At last, the answer
Everyone tells me how extraordinary it is to be the mother of a son.
“You’ll love all your children equally,” they tell me. “But there is nothing like a mother’s love for her little boy. I can’t wait for you to experience it.”
I’ll never forget the sight of Margaret, walking the city of Boston, tall and elegant, her toddler son Ben in her arms. How beautiful she was, and how funny sweet this little man-child was, cradled against her.
What an exquisite mother of a boy she is, playing Spiderman and Transformers, and helping him keep his dignity at his cousins’ fairy tea party.
And who could forget Charlie, our own FB, stomping along, singing a song, with eyes only for his Mama? Idol worship, single-minded devotion. The only one of Karin’s children for whom I have held absolutely no charm.
“You love them the same,” Ellie says. “But your heart breaks for a boy in a way it doesn’t for a girl.”
Cute Husband — was there ever a better father of daughters? Mare, with her penchant for veils, refusal to wear pants, and her knowledge of close-combat skills. I wonder what her first grade teacher thought of her book report, with her carefully lettered reply to the question “What was your favorite part of the book you chose?” — “When Grendal’s mother bit the guy’s head off.”
Would he always be sorry if we never had a son?
“No,” he said. “It’s win-win for us. It would be fun to have a boy, and it would be awesome if we had three girls.”
A boy … a little prince doted on by older sisters.
A gaggle of giggly girls, a trio, my little women.
Either way, it’s magic.
We were late to school this morning, (of course) and those two were bursting, hugging each other with excitement over their news. I trailed behind them loaded up with lunch boxes and coats.
“Hey girls,” a passing teacher said. “You sure are happy this morning!”
“We are!” Mare said. “Momma’s having a baby!”
“And we know what kind it is!” the Doodle added.
“And?”
“We’re gonna be …” and here, the move they’ve been practicing all morning. Arms outstretched, grins, jazz hands. “The Schwarzer sisters!”
November 19th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
CONGRATULATIONS!!! So excited for your ever growing family!!!
November 19th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Congratulations!!!
November 19th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Congratulations honey!!
November 19th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
YAY!!! Well, the moniker “Baby X” makes more sense - as in no Y chromosome!
November 19th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Congrats- your girls are going to have so much fun growing up together.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
In a way it just seems perfect! Congratulations!
I MUST know…was the mail-away gender predictor test correct?
November 19th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
WHat a fantastic way to tell everyone! I can picture the jazz hands! Congrats!!!!!
November 19th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Forgive me for not reading the Twitter before I asked that question…It’s so cool that the mail-in test was correct!
November 19th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Congratulations,
I think it’s perfection.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Awww…I’m not going to have a boy for this one to marry though, she’s on her own. ;P
November 19th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I’m the oldest of three sisters, and it is AWESOME. Congrats, Liz!
November 19th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Congratulations!
November 19th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Congratulations, Liz. I think a “Pink Ladies” Halloween is in order as soon as the new arrival is big enough to pull it off.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
congrats to all of you! and good luck to cute husband..he’ll surely have a lot to handle, estrogen wise, but there is nothing like a daddy’s girl, and now he’ll have 3. all with those big blueberry eyes to get them whatever they want!
November 19th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
CONGRATS to you!!
November 19th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Yay! How fun!
November 19th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
I knew it! Grats Liz, Cute Husband, Mare, and Ren!!
Three-peat
Triple-threat
Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil
I’m so happy for you all!
psst, your gonna name “this” one after me….right?
right?
Liz right?
Bwhahaha
November 19th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
AMAZING! 3 Girls!!! HOLY COW
WOW I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND CUTE HUSBAND.
I can’t even stand it!!
November 19th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I think three girls is wonderful!
You make beautiful, smart wonderful girls, so another girl is going to be fabulous.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:11 am
We are so over-the-top excited for you. It really is poetry - you and Franklin with three girls. I’ll have to get a pair of hip-boots to wade through all the glitter and little mylar hearts-n-such that will be strewn about the house.
And I have a theory on Ren as a middle sister - she’ll work that one like nobody’s business … she gets to be the cute littler sister and boss a little one around at the same time. She was made for it.
Do they sell pre-schooler sized cups for Finn and Charlie? They’re gonna need ‘em.
Congrats to all of you from all of us!
November 20th, 2008 at 12:17 am
OH, Liz! That’s wonderful! I’m tearing up (yet again!) over here at this news. Your family, whoever it consists of, however much it grows and changes, is utterly magical. Thank you for sharing it with us.
And SQUEEEE to another perfectly marvelous little girl!!!
November 20th, 2008 at 12:21 am
Yippee for girls!
Ever since we found out that Peeper was a girl, I’ve felt like everyone should have nothing but girls!
And, speaking of Peeper, thanks for your comments on my birth story post.
I’m a huge fan of yours (usually just lurking) and when I saw that, I was all “OhMyGod! DaMomma read my blog! And commented!”
Best of luck to you and all your girlies!
November 20th, 2008 at 12:28 am
Liz, Congrats to all of you!! You and hubby make beautiful, smart, precious little girls so why not add more of that greatness to this world?!? Congrats again!
November 20th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Well, you can feel better about the money you spent on Ren’s riding clothes - you can use them again! Congratulations, Liz!
November 20th, 2008 at 2:10 am
Congratulations - I am so thrilled for you.
As the oldest of three girls, I can vouch for its fabulousness - my sisters are amongst my best friends, even though they are four and six years younger then me.
How exciting
November 20th, 2008 at 2:56 am
YIPPPEEE!! 3 girls!!! Can’t wait to “meet” your newest addition!!
November 20th, 2008 at 3:21 am
Oh, Happy Day!
The world needs more smart, strong women raised by wise and thoughtful parents.
I can imagine your beloved Ducky smiling at you all from heaven… and joining in the jazz hands.
November 20th, 2008 at 3:55 am
I have 3 girls and 2 boys. And yes, while there is a special relationship between mother and son(s) I think every woman deserves a daughter. The really good ones get 3.
I am delighted for you.
Aaaand as a 3rd daughter myself. hehehehehe. Good luck with that.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:12 am
Congratulations on your Triple Crown! Girls are so lovely, (at least when they’re little) I’d love to have another!
Can’t wait to “meet” her!
November 20th, 2008 at 4:26 am
Woohooo! How so very exciting! Congrats to you all!
November 20th, 2008 at 4:38 am
Congratulations, and how wonderful to have a little trio of women!
You so have to read Ballet Shoes with Mare … or there’s the televised version too (the BBC over here in the UK did a dramatised version last Christmas). One of the best classic books about three sisters, and with ballet, what more could you want?
It’s not quite Beowulf, but it’s still good.
(Also, have you read Gawain and the Green Knight with her? It’s a cracking story, with knights and head-chopping…)
November 20th, 2008 at 6:43 am
You are such a tease! I was *convinced* as you started that you had a blue bump. Three girls? What *FUN!* Just think of the sheer volume of glitter, for a start.
Mind, I don’t envy you (although I’d *love* to come visit and ‘borrow’ them) as I am quite happy with my little boy. Who despite only just turning one, is such a *BOY,* it’s incredible.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:34 am
OMG!!!! I’m so incredibly happy for you. Your going to have a gaggle of beautiful blond girls! Thank you so much for sharing and sparing us the further agony of wondering what you were having.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:56 am
From one mom of three girls to another - Congratulations!
November 20th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Yay! How exciting!!
November 20th, 2008 at 8:39 am
That’s so fun!
I have three cousins who are sisters and they are the closest siblings I have ever known. Their love and support of each other is unbelievable. I wish you the same with your girls and judging on everything I’ve read here over the years, you’re on the right track!
November 20th, 2008 at 8:44 am
yay!
sugar and spice and everything nice… all the way, eh?!
congrats on these delicious news!
(and thanks for sharing, I was starting to feel a bit like a stalker, here!)
November 20th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I am so happy for you! I am the oldest and have three younger sisters. We were best friends as kids. Then we hit the teen years which meant we could beat eachother up and pick on eachother but if anyone else did they better WATCH OUT! Now as adults we are best friends again. What a wonderful future your girls have to look forward to. And you and CH get a front row seat. Awesome.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Congratulations! I love your blog. I am one of three girls (the middle one!) and there’s nothing like it. I thought you might find this funny - my sisters and I have been laughing about this for the past month or so…
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/the-lawrence-welk-show/727501/
November 20th, 2008 at 10:29 am
OMG CONGRATS!!!!! So much easier for clothes, good work.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:37 am
So So SOOOOO happy for you guys errr. girls. you know what I mean.
My brother has 3 daughters. When they hit the ‘tween years, he used to say that in Connecticut; PMS stands for Poor Mike Siter.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Awww YAY! Another girl. How perfect!
Congrats!
November 20th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Wow, you do know how to build the suspense to the denoument, don’t you? Congratulations : )
November 20th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Liz,
As the oldest of 3 girls I can safely say it is magical. But holy crap, Ren and MCS a marriage made in heaven.
xx,Jenn
November 20th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Yay! How exciting! I also have to know - did the kit work?
I have three sisters and our family bond has been unbelievable. And soon you’ll have six jazz hands instead of four.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Awwwe, Liz, that’s PERFECT! I have three girls and they fight like nothing else, but they are very protective of one another. I love having three girls and can’t imagine what I would do with a boy if I ever had one, now…
Congrats, again, to you and the whole family. That’s just awesome.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
yay! congrats! wow, I totally wasn’t expecting to know any time soon. I have one of each and it is fun. You are making me want a 3rd
not gonna happen, but the thought is there…
November 20th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Wheeeeeeeee!
