One of these things is not like the other

***Warning for the faint of heart: Graphic "Diaper-Shot" Sonogram Pictures Posted****

20 week ultrasound of Ethan, "It's A Boy!"

18 Week Ultrasound of Luke, "It's A Boy!"
13 week ultrasound of Baby #3 - "It appears you have a boy!"
18 week ultrasound of Baby #3 - "SURPRISE, IT'S A . . . GIRL!!!!!!!"

Well, after five weeks of gearing up to welcome a third boy, we got quite a shock on Thursday when the radiologist announced our baby is in fact a girl.

Of course, I was more than a little skeptical given our family history: my Dad is one of six boys (no girls), Will's paternal grandmother gave birth to four boys (only 1 girl), my mother-in-law gave birth to five boys (no girls) and so far my sister-in-laws and I have produced five boys (no girls). My SIL Tori was even told her first baby was a girl, only later to find out that it was the umbilical cord wrapped around HIS legs. We had all started to assume that the elusive Bollard-girl didn't exist!

But once the radiologist caught wind of our story, she had the perinatologist come in and do a re-check. Thirty seconds into the ultrasound his exact words were, "100%, you can take it to the bank, this is a little lady." When I explained that no one in my family was going to believe this, the radiologist came back and did a third re-check, confirmed the location of the umbilical cord and was patient enough to get a clear between-the-legs shot for me to take home.

When we told Ethan the news his first response was, "Well, I guess we're not naming it Henry." When we told Luke he became upset and confused, asking, "But where did my brother go?" He's taking it a little better now that his Grandpa told him he could call the baby sister tigress. While Will and I are thrilled with this turn of events, it still seems a bit surreal. As I watch my two "bear cubs" wrestle on the floor it's hard to imagine a little girl in the mix. I'm overwhelmed by the sheer amount of cute baby girl clothes, bedding, bracelets, shoes and hairbows that I've forced myself not to look at over the past five years. This is going to be so fun!

And, if this turn of events is any indicator, she just might already be our drama-queen.

Family Updates

Will:

Just returned from his annual "mancation" to the March Madness Basketball tournament. This year's games were in Kansas City, where Will consumed enough BBQ'd red meat to last him until next year's trip. We are happy to have him home.

Audra:

Researching and selecting items for our bathroom remodel, scheduled to start next month. Tile samples, anyone? While we aren't doing anything too fancy, I am so excited to scrap the semi-derailed shower doors and crumbling plywood vanity drawers. Bye, bye 1978 bathroom!

Ethan:

Has suddenly become very grown-up. Asks me every night if I remembered to turn on the dishwasher, dutifully washes his hands after each and every time his little brother spits at him, asks me constantly if he has bad breath, and starts to have a panic attack if I put my keys in the ignition of the car before his seat belt is buckled. It's good we have him around to keep us all in line.

Luke:

After our little talk about "what happens to the leaves that fall from trees?" Luke is our resident expert on the process of decomposition. Except he pronounces it decomposin' and uses the word in just about any context--like when he told me, "Mom, I think your face might be decomposin!"

Baby-T0-Be:

Has been named George by Luke. Has been named Henry by Ethan. Still remains nameless to his parents. We get to take a peek at him during a 3-D ultrasound on Thursday with the perinatologist, who will also hopefully tell me everything looks good to stay off of bedrest.

Ethan's 1st T-Ball Game

Hey Batter, Batter!
All smiles at home plate
Chatting it up with the runner
1st baseman with Daddy
High FivesThe #1 Fan (he even tried to run on the field at one point)
Go Angels!

Tigers Like Hummus

When I manage to remember, we like to go to the local Farmer's Market on Tuesdays. It's one of the best outings for my kids for multiple reasons, although the main one is this: SAMPLES. It's like going to Costco, only everything is healthy and the vendors actually like children.

Of course the only problem is that after every sample the boys exclaim, "Yum, get these Mom!" and the vendor looks at me like they've just struck gold. But really, who can resist a farm grown tomato or a perfectly ripe strawberry? The difference in taste and price is so amazing. This week's haul included: strawberries, tomatoes, green beans, mini-sized pink lady apples, and 1 apple-cinnamon bread twist (made only with organic applesauce and natural cane sugar the hippie-looking bread lady cheerfully told me). This was in addition to the pita bread and hummus from Baba's Greek Food--my own personal soft spot of the Farmer's Market.

In particular this tasty little flavor--it's heaven in a plastic container:
However, I've been informed that Tiger's prefer Sundried Tomato and Basil Hummus. How very gourmet of this wild thing.

**Update: For about 30 minutes this morning we got a respite from Tiger when he morphed into a gorilla. It was fabulous because gorillas actually walk upright on two legs. However, by the time we arrived at the park Tiger had re-emerged. So help me.

"I'm not Luke, I'm a Tiger!"

If I hear this statement one more time I'm going to scream!

I'm all for imaginative play, but we're going on day five of Luke pretending to be a Tiger and it's getting a little too jungle-like for me around here.

Here's what "Tiger Luke" entails:

-Requesting MEAT for every meal
-Introducing himself as Shir Khan (the Tiger from Jungle Book) to his new Sunbeam class on Sunday
-Making the most grating growling noise ever (think coughing up a hairball mixed with a war cry)
-Making this growling noise as he bites into his 10th meat sandwich of the day
-Roaring so loud in the car that Ethan dissolves into tears
-Biting clothing, people, his carseat upholstery, blankets, etc. (Yes, he knows boys aren't allowed to bite, but Tigers live by their own rules)
-Randomly crawling up to my father-in-law on Sunday and licking his arm
-Refusing to do anything unless he is addressed as Tiger instead of Luke, including getting dressed because, "Tigers don't wear clothes, they just have stripes!"
-Strewing my clean laundry all over the living room in the name of "hunting"
-Chasing his brother, or jumping from one couch to another with his hands contorted like paws, also in the name of hunting

I think I'm ready for the return of "Flicker the Horse." That was his animal of choice two weeks ago. Sure, it got annoying having him wear his shoes on his hands instead of his feet ("I need horseshoes, Mom!"), but at least Flicker ate a lot of carrots . . .