The Element of Surprise

As an impatient, type-A person, I'm not one for surprise. I love the idea of a surprise, but sometimes, I JUST WANT TO KNOW.

For example, I wasn't the type of woman who wanted a huge production for my engagement. Isn't it appropriate to start off a marriage with a mutual discussion and decision about when it's a good time to get engaged? Shouldn't I have some say about what style of ring I would wear on my hand every single day of the rest of my life? Needless to say, some felt I may have ruined a good surprise by wanting to know.

Then, my wedding shower... while my mother and sister worked hard to keep that secret from me, ultimately, my future grandmother-in-law spoiled it.

Fate may have taught me a lesson when I was pregnant with my first baby. While I desperately wanted to know the gender, despite more than 10 ultrasounds, I was never able to find out. It wasn't until that baby girl was born that I knew. Was it a good surprise? In hindsight, it was fun to find out at the birth, but I still really wanted to know earlier!!!