Daddy's Little Princess

Well Hello Dakota! Our little one was being very showy at our 20 week ultrasound, and this is the scan that proved we'll be having a baby girl. It's hard to tell what's going on but it's as if she's sitting on a scanner, and her knees are bent. 

Dirk and I went this past Tuesday with Nana and Mimi and TPaw to the ultrasound. It was so cool to share the moment we found out the sex with them. And to see Dakota moving around and with kidneys and eyes and ears and nose. She was even sucking her thumb. To see the four chambers of her heart beating was amazing. I was blown away how developed she already has become. We're finally getting a glimpse of what Baby Dakota will look like. Dirk and I were most relieved when our Doctor confirmed that everything looked great. All organs are developing as they should, and we are on track for a healthy baby girl. There's just no better news than that! 

This picture is from right after we found out the sex. Dakota received one of her first pink onesies that said Daddy's princess from Mimi. I can't wait for her to wear this one so we can tell her this is the day we found out you were going to be Dakota. This experience has been so humbling to me. This little being relies on you 100% for all it's food, water, and housing! When I feel like my body is going through such drastic changes these next few weeks, I will try to remember what a gift it is to share it with her. What a gift to completely provide for all her needs. And what a gift that my mom shared with me so long ago!! You always worry whether you're ready to be a mom, but the simple truth is you are. You are all the baby needs for the first 40 weeks of its life. These next 20 weeks will seem like an eternity I'm sure- I can barely wait 4 weeks til my next appointment, but everyone says it all goes by too quickly. I'm trying to savor the little moments.

We wanted a fun way to share with everyone that we were expecting a girl. The night after our appointment, we found some sugar, and spice, and Dirk wrote on a chalkboard, "She better be nice!" I hope she will see how excited we were to know a healthy baby girl is on the way. I think Kerby is just as happy as we were that she'll have another princess in the house. (I don't know how, but I feel like she knows it's a girl too). I think news of a baby girl came as a shock to Dirk, but that night he started making a list of all the things he could teach Dakota and there will be plenty; how to cook, how to drive a stick, and how to ride a bike!! All in due time. But for now, we're just tickled pink to know that Dakota Ryan will be a part of the family in June!