We’ve been so overwhelmed by all of your kind comments and your fun guesses about this baby! We could hardly go to bed the night I posted, because we were all having so much fun reading your comments. Later today, I will use the random number generator to come up with a winner of the guessing game, and update this post, and that one. Thank you all so much for celebrating with us. It means a lot to me, more than I can say.
When Jonny and I walked into our first prenatal appointment, I wasn’t sure what to expect. My last five babies were born at home (though my first was a hospital birth), and here we were suddenly planning a hospital birth and knowing that things would be different this time. Some changes hard, some needed and welcomed.
In a conventional setting, as many of you know, at the first appointment pregnancy is usually confirmed by seeing the baby’s heart beating. I was very nervous as Jonny and I waited for my midwife to come in and start the ultrasound. It felt like we waited forever. The midwife arrived (my first time meeting her) and was lovely, and made me feel completely comfortable. It only took her a moment to find the baby and her little heart beating. And those were my precise thoughts as soon as I saw that tiny baby on the screen, “There she is.” Weeks later, my instincts were confirmed. We are indeed expecting another little girl. I know you can imagine how excited that Larkspur and Beatrix are, me too! Larkspur keeps saying to me, “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe we’re going to finally have a baby sister.” And this not because she doesn’t love her baby brothers. It’s just not quite the same, you know? The boys on the other hand are kind of hilarious. Over the weeks leading up to learning that our baby is a girl, Silas could frequently be heard saying, in his four year old way, “If this baby is a girl, Gabe and I are outta here!” But, I’m happy to report that they haven’t yet fled. I know that they won’t be able to resist her once she’s here. Babies have a way of doing that, making everyone love them, no matter what.
I have been saving myself this giant skein of Targhee wool with plans to dye it pink if we learned that we were having a girl. It’s not that I wouldn’t have knit anything for a baby boy, I just have a pretty big collection of baby knits in blues, browns, and greens since my last two babies were boys. I don’t really have any baby girl knits. I purchased some madder root, because I love the coral shades of pink you can achieve when dyeing with it. And for the past couple of weeks, I have been dyeing lots of peachy-pink yarn. And while this little girl will certainly wear blue, brown, and green, she’s going to have some pink as well. Possibly, a LOT of pink. Because I’m pretty hooked on madder. I’ll definitely make some of this available in my next shop update as well. I don’t need THAT much pink yarn!
Thank you all again for sharing our excitement! We’re pretty thrilled. Well, most of us are. And Silas will come around eventually, I’m certain.
***edited to add that I’ve just emailed Claire, who guessed correctly and commented, “Girl, girl, girl!
Congratulations! Wonderful news. You look beautiful. Would love to read either of your favorite books. Blessings to you both!”
Oh, how exciting Ginny! I was so surprised at your annoucement about being pregnant, especially after your last birth. I’m so happy for you and I hope all goes well with your pregnancy and birth. We just welcomed our third child, Lucia (http://missyvanee.blogspot.com/2015/12/lucia.html). I just looked at her picture and I can’t believe how much she has changed in three weeks!
Yay! So excited. 🙂
Congratulations Ginny and family, I am so excited for you guys!!! My sister just had a baby girl after her last three babies were boys and we were all so thrilled, everybody dotes on her. I was hoping you would have a little girl, although of course boys are delightful too! God bless your family, how happy for you all! A new little baby to love!
Really so excited for you!!!!! The pink yarn looks beautiful!!!!
Peachy pink! So pretty! What a lucky little baby, and what a blessed family you are! Love to you, Ginny.
Can’t wait to see the pinkish knits.
I am so happy for you all!
Gabe has come around before so I am sure he will again!
I am glad you are doing a hospital birth this time, I know you had some difficulties last time. I am sure it was a hard decision but it was the right one.
Happy pink knitting!
congratulations! your blog is so beautiful and inspiring and it’s so moving that you have allowed us to be observers to follow the journey of this new blessing and addition to your family. I can’t wait to hear what you think of for HER NAME (Madder Rose is kind of nice :> )!!!
Congrats! I just knew it was a girl! The yarn is lovely, have fun knitting for the new little one! Hope this pregnancy goes as smoothly as possible for you.
Congratulations to Claire, and to Bea, who can’t wait to hold this little sister, I can see! 😉
Best wishes on your baby girl! How fun! You are such an inspiration! Blessings to your family including that new little dear!
Congratulations on your new baby girl! We are the opposite in our family! All girls with the exception of our only son. Your yarn is gorgeous. Sending you best wishes!
Debi
So excited for your little baby girl!!
I’m loving that shade of pink. Madder root, eh? I’m off to google it right now!
Pink knitting is so much fun! My last baby was a girl, after 3 boys in a row, and I went pink crazy. She’s four now and extremely feminine and girly and loves pink, much to my hearts delight. (My oldest daughter was the opposite) So of course I will be watching for that peachy pink yarn ; o)
Oh Ginny, the joy! Glad we can all embrace the joy with you. Thanks for making your news so fun to be a part of!
I’m so tickled for you. I meant to come back and congratulate you, and, well, life…
I know how Larkspur feels, when after three boys hearing I was having a girl. It’s just hard to believe. Enjoy all that pink! At least in the early days she can be a girly girl! I’m sure you’ll have a beautiful pink layette for her when she’s born.
Congratulations on your baby girl! So exciting!
A girl!!!! Congratulations. The closest I am to having any more kids is through my alpacas. My girl Treasure just got back from her romantic get away in PA and is confirmed pregnant. My boys were having fun at dinner coming up with names for the baby. That is how we have to keep ourselves occupied until next Fall! Alpacas take tooooo long to have their babies. Anyway they were coming up with names that go with Treasure and my six year old son came up with Booty. He laughed so hard he almost choked! I wish I could make hand knits for my baby alpacas! Oh I am so excited to see your hand knits for a baby girl!!!!!
