So I’ve had an entire night to sleep on it.

And after thinking about it some more, talking to my mother and some girlfriends about it…

…I’m starting to get excited!

I think one of the reasons I was so shocked at the news is because I had a gut feeling from the beginning of the pregnancy that it was a boy. I was drawn to boy stuff, and really pictured myself raising a firstborn son. (So much for mother’s intuition!)

Now that I’ve accepted the fact that we’re having a girl, I’m starting to think of all the benefits of having a daughter and it’s pretty exhilarating.

1. I will always be the dominant female figure in her life.
   They say that when your son gets married, you lose a son forever; when a daughter gets married, she’ll still be your daughter. This idea may be outdated and debatable, but I do like to believe that a mother-daughter relationship is one to be cherished and treasured because there is none like it.
2. There are so many more cute items for baby girls than boys.
   I was never one for playing dress-up or playing with dolls, so I have never dreamed of having a daughter whom I can dress in cute clothes and buy adorable toys for her to play with. However, you can’t deny that there are so many more sweet items to be bought for girls than for boys. Like this Ladybug Crib Bedding Set. I am so putting this on our registry.
   
3. Girls are more likely to help out as they get older.
   Some may say this is sexist, but I have found it to be true from watching my friends’ families. And who says she can only help out with cooking and cleaning? My sister and I have helped our father with numerous home improvement projects (including installing a 50-gallon water heater), machine/car repair, and construction work.
4. She can still love sports.
   J and I had planned on getting numerous baby sports apparel (NY Knicks, Baltimore Ravens, and JHU Lacrosse) for the baby long before we knew the gender…and we haven’t changed our plans. In fact, now that we know the gender and therefore have a name, I will be ordering this Knicks Personalized Hooded Towel in the near future:
   

   We will immerse her in our favorite sports from a young age, and hope that she will participate in many team sports as she grows up.

5. Men who have older sisters tend to treat women with more respect and courtesy.
   Again, this can be debatable and there are exceptions to every rule. But I have found from observing my guy friends over the years that those with older sisters treat women better. And I sincerely hope that our daughter will be a great older sister and a role model to a younger brother in the future.

Even my MIL chimed in with a benefit of having daughters: “Look at J and his younger brother! They never listened to me when they were young, and they still don’t listen. Girls are easier to raise!”

What say you, readers? Can you think of any additional advantages of having a girl?