Talking about the baby
Lucas knows about ‘baby’ and ‘baby in the stomach’ because one of his favourite DVDs is this BBC documentary on the Human Body. He calls Episodes 1 and 2 the ‘baby CD’ and will sometimes watch it over and over again…
Hosted by a famous and entertaining scientist, Robert Winston, I bought this 7-episode DVD which shows the human body from the time of conception, birth, toddler years, the teenage years, the human mind and later, death.
The first time he saw it, I sat with him and told him he was also in Mummy’s stomach and is now “born”. I thought he’d be horrified by the bloody delivery scene but as the woman giving birth didn’t cry or shout, he watches on, fascinated.
His only comment is on the opening scene of a row of babies, toddlers, kids, teenagers, young people, adults, middle-aged people and elderly people all lined up NAKED:
“Shame, shame…no wear clothes.”
Then, he’ll watch in silence (without moving) as the baby forms in the womb, is born, is taken home from the hospital and grows up into a toddler. Episode 2 shows different toddlers growing up and finally, going to preschool 
Now that I’m pregnant, I talk to him about the baby when the opportunity comes up:
After reading a book, he suddenly piped up…
Lucas: Baby is small. Lucas not a baby. Lucas is a big, tall boy. Ai (Hokkien=Want) eat rice, eat chye (vegetables) grow strong like Papa.
Me: Yes, Lucas is sooo tall now…
Lucas: Yes, can press lift button. Can wash hands. No need Mummy carry.
Me: If Mummy bring a baby home, you share your toys with the baby ok?
Lucas: NO! Those Lucas’ toys. Don’t touch! Bu yao dong!
Me: Ok, then share your books and CDs with the baby…
Lucas: NO! Those Lucas’ CDs. Those Lucas’ books. Not baby’s…
Me: Ohhh…then the baby will be sad. No toys, no books, no CDs. What if the baby cry?
(Keeps quiet and thinks for a while).
Lucas: Baby play toys!
Me: Oh, baby can share your toys, is it? Good boy. Baby buy you a present ok?
Lucas: Baby is small! No money! Cannot buy toys! (looks at me with suspicion LOL)
Me: Yes, the baby is small. Mummy help the baby to buy Lucas a special present. What do you want?
Lucas: Lucas want trains!!! Lucas want Percy! Lucas want Skarloey! Lucas want Rheneas! Lucas want James!
Me: Wei, the baby doesn’t have so much moneylah…only two trains
Relaxing on a Saturday afternoon…
Papa: Lucas, ai baby wor? (do you want a baby)
Lucas: No!
Papa: Huh, you don’t want a baby? Later, Mummy bring a baby home to play with you. Play tracks. Play ball. Read books together. Watch Lucas’ show together.
(no comment)
Me: Lucas want a baby girl or baby boy?
Lucas: Girl!
(laugh laugh laugh)
Waiting for the lift…
Lucas: Mummy, what’s wrong? (looking at my stomach. I swear this kid has sixth sense because he’d been looking at my stomach earlier.)
Me: There’s a baby in Mummy’s stomach.
Lucas: No! Mummy’s stomach no baby. Lucas born already! Come out of Mummy’s stomach already…
Since the bump isn’t that big yet, I decided to discuss it later and let him enjoy 100% of my attention for now.
Now that Hubby is taking over his feeding, bath-time, potty and pee time as much as possible (excluding the days he’s tied up at the office), I’m happy to see the two boys getting closer with each other.
After all, since it’s going to be 1-for-1 later, it’s good that Lucas gets used to Hubby feeding him, bathing him or washing his butt!
Although there were lots of yells at first (from Hubby!), I leave them alone because Lucas eats faster when Hubby feeds him (good) but plays with water more when Hubby bathes him LOL (bad)
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That’s good of dad to do all that. I thought u’ll be delivering back in Msia?
hahhhaa… Lucas still want mommy all to himself eh?
We are doing this every night too, talking to Darrius about ‘baby’ and see his reaction. So far he’s ok with almost everything except the sleeping part…
good that you have tht cd, at least he can visualised wht’s happening inside your tummy. i didn’t really stress so much abt baby in my tummy to the girl until it started showing. just very general statements and like you, always ask now and then whether she wants a mei-mei or ti-ti or if can share her things with baby later, etc. if she reacts negatively, i won’t ponder on it and will bring it up another time.
btw, dont b surprised tht even if he gets so attached to papa doing these things for him now, whn baby is out esp in the 1st few weeks, lucas will want u to do everything for him. but not to worry, it’ll get better.
hope ur nausea is better now. tk care!
Mott – Ya, we don’t want a repeat of the bleeding episode we had when we had Lucas
Angeleyes – That’s good. We talk it about when he’s interested and will wait till my tummy gets bigger so he can see that it’s really happening.
Syn – Thanks for warning hahaha I’m counting down to the 12th week, as you can see. Got an annoying phlegm that chokes me and I’m not sure if it’s the pregnancy or a leftover cold!