November 20th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Back in your Salem post, right before I read that you were pregnant again there was a picture of Mare and Renny in their “scary” hair and matching outfits. I thought to myself how many photos my mom has just like that one, but yours was missing something that I think of as very important: a third sister. Speaking as one of three sisters, you’ve given your girls the greatest gift! I can’t think of anyone more different than the three of us, and yet we love each other so deeply. We were all born so close in age that there isn’t a time I can think of when they weren’t in my life. We are very special people separately, but together we are force to be reckoned with…just ask anyone who tries to mess with our “little” brother (who turns 23 today and was born 6 years after my youngest sister…..so yeah, there’s still hope for that too!)
November 20th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Congratulations! What a beautiful blessing. You’ll have two little mommas to help out too! I imagine the girls are beside themselves with excitement. And Cute Husband will have 4 lovely ladies to adore him. Lucky guy!
November 20th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I am so so so happy for you! I have three daughters, 6, 4, and 18 months. It is fabulous! Now, I am trying not to think about three teenage girls, but for now it is so much fun having three girls.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I’m disappointed
I wanted you to have a boy.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Oh Liz. Congratulations!
And we want to see a photo of those jazz hands.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I’m now the mom of two girls with hopes for a trio.
You’re a great mom of a girl, and oh yes, your tweet about Ren being the middle sister? Watch out boys! She’s going to keep ‘em all laughing.
Many blessings to all of your girls!
November 20th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Congratulations!!! I can’t wait to see all three of your girls together!!!
November 20th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Congratulations!!! I’m thrilled for you!
November 20th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I’ve got a trio of girls myself, and it’s a lot of fun. There’s a reason why “sisterhood” has come to be almost a synonym for any close relationship between women. There is a special bond between sisters that can’t be emulated by anything else, I think. I love watching it develop in my three.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Congrats Liz, Cute Husband, and big sisters Mare and Renny. Three sisters is wonderful I am one of three sisters on each side of my family(early divorce for the parentals) and love it. My girls are getting the third in our girly trio in February and are so excited. My son not so much. Cannot wait to see pics of baby x adorable as can be. And I agree Renny will totally work the middle sister angle.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:02 am
Congratulations Liz! I’m the fourth sister in our clan, and it was/is WONDERFUL having big sisters.
November 21st, 2008 at 2:30 am
Can’t wait to hear the stories of two against one.
November 21st, 2008 at 5:09 am
Congratulations! Having three girls is going to be wonderful. I can just picture them doing a ‘Schwarzer sisters’ routine for you and Cute Husband when Little One is old enough!
November 21st, 2008 at 8:01 am
Congratulations to you, Cute Husband, and ALL your girls!
November 21st, 2008 at 8:21 am
Who better to give the world 3 women than you. Congratulations.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:18 am
Congratulations!! I am the oldest of three sisters, and it is an amazing, if sometimes trying, experience. As far as middle sisters go, I would recommend the cup for any males within kicking distance. The middle sister in my family was infamous for beating up boys, especially boys that messed with our youngest sister. My poor father was so happy when I had a son, for he not only had four women in his house, we also had a female dog. Estrogen overload! Growing up with my two strong, beautiful sisters made me a better woman. We all understand each other in a way that only women can. Of course, we also waged epic psychological warfare in a way that only women can. But even when times were tough (one sister and I shared a tiny rom for 10 years-7 to 17 for me, 5 to 15 for her. I don’t recommend that) it was at least nice to always have someone’s clothes to borrow!
November 21st, 2008 at 11:12 am
It just gave me chills to read that story and I teared up a bit! So much love.
That little girl is so lucky to be coming into a family with such great sisters (not to mention the mom and dad)!
November 21st, 2008 at 11:29 am
Congrats to you! Fabulous news and I can’t wait to see what a 3rd sister is like, your first two have enough charm for 6 at least! And while I think everyone should have a dose of never-ending poop jokes to deal with (I have 2 boys), you will have your own fun I’m sure :).
November 21st, 2008 at 11:53 am
Sadly, I had no idea who the Schw…..sister S are/were~and had to read the comments…..I also told my daughter she need to “cook” her room today…..if that tells you where my brain is, lately~
Anywho, congrats! (Was secretly hoping a boy for you and Cute Husband.)
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:25 am
I come from a family of four girls and it is so fun! When your daughters read Little Women one day, they will feel a strong connection to those girls. I have one daughter now and I can’t imagine anything sweeter!!
Congrats!! And here is to matching outfits and three the same of everything and fighting over sweaters from here until eternity!
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
i am one of three girls… we all go to each other when we can’t talk to anyone else about anything going on in our lives… totally fantastic and congratulations to you and your family…
November 24th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Congrats!
I have 3 sons and let me just say….I am hoping for ALL girls in the grandkid department
November 26th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Congrats!! Three girls sounds like an amazing trio.
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I have only one child, a girl. Quite honestly, I think girls ROCK!