Tick, Tock...Tick, Tock...

It seems like time isn't passing by fast enough...

I've been counting down the days til I find out when my little one is a boy or girl. I'll be happy with either...but I'm just so anxious to know (read: impatient!). I'd love to begin my registry, discuss the baby shower theme, and plan the colors of the room...all of which are impossible (for me, at least) without knowing whether to Think Pink! (or Blue!).

It's a personal decision for the parents to decide whether they would like to find out the gender. Living in the US, we have the option of finding out the gender in the 5 month ultrasound. In countries like India, however, it is banned since many people still feel a male child is better than a female, mainly since he will be able to take care and provide for his family later in life...whereas a female will get married and live with her in-laws. I personally think thoughts like these are disgusting: and of course, this has mainly to do with the fact that I was born and raised in a country where I'm no different than the opposite gender.

But, on a lighter note, I feel each gender has it's pros (and quirks!) to raise. Baby girls are fun, for sure, despite their emotional-need-for-attention. Their cute little dresses, hair accessories, earrings...it's like you have your own little living doll! Boys, on the other hand, are cute (and perhaps not so cute, due to the same reasons!) because of their mischief: their love of doing something that they're not supposed to, and giggling afterwards.

Honestly, I consider myself truly blessed to be bringing a life into this world. I'm so excited and thrilled to see my little one - how will he/she act? Will he/she look more like me, or hubby dear? Will he/she love dancing and reading like me, or video games and action movies like Saurabh?

I can't say I'm not excited to find out the gender though...I truly can't wait to know! I've been so anxious to find out :) My guess is that it's a girl. That could be, because many of my friends have guessed the same for me so maybe subconsciously it has been ingrained and become my feeling. I don't know, but that's my guess! Most of the family, however, have all guessed boy - including Saurabh. Some of my friends and family have switched their guess from girl to boy (Anu/Mansi/Rahil) based on the way I'm carrying - even though I don't understand that logic ;) Even Falak switched her guess from girl to boy! Well, we all have a 50% change of being right! Everyone is very excited to know - my family and friends have also been counting down. The other night, at Ranjeeta's house, Alex flipped a coin to "determine" the gender - heads = boy, tails = girl. It was a boy. Then, Pooja's mom said to do best out of 3 - it was a boy. Best out of 5 - still boy! lol. Of course, not that I believe that's an indicator, but a funny story to remember. It would be funny if it actually is a boy - people will start looking to flipping a Canadian coin to determine the gender, lol. Moose = Boy!!! ;)

Oh, and one more "boy" related story...during my 13/14 week ultrasound (that I chose to have to test for down syndrome), we asked the tech if she could tell if it's a boy or girl. She said that it's too early to tell, and was not budging from that answer. So, we asked her to just to guess...what she THINKS it can be. She said that if she HAD to guess - and her life depended on it - she thinks it's a boy because she thinks she saw "something" between the legs, but wasn't sure if that was the umbilical cord or... you know! ;) Let's see if her guess is right!

I wanted to post my feelings and thoughts before finding out the gender, although I will only publish this post AFTER I find out later today. My appointment was actually sceduled for 8/20 (Friday), however since my MIL is leaving on Wed, and my parents are leaving for Marietta today - all of whom wanted to be there for the ultrasound - I pre-poned the appt for today!!!! Only my parents/Saurabh's mom/Anu know that I will find out today...and I plan on texting all of my close family/friends later this evening or tomorrow morning to give them the news!

Each minute seems like an eternity...at least after I know the gender, I can start imagining what he/she will look like. I can't wait :) Only 4 more hrs to go!

Love you mera bacha!

-M