That yarn is just the prettiest shade of pink. How exciting to be adding another girl to your family!
I am so excited for you! And can’t wait to see your baby girl knits 🙂 My first two were planned homebirths, one ending in transfer, my third was a planned hospital birth but came unexpectedly unassisted at home, and my fourth was a planned, uneventful hospital birth. I had a very, very hard time switching to planning hospital births (and I didn’t have a medical reason to do so – just an instinct that I needed to do so) after being so determined to have my babies at home, but it ended up being a very peaceful, positive experience and actually stresses me out less. I pray you also have a peaceful and uneventful birth!
How perfect! Congratulations!
That colour is incredible! I would love to buy some of it!!
Would you share at some point your motivation to change your birth location? I am very excited for your family either way!
How happy! My girls were desperate for a girl this time around and the boys were hoping for a boy. But, you are right, the look on my boys’ faces when our Ineke came two weeks ago calmed any fears of them being sad about them being outnumbered.
I should have known I was wrong with my guess- I always, always am. Plus, I hate it when people say it’s going to be a particular gender only because that is what they WANT or it appears to be about time for that gender. I don’t know why. Maybe I just don’t want disappointment either way.
But, now that it IS a girl, I can say I am SO GLAD it is a girl! Because little sisters are such fun. Especially after a few little brothers.
PS. Those are lovely shades of pink!
I’ve been reading your blog and watching your family grow for years. I’m thrilled for all of you, even Silas! Can’t wait to see this one grow, too. Will be praying for all the family.
I knew it! Yippee! I love that you marked this special occasion with dying special pink yarn, because that’s just what us crazy obsessed knitters do. I can’t wait to see what you knit! So happy for you guys!
That yarn is gorgeous! My first 4 were born at home and then we decided with my last 2 to have them at a birth center. I remember everyone scratching their heads, they said they were used to see it happen the other way around. ha! It was a very good decision for us for multiple reasons. The two hardest things were the drive to the center and the shock of not it not being as cozy as home. But the pros for us outweighed these two things.
My recommendation is that you bring some home with you. Your favorite shawl, music, warm light, etc…
Oh, and I found that I rested much better in the birth center than at home and I enjoyed having my baby all to myself that first day.
Blessings on your girl! I cried when I found out we were having a girl after 3 boys in a row.
JOY, joy, joy! Pink for a precious baby Girl. Can’t wait to hear her name. Lifting your family in prayer.
xoxoxoxo
Congratulations, again! Can’t wait to see all the awesome baby girl knitting patterns you unearth.
Oh I’m so excited for you. In my heart I was hoping it was a girl! Beautiful job on the yarn. Lots of people check your blog! I kept looking at the count creeping up…over 500 responses. You should get some kind of reward for being such a well loved blog!
I read this post, and the one before, with a big smile on my face. Babies are so special. I’m expecting our second daughter in March and love the anticipation and preparation for a new little one. And that pink is just so beautiful! Blessings for you and your family, and prayers for a comfortable and healthy pregnancy.
congratulations Ginny! may you have a very safe healthy pregnancy 🙂
So excited for you and the girls. Love the boys too, but another girl is fabulous news. Love all the pink yarn. Yay!!!!
Yippee for girl power!! I live with my four guys, and longed for years for a baby girl. Now I realize God had other plans for me and I wouldn’t trade my boys for anything:-) Your baby girl is so blessed to be on her way to joining your beautiful family! I’ll keep you in my prayers for a healthy pregnancy & birth.
Peace.
~Michelle
Yay for baby girls!!! I’m so happy for you guys. So exciting.
The yarn is lovely as well ?
Congratulations to you! Baby girls are wonderful…we had 4!
Blessings that everything goes well in the upcoming months.
I really enjoy reading your blog and check in nearly every day.
I love my boys, but as you know, girls hold a special place in our hearts. I’m so grateful the Lord blessed me with my daughter, and I’m glad that you will have another and she will be such a sweet sister for your children. I hope the rest of the pregnancy goes smoothly for you!
That color is beautiful. I’m excited for you and will keep you in my prayers for a wonderful pregnancy and delivery. God Bless you and your family!
Beautiful yarn!
Hooray for baby girl news! Blessings on you and baby!
Babies certainly have a way of making everyone fall in loved with them. 🙂
So happy for you! A GIRL!! Yay!
The yarn is gorgeous.
What a lucky little girl she will be to grow up in your sweet family!
A girl! Yay! So happy for you all! : )
I love Silas’ comment! Exactly kind of thing my 4-year-old would say. Congratulations for little baby girl!
So so so so so so SO happy for you, Ginny!
I LOVE the shades of pink you are getting with that yarn…yummy. I’m so excited to see how it works up. Congratulations!
There’s just nothing like baby girl knits. Before my daughter was born I knit a Lizzy Dress for her in a beautiful smoky purple madelinetosh yarn. It’s so gorgeous but since we’re team green this time, I’m kind of bummed I won’t get to knit anything so pretty and lacy until AFTER baby gets here and even then, maybe not. oh well!
Allison, we’ve been on team green for all four of ours, and the ONLY thing that ever makes me question that decision is not being able to plan ahead in my knitting! My babies have an awful lot of cream, pale blue, gray, and burgundy, since I like those colors on either 🙂
So happy for you guys! And some baby girl knits will be so fun! 🙂
so so happy for you!! How exciting!! and I love the yarn color!!
Blessings to you!!
a girl! I knew it and so many others guessed right. How sweet and lovely and wonderful and I’m so happy we can share this journey with you and your family. thank you! gorgeous pink yarn!!
Another girl! It will help balance out the boys! The yarn is beautiful. I look forward to seeing what you make with it.