Making a pregnancy announcement to family members is always a fun experience. In our case, it was double the fun, because we were expecting not one, but two babies. My family and my husband’s parents knew I was pregnant, but it wasn’t until my first ultrasound around six weeks that anyone knew about the second baby.

They say “seeing is believing,” so I took a picture of the ultrasound print out -- with two sacs -- and sent a text message saying, “Two babies, and two heart beats!” Needless to say, my phone immediately started blowing up with calls and text messages expressing shock and excitement for our growing family!

After my next ultrasound confirmed that the babies were still growing strong (you get a lot of extra appointments with twins), we made our pregnancy announcement to my husband’s sister. He called her and told her we were going to have a baby, detailing the measurements and heartbeat of one baby. Then he said, “The other baby looks good, too.” Stunned silence on the other end of the phone!  Until she finally managed to say, “There are two babies!”

We told our extended family as I neared the end of the first trimester. It always started by telling the person I was pregnant, and they would express congratulations. Then we would say something like, “Guess how many babies there are?” or “The really awesome part is that there are two babies in there!” There was usually a second or two of shock before we’d get a standard response of “get out of town!” or “are you serious?”

We wanted to share with our immediate families the excitement of finding out the genders of the babies. Instead of the doctor telling us the genders at the anatomy scan, we had her write the gender of each baby on a piece of paper and took it to a bakery. We had two “gender reveal cakes” made. When you cut into a gender reveal cake, the frosting and/or cake inside is either pink or blue, letting you know what gender the baby is. So we gathered our immediate families into the dining room and made everyone guess what gender they thought each baby would be. The guesses were pretty split between boy boy, girl girl, and one of each. When we cut into the first cake, we saw a pink line of frosting. Then the second cake also had pink frosting! Two girls! It was a really wonderful moment—and even more special, because we got to share our news of the two new additions to the family with everyone.

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Before I even thought of getting pregnant, I knew that when the day came I wanted to surprise my husband with the news in a cute and original way. However, that’s not exactly the way it played out – with either of my pregnancy announcements!

We had only been trying for a month when I became pregnant the first time, and I was completely caught off guard. After a bad workout and some helpful advice from my sister, I decided to take an at-home test. On my way from the store – test in hand -- I called my husband to come home right away. My message must have had him concerned, because he made it in record time!

When he walked in, I had already taken the test but couldn't muster up the courage to check it myself. I'll never forget him saying "Are you serious?" when I asked him to take the first peek. He sat beside me for a second, as if to let it all sink in, and then with a flash, he jumped up and said, "Let's do this". Once he took a look, he immediately began celebrating like he won the Super Bowl – I knew then that we were pregnant!

When the opportunity rolled around for my second chance, I once again dropped the ball when it came to a cute and original pregnancy announcement for my husband. After several months of trying, I was having trouble getting pregnant. I had seen my doctor, and after some testing, he felt I had a good chance of getting pregnant in the following month. So it really wasn't a surprise to my husband when I told him I was going to take a test. After six months of getting negative results, I didn't want to find out alone. And just like before, we sat for what felt like an eternity, until the timer went off.  For the second time, my husband checked the test first, it was positive! We had done it again.

In hindsight, it wasn't the most creative way to make a pregnancy announcement, but it was perfect for us. Being pregnant in itself is one of life's greatest surprises, and I'm glad I got to share that moment with my husband.

Photo by Carly Rae Hobbins on Unsplash

I have three children. My oldest, Soul, recently turned 6; Paix, my second son, is 3; and I now have my first little girl, Jiyu, who is 4 months old. That makes the age gap between my first and last kid almost six years!

When we found out we were pregnant with Jiyu, I was excited to be a new mom again.  I also knew that we would have to start rethinking our lifestyle, schedules, and all of the new things we had just started doing again since we had had our first and second child.

We were on a strict schedule with our first son, he ate, slept, and played on a time clock. Now, with three kids, the third one has to roll with whatever happens with her siblings that may affect her own schedule. Of course, eating and sleeping are still planned out, but instead of checking the clock to make sure we are home in time, we first check on what’s happening with her siblings’ schedules.

Before I gave birth to my daughter, people definitely offered advice about having kids with a large age gap. One tip was to be sure to acknowledge the helpful things my oldest son does. This way, he could be a part of all the new baby duties. Friends with children with large age gaps often told me, “Oh, you’re going to need a babysitter now.” I’ve taken that advice and decided to use it within our little family. Although my 6-year-old son can’t be left alone with his baby sister, he certainly is capable of watching her when Mom needs to run to the restroom, and helps keep her entertained. Using the word "babysitter" seems to make my 6-year-old feel like a big guy, and he gets to spend some one-on-one time with our second child, too, which he absolutely loves.

