Cookie Tinkerbell

After trying to avoid it for as long as we could, we finally told the kids about the baby. Christian, who loves rubbing naked tummies with me, was noticing my extra poundage and wondered why my tummy was full all the time. When he realized I was starting to look like my pregnant friend Lisa, who he knows has a baby in there, he kept saying "you have a baby in your tummy." I changed the subject a few times, but then we decided it was time to give it to him straight.

We sat them down one night before bed and Murray turned on the video camera. He asked them if they noticed my tummy getting bigger and then told them Mommy and Daddy were going to have a baby. Alexander asked if I ate it and would I throw it up to get it out. We told him God put it in there and a doctor would help get it out. He lifted up my shirt and said "let me see." He figured it must come through the belly button, and since my C-section scar is only a few inches under that, we went with that answer. Christian, however, started to cry. "No babies in our house! No stinky babies and diapers, no, no, no!" When Alexander wondered if it was a boy Christian cried even harder "No three boys!" We got him to calm down and started talking about being big brothers and helping mommy and teaching the baby to play with toys and ride a bike. They both seemed to like that idea. When I suggested it might be a girl, Christian really smiled.

We just took them to see Disney on Ice and since then Christian's had a little thing for Tinkerbell. He suggested Tinkerbell as a name, Alexander thought Crocodile would be good. Since then it's been Lion, Tanna (my neighbor's name), ChristianAlexander, Coo-Coo (because I won't let them say Poo-Poo), and my favorite Cookie Tinkerbell. Apparently I'm having a celebrity child.

Christian hardly mentions it now. In denial perhaps? But Alexander is very interested. He keeps asking if it's still in there, he tells everyone "My mommy is having a baby. Look, see" as he tries to lift up my shirt, and he's always pointing out things we need to get for "our baby." He was like a little old lady in ToyRUs oohing and aahing over the cribs and strollers. He hugs me and my tummy a lot more now and wishes "the baby we are having" would come soon because it's taking too long. It's so sweet and I love his interest. I hope he's as excited once the baby comes and his world changes.

They go back and forth about whether they hope for a boy or girl. We'll find out on June 8th! Then we can really plan, and shop, and think about a name. Although I think Alexander has already decided which crib, stroller, and bouncy seat we are getting for Cookie Tinkerbell.

~J