Because I’m of “advanced maternal age” now (I’m 35), there have been a few more blood tests and things with this pregnancy than with Annalie. One of those tests was a 20-week ultrasound today. Annalie and Troy both were there too, which was a relief. Troy wasn’t sure if he’d be able to get an hour or two off work as they were in the middle of prepping for a last-minute presentation to some Navy bigwigs. At the last minute he called and said he was leaving work and he would meet us at the clinic. Whew! I’d have hated for him to miss it, since he probably won’t get to be at any other doctor’s appointments for this baby. We’ll be lucky if he makes it to the birth, with how busy this job is keeping him.

Anyway, we were all there to find out that this baby is a GIRL!

The other things that were checked with this ultrasound—the baby’s size, brain, stomach, heart, amniotic fluid, etc.—were all fine. Or as the cheerful doctor told us with his Italian accent, “Norrr-MAL, norrr-MAL, everything looks perfectly norrr-MAL. Good, good, good. What a good little baby she is!” He said everything looked so normal that I might not even need a 32-week ultrasound. And while it would be fun to see the baby again before she’s born, I can’t say I would mind losing one doctor’s appointment in those last couple of months. There will already be plenty of them to deal with.

Annalie has been petitioning us for a baby sister for years now. She was thrilled to hear that she’s finally getting one. She had several name suggestions ready—Daisy, Daffodil, Rose—which is three more names than Troy and I have thought of.

Annalie also pointed out to us that her baby sister would be able to wear her old clothes, but she was a little worried that she would have to share her toys. Once I assured her that she and the baby will be far enough apart in age that they probably won’t be much interested in the same toys at the same time, she was fully enthusiastic about a girl baby. “But still…” she mused, “maybe we can put a baby gate in front of my bedroom so my little sister can’t get in my room and break my stuff.”

So I guess we’ll continue to have lots of pink in our lives! Although really, Annalie’s favorite color until quite recently was blue. Now she goes back and forth between blue, purple, and pink. And although I have nothing against pink, Annalie was far more likely to be dressed in a variety of primary colors when she was a baby. Hmm. Maybe those early fashion choices I made for her are behind her love of crazy combinations of pattern and color today.

Maybe I should just dress this kid in head-to-toe pink!

Taking at-arm’s-length self-portraits with babies is fun! Do more of these with your second kid.

And keep doing them with your first kid and your niece, because they’re both really cute.

“There’s a secret door in my room. I use it for getting away from the bad guys, and from ninjas.”
Jun 28 00:58:00 2010

“The good news about having a baby brother or sister is that I will get to give it hugs and kisses!”
Jun 24 18:27:23 2010

“Peace out, yo!…What does that even MEAN, anyway?”
Jun 23 15:31:07 2010

“Dog paw? Fascinating!”
Jun 22 09:22:44 2010

“Oh, today is Father’s Day? Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!”
Jun 20 18:20:08 2010

“I want a Scooby-Doo party on my next birthday. Then I can give out little dolls of monsters, zombies, ghosts, and aliens as party prizes!”
Jun 18 15:13:23 2010

“Miss Brenda’s stir-fry pork, I LOVE YOU!!!”
Jun 15 19:37:36 2010

“Men, I’m Annalie of the USS Gourmet. I’m here to tell you, this whole ship is one big security camera!”
Jun 14 14:56:53 2010

“I’m pretending to be an Earthbender!”
Jun 13 12:57:05 2010

“I stand corrected. I’d better stick to martial arts.”
Jun 9 16:41:05 2010

“Mom, tell Miss Brenda and all your friends that have kids that it’s kinda easy to suck yogurt through a straw. They need to know that.”
Jun 7 03:45:58 2010

@OutofmyMind It is! Did you know you can also eat applesauce with a straw? It’s true, I do it all the time.
Jun 9 16:40:27 2010 in reply to OutofmyMind

“You’re my darrrrrlin’, you’re my darrrrlin’, you’re my DARRRR-ling Clementine…”
Jun 5 14:52:16 2010

“I’m going to put this picture from @babybug in the place of honor…right next to the best picture I drew.”
6:27 PM Jun 4th

“Yeah, yeah. I’m SIX now, you know.”
9:46 AM May 10th

“It’s lunchtime already? Huh, the day goes by.”
1:24 PM May 30th

“Wow, it looks SO three-dimensional!”
2:30 PM May 26th

“This is so sweet and sour, I can’t get enough of it!”
4:50 PM May 24th

“No, I’m sorry. I can’t sing that song for you again. It’s a one-hit wonder.”
12:20 AM May 22nd

“Kiki’s Delivery Service is a little movie pronounced by the same company that made Totoro.”
11:13 PM May 7th

(talking on her cousin’s phone rattle) “Hello? Talk to me. Oh, BILLY! How are ya? I haven’t talked to you since kindergarten. SO crazy…”
8:04 PM Apr 28th

“Can I have some more cram bangoons?”
4:21 PM Apr 21st

“I’ll do it, but first you have to threaten me with candy.”
12:53 PM Apr 21st

“Aliens never surprise me, because you can ALWAYS expect aliens on Doctor Who.”
1:46 PM Apr 18th

“I think I have allergicness to pussy willow pollen.”
5:22 PM Apr 15th

“This is @babybug. I drew her mouth open because you know how she just talks, talks, talks all the time.”
2:03 AM Apr 11th

“You know how people just LOVE apples, and I’m one of them.”
3:07 PM Apr 8th

(trying on Easter dresses) “This one passes the jump test, and it’s SO zero minutes ago!”
4:48 PM Apr 1st