I always wondered how I would tell my family one day. With Sox and I trying for a baby, it was a reality that I probably wouldn’t be able to tell my family face to face. My sister, Tandi and brother in law (BIL), Ross live in London and my Mom and Dad live in Johannesburg. It would definitely be easier to tell Mom and Dad in person, but I’d also burst keeping it from them until a trip was planned. I always just envisioned Skype/ Face Time.

If you haven’t read my Pregnancy Story, go ahead and catch up quickly… I’ll wait…

All caught up? OK so, you now know that I took the test on that Thursday night, not really expecting the happy news (unlike other months of hope), because I was preparing for that operation. When the blood results confirmed everything on Friday morning, I thought I was going to burst with excitement and happiness because besides the obvious emotions, I couldn’t believe how serendipitious this all was.

Ross and Tandi were arriving in Johannesburg that very Friday morning for a visit and I just happened to being flying up to Johannesburg that Friday evening after my radio show – I was going up for one of my best friends, Lucia and Tomislav’s wedding. This meant that I would be able to tell my immediate family in person. Serendipity of note!

I didn’t want to just blurt it out in a “Hey family. So… I’m pregnant!” way. I started thinking a little about how to do it. Obviously, I was left with very little time to organize anything properly.

I finally thought about getting each couple a little gift. I wanted to get white baby shoes but I searched high and low. Impossible to find. White socks, yes. Unisex little white shoes no.  I then looked for a little white baby grow. They were either sold out or pink or blue. Typical! In fact I noticed how difficult it is to find unisex anything.

I finally found a little newborn white hat and bootie set from Woolies. I bought those and printed this out for my Mom and Dad:

I’M GROWING RIGHT NOW…

BUT SOON I’LL FIT INTO THESE, SO PLEASE HOLD ONTO THEM FOR WHEN I COME TO VISIT YOU!

 I’M SO EXCITED TO MEET MY GRAN AND GRANDPA! 

BABY GEORGIADES DUE JULY 2017

and one for my sister and BIL:

I’M GROWING RIGHT NOW…

BUT SOON I’LL FIT INTO THESE, SO PLEASE HOLD ONTO THEM FOR WHEN I COME TO VISIT YOU!

I’M SO EXCITED TO MEET MY AUNTY TANDI AND UNCLE ROSS!

BABY GEORGIADES DUE JULY 2017

I put the letter and the baby gift in a gift bag and packed that into my luggage.
I hadn’t slept the entire night before and had been up early at Path Care to get blood work done, so I was hoping to have a much needed nap on the flight. Ha! I was too excited and anxious to see my family.

I know this sounds unbelievably silly, but as much as I felt excited to tell them they were about to become grandparents for the first time, I also felt nervous to tell my Mom and Dad. I felt like a teenager. I gave myself a little pep talk. You are a grown, married woman. Stop being ridiculous. Even if I wasn’t, none of that would matter anyway because they’ve always been so supportive. I do think it’s a natural feeling for a daughter to feel all the emotions before telling her parents. Especially Dad.

The 2 hour flight felt like 4 hours and I finally touched down in Johannesburg. My Mom and Dad were there to fetch me from Lanseria and I gave them the biggest hugs. I couldn’t wait to get back to their home, unpack the gift and hand it to them. The suspense was killing me.

We finally walked through the door, Duke and I had our big love catch up session and I realized that Tandi and Ross weren’t home. Do I wait for them all and give it as a group?

Forget about it. I couldn’t wait. I rushed to open my bag and told my Mom and Dad I have a gift for them.

Mom: “A gift? That’s nice… For what?”

I gave them the letter first.

My Mom and Dad read it and a grin spilled onto both of their faces.

Mom: I knew it!! I had a feeling you were! I just knew it!

Dad, who kept staring at my stomach and then at my face and then back to my stomach and repeated that a few times, he get all choked up and kept saying: Are you serious? Oh my word. Congratulations!

They both gave me the biggest hugs, I told them the whole story and then they started joking about not wanting to be called Gran or Grandpa because they’re too “young.”

Suddenly we heard the front door and I told them to not say anything. After big hugs to my sister (BIL was visiting his family, so he wasn’t with my sister in that moment) and welcoming her from London, I repeated the process.

Except this time, my sister had the gift on her lap, but instead of opening it, she started chatting about the night they had just had, and we all kept nodding, listening to her story, but staring at the unopened gift. I thought I might burst again.

“Open it!!!!!”

She started reading the letter and her mouth dropped open, also in a grin: “No ways!!! I’m going to be an Aunty!! Congratulations!” We gave each other the biggest hug and then I burst into tears and it was just a big celebration.

I told Ross the following day when I saw him (we went through the whole process again) and he was just as excited!

Tandi and Ross become Aunty and Uncle for the first time and my parents become grandparents for the first time. Baby G is already so loved.

In other news, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Just remember, V-day doesn’t have to be commercial nonsense. A simple telephone call to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, is a wonderful gesture. Let someone know they’re appreciated and be kinder to yourself (self love)… this is what this day should actually be about.

Socrates Georgiades, every day is Valentines Day with you! So excited for our adventures together! I love that we get to do Life together!