Christmas Surprise...Gender Reveals, Anyone?

brittcraw75 · November 2013

Hi! I'm 11w5d right now and my next doctor's appointment is in a couple weeks. My first appointment went really well and my doctor told us about several things we could opt to do, including the early gender ultrasound at 16 weeks. It costs a little money, and we could afford it, but DH and I agreed that there's no need to rush, we'll just wait for the 20 week anatomy scan to find out.

Since then, however, I had this (IMHO) brilliant idea to go ahead with the 16 week scan and surprise him for Christmas. I wouldn't look, and I would ask the staff not to let me know the gender. I wouldn't want to find out before I tell him. I've already bought a sweet girl outfit and a sweet boy outfit, so I plan to take them and have the staff put one into a gift box and the other into a paper bag (just so I can't see it). I want to wrap it up with the DVD of the ultrasound and give it to him as an early Christmas gift. It'll be a Christmas gift for me, too, but not a surprise.

I love surprises and hate to ruin them by finding out early, but when I realized that 16 weeks would fall just in time for Christmas, I couldn't resist the idea of doing this as a surprise. And once I surprise him, we can use the same idea for the rest of our family and friends. I hadn't planned on doing a big gender reveal, but, after all...it is Christmas. (Or it will be when this happens)

So, what do you all think? And for those of you who already know the gender, how did you tell your partner/family/friends?

blibby0713 · November 2013

I love it!

Helmink0804 · November 2013

Love it! It'll be such a sweet surprise!

brittcraw75 · November 2013

Kimbus22, I thought about that, too, and worried that he might be sad that he missed the scan in person. But he's not the "wait for surprises" kind of person that I am, and even at the time, I felt like he was just sweetly agreeing to wait until 20 weeks because he knew that's what I wanted to do. And he's very even-tempered and sweet, so unless I'm just completely overshooting my target here, he won't be upset. I think he'll love it.

I wanted to wait until the baby was born to find out the gender, and he (among other anxious family and friends) convinced me we should go ahead and find out, which was the "that does it!" moment in my mind when trying to decide whether or not to go ahead. I don't want him to feel left out or cheated, of course. But I think it would be a sweet surprise.

I don't know for sure, of course, and you could be right and it might be better that I just wait for the 20-week, but now that I've had this idea, I can't let it go. Now just to hope and pray that he isn't upset that I went ahead to surprise him...and that the scan will be accurate!

I hear where you're coming from, though. Those were my thoughts, as well, and the fact that the early scan can still be wrong was my main point when we were discussing whether or not to wait for 20 weeks..but maybe it'll work out and be wonderful.

I hope so.

haylo33 · November 2013

I'm almost 12 weeks so I think we are due around the same time. We asked my OB if we could do our anatomy scan at 18 weeks which would be dec 23 and she said that should be fine cause they do them 18-20 weeks. You could always ask your doc if you could do something like that if you want to find out before Christmas.

ksyknelvr73 · November 2013

I mean, I've pondered the same thing....just b/c I think it would be the most awesome Christmas surprise. But I haven't fully decided. I will be 18 weeks at Christmas also and I was tempted to schedule an elective u/s just before that. Just don't know. But I like your idea and I think it's sweet.

christieep · November 2013

I wanted to make it a surprise for my family, but my sister offered to do an ultrasound to find out the sex earlier than I will probably get my anatomy scan done so I won't be able to surprise everyone.

alexandrineblanc · November 2013

For us, my DH and I, it is such a special moment that I wouldn't have the u.s without him. It is a good idea but maybe he will be disappointed if he was not there. Every DH is different.

