their babies, it seems that whatever they end up being is always what they're meant to be.
Oh I'm so happy for you! Having all boys, I know exactly what you mean. In fact, I feel a little guilty for not wanting a girl because I know everyone expects me to. I think I kind of like my status of being the only girl in the family, and I don't want to give that up. Anyway, I think you will make the perfect Little Women family, and I'm thrilled for you.
Congratulations! How wonderful!
Yay!!! Of my close group of friends I'm the only one that has all girls (or all one gender at all) and I think they all feel bad for me but no pity needed here! Aside from it being so fun to have a house full of girls, it's definitely convenient/cost efficient to have all one gender! So happy for you and all your girls!!!
YAY! Congratulations! We have three girls and I can tell you that I am totally happy not having a boy (although that would have been fine, too) and if we had decided to have more than three, I would have wanted another girl.
Aw congrats!!! I come from a family of 7 girls and there is nothing like an all
Girl family!!!
Congratulations! I have 4 girls too and it is kind of awesome!
Congratulations!! ♡
I say, you make beautiful girls it's your duty to keep it up. Congrats on the little one! -jj
I couldn't get over how upset I was when my sister-in-law told us we were having a girl at our early ultrasound peek, which happened to be the week every baby looks like a girl. I didn't think I cared one bit, but my mom swears you're given a little hunch of what it's going to be and if you're told differently it just feels wrong. Yay for an all girl dream fulfilled!
Yay so excited for you! I have three boys and I do secretly hope our next is a boy as well. Might as well at this point right? 🙂
Wow so exciting!! I'm so amazed at how that happens. I always felt for some reason that is have an all boy crew and worried I wouldn't get my girl, but here we are 2 girls in, whew!
I love this announcement. After two girls I was really afraid I'd never have a boy…long story short I had felt like there was this little boy that was supposed to come into our family so I felt pretty desperate to get him here one way or another. My third was a boy, and that feeling of desperation went away and I realized I was waiting for SAM, not for a BOY or a change. For his little spirit. When I had my fourth people kept saying "I bet it's another girl" in a serves-you-right or wouldn't-that-be-terrible kind of way. I just kept thinking how happy I was to be getting a baby. As you well know with multiple kids, each one comes with their own spirit and personality so it's mostly just fun to discover the individual kid. I ended up with an even split, two girls, two boys, but I am a little sad that I'll never have another little baby girl. I love families that "specialize" in a gender, there is a great dynamic there.
Congratulations!
I also have three girls and feel like being a mum to all girls is part of my identity. If I ever have another baby I'd like another girl – as would my husband.
I'm sure you must get the same "You must be hoping for a boy this time" comments that I got when pregnant with my youngest. It drove me crazy – especially when my older girls were with me, as it often came across (unintentionally, I'm sure) that girls aren't as good as boys, and I could see that it upset my oldest. The worst was when people would find out I was having another girl and say "Oh, well… You can always try again later"! Thanks, but I got it right this time!
I'm one of 6 girls, no boys, so I'm a little partial to the all girl household!
Working on your All-of-a-kind Family!
Congratulations!! So excited for you guys!
That is so exciting. I have friends who have 5 girls and 1 lone boy! It's kind of sad, though he enjoys lot of Daddy time! As for me, I have 3 boys and 3 girls and that suits my OCD personality just fine!
Congratulations! You *finally* got your fourth girl!!! 😉
Four girls are the best!!! I love having three sisters. Congratulations 🙂
Congratulations!! I have three girls, and would love to continue the trend if I were able to have more. The girls club is pretty fun!!! 😀
I loved being a 2-boy Mum, and totally think that 4-girl Mom is wonderful for you and your sweet sweet family. Congratulations! You 'make' such gorgeous children, it must be hard to stop at 4 😉 – they really are darling xx
How wonderful <3 Congratulations!
Four girls (and no boys) in my family and we love it! Congrats!
Congrats!!! Yay for a healthy baby, yay for being happy at an all-girl family! As a member of a four-girl family, I heartily approve of your news!! 🙂
So fun! Is it bad that when you posted your pregnancy announcement I just assumed it was a girl? And then I read this and thought, "Oh, I guess she didn't specify…" You're such a great girl mom, it's going to be a party at your house.
Yaaaay!
xox
Congrats! I'm the oldest of seven sisters, no brothers, and it's terrific!
Congratulations!
Oh, I am so thrilled for you!!! You were made for this. I can't wait to see what you name her–both her real name and blog name!
I am so happy for you and your family!! What a wonderful thing. At this point, I would be happy to simply be blessed with a second child… boy or girl, I don't care. 🙂