Mommy's having a baby: What goes through a 4 year old's mind

Kids are funny, you know? You never really know how their little minds are turning or what is going to come out of their mouths. Especially when you share some life-alterning news like, "You're going to be a big brother!"

Here's how our 4 year old twins processed the fact that "Mommy is going to have a baby!"

A little background first. The boys, an especially Benji, love looking at their baby photo album. The very first picture is this little (huge?) "beauty":

....my humungo-36 week-twin-pregnant belly. This picture was actually taken right before we went to the hospital to have the boys.

And the boys LOVE this picture. The love the "big belly" and are especially fascinated (and slightly perplexed) by the fact that they were "in the belly." 

I thought they had grasped the fact that babies grow inside of mommy and then they come out, but we were slightly unprepared for the immediate reaction the boys had to the "big news." 

Me: Boys, guess what? You are going to be big brothers! Mommy has a baby in her belly!

Boys: (Silence. Look at each other. Burst into tears). But we don't WANT to go back in the belly!!!

Yes, my sons thought that they were going to have to fit back in my belly and be "born again," shall we say. It took a few minutes for Aaron and I to calm them down and assure them that they would keep growing up to be big boys and there was a NEW baby growing in Mommy's belly. 

Benji, my ever literalist, immediately became concerned again. 

Benji: Mommy! you should not EAT the baby!

Oops! Enter long conversation about how the baby was NOT in my stomach getting digested but actually in a special place called the uterus. 

Whew! Potential mental crisis in the mind of my 4 year old averted. 

Benji was full of comments and questions right after we passed these first hurtles. In fact, it took him almost an hour to eat his dinner because he was so excited and could not stop talking. Here are some little gems he uttered as he processed the "big news":

"We need to get a baby car seat!" (Just like his Daddy, thinking practically immediately)

"We need to get a baby gate--and I will have the key." (Already taking responsibility....? Right?)

"We need to get the baby pants, because it will have legs." (Good logical thought process here)

"We will take our baby to Kids Cove, like other babies." (He loves our local indoor playground)

"Mommy, you can watch movies and I will rub your back." (My heart melted....)

Micah, uncharacteristically, was very quiet during this whole conversation. 

In fact, I think the boys reactions could be summed up in this picture: 

That night when we put the boys to bed, Micah started crying and said, "Mommy, I'm so sad!"

Me: "Why, honey?"
Micah: Because I want to be your baby....
Me: (pang in the heart!)

After lots of hugs and snuggles, and repeated assurance that he would "always be my baby," Micah felt much better. In fact, the next day when I asked him, "Are you going to be a big brother?" he smiled really big and proudly answered, "Yes!"

I can't wait to share more of this big adventure with my two big boys! I'm sure there will be many more funny stories to come.....stay tuned....