i'm telling!

Who knew telling everyone you're pregnant could be such a major undertaking? We told Ian's parents and my mom and step-dad on Easter and then spent at least two weeks trying to get together with Dad and my step-mom to tell them. You know, that's something you want to tell in person, not just over the phone. Although.... my dad told me over the phone about my sister when she was on the way. He called to tell me that they had a surprise. It was when I was 14 or 15 and the only thing I wanted in the world was a cherry-colored honda scooter (1985). When he told me I was getting a brother or sister, yeah, I was disappointed. A scooter or sibling? What could be better?

Okay, okay. As a single child I was jealous of those who had siblings. But now? No way. No way could I have shared my mom's attention with someone else. Ian thinks that my being a single child has something to do with my unsociability. What? Yeah. He said I was never forced to get along with others. That I just escape to my room and read. And he complained that we didn't have a lot of social events at our house. I explained that I learned to entertain myself and self-soothe and that a lot of times, too much loudness and interaction with people completely exhausts me. Sure. I'd rather be home reading. Or knitting. Or petting my sweet dogs.

But really, I have excellent social skills. I was an introverted child, and still tend toward introversion, but I can socialize with the best of them if I must. Why, my colleague Marie says that I have a true gift for engaging people in conversation and drawing them out.

I ended up living with Dad and my step-mother for the first seven or so months of my sister's life. She squalled whenever Margie left her with me. There was no calming that kid down. But I digress. This is about telling.

So all the parents know. And all were shocked. My sister knows and she's thrilled. She's almost never let up with the "When am I getting a little niece or nephew?"

The first person outside the family that I told was my BFF Jennifer. We've known each other since eighth grade and we're still friends. I'm the godmother to her son Brandon who is like 12 or 13 at least. I called her Monday (7 April) to tell her the news, but she wasn't home. So she called me Tuesday morning and we chatted about her leaving on a cruise with three other women this week.

And I told her I had some news. She said "You're pregnant!?" And I said yes.

She was thrilled. She screamed and cried into the phone. She is happy for me and wants to spend all kinds of time with me helping me out, etc. Wants to be at the birth. Though, I'm not sure I want anyone else in there other than Ian. My mom didn't act like she wants to see her baby in so much pain, so I wouldn't force that on her despite always thinking that I'd have her by my side should I go through that experience.

So it's fun telling people that we're expecting. But I'm still hesitant. I don't feel out of the woods yet. And so I'm keeping mum on the news, maybe telling one more person a week, or so. Sure, I'd love to tell everyone in person, but with my BFF Kel over in Doha, it's not like I can phone her up and tell her the news. The most fabulous piece of news about her is that her sister is also pregnant and is due sometime in October. And so instead of coming home in the summer like she and her family normally do, they're coming in the fall so they can be home for Christy's labor & delivery. And she doesn't know it yet, but she'll be here for mine, too!

I couldn't ask for anything more. I have such wonderful friends. And it's going to be perfect being surrounded by them as well as absorbing up all their mother/baby knowledge.