In my opinion, having this age gap is wonderful -- the kids can really bond. My oldest is very aware of the baby and loves giving her so much of his attention. I think that knowing that he is a big brother who can help out with his sister contributes to his sense of compassion and responsibility. In just a few short months, I’ve also watched my 3-year-old son really step into the role of the "bigger" sibling.

Having kids with a large age gap is nice for me as a mom, too. Older children can be a huge help, and watching them meet a new sibling for the first time is priceless. When my oldest son first met his sister, he was so proud, and old enough to understand his new role a bit better.

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Sibling rivalry is as old as time. And while it’s normal and expected between kids who are close in age, living with the constant bickering can be tiresome. Preventing fights and disagreements between siblings isn’t always possible, but creating a loving family dynamic is. The following parenting tips will help you achieve sibling peace (and quiet!) among your tots.

Why it happens
Individual temperaments may play a role (for example, the brash older brother loves to poke his demure younger sister, and it escalates from there). Kids also pick up on the ways their parents handle friction, so if you and your spouse tend to stomp around when the garbage doesn’t get taken out on time, expect the same from your children. But the biggest reason for sibling rivalry may be the competition kids wage in order to gain Mom and Dad’s attention -- and the moments of jealousy that tend to follow.

What to do
Try to stay out of your kids’ fights at the start, as some children are able to resolve their differences on their own with minimal noise. If you do need to step in, separate the warring parties and let them calm down. Remind your tots that it takes two to fight, and there’s not just one sibling in the wrong. If they’re old enough, get them both to talk about the issue. For example, ask each child why he is mad and then have them both come up with ideas to solve the problem.

How to minimize it
Reduce tension between siblings by setting a good example with your spouse. Demonstrating how to cooperate and compromise may help to lessen sibling rivalry. It’s also important to spend some time with each child individually when you can, and make sure your kids have a bit of time and space to be alone, too. On the other hand, planning family events (biking, camping, or special dinners) is a lovely way for everyone to relax and bond together. Tots who share quality time like this may be less likely to fight.

It can be upsetting -- as well as headache-provoking -- to hear your tots argue over who gets the bigger slice of cake or whose turn it is to feed the dog. But take heart: One day, they’ll grow up, learn to get along, and just might become best friends for life.

Traveling with a baby on an airplane can seem like an impossible task, but it really doesn't have to be. With a little preparation, air travel with your baby can be pleasant and successful. If your partner, spouse, or a friend is coming along, then baby travel is even better.

These tips for baby travel will help you make those first few outings with your little one a smooth ride.

Ask for help.
If you're traveling alone, you'll definitely want to ask for help from friendly travelers. Accept offers to help load the stroller onto the security belt or place your luggage into the overhead compartment.

Try to keep calm and do your best.
There may be times you feel completely overwhelmed with the various aspects of traveling with your baby. You have a lot to handle, after all, from getting checked in and through security to soothing your baby on the trip. Remember that the calmer you are, the more likely it is that your baby will stay calm, too.

Do what you must.
Creativity is nothing new for parents -- we're constantly thinking up ways to get things done when it comes to our babies. Baby travel is no different. You may find you need to do something a little different to help your baby get through his travel experience as smoothly as possible. Try singing a new song to catch your baby’s interest, or break out a toy he hasn’t played with in a while.

What to pack.
Diapers, diapers, diapers. Your baby will need a lot of coverage, depending on how long and how far you’re traveling. You can never go wrong packing extra diapers for a long trip. Other key essentials include: a diaper changing pad, blankets to keep him warm, his favorite toys, pacifiers, extra clothes (just in case), some plastic bags to throw dirty diapers in, and baby wipes to keep him clean and comfortable. If you're feeding your baby formula and/or baby food, bring extra just in case your plane is delayed. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to carry everything you pack. When in doubt for how much to bring, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Don't hesitate to nurse on the plane.
If you're breastfeeding your baby, then you'll probably find yourself needing to feed him a couple of times on the plane. While it's a little tricky to do so in such a small space, your baby needs to eat. Nursing will also help soothe him if he is cranky or if his ears hurt from the cabin pressure.

Change your baby's diaper before boarding the plane.
The plane bathrooms are very small. Even with a fold-down changing table, you may find it uncomfortable to change your baby there.

Traveling with a baby isn't all that bad when you do some planning and preparation. Enjoy your trip!

Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash