Baby Girl

The first time I ever saw a peony was in a Martha Stewart magazine. They were vibrant and feminine, sweetly ruffled and all things pink. If little girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice, surely they must also be made of peonies! When we pulled up to our house after our ultrasound this week, the peonies in our neighborhood were in full, perfect bloom, and all I could think was, "It's a girl!"

Truthfully, I feel like I always knew she was a girl. This filled me with an odd sense of guilt because I couldn't know for sure and I didn't want to discount all the joys that come with snips and snails and puppy dog tails. With five brothers, I always thought I'd have boys- until this pregnancy.

She'll wear the same dress I wore at my baby blessing and play with the American Girl doll I've held onto since I was eight. I'll introduce her to Jane Austen, Mr. Darcy, and his beloved Pemberly. I hope she's willing to try ballet and piano and to let me braid her hair, just like my mom did with me. Whoever she is and whoever she'll be, we couldn't be more happy! It's a girl!