How to Tell Him We Are Expecting? Going for the Wow Factor!!

Updated on December 03, 2011
K.H. asks from Fernley, NV
22 answers

Some of you might remember my question from yesterday. Since then I have taken 2 more pregnancy tests and they all came out positive!!! I am beyond thrilled! So now I need a really creative way to surprise my reserved husband. I am flying out with my kids on the 18th to go to my parents for christmas. He will follow later but I was thinking of handing him a wrapped pregnancy test at the airport. Or having our pastor say something during a prayer like "...and pleasse bless ---- and ---'s new arrival next July" I would wait til christmas but I am planning on telling my parents at thier 30th wedding anniversary party the evening of the 18th-would it be ok for them to find out before hubby?
Here is another idea....every 2 weeks my husband's warehouse has a meeting with all the employees-maybe have his boss announce it there? How did you ladies tell hubby?
***I definitely will tell my honey before my parents. Here is another idea: Maybe hide a wrapped pregnancy test in this bag of treats I'm making for his co-workers next week so when he is handing them out he finds it?
I would love to hear your ideas!!!!

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So What Happened?

So I really like the idea of having his beverage served in a baby bottle! We are supposed to have a date tomorrow anyways...I don't know if I can wait that long!
As for everyone else...we are getting family pictures taken on sunday and were planning on giving one to everyone in our families-maybe at the bottom of the frame we could paint the words 'Our family is growing...by 2 feet'.
****CaraK-I just thought about sending him a certified letter in an old mastercard envelope so he has to sign. When he opens it he will see "Congratulations ---____! You have been approved for a new baby!...."

Featured Answers

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J.F.

answers from Bloomington on

Congrats!!!!! What wonderful news!

Glad you decided that you'd tell him first. How can you stand it!?!?!?!?

We made a t-shirt for my oldest that said "Big Sister" on it. We went out to dinner with my in-laws and Grammie got it instantly! Super fun! We then Skyped the other set of in-laws and had big sissy point out her "cute" shirt.

We found an image online and printed it onto an iron-on transfer sheet. Put it on a cute shirt.

You could do this very quickly for hubs. You have 2 kiddos, right? The first one, "Biggest Brother" & "Big Brother" Maybe wrap up a onesie with "Baby" on it.

LET US KNOW how it goes and what you decide to do!!!! BTW - you made my day!

5 moms found this helpful

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

Tell him face to face in person so you can see his expression. You dont want him sharing that moment with co-workers and not you.
I would wrap a onsie or baby blanket or the test in a christmas package. Plan a quiet, romantic date night for the two of you in front of the fire and Christmas tree and tell him you have an early gift for him. Then give him the gift and let the celebration commence.

3 moms found this helpful

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B.K.

answers from Boston on

Tell him before you tell your parents, definitely. He should be the first to know.

Here are some I recently read:

One night, when my husband came home from work, I told him there was something sweet in the oven. When he opened it up, he found a large bun on a plate. Puzzled, he just stood there until I shouted, "Honey, there's a bun in our oven!" He was so shocked, he didn't believe me.

Once I discovered I was pregnant, I embroidered a shirt for our 1-year-old son that read, "I'm a Big Brother." I put the shirt on our son right before my husband came home from work. He walked in, read the shirt, and became very excited.

planned a theme dinner for my husband. I made baby corn and carrots, baby back ribs, and for dessert I walked out with a big red bow around my belly, holding a small bowl of Sugar Babies. He loved it!

I made dinner plans at our favorite restaurant and dropped off a baby bottle that I had decorated and written "It's a Baby!" on beforehand. That night when we arrived for dinner, I asked the manager to serve my husband's beverage in the bottle. At first, my hubby was totally baffled, but once he read the bottle's message, he quickly leapt out of his chair with excitement!

4 moms found this helpful
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N.L.

answers from Chicago on

I personally would do something "in private" so he doesn't have to "worry" about his reponse in front of other people (boss/coworkers/etc).

I like the bun in the oven idea or the "big brother/sister" t-shirt. I almost used both of those, but in the end I just blurted it out :) I personally think handing over pregnancy tests is kind of gross (yes, I know you can wipe it and put the cap on it or whatever...it's just my opinion).

Updated

3 moms found this helpful
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A.D.

answers from Dallas on

I would do it privately for sure. My pregnancy wasn't planned but we also weren't doing anything to prevent it. It was a wonderful suprise :) I was thrilled but scared to death!! We were eating Panda Express in front of the TV and I told him I took a pregnancy test, he asked if I passed or failed!! LOL I asked what would a pass or fail be and he knew the answer!! He sat for a minute and panicked (he was leaving soon to go on deployment) then got SOOOO excited! A co-worker of my moms was saying a prayer before dinner and said something along the lines of "bless this child growing in my belly." I thought that was cute! Tell him in private then announce in public. Good luck and CONGRATS!!!! Let us know what you decide!!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.L.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Tell your husband first! He's priority! He's the daddy!

