We're thinking pink!

So, we had the ultrasound yesterday, and much to our surprise and delight, we are going to have a girl! We were almost afraid to hope it was possible, but we did it! (I would scan in an ultrasound picture, but the wondering what you're looking at might dull down the excited tone I am trying to create for you here.) The three big brothers are pretty excited about the prospect of a sister. The two parents are pretty excited about the prospect of a daughter. The mom (that would be me) can't wait to go shopping and buy something pink. I would love to decorate a whole girl room, but for now she will be sharing with boys, so I can't go too overboard. We'll have to put her in the green room, I think. Cade and Cole have a nice green and brown thing going on. And I love both the pink and brown combination and pink and green. So pink, green and brown should work out fine I think. At least for her bedding. We won't take over the place too much. Yet.

I get to buy a dress! A little tiny one that's not for a gift for someone else. Ribbons and hair stuff, yikes! Adorable little shoes. Hee hee! I can cross over to the other side of the aisle now when I'm at Children's Place. Usually I just try not to look at the cute stuff over there. But now I can. Look...choose...purchase, even. The whole bit.

Of course the shopping is not the main reason I'm excited. It's just an extra perk. I'm pretty sure this one is going to be our wild child. The boys are all so good, and Cole was pretty much the perfect baby, toddler, and now preschooler. So chances are, we're in for trouble. I say bring it on! Trouble and all, it can't help but be tempered with sweetness, right? I'm mean she will be my daughter, so she'll have to have a few sweetie-pie genes in there, I think.

I remember back 4 or so years ago now, we were watching my sister Jana's kids while she and her husband Clint were away for a couple days. It was so fun to have Josh, who is right between Luke and Cade in age, and Kayla who is just younger than Cade. Kayla was a fun and curious 2- or 3-year-old at the time. I was not too good at doing her hair. It took me too long to make it look cute compared to the quick and agile hands of her practiced mother. But it was fun to have someone who cared that she got the right pajama top with the right pajama bottom. Or who just preferred the princess nightgown for bedtime in the first place.

One day she took a red ballpoint pen to Cade's bedroom door. By the time we caught her with it, it was too late for the door. Lanny is the one who found her, and I still remember how sweet and soft his gentle reprimand was. I don't remember what he said, but I do remember thinking how he just treated her so gently and lovingly, letting her know that what she had done was wrong, but careful not to scare her or make her feel unsafe or unloved in our home or by him. If that is what a little girl can do for a daddy, then I want one of those. He is great with our boys, don't get me wrong, and is kind and gentle with them too. But there was just something different and softer about the way he treated that sweet little girl. It will be sweet to see the changes that happen for all our boys as they welcome and care for not just a baby, but a baby sister. My prediction is that she will both liven things up and soften things up simultaneously.

We are so excited! This is gonna be good.