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Baby Petersik is a….

… HE!

Its A Boy

We haven’t done one of these posts since 2010, so it feels kind of strange and exciting to be sharing this kind of news with you guys again. We found out on Wednesday, and then scurried to tell our families over the last 48 hours. Of course, the most important person to tell first was Clara. We didn’t want her to learn the news from an ultrasound technician, so we scheduled a playdate for her with my dad during this particular appointment. Then when we were back together, we surprised her with a baby boy doll (which are surprisingly hard to find, we learned). It was a cute little “OK, look in the bag to see if there’s a little boy or a little girl in mommy’s belly!” moment.

Clara Bag Peeking2

And if there’s one thing she enjoys more than tearing through some tissue paper, it’s baby dolls. It was love at first sight and, more importantly, she completely connected the dots that this meant she was getting a little brother. She pretty much immediately started giving him his bottle and changing his diapers and even bragged that she knew it was a boy the whole time. When we asked her what she wanted to name the baby doll, without hesitation she shouted: “Barnacles!” After Sherry and I completely failed at stifling our laughter, Clara explained that its full name was actually Captain Barnacles (a character in one of her new favorite shows, Octonauts). So yeah, she won’t be naming her real brother… but we have called the bun “the barnacle” a few times since then.

Clara Baby Boy

She (okay, well all of us) originally guessed we were having a girl. But our instincts started to shift to boy when Sherry’s morning sickness wouldn’t let up (this pregnancy is pretty different than the last). Which is good because Clara started asking for a brother, probably because a few of her best friends have baby brothers. Regardless of the reason, she couldn’t have been more thrilled at the news. And so are we.

All Three

After about the sixteenth Captain Barnacle diaper change, Clara called up Nonna to tell her via FaceTime. She was really excited to deliver the news – and Nonna was just as excited to hear it!

Telling Nonna

For telling my family here in town, we decided to make a little game out of the announcement. We managed to get my parents, my sister, and her family to meet us out to dinner last night (at Panera, since we’re super fancy and all). We came armed with a bunch of blue and pink envelopes, so each person could make a final guess by picking a pink envelope if they thought it was a girl and a blue one if they thought boy.

Envelopes

Then we had them all tear into them at the same time to see if their baby-dar was on point or not. All of the blue ones said some iteration of “yup!” or “bingo!” or “you betcha!” and all the pink ones said “nope!” “try again!” or “wrong-o!” We had about a 50/50 split in guesses, so even though half of ’em were off-base, everyone was thrilled. It was really fun to watch their faces as they all figured it out at pretty much exactly the same moment.

Envelopes Open

Then we got to make a whole bunch of other family & friend calls to spread the news (Clara was awesome about boasting “I’m getting a baby brother!” about 100 times to various friends and relatives on the horn). And that, as they say, is history.

Sherry and I are both really excited. We’re mostly just thankful to hear there’s a healthy bun barnacle growing in there, no matter its sex. But being able to picture this child – this boy! – a bit more clearly makes the excitement that much more real. As much as two little girls would’ve been fun, we’re really looking forward to the experience of raising a son along with this great daughter of ours. Not to mention that Sherry’s already going crazy looking at nurseries on Pinterest.

It’s fun to think about the possibilities for that room now that we know better who will be occupying it. Not that we’ll fill it with “man things” or make it all blue and green (actually, come to think of it, Clara’s original nursery was blue and green) but it’s just fun to talk about potential projects and colors and art now. The funny thing is that the nursery is the only room in this entire house that had pink trim when we bought it.

Nursery Before

Good thing it’s already painted white! Bad that the room is currently housing a bunch of random junk. Guess it’s getting time to start working on that…

Nursery Now

We’d love to hear your stories about finding out the sex of your baby (whether halfway through with an ultrasound, one of those early blood tests, or right there in the delivery room). And feel free to share how you told your family and friends. Was it a photo on Facebook? One of those blue/pink cakes? A box full of balloons? Or did you just call or visit people and blurt out the news? Any way you play it, it’s a pretty exciting moment.

Comments

  1. misty says

    congrats!!! I’m pregnant w my second and have a 2 yr old son! hoping for a girl, naturally, but will be happy either way! you couldn’t be more right about boy baby dolls being hard to find… where did you get yours??

    Reply

  3. Alice H says

    Congratulations!! Boys are so much fun. And dirty! LOL!

    My oldest is a girl and she is so great with her 2 ornery brothers. I bet Clara will be such a good lil momma!

    I found out with my oldest in the delivery room. I found out 4 days before I had my first son that he was a boy.

    And we found out with my youngest at 18 weeks and to tell my family/friends we just gave them a picture of the ultrasound.

