Nelson or Nelsonette?

We headed off for our 19 week scan today and I was still adamant that I didn't want to find out the gender.  

The Husband was happy either way, but wanted to have the gender written down and sealed in an envelope for him to put away in his good luck area.

We went for the scan and the baby was being cheeky, laying with its bum facing up to us. Every now and then it would turn around really quickly in the direction of the scanner thingo and we would get a face on look at the eye sockets staring at us.

My belly was twisted, poked and then I finally had to go for a walk then come back and hope that it was being more reasonable.

This is its little spine, whilst hiding away the important parts of the body which needed to be measured and checked.

After coming back, the baby had moved enough for the doctor to be able to check that everything was perfect, and he wrote down the gender and sealed it in an envelope for us. 

I couldn't believe that this flimsy envelope contained the gender of the baby that would change our lives forever!

I really did think that I would have the willpower to not open it and wait until the birth, after all, it was me who kept saying “but this is the only surprise left in life” blah blah.

Everyone who knew me told me I wouldn't be able to resist.  After all, if I know there is a birthday present for me hiding in the apartment I go feral and turn  the place upside down looking for it.

We went out for dinner at Assaggi (99 Glenferrie Road, Malvern) to celebrate a healthy scan, and wisely left the envelope in the car. 

Bruschetta for starters, to share.

This was delicious, and this is coming from someone who picks out tomato in sandwiches. 

This is my slightly crazed with anticipation face.  

The Husband ordered the Tortelli Cremaschi from the menu which was filled with a sweet biscuit but was sour at the same time. It was intriguing but I don't know if I would have liked it for my main. 

Of course, I cannot go past a pizza. 

I had the Lina  - Bocconcini, Pumpkin, Goat Cheese, Spinach on a Tomato Base which was so damn good. The Husband helped polish it off though as my eyes are bigger than my belly. 

Once we got home, I went feral and demanded we rip open the envelope.

The Husband told me No. He said that I was the one who wanted a surprise and he didn't want to ruin it for me. I demanded once again that we open it.

He told me to wait 10 minutes, so I sat silently and waited patiently enough until the 10 minutes were up, then I jumped on him so he couldn't escape and we opened the envelope together, both shaking from excitement and nerves.

Before we opened it, we both agreed that we thought it was going to say Boy.

I was so confused because I was reading it upside down and it said:

“Baby of Maryanne appears to be a girl! (98%)”

We are having a girl!!!

I was in shock.  I think I still am.

I obviously have zero mothers instinct because I thought it was a boy this whole time!

I think that The Husband is still in shock, despite him saying it was a girl for the past 19 weeks.  He needed a stiff drink to recover.

Out of the dozen babies we know who have been born in the past 16 months, only one has been a girl!!! 

Brooke from For The Love Photography took this photo of me holding a prop for the photo booth at Merowyn’s baby shower on Sunday, worked out perfectly if I do say so myself! 

I just cannot believe it.

A little mini me, Lord help us all!!

I'm really glad we found out – yay!  

Now... to decorate the nursery! I am still going to keep it pretty neutral with lots of white and sand colours, no hot pink etc (save that for the wardrobe!!).

As you can see, I am still attached to calling her Nelson. Or Nelly.