Spilling Beans - Telling the in-laws

My in-laws came over on Good Friday to have dinner at our house to celebrate my Mother-in-law's 60th birthday. The whole family came - MIL/FIL (London), SIL/BIL + their 3 kids (London), and SIL/BIL + their son (Toronto). It was a full house, and we took the opportunity to tell them our news - I was 9 weeks along.

So everyone had gone in on a gift for my MIL - we had a painting done of a poster she loved. So we brought it out, and she was surprised. And she thought that was it for gifts.

Then, Nick and I handed her another box, and the siblings were confused, since we hadn't told them we had gotten her something independantly. We took an Indian jewellery box and wrapped it up with a bib inside that said "Thank Heaven for little babies". As she was unwrapping, Nick said, "Mom, it's your 60th, so we couldn't help but go a little overboard. So if you don't like it, just pretend". When she saw the box, she got all excited thinking we got her jewellery. The siblings were so confused, because the whole family buys all our jewellery through my BIL, who is a wholesaler. So they were ticked that we got her something from somewhere else without them knowing.

When she opened the box, there was a brief moment of disappointment when she realized it wasn't a necklace set - and then she realized what it meant and squealed and got up to hug us. The whole family was excited and gushing - and my poor nieces had no idea what was going on until my SIL said, "Daphne Mani has a baby in her belly!" We had to tell them quickly that it's a big secret, so they couldn't tell their uncle and other grandparents yet - since they were staying with them in Toronto that weekend.

My one SIL was so surprised - she didn't know we were trying, or even that we had changed our minds about kids (well, that I changed my mind). She was ticked that Nick didn't tell her. The other SIL, who knew that's why we cancelled India but also thought we were on a break for now, was surprised because she had come straight out and asked Nick if we were still on hold, not two days before, and he lied to her face.

It was awesome. The next morning, I took my MIL to a hair appointment (we were going to a wedding on the Saturday) and she told me in the car, "it's not that it's more important, but.... well, this is the first grandchild that will be 'our family' - the other kids belong to their fathers' families. Not that it's more important, but still". Because in Indian culture, her daughters leave their family to join their husbands, but their son stays with the parents forever. She was so careful not to make a big deal about it - but I know this really means something to her. It's the only kid to carry on the family name.

So, in a nutshell, they were thrilled. And my SIL (in Toronto) was shocked that we had everyone over to our place when I was pregnant. "You should have all come to our place so you didn't have to do so much work!"

The cutest thing was when my nieces were leaving. I reminded them both that the baby is still a big secret, so they can't tell their uncle or grandparents or anyone else yet. The 6 year old said "I'm really good with secrets - I didn't tell anyone about our baby brother!" I said great, thanks. Then she got all serious, and said, "Daphne Mani... can I tell them when the baby is born?" She was so concerned that she would have to keep the secret that long! I assured her that she'd be able to tell them long before that!

The wedding on Saturday was great - and the sari I wore hid my bloat, for the most part :)