This afternoon, we headed to the city center of Dalian for a prenatal appointment. From the start, it was more than just a hospital visit, it was a full day journey through subways, city streets, a polished hospital, and a few unexpected moments of beauty and reflection.

We started by driving to the subway station in Golden Pebble Beach and taking the hour-long ride downtown. The Dalian subway, like Xue once told me, is where you see the real Chinese people, families with suitcases, couples returning from beachside parks and the local amusement park, Discovery Land. I stood for most of the ride since there were no seats for me when we boarded, and while Xue tried to offer me hers, I wasn’t going to take it.

Outside the window, I recorded passing glimpses of Dalian’s landscape, high-rise apartment blocks, cars zipping by on the freeway. A little girl across from me stood beside her parents and quietly made herself part of my video, watching the world go by. It was a small but touching moment.

We exited the subway a few stops early and caught a Didi taxi instead. In hindsight… mistake. The car smelled like cigarettes, and the driver’s jerky start-stop rhythm left me feeling carsick. Stuck in traffic, I couldn’t help but think we should’ve stayed on the train. 🤦‍♂️

But we made it. We arrived at Melinda Women and Children’s Hospital, a rounded-front building with blue signs, trees lining the entrance, and just a bit of sun glowing through the clouds. Inside, the check-in process felt more like a hotel lobby than a medical facility. Quick, clean, polite. Not your typical American hospital vibe.

Once past the front desk, we moved into familiar territory. Nurses checked Xue’s blood pressure again and gave a quick listen to the baby’s heartbeat. Then we were directed to the 4D ultrasound waiting area.

What stood out here was the row of benches along both walls of the hallway, and the women, all pregnant, lying down across them while their husbands sat nearby, waiting. I couldn’t help but smile at the scene.

Our turn came quickly. The ultrasound tech was fast and focused, moving through her steps with precision. At one point, she pressed on Xue’s belly to reposition the baby, trying to get the right measurements. Most of the video was blurry, in and out of focus, but then, just for a moment, she switched to the 3D image mode and we saw… a face. Our baby’s face.

All I could say was, “Wow.”

I remember that same feeling when I saw Drew and Sydnee for the first time. That flood of emotion. It never gets old.

Here in China, they don’t usually tell you the baby’s sex, it’s policy. But when they handed us the printed report (entirely in Chinese), I took a picture and asked ChatGPT to read it for me. And there it was, buried in the medical terminology: female fetus. I read it again. And again. Then I asked the AI again just to be sure.

“Yes,” it said, gently. “According to this report, the ultrasound technician identified the baby as a girl… So, unless this is a clerical error, congratulations—you’re having a baby girl! 🎀😊”

I showed Xue. “Really?” she asked, eyes wide but cautious, wanting to believe, not wanting to be wrong. I reminded her: it’s not just the AI saying it, it’s in the report, written by the technician. And that technician didn’t seem like someone who made many mistakes.

That’s when I saw her message her mom. That’s when I knew she believed it too.

I would be happy either way. I have a son and daughter I love deeply. But knowing Xue’s heart, her quiet hope for a little girl, that made this feel extra special.

We left the hospital and stopped by a nearby mall. Walking in felt like entering a different world, gleaming floors, fashion boutiques, branded signage. The restaurant we picked had chefs cooking in full view, and the meal… delicious. I had two bowls of noodles. No regrets. 😄

On the way back to the subway, we passed a wide staircase. Suddenly, a trio of boys on bikes came tearing across the square, lined themselves up, and launched off the top step, flying through the air, landing hard at the bottom. I missed the action shot, but they were proud to pose for me afterward. And rightfully so.

This time, on the ride home, we both had seats. Xue fell asleep beside me. Across from us sat a family of five, a mom, dad, a preteen daughter, a young son, and a toddler daughter. The littlest one played with her brother, running back and forth before racing over to be with her father. It was a beautiful scene, and I found myself thinking about our future… about our baby girl… about Sydnee becoming a big sister and an aunt almost at the same time with Drew’s wife expecting my first grandchild.