Sugar and spice and everthing nice...

...that's what little GIRLS are made of!

To all of your who voted on the gender, thank you!  It was tons of fun to see everyone's predictions and I have to say, you are pretty smart! :-) 

As you know, yesterday was Gender Day!  The ultrasound was amazing!!!  It was so exciting to see pictures of our little one growing inside of me. The ultrasound tech confirmed that we are measuring right on target to the original October 1 due date, so nothing has changed there.  She also said everything seems to be developing well and she didn't see any abnormalities.  Finally, at the end she shared with us that we are having a girl. We, of course, were both surprised since all of the 'old wives tales' and the Chinese gender predictor all said boy so we've been thinking boy all along, but now that the news has sank in, we couldn't be happier!!  TJ even picked out the first girl outfits yesterday while shopping at the Mall of America with his mom and sister, so you can tell he is excited!!

I also have to share that I am most impressed that I was able to pull a surprise on my mom, as she usually finds a way to pull it out of people--it's true, Mom!  Our appointment was scheduled at 9am yesterday.  Knowing my mom would expect a phone call no later than an hour after our appointment, I knew it would be difficult to surprise her in person with the news.  So, Thursday I sent her a text message informing her that the doctor's office called to remind me of my appointment but asked me to come at 10:15 instead due to a scheduling conflict (this really did happen to me at my first appointment).  Somehow, she believed me!  So, in between the ultrasound and visit with the doctor, I called the the flower shop in Eldora and asked them to put together a pink bouquet to be picked up in an hour--I did give the florist a head's up a few weeks ago since it's Mother's Day weekend.  So immediately after the appointment, I jumped in my car and drove to Eldora, which I will say seemed to be the longest trip to Eldora ever!!!  I picked up my bouquet of flowers (flower shop is just a few stores down from Mom's work) and called Mom right away.  Here is my best recollection of the conversation:

Brittany: "So, have you been expecting my call?  Were you getting nervous?"
Mom: "Yes, I've been waiting.  So...??"
Brittany: "You have to tell me what your prediction is first."
Mom: "Well, either you are wrong or I am wrong because I am going by my recent dream I just had and I think you are having a girl."
Brittany: "Are you sure you really want me to tell you right now over the phone?  Wouldn't it be better if I told you in person when I see you this afternoon?"
Mom: "NO!  I want to know now."
Brittany: Hangs up the phone while Mom proceeds to continue talking and walks into the front door of the clinic with the flowers. 
Mom: Starts crying and says "It's a girl!! I knew right away from all the pink flowers!" 

Here are some pictures from the ultrasound yesterday. 

  19 weeks and 4 days.  You can see a picture of the 4-D ultrasound in the back. 

 

 We got a ton of print outs and the tech gave us both still pictures and the live movement video clips on a disc. 

 You can see her little arm.  It looked as though she was rubbing her head.  She kept doing this during the live footage on the 4-D ultrasound.

Last night our friend Janelle Miranda (middle) had a birthday party.  Her request was to use her birthday cake as my gender reveal.  I tried to tell her 'no'--this was her day, but she insisted.  So, she (I think actually her husband Freddy) made pink cupcakes and our other friend Jenny Connolly (left) did the honors of opening the first cupcake.  It was awesome and very special!!