I love surprises.
I love experiencing surprises, and I love keeping surprises even more. We were astonished in November when we discovered we were expecting our third baby. As my due date is right around the corner, I wanted to share why my husband and I have always keep our babies’ genders a surprise until delivery.
You receive what you actually need for the baby.
OK, so maybe this is a little too practical. But when you are expecting your first baby and no one knows the gender, you are more likely to get what you really need for the baby rather than what’s so stinking cute. Consequently, you can expect all the “boring but necessary” items on your registry to get snapped up. We received our diaper pail, accompanying liners, baby monitor, extra car seat base, and other necessities at our baby shower. None of these items are particularly exciting, but they’re still very beneficial to receive. Also, as it turns out, many loved ones still gifted us some pretty adorable clothing and toys when baby girl arrived!
If you don’t know the baby’s gender, there is even more incentive during labor.
Our second daughter was inadvertently an unmedicated birth. I wasn’t against having a natural birth but I wasn’t seeking it out, either. Trust me when I say that there was a ton of motivation to meet that baby and find out who she was. It helped me through the toughest parts of her birth. I was super focused and determined to bring that baby into the world, because I wanted to know so badly if I had a son or a daughter.
The grand reveal is SO much more exciting when you announce to family and friends.
I wanted my husband to announce the baby when (she) was born. I thought it was a good start to his job as a daddy. And I’ll never in my life forget the awe and wonder in his voice when he exclaimed, “It’s a girl!” Reflecting on that moment still makes me teary. He then got to experience the joy and fun of announcing her arrival to our parents, who were anxiously waiting. It also makes it more exciting for our friends and family. I have had many people tell me, “I can’t wait to find out if you are having a boy or a girl!” Of course all babies are highly anticipated, even when the gender is known, but I think the element of mystery makes it even more thrilling.
There are so few surprises in life that are terrific no matter the outcome. We want our babies to be healthy and happy — what difference does the gender make? I understand some parents want to plan and decorate accordingly. But for us, the surprise element is way better than choosing paint colors and crib bedding. And I can’t wait to introduce baby number three on the blog!