    Reply

  4. Keeley says

    Congratulations! I had a feeling you were carrying a boy. You are going to love being parents to a little guy.

    I had a baby boy in July 2012. Everyone thought I was having a girl, but our 18-week ultrasound revealed that we were carrying a boy. We were stunned (I have no idea why because it’s always 50/50). We called our mothers immediately from the parking lot and my mom didn’t even believe us! While we were in shock for a few weeks we absolutely love, love, love being boy parents! Plus, my son looks just like me, which is quite awesome.

    I can’t wait to see what you do with the nursery. We sold our first home when our son was 10 months old and we haven’t decorated his room in the new house.

    Reply

  5. Lindsay says

    Congrats you guys! I was waiting all morning to hear your news (haha hope that’s not creepy, seeing as I don’t “know” you)! Very excited for all of you. My first was a boy, he’s almost 18 months, and I’m pregnant now too with a little girl! So we’re opposite! :)I’m so excited though to have one of each, what a blessing! All the best to you guys as you finish up the pregnancy. And, I am wishing you nothing but smooth sailing with this delivery. Enjoy your holiday season–so much to celebrate and be thankful for!!

    Reply

  6. Ashley G. says

    I’m glad Clara gets it because when I was four and my parents told me my mom was having a boy, I kept telling everyone “I’m going to be a big brother!” We got a lot of strange looks, to say the least. :)

    Reply

  8. Erin Lynn says

    Congratulations!!! So so happy for you!! I was hoping for a boy for you guys! We have a girl just a few months younger than Clara and I had our boy 9 months ago. It’s so fun to watch the similarities and the obvious differences between boys and girls, even as infants. It is so fun to see Clara so excited. Our daughter was exactly 2.5 when her brother was born. She was aware of him, but I wouldn’t say interested or excited. He was just kind of there. Now that he’s more playful, she loves him to pieces. Allow a little wiggle room for Clara as she adjusts to not being the center of her world, but I am certain she will do just fine and have a few hilarious comments along the way. Prayers for the rest of an uneventful pregnancy and safe delivery of a very healthy boy. (Sorry for the book I just left!)

    Reply

  9. Corien Oranje says

    Congratulations from the Netherlands!!! Could not wait for this post to appear. I am so excited for you guys!
    I will never forget the moment we found out I was expecting triplet boys… They are 16 now (and we have a 19 year old son too) and they are the BEST!

    Reply

  11. lindsay says

    When I was pregnant with our first (26 years ago – seems like yesterday) my OB said he was sure it was a boy. I asked him how often he was right, and he said ‘about half the time’. Hilarious. It was a girl! So happy for you all. xo

    Reply

  13. Teresa @ wherelovemeetslife says

    Ahhh!! How exciting!!! So glad “the barnacle” is doing well and that Clara is excited.

    I have 2 boys, the first my bonus daughter cried at the ultrasound :( She wanted a sister so bad. The second I think she had finally decided she was ok with being the only girl ;)

    Here is how we told the news about our second. That little stinker in the middle kept popping his balloon, so he was supposed to be the A. His name is Ashton though, so I guess we can sub him in for the letter. lol

    http://wherelovemeetslife.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/updates-on-life-and-pregnancy/

    Reply

  14. Jess @ Crunchy Hot Mama says

    CONGRATS!!! Emma and I were both sure it was a girl, too, but as long as baby and mama are healthy, that’s what matters! Here’s to all going well for the rest of your pregnancy :) Thoughts and prayers for your family!

    Reply

  15. Fulori says

    YAAAAAY!!! Congratulations – Clara is already a wonderful big sister!

    (PS – would have picked the blue envelope.) ;)

    Reply

  16. Annette says

    Congrats! My sister will be having a boy within the next 2 weeks or so. the soon-to-be big sister is a little over two. She hasn’t really grasped the whole baby-concept yet but knows there’s a baby in mummy’s huge tummy.

    And let me just say how much Clara looks like John in the picture where you facetime Nonna…

    Reply

  17. Ashley S says

    Yay! Congratulations Petersik Family! I’m preggers with a boy as well (Due in early March), decorating for a boy is so much fun! I can’t wait to see what you guys do with your nursery, especially since the new nursery looks so much bigger than Clara’s nursery.

    Reply

  19. Lindsey J says

    Boys are SO fun, I am excited for you guys!!

    And, how does even your “random junk” look beautiful?!? Seriously??

    :)

    Reply

  20. Starr @ The Kiefer Cottage says

    Congratulations! After two girls, we got a son almost 3 years ago, and he is a piece of work. Has knocked a front tooth out, been in the ER for other injuries, and flushes everything down the toilet…our girls never did any of this! Anyway, boys are fun!

