As for boy vs. girl… I don’t have a strong preference.

But, I suppose if given the choice, I’d actually opt for a girl. I think I’d really enjoy (and be good at) being the father of a daughter. I’m sure that I’d love a son too. But, I’m not an uber-macho, ESPN-obsessed, NASCAR-dad type. I’m a more introspective and philosophical soul, who likes art, literature, and culture. I’m “in touch” with my feelings. So, I have no “macho need” for a son… nor do I have a need/desire to carry on the family name.

I also have my (professional) science and engineering bent too… and I think it would be kind of cool to have a daughter who went to MIT, became a biomedical engineer, or generally did something equally awesome in a math/science field. Clearly women are fully capable of perfoming such roles, and I think we’d likely foster a daughter who’d at least see those as viable options (if she so wished).