and then there were Three.

A month ago I would have told you no way.
Two weeks ago I would have told you probably not.
But a week ago, I would have screwed up my face and I said I didn't know.
And Monday? I would have said YES! Yes I want to find out what this baby is!

Maybe it's that my patience for the surprise was exasperated over the combined 18 months of my last two pregnancies. Maybe it was because I was trying to rule out the need to over-analyze the need for a boy name. Maybe it was because this is likely my last pregnancy and wanted to separate it from my previous two. Maybe I was slightly apprehensive of my response had I not been prepared. Maybe I was dying to decorate a nursery for a specific gender and knowing full well that waiting till after it would all go south once three children were in the mix. Maybe Maybe Maybe.

I had misunderstood my growing excitement the day of our ultrasound as our excitement. I had it in my head when we showed up that we would find out. Apparently Scott didn't get my telepathic communication all day. As we gathered together with our parents waiting to be called back for our appointment, he shot me down. "No. I don't want to find out."

Lest I be strayed from my course, I persisted, throughout the ultrasound.

The ultrasound tech, bless her heart, a bit disconcerted that we were not in agreement and confessing, apologetically to Scott that she was loyal only to me, the patient.

I spoke up. I really needed to know right away about this baby's umbilical cord explaining our previous pregnancy with Ben. She right away counted out three vessels. Scott and I both exhaled. Praise the Lord.

We turned away, at the appropriate time. We let the grandparents and our boys come in at the end. Ben was a little bewildered, mommy on a table and such. Daddy was so good with him, holding him, pointing out the baby on the screen. Henry wanted to see the face, still not 100% understanding that we were not going to see the actual baby. But he loved seeing the feet and hands and the head and spine.

The time came to a close. She asked me one last time, do you want to know?

My brain was screaming FIND OUT! DON'T LEAVE THIS ROOM WITHOUT KNOWING!

I rallied the troops.

Henry don't you want to know what the baby is?

Benjamin don't you want to know if it's a brother or sister?

Though I had them on my side, I just could not defy my husband like that. Especially in front of our moms.

The tech put the winning picture in an envelope and handed me the rest of the sweetest little pictures of our third child.

We left. I felt deflated. I had thought for sure we would know. That Scott would want to know. Or that I would win him over. But he was firm. And I gulped down my fears.

We kissed our boys and parents good-bye and waited for my appointment.

And I'm not to proud to admit that I bullied him.
I pushed. I was honest about my disappointment, he shared his own.
I pushed harder. He kept asking why I needed to know.
Honestly I didn't have one great answer.
I just wanted to know.
He gave in, but the look on his face didn't quite convince me.

We met with our doctor. He gave us the final OK, that baby was looking fantastic, healthy, praise the Lord.
We went off to dinner.
I pulled out the envelope, my heart pounding. My head swirling.

Scott guessed girl.
I guessed boy.

And there he was. Another sweet little boy. My third bird. Our third little lad. Another gentleman. I cried.

Happy tears.

I kissed Scott through my tears. Thank you babe, for my three sons.

And now....to name him...