    Reply

  21. Goldie says

    I didn’t find out with either of my kids. My second was a scheduled c section which was a very different experience than my emergency first one. I walked into the operating room and everyone was very calm and joking around with me. They were playing John Mayer and I was all blah because I’m more of a hip hop girl. My husband and I both thought we were having another boy but in the middle of the surgery the song daughters came on. We looked at each other and said omg it’s a girl! And she was!

    Reply

  24. Cassie says

    I also teared up reading this. Congratulations!
    When I was pregnant (11 years ago now, sheesh!) at my 16 week U/S the tech told me and my mother that I was having a girl; my sister had a year old son and my mom was thrilled at the idea of having a granddaughter. Three weeks later we trekked 2 hrs away to Boston to a bigger hospital for a more detailed U/S so the Dr could get a look at something that concerned him – we were all set to go Girl Baby shopping on the way home – the tech pointed to a little blob on the screen and said “I keep hearing you say ‘She’ but see that? This baby is definitely a boy!” My mom’s response: “But we already have a boy!” Having a son has been the most educational, inspiring and humbling experience of my life, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Enjoy!

    Reply

  25. Katie O says

    Big fat congratulations your way! I’m pregnant with our third, due in February. We have one of each, so this go around we’ve decided to wait until the Big Day to find out the gender. I thought it would be difficult not knowing, but truthfully, it hasn’t been so bad! I work at the hospital where I received the US, and I had the US tech tell a friend of mine here at work, so she and the US tech are the only ones who know! (She just had a baby, so if it it’s a boy, she’ll keep all her clothes to give to me, and if it’s a girl, they’ll go to someone else).

    When we found out our second was a girl, I wore a pink shirt to announce to everyone the gender (which is a big deal because I’m a red head, and red heads should not wear pink).

    Again, congratulations on a healthy barnacle baby boy. Watch those nicknames – our oldest began calling his sister “Charlie Pinecone” while she was in the womb, and the nickname stuck (her real name is Caroline, but everyone in the world calls her Charlie or Pinecone).

    Reply

  26. Lauren says

    We have a 17 month old boy, Leo. He is a sweetheart! Boys are the best.

    We had the tech write down the sex and seal it in an envelope. We immediately gave it to the woman who made our wedding cake and she made us a gender reveal cake! We had friends and family over, and when we cut into the cake we found blue icing. It was the best surprise ever, and we got to share our excitement simultaneously with everyone else we love.

    Congrats! I love your blog and am truly happy for you!

    Reply

  27. Kristi says

    Congrats! We, too, have a little girl and followed that up with a baby boy. I went shopping for baby clothes at the consignment store after our ultrasound and then wrapped up the box of blue clothes. Cora opened it up and pulled out about 3 outfits before the look on her face changed and we knew she had figured it out.

    I have to say, this combination of girl and then boy has been amazing for our little family. Cora is quite the doting second-mother to Harrison (as well as an awesome playmate) and he looks at his big sister with this look of complete and utter devotion/love/awe that melts my heart everytime.

    Good luck on the rest of the pregnancy and I can’t wait to see the nursery come together!

    Reply

  28. Kelsey S. says

    Congratulations! Little boys are so much fun! We found out with our first (a boy), but we’re planning to be surprised for our April baby. I think I’m just as excited not knowing as I was with finding out last time, just in a different way.

    Reply

  29. Alycia says

    Congrats to the entire family! I went in to my 19 week ultrasound to find out the gender of my ONE baby and found out I was having TWIN girls!

    Reply

  31. Jeannette says

    YAY FOR A BOY!!!! I’m having a boy too! I think I’m just 4 weeks ahead of you due March 27th. We did a gender reveal party with a box of balloons, we didn’t know before the party, so the ultrasound tech wrote it on a card. I loved focusing on the health of the baby at the ultrasound rather than the sex of the baby, and being able to find that out at the same time as our loved ones. I was CONVINCED it was a girl my whole pregnancy, so when blue balloons popped out, it was QUITE a surprise! But the expressions on my husband’s face were priceless!

    Can’t wait to see what you do with the nursery! We are planning a grey nursery with light blue accents and white furniture.

    Reply

  32. Laura says

    We didn’t find out until baby arrived. My whole pregnancy EVERYONE thought I was having a boy. Seriously. All but 3 people guessed it… family, friends, random people at the grocery store…. so I was convinced it was a girl, naturally :) I told that story to the midwife and nurse in the delivery room… so when baby finally popped out, I said, “what is it??” and they said, “it’s exactly what you thought it was! A girl!” (I still get choked up even typing that moment!)

