It's a...

We found out a few weeks back the sex of our baby, and it's been tough (though fun at the same time) to keep it a secret!  It seems like such an unconventional way to find out, since I haven't even had my 20 week ultrasound yet (set for end of January).  Due to my being high risk, I was highly encouraged to get a first trimester screening done with MFM (maternal fetal medicine...the high risk doctors), and since I had done it with both Micah and Reid, I didn't question it too much.  They have a newer test out called MaterniT21 which is strictly a blood draw and 99% accurate for determining down syndrome as well as other chromosomal abnormalities.  In addition to the above, it also provides a free DNA of the baby, therefore giving you the XX or XY - girl or boy - of your baby!  So at about 14 weeks we were given the knowledge of the sex of our baby.  

I thought it would be fun to have the boys find out without us just telling them, so I went to the store and picked up 3 balloons the color usually associated with the babies.  I hid them in the bathroom, and then when the boys were up from their naps, sat them down and let them know.  When I asked Micah what color the balloon would be if it was a girl, he said, "Pink.  But it could be purple!"  You are right, buddy.  And then when asked about if it was a boy, he said, "Blue.  But it could be red!"  Again, correct.  So funny as we've never really talked about those specific colors to my knowledge.  

At any rate, the pics below are a sequence of me telling them what was to come, and then actually bringing out the balloons.  I love how they're eagerly waiting in anticipation and then the reactions after (at least for Micah, as Reid is pretty much clueless about it all :)  He did love playing with the balloons after, however!)

So, ya - it's a girl!!  We're super excited and kind of in shock, truly.  Again, not actually having had our ultrasound yet, I'm a bit in disbelief.  I got tears in my eyes after receiving the call from the nurse, and even called her back about 5 minutes later just to confirm. :)  But I also know this is actually more accurate than the ultrasound seeing that you're actually getting the DNA of the baby.  There's no denying if there's an XX or XY in the blood.  

Micah has done really well keeping it a secret as well, even refraining from spilling it at our Christmas celebrations with both sides of the family until we were able to share it with them ourselves!  I've been impressed.

Fun times are ahead for the Lauffer household!  And I'm definitely excited to be bringing in girl reinforcements to this highly populated testosterone environment :)