I promise all of my posts will not be about be about being pregnant from now on, but this is one I had to write…
It was a conversation I wasn’t ready to have.
It was news I didn’t want to reveal for another few weeks.
I wanted to wait as long as possible… just in case. Anything could go wrong and how would we explain that?
It was going to forever change everything. For him and for our family.
Upon hearing our news, I imagined Lucas never looking at me in the same way again, full innocence and pure love.
I could almost envision him staring back at me/us with a look of horror in his eyes as if to ask, “how could you do this, we had such a good thing going?!”.
Telling Lucas that I was expecting a baby brought me so much anxiety I cried several times leading up to the dreaded conversation.
I researched recommended ways to tell your child you are expecting on the Internet and read them out loud to my husband. We took mental notes and practiced our dialogue. I sought advice from trusted friends and spoke to our pediatrician for her professional opinion.
No matter what his reaction, the bottom line was: we just had to do it. It was time.
Keep it simple, straightforward, upbeat and very positive.
I could do that.
Then why did the mere thought of sharing our news with our son, our first born and special boy make me break down in tears? Why did it instill such fear?
As much as I want a baby, a sibling for my son, I don’t want Lucas’ world to change and I don’t ever want him to think that Mommy and Daddy don’t have enough love for two children or more.
Over dinner, at 14 weeks 4 days we told Lucas that we some exciting family news, that he was going to be a big brother and his response was nothing like what I expected: “That’s awesome!” he exclaimed and then followed it up with lots of questions about how big my belly will get and if the baby is a boy or a girl, what the baby is doing right now, how big is the baby, when will the baby come out, and how will the baby come out. Admittedly some answers came easier than others. It was the best dinner conversation our family has ever had!
Lucas isn’t thinking any of the things I’d been fearing. I know he will eventually, but right now he’s too busy being overjoyed at the thought of being a big brother, making sure I’m eating healthy fruits and vegetables and kissing my belly.
It’s amazing how immediate love is.
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Glad it went better than expected! There are tons of great children’s books about new baby’s and becoming a big brother.
Yeah, I know about the books and I do have a couple of children’s books for Lucas, but I what I was searching for was real life/world advice. I was so relieved that it went as well as it did! I can;t wait for Lucas to meet his little sibling.
Awe, this is so sweet, such an adorable response and great photo to capture that moment. 🙂
There may have been a fist pump too!! He is SO excited.
I love that photo and that he’s so excited about his baby sibling. This makes me think… I don’t remember telling Cady. She just seemed to know. It was actually kind of weird now that I think about it. LOL
Funny, I think Lucas (at least on some level) knew too. I’ll never forget his response. Never ever.
Awww, Tonya! This gave me chills. He’s going to be a fantastic brother. 🙂
Thank you, I hope so!
Sounds like he is going to make a great big brother. And kids are more resilient than we give them credit for. He’ll be great. 🙂
Indeed they are… I was so worried for nothing. Although, I’m quite sure the rage and jealousy will come later.
That is so sweet! I bet that he is going to be an amazing big brother and the best little helper you’ve ever had!
I hope you’re right! I can’t wait to see them together.
Oh my goodness, the belly kisses!
And so it begins.
Sibling love.
The very best.
This is so sweet. I love how he takes care of you by making sure you eat healthy. Children show love in the most wonderful ways!
They really do. It’s genuine and pure and oh so lovely! The other day, he asked me what the baby was doing and said that I should eat a baby toy so s/he had something to play with.
True that – you just have to do it. I’m glad the reaction was so positive!!!!
Me too!! Huge sigh of relief. (:
I don’t have any doubt in my mind that he is going to be a fantastic big brother and love the baby very, very much. Sometimes, he might think the baby is a “bother” like my older ones do of the littlest, but they’ll grow out of it probably. 😀 I’m glad you had a great conversation!
Thanks, Greta, it went really well. I’m so pleased. And excited to see the two of them together.
So so sweet! Funny how you were agonizing over it for days and he was totally fine with it! I’m guessing as long as you keep him involved he’ll remain enthusiastic, right? Now he’ll have an in-house playmate for life! Congrats to you and your family 🙂 🙂
Thank you, Miya! This is a very exciting time for our family.
I’m so glad it went better than expected! You never really know what the kids are going to think or say!
Ain’t that the truth?!
Precious. I love it all.
How wonderful! What a beautiful reaction he had – he sounds very excited! 🙂
This was such an incredibly sweet story. Can you please let Lucas pick the baby’s name? He nailed it with Charlie Pasta!!! C’mon, pretty please!
Isn’t it amazing how we build something up and worry and it ends up being amazing and not awful? My kids have always reacted with pure love each time we tell them there is a baby in Mommy’s belly and this last time our son would kiss my belly each night and say goodnight to the baby. It was hands down the sweetest thing ever. Congratulations on your pregnancy and Lucas will be an amazing big brother!!
sweet Lucas! I’m glad he’s so excited! He is going to be just the best big brother. Love only grows and expands. It’s never divided 🙂
oh my heart. What a fantastic little boy and what an amazing BIG brother he is going to be.
the whole post just brought me to happy tears. You are incredible parents , it’s no wonder that Lucas is the sensitive, caring little boy he is.
<3
xoxo my sweet friend.
Oh, Lucas will be such an amazing big brother!
All of this makes me so happy. This journey is going to be awesome!
Love this! And that picture 🙂
My heart is very full. I love the last picture too.
When my 20 month old daughter ran into the hospital room to peer at her baby brother – she who was now so gargantuan – I cried. I felt so sad to leave the intimacy of having only one child behind.
And, as you know, of course all that is forgotten now. 🙂
Love is immediate, it is. I want this picture framed it’s so perfect.
I am so glad that you told him when you did and that he took it so well. He seems just simply excited about this new little member of the family and that is exactly how he should be now. I love that you had him tell me the news! So cute! <3