    Congrats to you guys!! Such fun news and glad to hear baby is healthy!!!

    Reply

  34. Darcy says

    YEAH!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! I am soooo excited for you guys…a BOY!! I was thinking it was a boy cause your morning sickness lasted so much longer! BTW — are you still having it, or has it subsided for you finally? (fingers crossed for you that it has!)

    I have 2 (4 and almost 1) boys, they are wonderful, but SOOO different than girls!! Clara is soo stinkin cute with that baby doll — what a good little mommy she will be! Its a great age difference – my older boy was soo helpful with the baby last year! Its gonna be so great you guys!! I can’t wait to “meet” him!

    Reply

    • Darcy says

      UGH! That sucks — I can’t believe you are still getting sick every day! Gosh, I am so thankful I did not have that for either pregnancy. But, for my sweet boys, I would go through anything for them. As I am sure, you feel the same!

      Besides, when they are teenagers, you can tell him ALL that you went through when you were pregnant with him! Its a moms’ right to torture them with these stories!!

      Also — my 4yo just found Octonauts too, and he loves Captain Barnacle!!
      Sorry for the long and multiple posts — I’m just so gosh darn excited!!

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, thanks Darcy! John and I actually like Octonauts! The creatures they profile are so interesting that we find ourselves googling to see if they’re real. They always are, but they just sound so cool we keep having to check! Haha!

      xo
      s

    • Darcy says

      OMG! I like it too! I learn something new every time we watch it!! Its fascinating!

      Also — my other favorite show is Bubble Guppies — I LOVE the songs they sing — super cute and they get stuck in my head for days (and I actually don’t mind – other than people at work looking at me funny!) :-)

  39. Lynette says

    Yay, a BOY! How exciting!! I have two boys, and they are so much fun!! Clara will just love having a little brother. Thanks for sharing the great news with us!!

    Reply

  40. Shelley says

    Don’t think I have ever commented before, but had to on this one because your post made me laugh out loud. I am pregnant with number three – am 21 weeks and due April 15, so think I am close to you, Sherry. We are not finding out what we are having, but my three-year old son, Henry, immediately told us that if it is a boy, his name will be “Captain Barnacle.” I thought for sure no one else would have an in utero baby with such a name … guess I was wrong! And, if it’s a girl, it is “Candy Corn,” which all grown-ups have decided is definitely a stripper name …. Congrats to you. Boys are so fun!

    Reply

  42. gena says

    Congratulations! I have raised three amazing sons and it has truly been a joy!!

    How did I find out? Well, they were wrong and we planned for boy/girl twins 23 years ago since that’s what my AMNIO said! Instead I was blessed with 2 more boys to join their big brother – happiest mistake of my life!

    Hope the morning sickness subsides soon,
    gena

    Reply

  43. Sarah says

    We thought we wanted a girl for our second since we already had a boy, but my husband and I talked briefly before the ultrasound and both blurted out that we hoped it would be a boy. And it was! We didn’t do anything special to announce it, though.

    We also asked our oldest what he wanted to name his brother and he immediately said “Juicebox”. We seriously considered that as his official middle name because it would be a fun story, but instead have used it as a nickname, even three and a half years later!

    Reply

  44. Amy says

    As the older sister to a younger brother, I can tell you Clara will love it! It’s a nice mix of fort building and dressing up like princesses and that seems to suit Clara perfectly.

    Reply

  45. Kay says

    It’s baby-rama! My dear friends just had their twins late last night and now I wake up to see you’re having a boy! Such wonderful, exciting news! Congratulations and here’s to happy, healthy baby boy!

    Reply

  46. Sarah says

    YAY!!! Congrats to you and your family!!

    I was pregnant with our second baby and we brought our 4 year old daughter Paisley with us to find out the sex of the new baby. My doctor had the picture on the monitor, pointed and said “There is a leg, another leg and a turtle. Congratulations you are having a boy!” Paisley was so excited that she was going to get a baby brother AND a turtle! Needless to say she was a little disappointed at the hospital on delivery day when she only had a brother no turtle.

    Reply

  47. Kate says

    Congrats! I bet Clara is over the moon excited too!

    We decided not to find out what the sex of our kiddos were until the third time around and even then I didn’t want to know. So my husband found out about four months before we were due that we were having our third girl and managed to keep it a secret from me right up until the very end (he even told a few friends and family). We picked out a name for both a baby boy and girl and he didn’t say a thing when I started bringing home baby boy clothes. I’m sure he was just shaking his head behind my back. :) Again, congrats!

    Reply

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