Growing and Glowing: Princess or Lil' Man ?!

A lot of exciting things happened last week. My Mom and Maw Maw came to visit us and find out the sex of the baby. They got here late wednesday night, and Grandma immediately lit up when she saw how big I've gotten, it was an incredible moment when she touched my belly and embraced me with a huge hug, we both cried. The last time we saw each other was when I announced my pregnancy to her and the family at Christmastime, and now we were about to find out what the sex of the baby was. She came with a laundry basket full of clothes she had already bought for the baby, cracked me up :)
I'm so grateful she could come to South Carolina and be here for that moment. From the moment they arrived my Mom kept referring to the baby as "her" and "she", and my Maw Maw refereed to the baby as a boy the entire two days before we found out. There was one particular moment when we were sitting on the couch and Mom had her hands on my belly and was talking to the baby... she asked "are you a girl, is your name Clara?"... and there was no reaction, and then she said "are you a boy, are you Mark?" and the baby kicked 3 times quickly in a row.. and proceeded to react that way as she asked those same two questions over and over. (Those aren't official names btw)

Grandma feeling you kick for the first time :)

I could have found out the sex nearly a month and a half ago, but I waited so we could enjoy it with family at a 3D ultrasound. I juggled the idea of finding out now or waiting until the baby was born for the past four months. One week I'd be super anxious to find out, and the next I'd be wanting to wait. I know that I could have waited, and a big part of me wanted to. The only time that not knowing really bothered me was when I'd try to go shopping or got in a nesting mood. However, I could tell Ryan really really wanted to know, as well as my Mom and our families. So we went ahead and found out, and I don't really regret it, it is certainly nice to know for sure whether I am talking to my son or my daughter.

Now about the day we found out, Friday March 30th. As we headed to Summerville (a nearly 2 hour drive) I did my best not to let my blood pressure get raised (it can make 3D ultrasounds difficult) and I think I did a good job, although I did have a moment in the car when I burst into tears about my Father not being here with us, I know he would've loved this, loved Ryan, and loved being a Grandpa.
When we arrived, I ran in, getting anxious to see my baby! My friend Franchesca was still in her appointment and I got to hear through the door that she was having a baby boy! Just what she wanted, Im glad I could be there for that.
What felt like 2 seconds later, it was my turn, my name was called. We all headed back together, me, Ryan, Mom, and Maw Maw. Franchesca came in with us as well... and recorded us finding out the sex. Such a treasured memory I'm so happy to have caught on tape :) It took the lady no time to see what we we're having... (baby likes to put on a show :)

Love Ryan's face ♥

(Its on my youtube channel if anyone wants to see it bigger, may take a few hours for it to show up on there though) http://www.youtube.com/user/8randi

After we found out the sex, we did the 3D Ultrasound, and it was incredible to see my son's handsome face for the first time. He is without a doubt the most perfect human I've ever seen. It is insane to think that we, two imperfect humans, could create something so wonderful. The appointment was filled with a lot of love, laughs, and happiness. I may have had my moments of wondering if I was having a girl, but from the beginning I've told everyone "I really feel like its a boy" its so nice to know for sure that's Mommy's lil man growing in there. I have a new overwhelming sense of pride, a baby to carry on the VanOrmer name, a lil Ryan Junior. I also feel relieved to be having a boy, somehow it seems like there is less to worry about. I keep envisioning him running off on fishing trips with Daddy, or them working on stuff together. (side note: When I said that to Ryan he replied "Well I would've had a girl doing that too" lol.)
After the appointment we immediately went SHOPPING lol.
Ryan made me cry just from seeing him picking out strollers and stocking up on diapers.. it doesn't take much to make me cry these days, I treasure those lil things a lot.

PICTURE TIME ;)

He's testing the carseat by seeing how it would be to rock it while playing video games! haha

I was really picky about what the first item of clothing I bought my son would be, and this is what we chose! I just love it.. Im not sure why. I plan on saving it.

We bought A LOT of clothes after we got the first one out of the way, maybe too many clothes. And Proud Daddy Ryan bought about 9 boxes of diapers. His purchases were definitely more realistic lol.

Our Handsome lil' Man