My Baby Is Having a Baby: Becoming a Nana

An unexpected journey through motherhood, a little redheaded firecracker, and the beautiful new chapter of becoming Nana.

Somewhere between raising three daughters, surviving the teenage years, and wondering how in the world time managed to move so quickly, something happened.

My baby is having a baby.

And not just any baby.

A little boy. My very first grandson.

His name is Jayce Lee Curnett. 💙

And before I tell you about this precious little man who already has our entire family wrapped around his tiny fingers, I need to tell you about the little girl who made me a mama.

Because our story didn't begin in a delivery room.

It began with love.

Two hearts, one little miracle, and a whole new chapter beginning. Bianca and Jaymes prepare to welcome their son, Jayce Lee Curnett. 💙

Motherhood Found Me Differently

I didn't carry my daughters beneath my heart for nine months. But I've carried them in my heart for a lifetime.

Growing up, I imagined motherhood the way so many little girls do. Having babies, raising a family, experiencing all those firsts.

But life doesn't always follow the story we write for ourselves.

I can't have biological children of my own.

And for a long time, that was something I struggled to make peace with.

But God had other plans for me.

He gave me three girls.

My oldest, Bianca, came into my life as my niece. Eventually, I adopted her, but the truth is, she had been mine in my heart long before any paperwork made it official.

And then there's Makenah and Baylie, Timmy's girls, whom I've loved and helped raise since they were babies.

We're a blended family.

Different beginnings, different stories, but one family built through years of showing up for each other.

I may not have experienced pregnancy, but I've experienced motherhood.

I've kissed the boo-boos. Wiped away tears. Stayed awake worrying. Celebrated milestones. Survived attitudes that could probably qualify as natural disasters.

I've held them when their hearts were broken and cheered for them when they found the courage to try again.

I've loved them through the beautiful moments and the messy ones.

I didn't give them life.

But I've spent my life loving them.

And they are my babies.

Every single one of them.

My three girls and me. Different beginnings, one beautiful family, and a whole new generation of love on the way. 💙

The Little Redheaded Firecracker Who Stole My Heart

Now, let me introduce you to Bianca.

Or rather, the little girl Bianca used to be.

Because whew, that child.

She was a redheaded spitball of fire and sass, with a smile that could light up an entire room and a personality that absolutely refused to be ignored.

She followed me everywhere.

And I mean EVERYWHERE.

My little shadow. My sidekick. Permanently attached to my hip.

When I'd come over, she'd sneak into my bedroom in the middle of the night and crawl into bed beside me because she didn't want to sleep alone.

And I never minded.

Looking back, I think we both needed each other more than either of us realized.

We practically grew up together.

A little like Gilmore Girls, except with our own version of chaos, questionable decisions, plenty of sarcasm, and an unreasonable amount of love.

She wasn't just my niece.

She was my girl.

And eventually, she became one of my very best friends.

But life wasn't always gentle with Bianca.

She experienced things no child should have to experience. There were painful chapters, difficult changes, and moments I wish I could go back and protect her from.

I won't tell every detail of her story because some chapters belong to her to share when and if she chooses.

But I will tell you this.

That little girl had more strength in her than she ever realized.

Eventually, she found the courage to speak up about where she wanted to be.

With me.

And when she came to live with me, we continued building the life and bond that had already made us family.

It wasn't always easy.

We learned together. We made mistakes. We figured things out as we went.

There were probably days we both wanted to pull our hair out.

But there was never a question about whether she belonged.

She did.

She always had.

That little redheaded firecracker didn't lose her fire. She learned how to use it. ❤️

Somewhere Along the Way, My Little Girl Grew Up

And let me tell you something about this girl.

She has never been one to sit around waiting for the world to hand her something.

Bianca has worked since she was fifteen years old.

She got her driver's license.

Bought her own car.

Became a CNA.

And at just nineteen years old?

SHE BOUGHT HER FIRST HOUSE.

Her first HOUSE, y'all.

Meanwhile, I'm over here wondering how the little girl who used to sneak into my bed at night is suddenly signing paperwork and building an entire life for herself.

I'm not crying.

You're crying.

Okay, fine. We're all crying.

She's worked hard for what she has, and I couldn't be prouder.

But here's the thing.

My pride in her doesn't come from her house, her car, or her career.

Those are incredible accomplishments, absolutely.

But I was proud of her before any of them.

I'm proud of the little girl who kept going when life got hard.

I'm proud of the young woman who decided her past wasn't going to determine her future.

