We discovered we’re having a baby boy, and we couldn’t wait to share the news. It felt a little nostalgic to write one of these announcements again — we hadn’t done a gender-reveal post like this since 2010 — and it was both surprising and joyful to relive that moment with our family over the last 48 hours.
First and foremost, we wanted our daughter, Clara, to hear the news from us and not from an ultrasound technician. To make the reveal special, we arranged for my dad to take her on a playdate while we attended the appointment. When we returned, we surprised her with a baby boy doll—turns out the specific doll we wanted was harder to find than we expected. Her reaction was immediate and adorable. We handed her a little bag and asked her to look inside to see if there was a “little boy or a little girl in mommy’s belly.”
Clara loves dolls more than almost anything, and she instantly bonded with this one. She started giving him bottles, changing his diapers, and proudly proclaimed she’d known all along that it was a boy. When we asked what she wanted to name the doll, she shouted “Barnacles!” and then clarified its full name was Captain Barnacles, a character from one of her favorite shows, Octonauts. While she won’t be choosing her real brother’s name, we’ve been calling the baby “the barnacle” affectionately ever since.
At first, we all thought this pregnancy might be a girl. But as the weeks went on and Sherry’s morning sickness persisted — noticeably different from her previous pregnancy — our instincts shifted toward thinking it might be a boy. That feeling lined up with Clara’s recent requests for a brother, likely inspired by friends who have baby brothers of their own. When the ultrasound confirmed we’re expecting a son, Clara’s excitement was contagious and made the moment even sweeter.
After several imaginative diaper changes for Captain Barnacles, Clara eagerly phoned Nonna on FaceTime to share the news. She was thrilled to tell her grandmother that she’s going to have a baby brother, and Nonna’s joy was immediate and heartfelt.
For our local family reveal we wanted something playful, so we invited my parents, my sister, and her family out to dinner — yes, at Panera, because fancy outings are overrated and cozy chains are underrated. We brought blue and pink envelopes and asked each person to pick one: blue for a boy, pink for a girl. Everyone tore theirs open at the same time. The blue envelopes all contained variations of “yup!” or “bingo!” while the pink ones playfully said “nope!” or “try again!” The group was split about 50/50 in their guesses, and it was a delight to watch faces change as everyone realized at once we were having a son.
From there we called friends and family all over to spread the news. Clara enthusiastically announced “I’m getting a baby brother!” to relatives and friends, and her pride and excitement made every phone call more meaningful. The reactions we received ranged from surprised delight to equal parts laughter and tears — all the things that make family announcements so memorable.
Sherry and I are incredibly grateful to hear that the baby is healthy. Now that we know we’re expecting a boy, the idea of imagining him in our lives makes the experience feel more tangible. We’ve enjoyed picturing him playing alongside Clara and thinking about how our family will grow together. Sherry has already started looking at nursery ideas and inspiration, bookmarking color palettes and decor possibilities.
We won’t fall into stereotypes — we don’t plan to make the nursery all blue and green or overload it with “man things” — but knowing the baby’s sex does help narrow down themes, colors, and projects. Interestingly, the nursery was the only room in this house that had pink trim when we moved in, so it’s already painted white now and ready for a refresh. The space is currently storing a lot of random stuff, so clearing it out is our next practical step before any decorating begins.
We’d love to hear how you found out the sex of your baby and how you shared the news. Did you learn during a mid-pregnancy ultrasound, through an early blood test, or only at delivery? Did you announce it with a photo, a gender-reveal cake, a box of balloons, or a simple phone call? No matter how you do it, that moment of revealing a new life’s identity is always special, and we’re enjoying every step of this one.