It's a boy!

April 9, 2015

Tuesday, March 31^st 2015 was the day we found out that our first child would be a son. We had blood work done at our first trimester screening which would identify a number of genetic conditions like Down’s Syndrome if any existed, and would also detect the baby’s DNA within my bloodstream. It’s a relatively new test, based on my understanding, so folks have the option of finding out way earlier than before if they’re having a boy or a girl. If you know me, you know that I am the least patient person alive, and I wanted to know as soon as possible. Bryan said he could wait to find out via ultrasound, but thankfully, he appeased his wife and we opted to do the test.

The results were to come in 7 to 10 business days from when they sent the blood work, so we were surprised when we got the call Monday, March 30^th (the anniversary of when we had started dating 8 years earlier) that the results were ready and waiting at Northside! Rather than try to pull together a bigger gender reveal get together with family and friends, we opted to just gather our parents for dinner to find out the news. This was partly to keep it low key and stress free, and partly because I didn’t want to have to wait very long once we had the results in our possession to find out!

Mom and I picked up the envelope that Monday, and by some miracle, I was well behaved and didn’t sneak a peek before I was supposed to. Tuesday, I asked our across the street neighbor to take the envelope, a box, and two pairs of shoes- one blue, and one pink- and to place the correct shoes in the box for us. She was so sweet to help us, and her two kids even got in on the action and made their guesses about what we were having. She dropped the box off on our front porch, and we were locked and loaded- ready to find out that night!

 

My parents and Bryan’s folks all met up wit us at Old Blind Dog, a local Irish pub we love, to find out the gender and have a celebratory dinner. I was CONVINCED it was a girl based on a couple of dreams I’d had, and I think Bryan thought it was a girl too simply because I was so convinced. Once everyone arrived, we explained how we had set it up and that whichever color shoes were in the box would be what we were having.

FINALLY the big moment arrived, and we opened the little box to find two tiny blue shoes.

 

 

We were shocked and thrilled, and I immediately started crying. It was such a joyful moment. Though I had been convinced it was a girl, I honestly didn’t care one way or the other what we would be having. But knowing that we would have a son was just magical. My mind instantly went to visions of soft blue baby clothes, to Bryan playing in the yard with our boy, to the smell of dirt at the ball games we would attend. There is such a special magic in little boys as they navigate this world and learn to become young men. What a gift from God and what an incredible responsibility we would have in raising him. I get a lump in my throat thinking about it.

Everyone there to share in the moment- my mom and dad, Bryan’s dad and stepmom Donna, and his mom and stepdad Steve- was just thrilled as well. It was neat to be able to share the excitement with them and have all of us find out together. I loved looking around the room and seeing everyone’s face. My mom was just thrilled in general and excited the wait was over. I could tell that knowing it was a boy made the reality sink in just a little bit more for my dad that his baby girl is going to be a mom. Bryan’s mom was crying and so excited for her first grandson and all the special things that would entail. Steve started talking about finding a train set he’d been looking for, which is precious as he will be the resident expert on all things that go for our son given that he’s a technological genius. Donna was so sweet and videoed the whole thing, capturing all the reactions and, I know, so excited to have another grandson on the way. Bryan’s dad’s reaction may have been my favorite though. There were not a lot of words spoken, but there were definitely some tears held back as it sunk in that his son was having a son and that the next generation of Hill men was on its way. There is something really special about that, and it made me all the more glad we decided to share this moment with all of our parents.

After lots of tears and talk about our little guy on the way, everyone headed home- not before the parents gave us gifts they already had waiting! Bryan and I went and sat in the car and just soaked it all in for a little while. I turned on one of our favorites- “Danny’s Song” and we sat there and smiled at each other and cried a little bit. We had listened to this song a lot when we first moved into our house and started life together because everything was so new and fresh and wonderful and the song somehow seemed to capture that. It’s been on the kitchen dancing playlist ever since. But, after hearing our news, it took on a whole new meaning. I hope every time we hear that song we remember the joy of that moment and how lucky we are to get to be parents to this child. I can hardly wait to meet him.

People smile and tell me I'm the lucky one, and we've just begun,
Think I'm gonna have a son.
He will be like she and me, as free as a dove, conceived in love,
Sun is gonna shine above.

And even though we ain't got money, I'm so in love with ya honey,
And everything will bring a chain of love.
And in the morning when I rise, you bring a tear of joy to my eyes,
And tell me everything is gonna be alright.