When a couple finds out that there will be an addition in their near nine months, it's one of the most exciting pieces of information they can discover, and the way to share it needs to be unique, especially when announcing to the parents.

I remember one Thanksgiving we were celebrating with my daughter and son-in-law. We were holding hands and going around the table to say what we were thankful for and my son-in-law said, "We're thankful that we're going to add another child next July". This was number three for them but nonetheless blessed in the list of things we were most thankful for that year. My granny heart swelled large enough to insert this new baby into it.

But when the very first child is in announcement stage, you may want to reenact a Bethlehem nativity, if this suits your beliefs. Daddy can be Joseph, you can be Mary and if you can enlist a reader have him emphasize that they brought forth a baby and called his name...(pregnant pause) and give him (her) your husband's name but add the "Jr." and wait for the reaction. I suggest Mary pad up with pillows for the event - such a visual!!

By way of presents, I recommend wrapping up a bassinet, which you will surely need anyway, and have your parents open that up last for their holiday gift. Have the video charged.

You are definitely candidates for the personalized holiday letter this year - I mean, you've definitely been busy and this is a great time to tell the entire retinue of friends and relatives what you've been up to. Only forego the red and green and use a baby print instead - we've got a theme going here.

If your parents aren't too uptight about such things, you might do what one of my friends did. She melted a Snickers bar into the business end of a disposable diaper and left it on the bathroom counter with a note attached that said, "Plenty more where this came from Grandma and Grandpa". It's somewhat gross but you'd have to know the family who thought it was hilarious.

There are a lot of free websites out there and you may want to snag one and start blogging and adding pictures of your yet-to-be-born infant. The good things about creating a website is that you can catalog your entire 9 months for your friends and relatives to enjoy as well. The best part is you can e-mail your parents and tell them that there is a very unusual site and here's the address - immediately go see for yourself. Stay off your phone because it's going to ring any minute with excited shouts on the other end.

Are your parents regular attendees at church service or temple? Enlist the person who gives announcements on Sundays and have him include the message to your parents that they will become grandparents on or about next August. Ask someone else to video their reaction - then you'll also know who's listening and who's not!

You can always give your parents a lovely Christmas bouquet with your positive pregnancy test featured front and center - your florist will do this and enjoy it immensely. How about showing up at the holiday dinner in telling garb - you wear the maternity t-shirt that says baby on board and he wears the daddy equivalent that says - my boys know how to swim! There is little left the imagination after that.

Bring the parents a pink and blue balloon bouquet and tie pacifiers and rattles on the ends of the ribbons. Pass out cigars to everyone at the beginning instead of waiting the next long nine months. Record the sound of a newborn on your compact player and leave it playing loudly in a basket on the front porch. Ring the bell and run - don't forget the video for this scene.

You are in the first weeks of the greatest miracle in your life and everything you do over these next months until the birth of this well-loved child needs to be recorded, scrap-booked and blogged. Being the first in a family of siblings to follow your child will enjoy his or her special place in his pre-birth months. This will no doubt be unique because everyone who comes along after the first gets fewer and fewer pages of pictures and definitely lots less press. That's how exhausting babies are, but so worthwhile despite sleep deprivation.

Enjoy your wonderful news and spread it far and wide in joy and laughter..