It’s official: the bean is a GIRL! And we couldn’t be more excited.
Well, actually, Burger’s a bit oblivious to it all.
We found out on the day before Christmas Eve (December 23rd) thanks to some Oscar-worthy pleading to the doc (she wanted us to come in on the 30th but we were dying to tell our families in time for the holidays).
Best. Christmas. Gift. Ever.
And lucky for us, baby beanette wasn’t shy and we got the most obvious shot of “the goods” that you can get. Woo hoo! (or should I say woo hoo-ha?). We originally thought we wanted the tech to write down boy or girl in an envelope and then go directly out to a special one-on-one Merry Christmas dinner afterwards to rip it open (before heading off to spend the next four days with family).
But when we thought about having to avert our eyes during that part of her scan (so as not to ruin the envelope surprise later) we both realized that we didn’t want to miss a moment of gazing at the bean while she did her cute womb thing. We literally didn’t think we were capable of turning our heads away for a second (especially since it might be the last ultrasound of Sherry’s entire pregnancy) so we decided to heck with the envelope- let’s find out right then and there. So that’s how Sherry (with goo on her belly) and I (on the edge of my seat) learned that we were going to have a daughter. And yes I kissed my beaming wife right there on the table in front of the tech. It was such an exciting moment.
But the plot thickens. Since we love surprises, we hadn’t told any of our family members that we’d scored that last-minute pre-Christmas appointment. They all thought we were finding out around the 30th when Sherry truly hit the 20 week mark. So after a romantic celebratory dinner full of name chatter and nursery brainstorming, we hit the grocery store for gingerbread cookie mix and pink icing to prepare for our big family reveal on Christmas Eve the very next day.
While the gingerbread girls that we made won’t win any cookie-decorating awards, they did the trick when it came to breaking the news to our family. As soon as we showed up to my parents’ house in Northern Virginia on Christmas Eve (after tiling the bathroom all day we were able to conveniently time our arrival right for dessert) I announced that we’d brought a special treat: “Surprise! We made gingerbread cookies in honor of the bean…” Sherry continued: “…and we learned yesterday that we should make them ALL PINK!!!!”
Shouting, jumping, and general merriment/pandemonium ensued. We had officially surprised the heck out of everyone and they were all thrilled. The entire crowd – especially our niece Olivia – was extremely excited to be adding a baby girl to the pair of baby boys that my sisters brought into the world in 2009. So naturally, everyone expressed their excitement by gobbling down the cookies in record time. Which was festive and fun- as long as that’s not the reaction our little lady elicits when she comes into the world next Spring.
And since I know we’re bound to get showered with girl-specific advice and/or questions, we should say upfront that (1) yes, this makes the name brainstorming much easier but we’re not planning to settle on anything (or share our contenders) ’til we meet our little bundle of baby in May and (2) despite all the pink themes in this post, we’re leaning toward a less gender specific color scheme for the nursery (think greens, blues, and yellows with a dash of pink here and there). Although now it’s really fun to think through some feminine accents and DIY details to make the room feel sweet and baby girl specific (but those with baby boys shouldn’t discount our nursery project completely since there will be lots of boy or girl adaptable ideas).
Enough about Baby P- we’d love to hear your stories about your big exciting boy/girl reveal (whether via ultrasound or via birth). Heck a super close family friend of ours just welcomed two beautiful twin girls into the world after believing there was only one in there for nine whole months (she didn’t want to find out beforehand or even have an ultrasound so it was a huuuuge surprise!). Oh and feel free to divulge your “it’s a girl!’ or “it’s a boy!” reveals as well – it’s so much fun to picture how such a major moment was shared with family and friends.
Christie Stearns says
CONGRATULATIONS guys :) Yaaay for a baby girl and I love the way you broke the news!!! Can’t wait to see what you guys do with the nursery!
Amy says
Congrats on Baby GIRL!!
We found out New Years Eve 2008 that we were having a girl. We announced it at our NYE party at midnight.
Jen B. says
Hooray for dashes of pink! Congratulations to you both. It was fun to get your news while our now one-year-old little gal napped and I caught my breath pre-first bday bash.
As for sharing the news, with our first, a little guy, we found out the week before Christmas as well, though we also led everyone to believe that we wouldn’t know until January. Our big reveal involved puppy stuffed animals holding an “It’s a Boy!” sign for both sets of grandparents. We stuck each in a big gift box and wrapped them, and then waited for our folks to open them on Christmas Day. Fun, fun.
And so the adventure begins for you two. Best of luck – rest while you can!
Jody says
Congrats on the girl. Ours is going to be 3 in February and let me tell you they are a blast!
