I Got 99 Problems…Lack of Ideas Ain’t One

Okay.  The title of this post is admittedly awful (sorry Jay-Z), but this is my 99^th post, and I had to find some kind of tie-in with the subject of today’s post….which would be…announcing to The Prince’s family.  Since before we found out how difficult it was going to be for us to get pregnant, I have been thinking about the wonderful ways I would break our happy news.  Since before I started taking the hormone medications, I’ve had my eyes well-up with tears as I played through various announcement scenarios in my head.  And on more than one occasion, I’d decided how I would reveal our long-awaited pregnancy to the families…only the idea I’d decided on become outdated or clichéd because the wait was too long.  But now the wait is over…and while I’ve narrowed the field down to just a couple of ideas, I’m not sure which of my favorite ideas is best.  So, I’m turning to my girls (not my breasts…you guys) for some advice.  Below, I will discuss the various options and will get your feedback.  Then, after the announcement next weekend, I will post about which idea we went with and how it went.  I totally understand if anyone doesn’t want to participate…but I truly want every step of this pregnancy to be shared by the amazing women who supported me on my journey…so you get a vote in the announcement process.

Idea Number One:

This one has an A and B option as well.  In this idea, we will say that we have an early baby shower gift for Taylor (Taylor is the name that my sister-in-law has chosen for her baby - boy or girl) that we just couldn’t wait until the shower to give (this will insure his mother’s and sister’s presence at the big reveal, without raising suspicion).  In the card, we will put a Photo-shopped picture of our…well our gestational sac I guess…with a cartoon “thought bubble” coming from out of the sac.  In the bubble, it will say:

 “Ugh!  My belly to belly cell phone service stinks!  Can you please tell my cousin Taylor that I will be available for playdates in January 2012?  Thanks, Baby (Our last name).” 

Then (in case that isn’t clear enough…I need to be sure given The Prince’s reaction to “The Situation”), we will have one of the following onesies wrapped as a gift…



Option A



Option B- This one is a 6-12 month size.  Thus, acknowledging the due date.





That’s Idea #1.

Idea Number Two:

We tell The Prince’s mother that we have an early anniversary present that we couldn’t wait to give them (his parent’s anniversary is in mid-June, but I haven’t been able to think of a more subtle way of launching into giving them a gift…and this could get his Dad involved in the gift opening).  The card attached will say on the front… “This is what love at first sight is all about…” and on the inside of the card…we will put a picture of the first ultrasound (again…just the sac will show, but I think that’s okay).  Then, wrapped as a gift, we will have a Grandparents picture frame with the following poem in it….

“I do not have a face to see

Or put inside a frame.

I do not have soft cheeks to kiss

I don't yet have a name.

You can't yet hold my tiny hands

Nor whisper in my ear.

It's still too soon to sing a song,

Or cuddle me so near.

But all will change come January,

That's when they say I'm due.

I'm your new grandson or granddaughter.

I can't wait ‘til I meet you.

All I ask between now and then

Is your patience while I grow.

I promise I'll be worth the wait.

Because of all the love we'll know.

So what I have to give you now,

Is a wish to you from me.

I cannot wait to be a part

Of this wonderful family.

Love Baby (our last name)”

I know this poem has been around for awhile, and isn’t original, but I can’t read it without crying.  I tried writing something original, because I HATE copying other people… but I just can’t come up with something better than this.  The benefit of this idea is that they have something tangible to put in their home to remind them of their grandchild-to-be…and his Mom is weepy like me, so I know that it will move her to tears over and over the way it does me.  Plus, she always opens cards first and the card may be subtle enough that she won’t get the announcement until she opens the gift.

I should note that it is unlikely that we will travel to tell my mother in person our big news…in late June or early July.  So, we will likely send her the framed poem with a regular “can’t wait to meet you, Grandma” card.  I mention this because it would be nice for both sets of parents to have the same framed poem (making this a more appealing option), but I will also get a chance to use the gift part of this idea, even if not with The Prince’s family (making the first idea seem like a better one).      

Idea Number Three:

The next idea is to somehow combine the two ideas into one.  Give the gifts at the same time and see who opens their gift first?  The appeal of this option is that I don’t have to choose which idea to go with…as fate will sort of decide for me and both of my favorite ideas will get used.  Also, if his sister happens to be out on a catering run…or goes home sick… we always have the back-up plan.  The other good thing is that, if they opt to do one at a time, we get the reaction from one of the announcement gifts…and then a second wave of reaction from the other gift/card.  The downside is…how do I come up with an excuse for why his mother and sister are both getting random gifts and cards from us?  I think I managed to set up the dinner on Saturday without raising suspicion…but if I all of the sudden want to assemble the family for random gift-giving, someone might guess the reason before the “announcements” even have a chance.  And The Prince’s family is a family that yells out the answers during Jeopardy (people after my own heart).  If someone guesses it…they won’t be shy about yelling the possibility out pre-gift opening.

Okay…so that’s the three ideas, with an understanding that Ideas # 1 and # 3 require an opinion on whether onesie A or onesie B is cuter.  Also, PLEASE provide any input you might have regarding how to solve the snags in my announcement ideas that I have raised.  For those of you who choose to participate…thank you SO MUCH for your help!!!  I can’t wait to see what you have to say.