It’s a GIRL!!!!! It feels so good to say it out loud and share the news with all of you! Friends have told us that it’s nice to keep some details personal, just for ourselves, so Kevin and I tried to keep this private for as long as we could. We have known for a while now (since I was 11 weeks – I’m 24 weeks now), and it’s been such a hard secret to keep. Mostly because we are so excited about it, but also because when people see I’m pregnant it’s the first thing they ask!!! Kevin and I would say the same thing each time, “We know, but we are trying to keep it a secret for a while.” It got old telling this story over and over again and honestly it made people feel bad for asking, and then we felt bad that they felt bad. So we decided to start saying we didn’t know what we were having. But then it would start a long conversation about our decision for waiting to find out the sex. So that story was even harder to tell and we felt worse because we weren’t being truthful! Ha! Sorry to all the people we “fibbed” to! Now we can just flat out tell the truth and excitedly share, it’s a girl!!! And I’ll be happy to launch into a long conversation with someone about how excited we are to be having a girl, and all the things we’re looking forward to!
Honestly, we would have been thrilled with either sex. It’s cliche to say but all we want is a healthy baby. Well it’s cliche because it’s SO TRUE!!!! I didn’t realize how true the statement is until getting pregnant. Because you worry all the time – at every doctors appointment – that something will be wrong. We are so thankful to say that so far, our little girl has passed every test and is looking very healthy. But no matter what happens, we will love everything about her.
It’s funny because I totally pictured myself as a mother to all boys. Maybe because I’m kind of a tom boy myself (well I used to be a tom boy. Now that I have discovered fashion, I have embraced my girlishness!) so I thought I’d fit well with all boys. Plus, I’ve always said that I could totally get used to being the queen of the house – ha! Now, my little girl will most certainly be the queen of the house and I am completely ok with that ๐ In fact, now that we know we are having a girl and now that I have been able to feel her kick and bond with her, I couldn’t imagine it any other way! Now I only see myself as a mother to a girl – a boy would feel weird to me! I guess it’s because I feel like I know her already. And I must say she is already super smart, funny and outgoing. Ha! Kidding! But my kid is totally advanced right?
The day we found out the news is a day I’ll never forget! After getting the Harmony blood test at 10 weeks (as you can see in the above picture it was around Christmas time), we anxiously waited for 7-10 days to pass until we could get our results. Not only would this blood test tell us the gender of our little one, but it would also let us know a lot about our baby’s chromosomes. I called the doctors office, more than they liked I’m sure, asking if our results were in. Once the results finally came in the doctor told us over the phone that the baby’s chromosomes were “normal” (I put normal in quotes because we would love our baby just as much if she had extra chromosomes), but we didn’t have her tell us the gender over the phone. We wanted to get the news in private – just the two of us (and Owen of course!). So we got in the car RIGHT AWAY and drove to the doctors office to pick up the envelope with the gender results in it. Then we drove back home to be with Owen and set up a camera to record our reaction. So here it is.
You can see that we were both shocked just because it’s such crazy news to get. For the rest of our lives, we will have this little girl (and then woman) in our lives. Our daughter! Watching it back I am almost surprised that my reaction isn’t “bigger.” I think it was just surreal in the moment and I was taking it all in. We congratulate Kevin’s mom in the video because she is the mother of two boys and always wanted a girl. So this grand baby is the little girl she always wanted! But I also want to congratulate my momma! She is so excited to be the grammy to our little angel.
Right after getting the news I immediately said, “No pink right?” to Kevin. I’ve just never been a “pink person” and never thought of bringing a bunch of it into our house. Oh was I wrong! Cause within an hour of finding out, we were at a baby store to celebrate the news and the very first thing we bought was a green and pink onesie (See below). Since then, I’ve bought sooooo many pink things – ha! I’m realizing that I actually love light pink and blush. So I plan on seeing lots of it in my future! Maybe even in the nursery?!?!
Planning the nursery has been so fun!!!! I am working with a a fab designer! Her name is Vanessa Antonelli and you can see all her amazing work HERE. Doesn’t she design the CUTEST nurseries! She actually did JP and Ashley’s nursery which is how I found out about her. I saw how cute theirs was and I knew I wanted her to design our little girls room! So stay tuned for pictures of that! I am hoping to have the nursery done by the end of May ๐
So there you have it. I am going to be a mom to a sweet little baby girl! We are both so very excited and can’t wait to meet her!!! Thank you for following our journey! We know she will be so loved by so many the very day she comes into this world.
Love you all! Thanks for reading about our baby girl!
xoxo Ali
And a big thank you to our friends at Us Weekly for writing up such a nice story about our sweet little girl! Read it HERE.
You guys know me, time to go shopping!!! Some of my favorite little girl clothes…
Congratulations Ali! I always saw myself as a mom to boys – I always wanted 4. Our first was a girl and I had the exact same feelings as you – it quickly switched and I was so excited about all of the girly stuff. In fact, just this morning, my now 3-year old girl was SUPER excited about her new dress I just bought her (one that twirls, of course – had to do some twirl tests last night while shopping at Target) and picking out a matching bow for her hair – and I said to my husband, "I’m SO glad we have a little girl!". BUT – I now also have the perfect little 15-month old boy! Life is good – so excited for you to have a precious little girl too! Congrats again! ๐
I love this so much! I want to share something with you. For years, I have tried to conceive. Last year I miscarried after being so excited to finally have a positive. Well, my journey is beginning again with fertility work. For the past year and a half I have followed your blog. Mostly I have followed to read your commentary on the Bachelor/Bachelorette which I always love. But recently watching your pregnancy journey through your pictures has meant something so special to me. I am finding such joy in the clothes you are wearing for your pregnancy. They have given me great ideas and options, for when I do get pregnant. I am going to be undergoing fertility treatment soon. So reading your blogs has me so invigorated for what will come for my pregnancy journey. Thank you for sharing you life with your fans. Congratulations on your arrival of a little girl. I have this strong feeling that I am meant to have my own daughter too. Sending good vibes your way!
Ahhh!!! So exciting, congratulations!!! I think I just cried more watching you find out about your baby than I did mine! Hahaha! I am 2 weeks behind you and found out about 2-3 weeks later that we are having a boy and chose to hear over the phone and then called my husband immediately. I was at work and in the bathroom so I had to contain my excitement and wipe my face before coming out. Sort of wish we waited to be together and open an envelope like you both did, definitely a moment to remember forever! Best of luck to you both and your precious little girl!!!
Congrats!! I totally teared up watching Kevin’s reaction – that was adorable! I’m so happy for both of you!! I can’t wait to see your design ideas for the nursery! <3
Awwww, Congrats Ali, Kevin and Owen!!
I too always thought of myself as a Tom boy. When I was pregnant I was convinved I was having a boy. When my husband and I went to our 25weeks gender ultrasound, my husband found out, but wanted me to be surprised and boy was I surprised. I balled my eyes out ( the good kind) when I found out I was having a girl. My baby girl is now almost 7 months old and she has both mommy and daddy wrapped around her little finger. Best wishes for the rest of your pregnancy and cant wait to see pictures of your precious baby girl when she is ready to meet the world! <3
Congrats, Ali!! I’m having our first baby (also a girl!!) on July 15, so I love reading your pregnancy updates since I feel like we’re in this together ๐
I was the same way about pink- I hated it! Since I found out we were having a girl, it’s been all pink everything. I guess thinking about a sweet little baby girl brings out the girly-ness in us all!
Super excited for you two! You will be great parents! Funny enough I have never liked pink either, but some shades have grown on me. If we have a girl I’m sure there will be some thrown in too.
Congratulations!!!!?????I am a mommy to two little girls and I love everything about it!!! You are so very blessed, I wish you nothing but happiness and health for you all!!! PS…The shopping for little girls is endless, but the most fun!!!??? Love you guys!!!
So beyond happy for you and Kevin. I have followed you since your days as The Bachelorette. It has been wonderful watching your find your happiness! My husband and I will begin trying this summer so it is really nice reading all of your tips and blogs. I have to say thank you also for blogging about real inexpensive items. I know you throw the occasional splurge in, but for the every day folk, I can’t thank you enough! Congrats again!!
Congrats!! So exciting! I would absolutely LOVE to send you some free hair bows from my shop. It would make me so happy! You can peruse my shop at http://www.bucksandbows2.etsy.com and contact me through there or through my email shopbucksandbows@gmail.com
Congrats again!!!! ๐
Congrats! I’ve followed you since the Bachelor/Bachelorette and I love reading your updates! I am also pregnant and will be finding out next week the gender! My husband is hoping for a girl but I think it’s a boy – mama’s intuition ๐ thank you for sharing your story with us. You deserve so much happiness.
Congratulations Ali and Kevin! So exciting! You will just love your new baby girl to pieces and I’m sure she will be the best dressed baby in town! ๐
Great news! Congratulations Ali and Kevin! We are very excited about your news. I remember when we find out that we are going to have a baby girl. So emotional moment. I still remember it and I stil remember when she was born because I was the first parent who saw her. But may we ask, have you thought it about a name? Or did you find It’s early for now? I hope you in the future share more monets about your family and tell us what is the name of your baby girl
Anyway congratulations again and best wishes from Estonia, Kuressaare!
PS! Sorry about my bad english, I hope you understand what we are trying to tell you.