I'm proud of the person she is when nobody's watching.

It's almost like she looked at the world one day and said:

"I'm here now. No holding me back."

And the world had better move over.

Because Bianca is coming through.

She may have had a harder beginning than she deserved, but when I look at the woman she's become?

I think she turned out pretty darn perfect.

The Smile That Told Me Everything

Now, let's talk about the day my entire world got a little bigger.

The day Bianca told me she was pregnant.

Here's the funny thing.

I swear I already knew.

She was sitting out in my driveway, trying to call and wake me up, talking to Makenah about the news.

Eventually, she came inside and sat down beside me on my bed.

Baylie was in the room, too.

Bianca looked at me.

And smiled.

That smile.

The same sweet, unmistakable smile I've known since she was little.

I looked right at her and said:

"You're pregnant, aren't you?"

And she giggled that sweet little giggle of hers.

"Yes."

Just like that.

My baby was having a baby.

I was so happy I could hardly contain myself.

And then Baylie, realizing what this meant for her, chimed in with:

"AWE! I get to be an auntie!"

And there it was.

One of those beautiful, chaotic little family moments that you wish you could bottle up and keep forever.

What made Bianca's news even more meaningful was something she'd shared with me.

She had worried that because I couldn't have biological children, maybe she would struggle with the same thing.

She wanted to try for a baby.

And then it happened.

There she was, sitting beside me, telling me she was going to become a mother.

And I was going to become a Nana.

I don't think I'll ever forget that smile.

Or that giggle.

Or the feeling of realizing that the little girl who once needed me to help her navigate the world was preparing to bring a whole new little person into it.

Plot Twist: It's a BOY!

Now, let's talk about the gender reveal.

Because apparently, our family can't do anything without a little drama.

Originally, I was supposed to find out the baby's gender before the reveal.

Except we thought the results wouldn't arrive in time.

Well, surprise.

They did.

And somehow, I STILL didn't know.

I'm pretty sure Bianca got a little too much enjoyment out of keeping that secret from me.

Damn kid.

I raised her too well.

Anyway, I was convinced we were having a girl.

Every old wives' tale, every pregnancy myth, every little sign seemed to point toward a girl.

Plus, let's be serious.

Our family is practically run by women.

Girls everywhere.

So naturally, I was Team Girl.

My husband, Timmy?

Oh, he was Team Boy all the way.

This man was already mentally preparing for his Coach Papaw era.

Sports are his thing, and with our girls being girly girls, he never really got to experience all those little-boy sports adventures he'd imagined.

But now?

Somebody get Papaw a whistle and a folding chair.

He's ready.

Burnouts, Bows, and Blue Smoke

Our gender reveal wasn't your typical little cake-cutting announcement.

Nope.

We went with a Burnouts and Bows theme.

Because apparently, if you're going to announce a baby in this family, you might as well involve a Camaro and some tire smoke.

Jaymes, my son-in-law, had his dad bring out his Camaro for the big reveal.

Everyone gathered outside in the driveway.

Bianca and Jaymes turned their backs.

The car started spinning.

And then came the smoke.

BLUE!

IT WAS A BOY!

Everyone started jumping, cheering, laughing, and celebrating.

Including the soon-to-be parents.

I think Bianca had pictured herself having a little girl, at least initially. But more than anything, she wanted a healthy baby, and the excitement of having a son quickly became real.

Jaymes, though?

Oh, that daddy was PROUD.

You could see the happiness all over his face.

One proud daddy, one tiny onesie, and a lifetime of memories waiting to be made. Jaymes is ready for his greatest adventure yet. 💙

And me?

Well, my Team Girl prediction went straight out the window.

But I wasn't disappointed for even a second.

Because suddenly, I realized something.

I was going to be a boy Nana.

A whole new adventure.

After spending my life surrounded by girls, I get to experience something entirely new.

And I cannot wait.

Meanwhile, on FaceTime...

Unfortunately, Timmy couldn't attend the reveal in person.

He was staying with Nanny, his grandma, who had been dealing with illness and surgery.

So, we did the next best thing.

FaceTime.

Because there was no way Coach Papaw was missing this moment completely.

And when that blue smoke appeared?

Nanny immediately hollered:

"I TOLD YOU IT WAS A BOY!"

I swear, I can still hear her.

Timmy was excited. Nanny was celebrating. Jaymes was practically floating, and Bianca was smiling.

And just like that, our family knew.

A little boy was on his way.

Apparently, I Cry at Babies Now

We're around eighteen weeks into this beautiful adventure, and so far, baby boy is growing beautifully.

