What Will You Be?

As our ultrasound appointment is rapidly approaching, we have been so excited at the prospect of finally discovering if Baby Mauldin is a boy or a girl. Because my issues with insomnia, I knew I would have a hard time sleeping the night before, but I didn't realize this would go on all week! I am just hoping our little bean is cooperative and shows the doctor the "goods." When I finally do sleep, I have weird baby dreams (and Baby Mauldin is always a boy). I'm not sure if this has to do with how much my mom has insisted that she has a feeling the baby is a boy, but it has definitely consistently been a boy in my dreams. Despite this, I really don't have a feeling one way or the other.

This is just such a big moment in our lives because it will determine what direction our life will be headed...



Will our house be filled with pigtails and big bows, frilly dresses and Barbies? Will we have a future cheerleader, singer, a fashionista, a diva or dancer? Will she be a sweet angel with a heart of gold or a heartbreaker making her father hate all the boys that ever cross our threshold? Will we teach her to be strong and to have self-esteem, so she is happy with who she is and how she looks? Will she learn to value intelligence, become a lifelong learner and embrace her unique gifts? Will she make loving friends that travel through her life with her? Will we wonder how to survive through the hormonal teenage years and be able to guide her as she experiences the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence? Will we teach her to avoid drama, not be a "mean girl" and how to deal with situations gracefully and with patience? Will we teach her to be independent so she can go to college, work hard to become whatever she sets her mind to, and not be afraid to travel the world and have life experiences. Will we teach her how to love completely, how to pick out the perfect man to marry, and then worry how we will pay for the wedding? Will she grow into a woman who gives more than she receives and always has an open mind and an open heart? Will she be a loving wife, a strong Christian woman and know to count her blessings each day?



Or will our house be filled with trucks and tools, balls and bugs? Will he be a future baseball player, a fisherman, a hunter or an explorer? Will I be able to keep up with all the dirty laundry from his sporting events, playtime and mud pie contests. Will he rough house with his friends, explore the world on his bike and be fearless in the face of challenges? Will he and his friends eat Nick and I out of house and home during his teenage years? Will he learn to respect woman, open their doors and listen when they talk? Will he choose dear friends who stick by him throughout his life and are there when he needs them? Can we show him what it means to be a strong Christian leader? Will we teach him to help others who are less fortunate and to treat all people equally? Will he wear crimson and cream at OU, join a fraternity, learn a foreign language and be brave enough to travel the world? Will he be a CEO, a lawyer, an entrepreneur or a financier? Will he find a girl who he can love completely and become a supportive husband and father? Will he believe that love matters more than money and that family is the most important thing in the world?

We can't find out what path Baby Mauldin will take us on. We will be THRILLED either way, but I'm so excited to finally start to get to know this baby in my belly a little bit better. We'll find out on Thursday what our future holds!