Expecting a GIRL at Christmas

The ultrasound today wasn't our first indication that we were expecting a girl. We already had superstitious, wives'-talish, and spiritual affirmations of the fact. A Brazilian doctor in the OB practice I patronize worked out his equation involving the mother's age and month of conception and revealed our baby was a girl. He admitted that his colleagues tease him but reassured me that his method is 90% accurate. In addition, her heart rates have been slightly higher than average at the check-ups.

The most special foretelling of all came from EJ. He reported twice that he had kneeled in prayer and received both an answer that the baby was a girl and comfort that she would be healthy. Before the ultrasound today when we were excitedly discussing what the baby would be, EJ incredulously called us on our doubt of his answers by asking if we thought Heavenly Father would be wrong. The ultrasound confirmed both that the baby was a girl and that everything looks healthy. On the way home, he stated that he agreed with and believed the doctor's words. The ultrasound was mere scientific confirmation of both of his revelations.

Below are a few prints of our ultrasound images. Top to bottom & left to right are her profile, front view (notice the skull), profile with hand/fingers to mouth, fingers, another profile, and leg and foot:

When we were expecting our first, Lucy, we both had impressions and dreams of a brown-eyed girl. Four years later, Lucy was very confident about Hal being a boy. She told us about his coming before he was even conceived. She walked away from Hal's ultrasound telling us that he was still a boy just like she had told us. The certainty with which our children have known of each others' comings has amazed us. We feel very blessed today. Besides, today Lucy also finally purchased the pet she has been saving and waiting for, a light blue parakeet she named Skyler.