When Mary Kate was born one of the first children’s books she received as a gift was Pinkalicious. At that time, I had no idea what a phenomenon the Pinkalicious book series had become.  I guess that’s because up until then, there was a real shortage of estrogen in this house.  The only pink in our home was in my closet or in our garden.

I remember thinking that not having a daughter was fine.  I was a great boy mom.  After all, I own the only tool box in this house, and I can bait a hook and filet a lake Perch like a pro!  My boys are low drama.  I figured there would be no soap opera histrionics like those I witnessed during the years I taught seventh and eighth grade.  (Adolescent girls can be ruthless to one another!)  I’d surrendered to my inevitable role as “mother of the groom”.  All I had to do was show up and wear beige.  In a way, I convinced myself I had dodged a bullet.

There were those moments where a little ping of “girly-longing” would sneak into my thoughts.  Sometimes it was while shopping in Gymboree when I allowed my eyes to wander over to the side of the store covered with ruffles and bows.  I remember sitting in church watching a dear friend, who was also the mother of the bride, being escorted up the aisle.  She was so proud of her daughter in that moment.  It was then that I realized there would be no mother-daughter wedding  bonding moment in my future.  Sean and I used to joke about who would take care of us in our old age as it seems in our culture daughters more attentively care for their parents.  “We’ll just make it really nice wherever we are!”  Sean would reassure me.  “They’ll want to come visit.  We’ll bribe them with free airfare and babysitting services.”  Whenever those moments of longing would rear themselves, I remind myself how lucky I was.  I adored my boys.  Our home looked good covered in Legos and sweaty athletic gear!

When MK was born and we learned she was a girl, I knew we were entering a world of unknown toys, habits and traits.  When I opened the Pinkalicious book my Aunt Judy gave MK, I thought it was appropriate because I could already tell that MK was a girly-girl.  She likes lip gloss and butterflys.  She runs around the house wearing tu-tus and carries a pink beaded purse everywhere.  (I honestly don’t know where she gets it.  I’m not a blingy, bedazzled sort of gal.  I didn’t even carry a purse until I graduated from college and got my first job.)  As a result of her addition to our family,  there are now pink toys strewn from one end of our house to the other, and they just seem to fit.  I was relieved after mastering pony tails, and nail polish when I realized that I ‘m pretty good girl mom too!   This is a good thing, because as it turns out…there’s going to be a lot more Pinkalicious joining our brood.

A few weeks ago we attended an in depth ultrasound with Jennifer.  We already knew that Baby A was likely a girl.  Baby B proved to be a little shy, but finally showed her “stuff” at the end of the exam.  When the sonographer announced, “Looks like this one is a girl, too”, I swear I could see all the blood run out of Sean’s face.  Knowing him, he was calculating the expenses of three daughters and their weddings.  After the ultrasound, I remember remarking to Sean, “Well…we’ll be well taken care of in our old age.”  Sean replied, “They won’t even be out of high school in our old age.”  He had a point.

Jennifer is 24+ weeks pregnant now and she and our girls continue to do well; So well, in fact, that I am starting to get ready for their arrival.  I’m borrowing baby gear from family and friends, and actually went through my newborn tub of clothes, inventorying what I already have and making a list of what is still needed.  Today I even painted their nursery.  As nervous as I am to take these steps out of fear of jinxing the whole thing, with every stroke of the paint brush, I felt gratitude today.  I just can’t believe two miracles are coming home to our family.  I don’t think I have ever felt so lucky.

Mary Kate helped pick the color of her sister’s room (and helped with the painting too )!  The color…Pinkalicious, of course!

MK helping paint her sisters’ room!

As always, please keep Jennifer and our girls in your prayers.  We promise to keep all of you posted on their progress!