Sharing the News

I finally decided to talk with Tess about the new baby. I've been holding off, because I didn't want the nine months to stretch on as an eternity for her. But she's starting to hurt me when she wants to climb and jump on me, so I decided it was time.

Yesterday I sat her down with an ultrasound picture of the baby and explained that this was a picture of a baby.
"Oh, is that me when I was a baby?" Tess asked.
"No, that's a picture of the baby inside my tummy."
She stared at my belly and felt around, confused at first. "But Mommy, I can't see the baby. The baby isn't outside yet."
"That's right. The baby is still growing. But one day she will come out, and you will be a big sister."

Once that began to sink in, Tess was super excited. "I'm going to be a big sister! And Mommy I will help you with the baby. I can help you put it to sleep, and nurse it, and take care of it Mommy!"

We talked some more about her being a big sister, and about her baby sister, and after a couple of minutes and a quiet pause, Tess announced, "I'm going to tell Daddy!"

Since sharing the news, Tess loves to talk about "her baby sister" and "her baby." She asked me, "Mommy, can we take my baby sister in the car tomorrow? Can she come with us? Will she like the car?"

She's also started listing all the things that she will teach her baby sister. Including: How to run. How to splash in the bathtub.  How to wear a headband in her hair. How to ride a scooter. And many more life skills.

I'm sure the jealousy and the hard parts of sharing the parental attention will come later, but for now we have one little girl who is counting the days until she can meet her little sister.