Boy!?! Oh Boy!!

So maybe I'm the stereotypical dad-to-be but I really was pulling for a boy! Dads wanting boys seems to be par for the course right? So what is it that draws Dads towards this feeling? Does it make them feel manly? Somehow they feel like they did something 'right' to make this happen? Or is it as simple as wanting to be able to play catch in the backyard and have that male bonding?

(the 'its a boy' ultrasound with the baby mooning us)

I'm sure there is a little each mixed in and then some. For me it really came down to a couple key factors: what I knew from growing up & carrying on the family name.

I grew up with just boys (my brother Jeremy and I) and Ashley had the opposite with her and her sister (Tessa). I don't exactly know why this would change my opinion or feeling all that much. Its not like most of us even raise our siblings. I think its just 'what you know'. You know how boys are and how to handle them. You know if they fall down and scrape up a knee you make sure all limbs are attached and then tell them they'll be fine... and they will be. You have a good idea the types of questions they'll ask growing up. You know (for the most part) what types of things they'll be into (sports, cars, outdoors and even girls... eventually). Not to mention you hear from all of your friends 'how easy' raising boys are compared to girls. How do you handle raising girls in comparison? Is there even a comparison?!? I guess that is a question I won't have to worry about for now but I feel like it really is a totally different world.

The other side is I've always wanted a boy to help 'carry on the Swistak name'. When I was younger I was often told how my brother and I 'better have boys' since there weren't many Swistaks to carry on the name. For the longest time it was just my cousin John, brother Jeremy and me. Even though we now have the 3 of us plus Benjamin & Tommy (from Uncle Dan) and Little Jeremy (from my brother) it still feels good to know I'm helping carry on the name.

For those reading this wondering what I would have done if the result was different today... If you truly know me you'd know the answer is simple. I would still be wicked excited and just as happy. But I'm sure I would have had a million questions for Ashley and be looking up 'tips' on 'how to raise girls' online instead of writing this blog entry. I do have 2 wonderful God-Daughters (Rachel & Hali) that help me get a glimpse into the world of the baby girl and it doesn't seem as scary as I thought it would be. I know its way early to think about it but I'm already pulling for a girl for our next one (whenever that time comes).

For all you parents reading this... leave a comment about what gender you hope for and why.