Big Sister Class

On Saturday morning, we headed over to the hospital where Baby #2 will be born (in a few short weeks!) to go to Lucy's Sibling Class. The description of the class went something like this: "Come and learn how to help out Mom and Dad with the new baby. Tour the birth suites and the family waiting room." Sounded like a gem! Anything to get Lucy more involved and aware of the fact that her entire world is about to be turned upside down! 

When we got there, the kids were sitting on the mats, so Lucy joined them.

 But she soon realized she was sitting by herself and she had to remedy that!

Nurse L had all the kids go around and introduce themselves and tell whether they were having a baby brother or a baby sister. Lucy told her it was going to be a baby sister. Hmm... we'll see.

 The class started out with the teacher, Nurse Lindsay, reading the kids books about a new baby joining the family.

 The kids were totally enthralled for the first 2 books...but then the 3rd book came and she just about lost every single one of them! TOO long sitting still.

 Then she went over the 3 rules for the kiddos:

1. Always wash your hands before holding or touching the baby.

2. Never hold the baby without Mom or Dad around.

3. Never get the baby out of his/her bed without Mom or Dad to help.

Good rules.

 But the best part was when she gave every kiddo their own "baby" to hold.

Lucy got hers first and immediately exclaimed, "It's Heavy!" And Nurse L said, "Well, your new baby brother or sister won't be this big." And then we replied, "HOPEFULLY!" :) Cue lots of laughter!

 We just had to get a picture of Lucy holding the baby doll.

 She held the baby the "correct" way for a minute or so.

 Then she sat it up.

 The she laid it down so she could tickle it's feet.

 Not sure what Nurse L was saying here, but Lucy was very involved in tickling her baby doll!

Then it was snack time. A BIG hit. 

 Notice her cute pin? They gave every kiddo an "I'm a Big Sister/Brother" pin to wear.

 Then we lined up and went upstairs to see the family waiting room.

(It was my first time seeing it, too!)

 And then the birthing suites. 

Lucy and the other girls jumped up on the bed almost immediately.

 Nurse L went through every cabinet and showed the kiddos everything that was in the room, including the bathroom and the blood pressure cuff. 

 I think she liked that it was a slanted bed - you know, like a slide!

It was a fun morning, for sure. I can't say whether Lucy actually learned anything, but we had a great time watching her interact with the other kiddos and with her baby doll, especially. Hard to believe that most likely within the month, we'll have 2 kiddos! What in the world! I'm super excited and I know that Lucy will (eventually) be an amazing big sister!