Also where did you get the plate that you have the cookies on? Luv it!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jody,
That plate is actually from John’s mother in law (but we’ve seen similar ones at Marshall’s and TJ Maxx). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Phoebe S says
Congrats! WOO! That is so great. And I love your idea of how to let everyone in your family know. Filed away for potential future…. :D
Side note, while I’m not a mom myself, I’ve heard a few times that yellow for a nursery actually makes for more crying from babies. Not sure if this is true or not (or if the shade of yellow is what’s important), but may be worth looking into for better sleep!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Phoebe,
We have also heard that! We even blogged about it here: https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/12/calm-cranky-might-be-your-walls/
Not to worry, there won’t be any yellow on the walls. Stay tuned for more details!
xo,
s
Katie says
How exciting! Girls just melt your heart! As for decorating the room idea. I thought the same thing! My husband on the other hand was sure I would do all pink! But our darling little daughter has a 3 blue walls and one green wall. Their is a coral pink color in her bedding but it is pretty non girlie. Although I am thinking for her next room design a strawberry pink with the blue of course!
Congrats!
AlaskanAndi says
Congratulations! That is exciting news. Our second (of three) is our only girl in all the family and she was a “happy little surprise” … we were planning on more but not just 18 months after the first. We find her personality completely different from the other two. Sweet as can be yet has the lungs of a lion! We found out I was pregnant 2 and 1/2 months into the pregnancy. I was still nursing. Talk about EXHAUSTED. No advice here – well, except go with your motherly (and fatherly) instincts.
:-) Have fun!
Ashley says
I’m so excited for you guys! Congratulations!!!!!
Jenn says
Congrats!!! We found out we are having a baby boy in April. This is really such an exciting time! There have been some small obstacles in renovation and what not though because of this. My husband is very helpful, but not handy! I’ve had to get help with things that I usually would just whip out myself. It’s all for good cause though! Congrats again! =)
Sherry says
Hey! Congrats you guys! Welcome to team pink! We’re having a girl also in February :)
Ally says
Congrats on the little girl! I love your blog and wanted to comment on your friend having two little girls after thinking there was only one baby in her belly :-D My mom thought she was having on boy her entire pregnancy with me until my sister was born, then the doctor said “uh-oh, we have another one” and after arguing with him for twenty minutes I was born. She’s not too disappointed though. What a fun surprise, okay, a surprise anyway! Congrats again on finding out your little bean is a girl!
Making it Lovely says
Yay for little girls, and yay for PINK! ;) Really, just yay for babies in general. I’m so happy for you both.
Christie says
Congrats to you both! We have 2 girls, one who just turned 2 and one who will be 1 next week!
We didn’t find out for either our girls. We wanted to have a surprise after such a long wait. So we made each room into a space that could welcome a boy or a girl (Anna’s is a pale green in a pond theme and mural and Isabella’s is a sherbet orange with a fame theme and mural – I’ll have to send pictures). It was hard at times to not know but we wouldn’t do it any other way.
Welcome to parenthood Young House Love!
Jen says
I just started reading your blog recently and love it! Congratulations on your growing family! When my first was born, my husband was the only one who didn’t know the sex. He wanted it a secret, no one else did, so we all kept it from him. The birth was a little tricky, and he had to shout out as the baby was being taken away “What is it?” Things weren’t dire enough that we didn’t all laugh, and the doctor broke the news to him that it was a boy (he really, really wanted a girl). All’s well, and two boys later, we couldn’t be happier. That plate, by the way, looks like the Southern Living at Home Dress-Me-Up Plate that I gave to my mother-in-law a few years ago.
travis says
Hi Petersiks!
It has been a week since I last read your blog…we’ve been very busy. We had our second baby girl on January 1st! Her name is Norah Isabella.
For our first, we did not want to know the sex so we were surprised when we saw her for the first time. It was so amazing to meet her and know nothing about her, but so completely love everything about her in an instant. The 2nd time around my wife decided she wanted to know so that she could have the experience of both. I think not knowing is so much more fun!
We love your sex-nouncement idea by the way! So very fitting for the two of you!
Happy New Year to you and Burger! God bless!
Carrie says
Congrats! I love that you refer to your little one as a ‘bean’! When my friend was pregnant with her first I also referred to it as ‘Baby Bean’ and made her (they didn’t find out the sex before she was born) a little onesie with a green bean on it. She is my Goddaughter now and although her nickname has changed I still love that little onesie!
Meg says
Congrats guys!! We have an 18 month old daughter and it is SO wonderful having a little girl…you will love it!! Our second is due next month and will be a surprise which is really exciting :) Just finished painting the nursery “realist beige” and am going with lots of glossy white furniture (wonder where I picked that up from ?!) Congrats again!!
Annalea says
The first gender reveal wasn’t anything to shout about: we all watched the ultrasound video together.
The next four babies were more interesting, though . . . all home births, we didn’t do ultrasounds. But my husband and I could never pick out a name for the wrong gender. So even though we didn’t “know”, we knew. And were always right when the grand appearance happened. :o)
Best of good health and safe delivery blessings to you all!
Krista Haws says
Congratulations you two!! I’m so happy for you! I knew it was a girl, I just did! (I know, it’s silly since I don’t even “really” know you two.” :) We don’t have any children yet but we are looking forward to it! We just got our first dog on Monday so Berger has a new friend, Myles, a mini wiene puppy here in California!