Congratulations!!! I had twin boys and now a daughter and there’s nothing like having a little girl. And I also said "no pink" and had to eat my words cause I ended up painting her nursery pink!
So happy for you guys. I can just tell how excited you are. You’re gonna be a great mother. Enjoy every moment! You look adorable by the way!
Congratulations Ali and Kevin
You and Kevin are going to be amazing parents to your beautiful baby girl. ????????
Congratulations! It’s so interesting you mentioned how you thought your reaction to finding out the gender wasn’t bigger. When my husband and I found out the gender of our twins, we were sure they were both boys. We had names picked out and everything! When the doctor said baby A was a girl, I was convinced Baby B was a boy. Wrong! Both babies were girls and my husband and I sat there in shock lol. It took a few minutes to kick in and by the time we got home I grabbed my iPad and started picking out pink EVERYTHING lol. We were ecstatic and have gorgeous 9 year old girls who light up our lives. I wish you the best!
Congratulations Ali!! I am due about 5 days after you are and we found out at our 20 week ultrasound we’re having a girl as well! I can so relate to your shock, I was sure we were having a boy for similar reasons but now, we couldn’t be more thrilled! Bring on the blush and pink! <3 Xo -Ally
Congratulations both of you, that little girl will have such an amazing parents.
Congratulations on the baby girl! She will be one blessed baby ๐
I don’t usually comment on blogs, but I wanted to thank you for how you worded your experience with the chromosomal blood work. I have a special needs daughter, and sometimes people don’t realize that by their excitement and relief over "normal" blood work, it always stings, and I think, "Berkley is just as much of a blessing, do you not think that?" Of course you are happy for a healthy baby! Any parent would be! But to acknowledge that sometimes babies aren’t healthy and that’s okay, and that they will be loved regardless, that was very considerate of you. I know all special needs mothers who come across this will really appreciate the sensitivity you showed ๐
Congratulations again!
Devon
Devon took the words right out of my mouth. I normally don’t post in any comment section, but I appreciate how you addressed the blood work. I had my first baby 18 months ago and discovered his Down syndrome through the Harmony test as well. The fact that you took time to even address the fact that "normal" doesn’t mean any better and extra chromosomes don’t make a baby loved any less, is proof that you’ll be a wonderful mom. Congrats.
hermosa historia, gracias por compartir tu felicidad con nosotros, te vengo siguiendo desde que eras concursante en the bachelor de Jacke, el piloto si no estoy mal, despuรฉs vi tu programa en the bachelorette, pedona si escrio mal el inglรฉs, no lo manejo mucho. Me agrada que seas muy feliz,con tu pareja, se nota que se aman verdaderamente. Bendiciones a ti y tu familia y que Jesรบs siga siendo la roca de tu hogar
Thank you so much for sharing you’re wonderful news.. Congratulations, your going to be a wonderful mother to you’re little girl:)
I felt the exact same way about the color pink! I absolutely never bought anything pink. My daughter is 7 months old and I always go for pink things! ?
This makes me tear up reading as I just went through this experience not long ago. Our daughter is now 6 months and is the joy of our lives. Enjoy every moment, it truly is a blessing.
Having a baby girl is THE BEST! I have been blessed with two daughters. We look for fairies on walks to the park, do art projects and care for their dolls. I’m currently planning a mermaid party for my almost-3-year-old — her idea. What fun! I make a point to raise well-rounded girls who also read about tools and trucks, and I initially tried to avoid pink but have since developed an appreciation for it, especially a soft pink or when paired with aqua. That said, I highly recommend RED for girls. It’s so classic and all-American! Especially if your daughter inherits your big brown eyes! I spring for old-school red outfits like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Girls-Boutique-Clothes-Rare-Editions-Strawberry-2-Piece-Set-Outfit-18m-mo-/201517545485?hash=item2eeb61b80d:g:5pYAAOSwv0tVQr~r
Oh, and SHOES for little girls are the best! Check out these adorable (low priced) fox shoes: http://www.ebay.com/itm/151821064079?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&var=451014300084&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
And Gymboree has a to-die-for new spring line with Little Golden Books. These dainty floral shoes are the cutest thing EVER and come in a size 1, which would work for your daughter this summer. On sale for $11! http://www.gymboree.com/shop/item/baby-little-golden-books-sandals-140150933
Baby Gap also has great baby-girl clothes — fun prints that are classic with a modern twist. Plus there’s Janie and Jack, which I love. Their clothes can run a bit pricier but they are so charming!
I’m looking forward to following your journey, Ali, and am so happy for you! I would love to read a blog post with your thoughts on baby names. Are you looking at more contemporary options (like the trendy Addison) or classic ones (like Anna)?
Where is your dress from? It’s beautiful!
HI – where is this dress from?