We had just started trying when we got pregnant with our first. I really thought it would take more time and hadn't really thought of how we were going to announce to our families that we were expecting. I ended up calling my mom not long after I took that first pregnancy test because I was a basket of nerves. We also simply called my husbands parents, which wasn't much fun either.
I could still kick myself for not having a creative way of telling them that I was pregnant with their first grandchild. My mom kept it a secret from my brother and sister so I could be a little more creative with them. I happened to find out I was pregnant with both of my kids right around Thanksgiving which makes a surprise announcement that your pregnant so much easier. We got them Christmas ornaments that had "Aunt Grace" and "Uncle Derrick" on them. While decorating the tree, I gave them those ornaments to put on the tree. They both looked at us wondering if this was a joke as a "gift" from our dog, or if I was in fact pregnant.
When I started trying for our second, I bought our oldest a shirt that read, "I'm gonna be a big brother". When we found out we were pregnant, we put the shirt on him when we were going to either of the grandparents' houses. I asked my mom to take his jacket off of him and she started crying when she read his shirt. We did the same with my husband's family. It was a much better way to tell them than a simple phone call.
We'll soon try for #3 and I'm already thinking of fun ways to tell our families this time. I'd love to hear your ideas, but if you're not quite sure how to break the news, here are a few other ideas that friends have done.
-When at the next family gathering, tell them you'll bring the dessert. Make the announcement in icing on top of your dessert.
-Give them a copy of the ultrasound picture with an attached note saying "coming in ___"
-Purchase new coffee mugs, shirts, key chains, etc that say "grandma, grandpa, uncle, aunt, etc".
-Show up to the next gathering with a "Baby On Board" t-shirt.
-Make an invitation that says "You are invited to the birth of your ____(child, grandchild, etc)"
Coming up with something creative always makes for better stories and it will be a moment that your loved ones will never forget. Sure, you could be like me and ruin the surprise with a phone call, but announcing that you're pregnant only happens a few times, so you might as well make it fun.
- By guest blogger TwoofaKindWorkingOnAFullHouse
