OT-How did you announce your pregnancy?

[Rustysmom]

My kids are 7 years apart. I told my DS about it by asking him how he felt about being a big brother. He didn't understand right away, so we just said that he was going to have a baby brother or sister soon.

We told my mom by giving her the news in her birthday card. My DS just came out and told his dad that he was going to be a grandpa again.

How do they get along? Well, they bother each other a lot. My DD gets into his stuff and he doesn't like it. My DS has PDD and has trouble interacting appropriately with people anyway though. My DD loves him though and I think deep down he loves her.

I'm cracking up over MomNeedsVacay. My family is dense too and they wouldn't "get it" either.

Anyway, congratulations and don't worry, it will all work out fine.

 

[F1Julie]

I love the bun in the oven idea. That is really cute.

 

[tinker&belle]

I love the bun in the oven idea. That is really cute.

I knew someone who put a bun in the oven, took a digital picture and gave it to people, I thought that was cute.

 

[Erin1700]

My DD was 6 when her little brother was born. He is now 8 months and she is going to be 7 next month. At first she cried and did not want a new baby. She too, was the only grandchild and the princess! Then she said okay to a sister, but we found out we were having a boy. She started to be okay with it. Another let down though was that we did not pick any of her names she liked. They were Carlos, Charles or Jesus!

We decided on Andrew but call him Andy. She believes he is named after the little boy on Toy Story and we let her think that.

Now she absolutely LOVES her brother! Even when he gets into her stuff and even when he beat her with a toy last week.

One thing she was not okay with was seeing me after my csection and with leaving me in the hospital at night.

 

[solgent]

My DDs & some others found out early on because I was SO ill beginning about week 6. When I was hospitalized, I called my parents with the "good news/bad news."

I think you should tell your DD very soon, because she may be aware that something is going on, and who knows what she's thinking.

When I was about 8 months pregnant with my youngest, my DD aged nearly 4 said, "I'm going to love the baby so much." I was so pleased to hear this, and then she continued, "But I won't love you anymore."

 

[djmeredith]

My sister has two boys and is pregnant now (due Valentine's Day). I thought the way she told us was pretty cute:

For her first (the first grandchild on both sides) she and her husband went to Build a Bear and created an animal for each set of grandparents. They recorded a message inside each animal that said "I can't wait to meet you Grammy and Grampy" or something like that.

The second baby she just told us. But, the third she painted a tree trunk and the two boys did handprints for the leaves (3 hands) and she wrote something like "Our family tree is growing...Baby number 3 is on the way." Needless to say, we're very excited about the new baby and all of us are hoping for a girl...even though a healthy baby boy will be just fine too!! But darn it, I want to buy pink princess stuff!! Ha Ha

 

[eeyoremum]

My boys are 5 years apart. We just sat down and told DS he was going to be a big brother. He was only 4 when we told him so I don't think he understood how his life would change.

He did cry when we went to the ultrasound he wanted a little sister....the ultrasound said otherwise. Something I don't think he will ever really get over.

The boys fight about as much as they get along. But, my oldest would do anything for his brother and vice versa. I don't think it has anything to do with age they are just different people, they have different interests.

The thing I like is that I am almost raising two only children, my oldest is 13 and really I am just a taxi service for the most part. My 8 year old is home more still.

I am the youngest in my family my brother is 10 years older, my sister is 6 years older. My relationship is strained, they are really only half siblings so there was always a bit of tension given that I was my daddy's princess and they were the step children.

Enjoy your new baby, I understand girls are different with siblings then boys.

 

[lighttech]

OMG!!
I am laughing so hard my sides hurt! DS just went down for a nap and I'm trying to be quiet! (snort) It's not working!

OP - Congrats! Sorry I don't have any advice for you as we only have the one for now. But, good luck! Bigger age spreads are more common now. Hopefully, you'll get the advantage of a helper, and, although they may not be close friends now, years mean less and less as we age, and I'm sure they will love one another dearly from day one and grow into a friendship as they get older.

Congrats!
With my 2nd DD --I "announced" her to my DH by placing a hot dog bun in the oven. When he came home from work- he naturally asked, "What do you want to do for dinner?"..I told him to go look in the oven. He goes, "Soooooooo,........ we are having bread?" I said, "Noooooooo... its a bun"...."Get it?" He goes, "So we are having a cold hot dog bun for dinner?Did you not go to the store this week?" I impatiently go, "Its a BUN and its in the OVEN...GET IT???? BUNnnnnn.....in the Ovennnn??????????????"

