With DD1, I knew I wanted a girl but convinced myself that she would be a boy. I think I was protecting myself. When I found out at the ultrasound she was female, I still wouldn't let myself believe it but as soon as she arrived, I was pretty ecstatic. After DD1, I sort of gave up any ideals of what my family would be as she was a 'wonderful surprise' and I was a single mother. Growing up I always pictured my family being a pigeon pair, very close in age (as my family was me and my brother, 16 months apart) but that wasn't going to happen! I then met DP and when we found out I was unexpectingly pregnant again, I thought I would naturally want a boy but found myself so excited to be having another girl. I absolutely love having two girls and can't imagine a better age gap or dynamic, things just really worked out. DP and I are done now, both of us think two is the perfect number. I had a brief pause at the ultrasound with DD2 where I grieved for experiences missed and was concerned about DP never having a boy (although he thinks two girls is great as he came from a pigeon pair where they didn't get on much at all, go figure; so always wanted two of the same, didn't matter what gender) but really, having two the same is amazing for our girls and having one of each would have been more for us than them if that makes sense.

I think if I had of had two boys though, I would have probably tried to talk DP into a third. I feel very lucky to have what is ideal for me. It is interesting how your own experiences colour your perception of that.