Barbara says
Personally, I think the ONLY fitting name for this girl baby is Burgette. You must think of her brother!!
Barbara
http://ifididnthaveasenseofhumor.blogspot.com
Renee Smith says
When we found out about our little guy, the funniest reaction was “Holy sh*t!” from my father-in-law who was VERY excited about finally having a grandson after two grand daughters for 14 years… and the first great grandbaby to pass along the Smith name (as though there weren’t already enough Smiths in the world). While we weren’t too worried about the name thing, he was pumped about his #1 grandson!
I’m sure the nursery will be awesome, and if you’re ever interested in some Montessori home environment info, let me know… it is very conducive to keeping your house looking like it isn’t a Gymboree, while also being developmentally sound! Congrats, guys, can’t wait to meet Beanette!!
Cheryl says
Awwww…congrats! I love surprises,too! When we found out we were pregnant with my daughter (26.5 years ago!) we opted to be surprised on birth day. However, we did surprise the heck out of my parents. I didn’t tell them I might be preggers. When it was confirmed I had 2 tshirts made for my parents that said ‘expectant grandparents!’. We took the tshirts to their house 10 minutes before they were leaving for a holiday party at my grandparents. They were dressed to the nines! No matter. When they each opened their ‘gifts’ they burst out in tears. My dad immediately took off his sports jacket and put the tshirt on over his shirt/tie and my mom put hers on over her tank top and under her dressy beaded jacket. When they got to my grandparents house they took off their winter coats and at the appropriate time, opened up their other jackets to reveal their secret to the rest of the family. As it was their first grandchild, there was much applauding and cheering. I loved giving them that happy memory!
Cheryl says
Story #2. When I was pregnant with my 2nd child who is now almost 20 years old, we decided we would find out the sex during the ultrasound. (We had opted not to do this with our first child, a daughter, now 26). My husband is the oldest of 6 children; he has 5 sisters. His two cousins had daughters. It seems there was no one to carry on the Balmas name so everyone was desperately hoping for a boy. But my hubby already had 2 daughters and he and I were convinced we would have another daughter. He was absolutely fine with that as he loves his girls and just figured it was destiny to father only daughters. Well, when the doctor told us it was a boy he couldn’t believe it. I was dead silent for nearly 5 minutes. I was in shock. But I suppose this is one of those ‘you had to be there’ stories because anyone who knows me knows I am never shocked into silence. I talk all the time, non stop. So for me to be quiet for that long was of some concern to my hubby. I continued to be quiet on the way to the car and halfway home. You see, I have no brothers, I only babysitted girls, I already had a daughter, I have one sister, and I just have never really been around any little boys. But I wasn’t disappointed. I was overwhelmed and excited. So about 5 minutes before we got home I yelled, ‘pull into that kmart!’. (It was the only store around that I could see). My husband thought I had lost my mind but he ‘got it’ when I proceeded to drag him to the baby department and bought 3 baby boy infant outfits. We took one to his mother’s, one to my parents, and we kept one for us and that is how we told our parents ‘its a boy!’
Fond memories.
Elizabeth B says
http://designdazzle.blogspot.com/2010/01/fresh-beige-nursery-with-touches-of.html
Just wanted to give you guys an idea. some inspiration if you will for a girl nursery. I’m sure you have your own ideas.
I’m so happy for you! We have two babies.
I’m interested to see how your home changes with the addition of a little one in your life. That little darling will be attacking all things glass. And ripping all things available off the tables. So I can’t wait to see the reveal of Toddler proof down the road. It’s definitely a new mindset!!
Congrats. You guys are amazing.
Melani says
I know this is way late, but I have to say that after reading like 100 of these comments I have one to add I didn’t already see…We had to know ASAP and actaully found out at 17 weeks. We had the whole fam in the little ultrasound room!! Me on the table holding the Hubs hand and my Mom and his Mom and Dad all smashed in for the family afair! When we saw it tears fell from all eyes!! Then the Hubs went into shock, he was convinced she was a boy and really had not even considered a girl, so it took him awhile to process that. Needless to say my munchin is the ultimate Daddy’s Girl at 15 months now and the Hubs adores his little princess.
KristenH says
I love your idea with the gingerbread cookies! My husband and I found out I was pregnant before we actually got married, so we threw together a small-ish, quick outdoor wedding in four weeks, and we actually set the wedding date for the day after our 20 week ultrasound (where we found out we were having a boy). I was too excited to keep it from our parents, but my dad came up with the idea of telling everyone at the wedding: buy one blue “It’s a boy!” balloon and one pink “It’s a girl!” balloon and pop the one it isn’t. So that’s what we did! Right after we did our cake cutting, since everyone was already gathered around, we popped the pink balloon with a needle and left our little blue one up! Everyone was so excited!
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!
xo,
s
James says
I came across your website when I searched for ways to let other know that we are pregnant with a baby girl. Amazing for you guys. I believe that you already gave birth and hope you and your family are healthy. Bless you all. And cant wait to announce our great news :)