........"and thats what we are having for dinner? I don't get it..."

THEN I tried a more obvious approach with the rest of the family on Christmas morning, I got my older DD the "big sister" shirt. Nobody would read the darn shirt..about two hours into Christmas morning I got frustrated and say, "Did anyone notice her shirt?????" ...My mom goes, "Its not very Christmas-y..." My sister goes, "Was that a hand-me-down from a friend?"

Boy- my whole family is DENSE.

 

[boltfans]

I know this thread is ancient, but we're expecting #3 and getting ready to tell the kids so I'm looking for ideas. I know we want my daughter to be able to tell our family, so we haven't told them yet, but I just don't know how we want to tell her. She's 5yo and has been asking for another sibling for over a year so I know she'll be excited, but I want to try to make the moment memorable. She's coming with us to the ultrasound we have on 7/20 so I want to do it before then.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Congratulations!
I just wanted to share that I am 7 years older than my sister. We are very close. I was never jealous when she was born. I wanted a sister so badly. I used to wish on ladybugs for a sister. My Mom used to let me help with everything with her. We did have a few rough years mainly when I was a teen and then when she was a teen. Of course, that probably had something to do with the whole teen thing.Even during those times we still were close though and I wouldn't trade her for anyone. I am so glad that I have her.

ETA- I was the only grandchild, niece etc. I still didn't care. I was so happy.

 

[TXSchoolNurse]

My daughter was 9 when we finally decided to have the second one. We took her to the same resaurant that we celebrated at when we found out we were pregnant with her. When we started telling her the story she said OMG....are you having a baby mom? She started jumping with excitement! Well, now they are 2 and 12 and it can be crazy....... the younger daughter drives the older one nuts one minute and the next they are hugging and dancing.

Well, my 12 year old has a big suprise in store for her as I am 12 weeks pregnant with number 3 and will be breaking the big news to her at Cinderella's breakfast next week. She often comments about how she does NOT want another baby in the house and is deathly afraid if we mention the name of the restaurant we took her to!

 

[TXSchoolNurse]

sorry...posted twice

 

[la79al]

Well, my 12 year old has a big suprise in store for her as I am 12 weeks pregnant with number 3 and will be breaking the big news to her at Cinderella's breakfast next week. She often comments about how she does NOT want another baby in the house and is deathly afraid if we mention the name of the restaurant we took her to!

I might be inclined to wait until after your trip to tell her. If she is already saying she doesn't want another baby, this is not going to be a happy surprise to give her at DW.

 

[mom2faith]

Congrats!
With my 2nd DD --I "announced" her to my DH by placing a hot dog bun in the oven. When he came home from work- he naturally asked, "What do you want to do for dinner?"..I told him to go look in the oven. He goes, "Soooooooo,........ we are having bread?" I said, "Noooooooo... its a bun"...."Get it?" He goes, "So we are having a cold hot dog bun for dinner?Did you not go to the store this week?" I impatiently go, "Its a BUN and its in the OVEN...GET IT???? BUNnnnnn.....in the Ovennnn??????????????"

........"and thats what we are having for dinner? I don't get it..."

THEN I tried a more obvious approach with the rest of the family on Christmas morning, I got my older DD the "big sister" shirt. Nobody would read the darn shirt..about two hours into Christmas morning I got frustrated and say, "Did anyone notice her shirt?????" ...My mom goes, "Its not very Christmas-y..." My sister goes, "Was that a hand-me-down from a friend?"

Boy- my whole family is DENSE.

I just had to say - no wonder your screen name is "MomNeedsVacay"

We did the T-shirt thing to annouce DD. We had been trying for a long time and everyone knew not to ask. Every year they do a baby crawl at a local mall and my Neice was entered (she was <1). She did not win, so I gave her a consolation prize of a t-shirt that read "I am Going to be a Cousin". It was great because we got to tell everyone at the same time. My sisters MIL (who is like a MIL to me too) screamed and the entire mall looked our way.

If/when we get prengant with #2, DD will be at least 5 years older, so we will also have an age gap (been trying for 3 years).

Good luck and let us know how it goes!!

Amy