Then tell the grandparents, making this announcement a gift from both of you, and let your husband announce it later to his co-workers if HE wants to. If he's reserved - and it sounds as if you're not - you need to consider his feelings.

Since your husband is following you for the Christmas trip, you could leave behind for him a nicely-wrapped box with "Open Before Christmas" on it, with the pregnancy test in it. Or - better yet - tell him now in the same way. I think he deserves to know right away, don't you?

For the grandparents you could perhaps give a gift-wrapped pair of booties, or a "new baby" picture frame with the due date where the picture will be later.

And congratulations!

1 mom found this helpful
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C.C.

answers from Houston on

If he is reserved..I would not do it publicly...and I wouldn't wait til almost Christmas. And why tell his parents first....don't get it.

1 mom found this helpful

E.S.

answers from Dayton on

Yay!!! Yay!!! Yay!!!
Congratulations!!!

I like Tracy K.'s idea :)

Whatever you do...tell him first and tell him privately.
Men are so different than we are...never know how they are going to react to surprises. Even if it is something they want.

Congrats again! I am so happy for you!!!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.T.

answers from New York on

I would never have his boss or our pastor be the one to break the news. That's your job.

I'd plan dinner with baby lamb chops, baby corn, baby potatoes, anything else that's small and has the term "baby" attached to it. Ask if he notices a theme...

1 mom found this helpful

S.A.

answers from Chicago on

CONGRATS!
I think you should tell him, and in person so you can be there to see his reaction. I would get a card for congratulating a new dad, and write his name in the card with a message from you about how excited you are to be adding to the family. Tell him you bought a new baby card for someone you know who's wife is expecting and want to show it to him. Then just watch his face when he reads it.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.J.

answers from Seattle on

I like the baby bottle idea but most surprising I've seen is the "big sister or brother" tshirts on the kids. My friend had her kids wearing them when her husband got home one day, then they both posted a picture of the two kids wearing them on fb to tell everyone else, was SO funny when we all started to figure it out! :) congrats!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.D.

answers from San Diego on

If you decide to wait I would wait until Christmas and have him open some baby themed gift like a gender neutral onesie that says I love Daddy or something for your older kids that says big brother/sister. I wouldn't do it at church or his work. Congratulations and good luck

1 mom found this helpful
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P.S.

answers from Houston on

I stole a magazine from my doctor's office and hid my sonogram pictures in it. We were sitting around after dinner that night and I mentioned that I accidentally took off w/one of the office magazines and then started flipping through it. Then I came across my pictures and said "oh look! Someone put their sonogram in the magazine! I guess I'll have to mail ti back. hhhmmm...can you tell if its a boy or girl" and then handed to my husband. He noticed my name after a few minutes and the look of confusion on his face was priceless and one of the best moments of my life.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

If you do a photo, a friend of mine used a slogan similar to the American Express or Master Card ads. It's the "priceless" one. The photo caption said, "Knowing there are 3 people in this photo, priceless." I think you said you have 2 kids already, so just replace the number of people.

Also, since you said your husband is reserved, I think you should break the news privately to him.

1 mom found this helpful

A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I would tell him first and at home in private - not in front of church or co workers.........

1 mom found this helpful
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A.F.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I have no suggestions, but I wanted to share the story of me telling my husband this news over a month ago. I suspected. I took a test. I dropped by his office when I knew he wasn't busy. I waited until he got off the phone and went in his office and he says "I already know you are pregnant. I figured it out 3 days ago (which was before I even suspected). Men can be such brats.

Good luck and I know that whatever way you come up with will be wonderful and a story you can share for years.

Congratulations!

1 mom found this helpful
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B.P.

answers from Cleveland on

i would do it before you leave, the wrapped test is a good idea, maybe do it one night and leave it for him to find while your putting the kidos to bed

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R.C.

answers from Phoenix on

CONGRATS! Whatever you do, don't wait to tell him. Tell him tonight. He should be first to know (well, maybe next since hundreds of people are reading your post). Keeping wonderful secrets like yours don't lend to healthy marriages. My neighbor kept her pregnancy from her husband for a couple weeks saying she wanted to come up with a wonderful way to tell him, but things didn't work out that way. She ended up telling him when she had signs of miscarriage at 6-7 weeks. It caused some trust issues in their marriage. She miscarried 4 weeks after she told him about the pregnancy which further strained their relationship.

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

Boy you sure have restraint!!!! LOL! The minute I took my tests my DH was the first to know. :) I think you should tell him before your parents.

BTW Congrats and Best wishes! I do like you pastor announcing it idea.

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K.P.

answers from Dallas on

Tell him before your parents.

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J.K.

answers from Milwaukee on

Congratulations!!! All of your ideas are very creative. I think the pregnancy test IN the bag of treats has a little bit of an "ew" factor, though. I really like the bun in the oven idea! I'm excited to hear how you actually go about it! Have fun!!!!

✤.J.

answers from Dover on

I don't have any fantastic ideas on how to tell him, but I would say you should absolutely tell him before you tell your parents. As a matter of fact, as much as I like the idea of your pastor announcing it, I don't think you should even tell him before your husband.

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