I just scheduled my mid-pregnancy anatomical ultrasound. I want to tell my 3 and 4 year old girls whether they will have a baby brother or sister, but want to make it FUN and exciting. How did you tell your family? Did you find out together (ultrasound picture in the envelope), or did you know and tell others later? I won't be able to keep it a secret for more than a few days, tops.
Thanks for all the great ideas. We (hubby and I) kept the ultrasound a secret and went together. We kept it a secret from everyone for nearly a week when we did "Christmas in July" and let the the 3 & 4 yr old sisters each open a gift including a balloon and a "lil big sister" and "bigger sister" shirt, so then the grandparents and family were excited to open the third box. Out floated a "girl" balloon, "baby sister" onesie, and the same pajama outfit five other girls in our family came home from the hospital in. It was fun!
A friend told her children by making them t-shirt that said "I'm going to have a new sister". She gift wrapped them and had the boys open them as they cut a cake that was chocolate frosting on the outside, white cake dyed pink and white frosting dyed pink on the inside.
I wish we had done this--we had our daughter in the room when we found out, but for fun:
put the color pink or blue balloons in a cardboard box. Cover with a cute baby wrapping paper. With a sign on outside saying will it be a boy writen in blue or a girl writen in pink. Let the kids open to see the balloons take off.
Also for family revealing have a bakery make a cake with blue or pink inside. cute little baby theme on out side. You cut the first slice to reveal the color.
My friend did something really cute. They had the ultrasound tech put the results in an envelope and so even the parents didn't find out. Then, they took a huge box to a local party store and gave the box and the envelope to the people working at the store. They had the party store employee fill the box with either pink or blue balloons and then seal the box before they came back. They took the box to the park, had a friend come to take pictures, and all opened the box together. You can see the absolute ecstatic joy on their faces when pink balloons flew out of the box after already having three boys.
My son was at the ultrasound:)
i love the balloon idea...but i also think it would be REALLY cool for them to be there, too. but at 3 and 4 they probably won't remember it either way. i just think it'd be cool to share the ultrasound experience with your daughters.
This was so much fun for me! Everyone got a tiny baby themed bag with a gift in it from the baby...it was geared to what you would do with a baby...Now for myself, this was how I told my older children we were even having a baby...but I think it would work with your way of telling of the sex. I also pulled out a cake at the same time that they were opening their "gifts from baby". It was a very special moment and a bit of a shock to the kids that knew where babies came from :) haha! After feeling mortified over that thought, we all hugged and the celebration was in full swing!
My 5 year old sat on dad's lap during my ultrasound and insisted that HE be the one to hold my hand. As soon as the tech said, "Those are definately girl parts." he dropped my hand, crossed his arms, and said, "But I wanted a baby brother!" lol I reminded him that only God gets to choose, and he has definately come around to the idea of a baby sister. I'm 35 weeks pregnant, and she gets hugs and kisses more than I do! ;)
The balloon idea is really cute. I was also thinking of baking a pink or blue cake. Your girls would love to eat it, I'm sure. It would be a fun way to celebrate as a family.
I also really liked the idea of the ultrasound tech write it down and then giving it to the bakery. That way it's surprise for everyone until that first slice of cake. Fun!
