It's no longer a baby - it's a baby boy!

Last week Amy and I went to the very important second ultrasound appointment. This is the biggie, because it allows us to see the baby develop through the ultrasound scan. It's an important appointment in the pregnancy journey because they can see any abnormalities that may develop - and can see the gender of the developing baby.

Amy and I had decided after some debate that we were going to find out the gender of the baby. Initially, I had protested against, feeling that the joy of finding out of the day of labour would be the ultimate great surprise. Amy wanted to know, feeling it would be a real help in bonding with the baby within her, and be a good practical consideration as we try to plan the nursery, set items up on the baby shower list, etc. Sure enough, she won out on this. And - as one colleague put it, "you're a consultant...planning is in your nature!"

I've enjoyed seeing Amy get more pregnant but often struggled to know what to call this little bundle in her belly as it grows. Is the baby and "it", an alternating "he" or "she" or should we go back and forth between the boy and girl names we have arrived upon? Getting to the ultrasound and finding out would be a big help in this, making the pregnancy more real.

Of course, the ultrasound technicians are not supposed to reveal the gender. This is supposed to be a conversation held between the doctor and parents. But Amy would not wait for such a thing and smooth-talked the technician before my arrival to the room. The technician assured us that the baby was developing strong and healthy. And finally, at the end of the appointment said, "if you are both in agreement, I will tell you the gender." We agreed we both wanted to know.

It's a boy.

Wow, what a shocker! I was stunned....probably more stunned than when we found out that Amy was pregnant! I both expected that it was going to be a girl. I completely assumed this was the case. To find out it was a boy, was a complete surprise that left me with a grin but also a feeling of shock, knowing how important it is to Amy to have a girl at some point. Once the initial shock wears off, it is fine, we are very happy to have a boy. But it really is a shock to know.

I think knowing has been a big help to us. It's made things more real and mentally allowed us to take our vague notions of what the nursery should be and make them real. We've gone out and bought a crib, stroller, bedding and some clothes (yes, very far in advance) and more importantly we have arrived on the full name of our little boy. This we will be keeping a secret, as the world can find out our wonderful name when this boy arrives. I am excited to see what he looks like - I wonder how dark or light his hair will be. What colour eyes he will have and what tone his skin will be!

We are telling people, friends and family that we are expecting a boy, but no one will know the boy's name until that special day...currently scheduled for December 3, 2009.