Ashleea439 · November 2013

I will be 20 weeks the week before Xmas. We plan on going to the ultrasound together and buying a Christmas card for the ultrasound tech to write what we are having in. Also, we plan on telling her not to let us see any gender shots. If she does do any, she can put a picture of them in the card as well. We don't want to see anything that we might be able to speculate. We are sealing that baby up and opening it on Christmas morning, just the two of us. Then we can tell our families on Christmas Day.

mrt · November 2013

I think being at the scan and having the tech write the gender in the card for Christmas is a great idea. A way to both be at the scan but still have a surprise. I would think about doing that but my anatomy scan is Dec. 5th... don't think i can wait until Christmas.

brittcraw75 · November 2013

I like that a lot!! I've been thinking a lot and I don't think DH would be upset that I went without him in order to surprise him, but I don't want to chance it. Especially this being our first baby together, our first Christmas together. I don't want to taint any part of the experience by doing something he wouldn't like. I'm still going to use the boy/girl outfits and have the tech put "The One" in a gift box and the other just into a paper bag, and maybe we will open it together on Christmas morning.

That's really sweet. Thanks for all the input! Y'all are awesome!

dcb101010 · November 2013

My anatomy scan is 12/23, so we will have the tech put a "little brother" or "little sister" outfit in a box at the appt (the other outfit goes in a paper bag so we can't see it). We will open on Christmas morning. The trick will be trying not to guess at my ultrasound this week

Hmmm the pic is posted upside-down for some reason

kristine526 · November 2013

While I like the idea, for me personally, I couldn't do it. DH is the kind of person who would be upset that he wasn't there, and it would end up as more of a disappointment than excitement.

While I'm super excited to be Team Green, the potential of opening it up as a Christmas surprise is really really tempting.

Good luck!

brittcraw75 · November 2013

Gosh, I'm jealous, @Kristine526!

I wanted to go Team Green, but DH (and all other family & friends) desperately wanted to go ahead and find out. I love surprises and I think that would be just the ultimate surprise. We'll be surprised when we find out at the ultrasound, of course, but I've just always wanted to wait for the birth. Enjoy that

and next spring, after that sweet moment, please post and tell us all about it! I'll live vicariously through you...

dcb - Yes, the 9 wk ultrasound was SO clear, I'm a little afraid we'll be able to at least speculate when we see the ultrasound, even if they don't say it. Maybe we'll ask to only see "above the waist" body parts and have them tell us to close our eyes for the revealing portions of the "show."

jenb_99 · November 2013

I don't believe in big reveals. The world at large couldn't care less what I'm having, so making a big to-do about it would be all about me, and I'm just not into that.

We're doing an elective ultrasound on 12/21 and inviting parents and siblings, since really only they care.

I'll say something on FB like "It's a ___!", but that's it as far as revealing to the public.

brittcraw75 · November 2013

@jenb_99 Me either! And I know that seems untrue because I'm the one who posted this..but I've never wanted to do a gender reveal...but I am a gift-giver, and I love Christmas, and when I realized I'd be 18 weeks right at Christmas, I couldn't stop thinking about the idea of surprising myself, my husband, and my sweet family.

I agree..the world at large couldn't care less...and the feeling is mostly mutual. I don't want to be part of a FB event for my 5th cousin, twice removed for their gender reveal. Because, let's be honest, I don't care which gender baby a stranger (even a family stranger) is having. That was a made-up scenario..but just saying, I get where you're coming from.

Our parents, grandparents, siblings, and close friends are the ones we'll surprise with the Christmas gender reveal. Our gender ultrasound is restricted to me, plus up to two "guests" of my choice, so I'll have to use the outfit and the ultrasound DVD to share the news with everyone else. Or just tell them, which was the plan until I went all Christmas-crazy...and there's no turning back for me.

jenb_99 · November 2013

brittcraw75 said:

@jenb_99 Me either! And I know that seems untrue because I'm the one who posted this..but I've never wanted to do a gender reveal...but I am a gift-giver, and I love Christmas, and when I realized I'd be 18 weeks right at Christmas, I couldn't stop thinking about the idea of surprising myself, my husband, and my sweet family.

I agree..the world at large couldn't care less...and the feeling is mostly mutual. I don't want to be part of a FB event for my 5th cousin, twice removed for their gender reveal. Because, let's be honest, I don't care which gender baby a stranger (even a family stranger) is having. That was a made-up scenario..but just saying, I get where you're coming from.

