Frills, Squeals, and Gender Reveals!

Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

When it came to revealing the gender of our first child, I had to go all out.  There is no fun in doing things normally and conventionally, and you can quote me on that.

Future scene of the guests arriving at my child's Birthday party

Everyone had strong opinions about what the baby was based on various information.

• Many people said they could only picture me with a girl
• The Chinese gender predictor (which boasts 90% accuracy) said boy
• Ryan's Aunt did a needle test, and it said girl
• I had zero morning sickness, which some said meant boy
• I saw my childhood pediatrician at a wedding, and she told me it looked like I was carrying a girl

All the conflicting information was more difficult to decipher than a bill from Verizon.

But the ultrasound would reveal the truth once and for all.  One afternoon in June Ryan and I had our long awaited and highly anticipated appointment to find out if this sweet baby is a boy or a girl.  This was the first- and probably last- time in history that I arrived somewhere early.

In the days leading up to the big news I was as anxious as that guy who tight rope walked the Grand Canyon.

After all, they were also doing the anatomy scan that day to make sure everything was on track and normal.  I'll go on record and say that this is the HAPPIEST I've ever been to hear the word normal!!!  What an unbelievable miracle and blessing.

When Ryan arrived there was no turning back.  It was time to find out.  More nervous than Tiger Woods at an eHarmony party we entered the doors of the doctors office.

  

"It's going to be a girl," he said.

"I KNOW!!  I really feel like it's a girl, but it's just got to be a boy." I replied.

Within two minutes of looking at our angel on the screen, the ultrasound technician said something that will forever be etched in my heart: "It's definitely a girl."

WHAT?!?!??!  Have you SEEN the Moody side of the family???

We spent the next half hour in awe of all of her features and perfect little bones and movements.  "Look, Ryan, there are her piano fingers!"  "You mean trigger fingers for when I take her hunting..."

Ryan was so thrilled that he stood up for the remainder of the appointment and couldn't sit back down.  Then it was time for us to get some pictures.  And this is unreal.

Would you believe that our beautiful girl was SMILING inside at 20 weeks???  We looked at this picture 1000 times, but there was no denying it.

Hand on head = Mama, please hush.

This is what you call love at first sight.  It's almost as if this precious little girl knows how much she's already adored and buzzed about.  When we went back to the waiting room before seeing the doctor we were absolutely on cloud nine.

Things you could have asked me while in my happy daze to which I would have negligently agreed:

1) Will you allow the world's oldest woman to drive your car in downtown Houston?

2) Can I max out your credit card on garden gnomes?

3) May I paint the exterior of your house like an enchanted rainbow?

Ryan looked at me and said, "I'll have to pay for a wedding. I'll never be able to walk her down the aisle.  This is going to kill me."

You're telling me.  I almost burst into tears at Belk while buying her first outfit and thinking about her going to college.

All along I had said that I wanted a healthy baby regardless of the gender, but I felt in my heart that it was a girl.  Let me tell you why she is extra special to me.  I've never had a sister, sister-in-law, or even a first girl cousin.  I can only imagine all the fun we'll have together: making a million crafts (followed by a mess), baking cookies and spilling flour, getting our nails done, hiding purchases from Daddy, staying up late to watch Disney movies and eat junk food ("Mama, can I please go to bed, now?  Not another movie or game...")  Yes, it's going to be the time of my life!

How we picked her name:

All the magazines, books, and online articles will tell you to think of important things in your daily life for name tips.  I began pondering what Ryan discusses on an almost predictable basis.

Somehow "insurance card" and "tax form" just didn't quite cut it in the name department.

The day I found out I was expecting and broke the news to Ryan I told him that we needed a temporary code name for the baby.  "How about Baby M?" I said (for Moody).  "No, on second thought that's too much to say.  Hmm.  What about Emmy?"  

The rest is history, and we called her Emmy ever since- before we even had a clue that she is a girl.  I wanted her name to flow well with "Moody," and I thought Emerson was absolutely beautiful and not a standard name.   Ryan loved it, too.  For her middle name I wanted to honor and remember my dear grandmother, Alice, who passed away in 2007.

She is the only grandmother who isn't here today to share in our joy, and this was our way of making her a part of it.  

Then came the day when we told our families the marvelous gender news. 

The ladies watching one of my infamous slideshows.

We had a cookout at Ryan's parents' house and would cut the special reveal cake after our meal.  As a result, our family members were scarfing down lunch faster than those guys at hotdog eating contests.

Gender neutral, "no hint" plates.

The ceremonious cutting of the cake.  They were SO impatient!

Revealing a pink slice, followed by Aunt Robin's squeal that was heard 'round the world.

Reactions:

It's not a party until the balloons get caught in the fan...

Later that weekend we visited the grandparents that couldn't make it to the cookout.

The next big celebration was my "ladies" gender reveal party with extended family and friends.  I was BEYOND stoked about planning and putting on this event, and those present at the cookout at Ryan's house were sworn to secrecy until then.

I used four vacation days last week to:

A) Prepare for my party and work on numerous crafts

B) Spend some time with my parents and Jay

C) Recover from my still lingering sickness

D) Avoid customer crises  (Thank GOD for my out-of-office feature)

My Mom, Dad, and Jay were the wind beneath my wings last week.  They are always a saving grace.  Mama ran a million errands with me, Jay helped with tons of things, and my Dad stood around and waited for my inevitable instructions.

Daddy, to me, during the party preparation: "You could employee seventeen people full time with your requests and commands."

At your service, Mrs. Moody.  Now where did you want the balloons and tables?

At 10:00 am on the morning of the party we made an executive decision to move the pool-side soiree to my church fellowship hall due to an impending tropical storm.  Fortunately, we had already reserved the church as a backup.

Little Miss Sunshine wasn't about to let a little rain spoil the fun.  Many phone calls and trips to the church later we pulled off a last minute switch.

Any party of mine will have no shortage of sweets; a candy bar was only appropriate.

"He" & "She" chocolate bars.

"Through the years" picture table, complete with a Fun Facts sheet.

There's Jay cutting the watermelon like a pro; he also served as our deli sandwich and pizza delivery guy.  LOVE HIM!!!

My heart beamed as each guest arrived : )

We unintentionally matched the reveal box...where did all these polka dots come from?

Time to EAT!

And now...for the moment you've all been waiting for...

Just before the reveal we had a vote.  Those who thought it was a girl:

And the boy votes:

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!  For once I let the balloons do the talking.

After the big announcement it was time for cake.  And not just any cake...

We're thinking PINK!

I then unveiled my announcement pictures (taken by Brandy Sapp, Images of Grace Photography).

A "well wishes" plate that will be displayed in Emerson's room : )

Sharing this news has been one of the most special times of our lives.  Ryan and I are over the moon with excitement.

Perhaps our new garden flag says it best:

I've always believed in and served the Lord, but now that I am carrying one of His miracles my eyes have been more opened to just how great and powerful He is.  He is the only uncreated one.

When it was all said and done, and the gender reveal parties were over, my exhausted mother plopped on the couch and said, "You know, you could have just called everyone on the phone to tell them the news..."

Oh, Mama.  That's just not the Katharine way.

Thank you to everyone for sharing in our joy.  This is my promise to keep spreading the happiness!