We told all of the children that I was expecting as soon hubby and I found out. Of course they’re all excited about the newest baby, but we expected that. I just want to take a quick moment to save for posterity the reactions of two children in particular.
When he heard that I was pregnant, Perry Boy walked a long circle around me, staring skeptically at my belly. Finally, he wrinkled his nose and announced, “No she’s not.”
Natalie, on the other hand, was breathless with excitement right from the start. She took one quick look at my belly and blurted out, “Mom! I think I can tell already!”
Gee, thanks.
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what a cutie. My daughter sked me if I was pregnant the other day in excitement. When I said no she said…”why is your belly so big then???” i love their little remarks!!!
Cute how they analyze our bodies and check us out! Sometimes I love it … sometimes I am not so certain I like to be asked why my belly is “still big”.. gotta love the honesty of children!! I DO LOVE that when you have a baby growing in there you have an excuese to not be so skinny!
Congratulations!!
Oh, but see, Perry is still at the age where the only *sign* of pregnancy is a big belly. For Natalie, she’s old enough to realize that mom has that certain GLOW when she’s expecting. See, Mrs. C, you’re glowing! XD
Kids, ya gotta love ‘em.
He’s still sticking by that story. He told Adam the same thing!
Yeah, well, when we announed my pregnancy to our church family a few weeks ago, (I am just now going on 9 weeks pregnant) I probably had 20 people tell me they ‘Thought so, since my belly looked bigger’. Um, thanks. And then one women told me she thought I had been pregnant since we got back on our vacation- 4 weeks *before* said baby was even conceived! When she found out I was only 5 weeks along, she paused and said, “Oh.” Uh- yeah. So pretty much everyone has thought I was fat since I got back from vacation!!! Cute coming from kids, not so much from grown adults. Ah, people. You have to love ‘em. = ) (and my 7 year old doesn’t believe I am pregant- he says he will when my belly gets big. Ah- finally someone who doesn’t think I am fat!)
There is only one thing you can do w/ this kind of reaction: save the boy & pitch the daughter.
That’s all right. When one of my brothers was little, he asked my DAD when he was going to have his baby!
My four-year-old didn’t really understand the bit about the belly needing time to go back DOWN after having a baby! Recently (I have a 2-month-old) at lunchtime I was walking in the kitchen with the kids all sitting at the table, and he gasped with excitement and breathlessly asked if I had a new baby growing in my tummy. When I said no, and that it was just that my tummy had not had time to finish going back down yet, he looked so disappointed and just said, “Oh.”
I LOVE reading about kids being excited about a new baby coming when there are many siblings already!! It speaks volumes to a world that thinks they must be miserable and deprived due to having to share the parents’ attention or something crazy like that! My four-year-old is the eldest of four brothers and he’s praying for twins in my tummy even now!
Is it your family where every big kid has a little charge/buddy to watch out for? If it is, who “gets” the new baby, and is she excited?
Lauren,
Yes, our family does that. 8yo Becca is next in line for a “charge,” but I’m afraid she’s a little small to safely lift a baby in a carseat in and out of the van and carry the baby/seat up and down stairs. Hubby and I need to talk it over, but we might start back near the top of the line. We started this system when we had a toddler and a preschooler, so the 2 big girls never had the privilege of being the primary helper with a newborn. Then if there’s another baby in a few years, Becca can have her charge.
In the meantime, Becca wants to help a lot with the new baby whether or not it’s her job!
Haha! Well, now you can choose what to believe, whether it shows or not, since you have such contrasting opinions!
We have the same problem with our next “charge” in line. She’s not as coordinated as her older was at this age. Even when she picks up her 11 mod sister it scares. I did tell her that mommy would work with her after the baby arrives and that we would really hard to learn how to do all this. The stairs, maybe not, but at the very least I will help her learn how to properly pick up a baby and hold it right.
I loved the stories about your kids. My almost 7 yo asked me right after I found out if I was pregnant. Apparently pregnancy hormones relax muscles and I have ZERO muscle control in my abdomen (gotta love that unnecessary c-section I had with my first.) I already look like I m several months along. It’s the first time I am actually trying to hide it a bit longer.
I love telling my kids about new babies. It bring such great joy. Totally different with my mom. Telling her takes the joy out of everything. I couldn’t sleep for 3 days before telling her. My mom told me this summer that I was rebelling against her by having so many children. I was flabbergasted. It’s really sad. My daddy just smiled with my dh told him. I love my daddy.
I am going to have fun reading your post as you go through this pregnancy. thank you for allowing to share in the blessing with you.
After our 6th baby,nearly 3 mts now,my stomach’s just completely given up and has decided to sort of droop and stay there(two c-sections here too).Is it possible for your stomach muscles to relax permanently,cos I’m sure mine have retired lol..
Congrats! Congrats! I’m so excited for you!
LOL! Leave it to the kiddos:)
Congratulations on the baby! Are you hoping for a boy?
Yay! I can’t wait for this next birth story. I love your birth stories!
Speaking of telling children about new siblings take a look at this video, where the parents had some *fun* telling their children about the new baby. http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/friday-funnies13
I love The Boy’s comment. Ah, the simple logic of a 3 year old.
Lulu