Our parents, grandparents, siblings, and close friends are the ones we'll surprise with the Christmas gender reveal. Our gender ultrasound is restricted to me, plus up to two "guests" of my choice, so I'll have to use the outfit and the ultrasound DVD to share the news with everyone else. Or just tell them, which was the plan until I went all Christmas-crazy...and there's no turning back for me.

I think surprising the family is cool. I like the idea of having them unwrap pink or blue baby items.

dcb101010 · November 2013

My reveal is just for me and my hubby. No plans to share it on FB

brittcraw75 · November 2013

Ooh..are you keeping it from everyone else until the baby arrives?? That's iiinterrresting... (in my best creepy detective voice)

I might love that idea most of all. I don't know if I can do it..nor do I know if Husband would go for it. But I like it.

dcb101010 · November 2013

I'm going to tell people if they want to know. Might do a simple "It's a ___" on FB. It's funny, I told a friend yesterday that we are expecting baby #2, and she was so excited. The first thing she said was "Is it on Facebook yet?" Like that's the most important thing. Lol. And no, we haven't FB announced yet. Not my highest priority, though with DS I'm pretty sure we posted right at 12 weeks.

dcb101010 · November 2013

I should add that we live across the country from our families, so sharing through social media helps. I know a lot of people knock it, but I post for my close friends and family who can't be a part of it in person. I expect the more casual acquaintances who don't care to just ignore those posts.

michellebecker · November 2013

We are 15w4d and are doing our gender US on Dec 2. We told our family it won't be until right after Xmas. On Christmas we will have a gift for each set of grandparents and it will be a large box filled with small pink or blue helium filled balloons. That will be our reveal. Now, we just have to be able to keep it to ourselves for a few weeks first!!

danabsd · November 2013

I think my husband would be annoyed. He would want to be in the room. But that's us, you know your man.

MommyQuadrini · November 2013

Every year my mom does a cookie exchange before Christmas. If you're not familiar with the event, everyone brings ten plates of cookies, and then you take turns picking plates so you leave with ten different kinds of cookies. I'm planning on making pink or blue cake balls (I know, not exactly cookies) and not letting anyone eat one until all the plates are gone. Bonus: 1st cookies to go get a prize. I'll definitely win this year

jfletcher3113 · November 2013

Yeah, my husband would be sad if I found out on my own without him. But I do think your idea is really cute.

kflynn81 · November 2013

My husband isn't going to go with me to my elective scan this weekend, but he's ok with it since I asked him if he'd mind me going alone. I had always pictured surprising him when I found out I was pregnant, but years of infertility took that away and I wound up jumping on him in bed while he was dead asleep screaming " IT WORKED!!!!!!!!" sooooo yeah, totally missed out on that one. He agreed to let me go by myself so that I could surprise him with this at least....although the more I think about it, I'd like to have the envelope and open with him that night. Lots to think about

If you don't think he'd be upset with you, I think its a cute idea

dcb101010 · November 2013

Wish my hubby could go. He has to watch our DS. They don't allow children at the office

RedInLove · November 2013

I'll possibly find out the gender without DH being here with me, but even if he is there we are going to have it written down and open it Christmas morning. I'm 20 weeks just before Christmas so we won't have to wait too long to open it!

elisabethmott · November 2013

We just had our 12 week appointment. I am currently in week 13 as of sunday.We go back to drs on december 6th and get to schedule the aanatomy scan then. I'm so excited keeping my fingers crossed for a girl! I work at macys and love the baby girl clothes we have! Plus my brother-in-law amd fiance had a baby girl almost 2 years ago... wouldn't have to buy much...lol. I have a 10 year old son and2 male cats and my husband... really need a girl! Lol! II'm very excited for Christmas!

brittcraw75 · November 2013

@elisabethmott I hear ya!! I have my sweet husband and my stepson, and I love them dearly, but I want/need a girl in the house.

Of course, I will be thrilled either way and love the child to pieces..but I'm hoping for a girl.

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Christmas Surprise...Gender Reveals, Anyone?

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