That is the first time I have "written" our soon-to-be new addition's name! So yes, it's a girl!!! I can't even begin to explain how thrilled I am. We went in at week 16 and the doc told us he was 75% sure it was a boy. Nonetheless, I left that appointment more certain than ever that it was really a girl. We waited 2 more weeks, and confirmed my (and Mariah's) secret wish: IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!! I was very convinced at first it was a boy. Certain. Absolutely positive. Then around week 13 I really started thinking that maybe it was a girl. That thought became a hope and the hope is now a soon-to-be reality! Turns out Ben was secretly wishing for another boy; he would rather deal with a dating son than a dating daughter. I told him we first need to get her here before he even needs to begin to worry about that:) And Mariah is "done with boys!" In her opinion, we, the girls, have been out-numbered since Mitt joined our fam. Ben, Mitt, and Max vs Me and Mariah. Well, Mariah Girl, we have evened things up! I am so thrilled for Mariah to have a sister. I think 5 1/2 years will be a good age difference, and most sisterly-issues (sharing clothes, who gets the car, etc.) will be blissfully avoided. But she will still have the opportunity to have a best friend for life, like my sisters are to me:) We went in today for our 20 week ultrasound and everything looks great. She was sitting indian-style in the breech position, and when the doc showed us her face, she gave us all a big smile. That's my girl! I can't wait to meet you Heidi! You have brought so much joy to us already:)
So I need to name my kids right away. It helps me get to know them, or at least feel like they are real even before I can hold them in my arms. And unlike my sisters, we have yet to change a name of one of my kids once we have decided:) (My nephew Drew spent a few days as Austin and when I first met Logan he was named Conner) So admittedly I chose Mariah's name; Ben and I completely agreed on Mitt's. Still love those names everytime I say them! So I decided to let Ben take the main lead on Baby Girl #2. He has always said he loves the name Heidi. Everytime I have ever asked him about if he likes a girl's name, he replies, "You know what name I really love? Heidi." You know what Benny, I really love it too. I have only known a couple of Heidis, most importantly my high school friend Heidi Kirch Poelman, who I still adore though I don't see her hardly at all. So thankfully I have a good Heidi-reference; if my Heidi is like the Heidis I have known, we are in for a treat:)
So the middle name. Well, some of you know, we are moving to North Carolina March 1! We are so excited to go-it-alone with just our family and have a fun adventure for 4 or so years! Ben is going to start up his own pest control company. Thus, Heidi will be born in North Carolina, so Carolina (which we originally were going to use potentially as Her first name) became our logical (and we think darling) choice for her middle name:) Ever since watching Nicholas Sparks' movie "The Notebook", I have always wished I could someday live in North Carolina. It just seems so beautiful and romantic with the trees and lakes and lighthouses and porched-houses. Ben and I just got back from our first visit to Charlotte, and we loved it. It smells like pine trees and it is wooded with huge trees and pines all over with giant areas of grassy fields to break things up. It is softly hilly with and very clean. That description doesn't even come close to justifying the beauty, so you will just have to come take a trip to see for yourself:) The people were so friendly, most neighborhoods have swimming pools as well as lakes and wooded backyards instead of dozens of neighbors like in our current neighborhood. Utah will always be home but we are anxious to make North Carolina our new home for a few years:)