We've seen the ultrasounds.

We've watched him grow.

And apparently, this child already has plenty of hair to show off.

Of course he does.

He's already making an entrance, and he's not even here yet.

But here's something nobody warned me about becoming a Nana.

Apparently, I can no longer see a baby in public without getting emotional.

Seriously.

Bianca and I will be out shopping or running errands, and the second I see a little baby?

My eyes start filling up.

Every. Single. Time.

And Bianca just looks at me with that knowing little smile.

"You're ready for this baby, aren't you?"

Yes, baby girl.

Yes, I am.

I'm ready for those tiny fingers wrapped around mine.

The sleepy baby noises.

The first smiles.

The giggles.

The snuggles.

The toys scattered across my living room.

I'm ready to watch my daughter discover a love that will change her entire world.

Because the little girl who used to crawl into bed beside me when she needed comfort is about to become somebody else's safest place.

And I get to watch it happen.

Becoming a Nana, A Different Kind of Motherhood, A Whole New Kind of Love

There's something I haven't talked about much when it comes to becoming a Nana.

And because this is Beautifully Overwhelmed, where we don't pretend life is always sunshine and perfectly tied bows, I'm going to be honest.

Sometimes, happiness comes with a little sadness tucked quietly inside it.

For years, I wished I could experience pregnancy myself.

I wondered what it would feel like to carry a baby, feel those tiny kicks, and experience all the moments that come with bringing a child into the world.

But that wasn't the path life gave me.

I've had to make peace with knowing I won't have biological children of my own.

And that peace didn't happen overnight.

Even now, pregnancy announcements can occasionally stir up a little ache for the experiences I never got to have.

Not because I'm unhappy for anyone else.

But because sometimes you can be genuinely happy for someone while quietly remembering something you once wanted for yourself.

And that's okay.

I've grown.

I've accepted my journey.

And I've realized that my story of motherhood was never any less meaningful simply because it looked different.

I have three beautiful daughters.

I have years of memories, laughter, tears, lessons, and love.

And now?

Now I get to watch one of those daughters become a mother herself.

I keep imagining what it will feel like when I see Bianca holding her son for the very first time.

And whew.

I don't think there's a box of tissues big enough for that moment.

Because I won't just be looking at a newborn baby.

I'll be looking at my baby holding hers.

I'll see that little redheaded girl who followed me everywhere.

The girl who used to sneak into my room at night.

The girl who grew into a strong, independent young woman.

And there she'll be.

Holding her son.

Becoming someone's entire world.

Maybe I'll feel a little ache for the things I never got to experience myself.

But that won't be what defines the moment.

Her happiness will.

Her health will.

That precious little boy will.

And the incredible privilege of being there for both of them.

Because I don't need to experience her journey as my own.

I get to stand beside her while she experiences it.

And that is one of the greatest gifts I could ever ask for.

To My Daughter, Bianca

Baby girl,

I don't know if you'll ever fully understand how proud I am of you.

I remember the little girl who needed someone beside her when the world felt too big.

I remember your laughter, your sass, your stubbornness, and that smile that could make even the hardest days brighter.

I've watched you grow into a strong, independent woman who works hard for everything she has.

But I want you to know something.

You never had to buy a house, build a career, or accomplish anything extraordinary to make me proud.

I was proud of you long before any of that.

I was proud of the little girl you were.

And I'm proud of the woman you're becoming.

Now, I get to watch you become a mama.

There will be beautiful days, exhausting days, and days when you wonder whether you're doing anything right.

And when those days come, I hope you remember that you don't have to figure everything out alone.

I'm still right here.

Just like I've always been.

Only now, there's another little person for us to love.

To My Sweet Grandson, Jayce Lee Curnett 💙

Little man,

You haven't even arrived yet, and somehow, you've already changed our world.

Your mama is preparing a beautiful life for you.

Your daddy is already so proud of you.

Your Papaw is probably planning your future sports career before you've even learned how to hold your head up.

Your aunties already have another little person to spoil.

And your Nana?

Well, she's apparently incapable of walking past a baby in public without crying now.

So that's going to be fun.

I can't promise I'll always know what I'm doing as a boy Nana.

After all, I've spent my life surrounded by girls.

But I can promise you this.

There will always be room for you in my arms.

There will always be a place for you in my home.

And no matter how big you get, how old you grow, or where life takes you, you'll always have someone cheering you on.

I loved your mama when she was just a little redheaded firecracker.

And now I get to love you, too.

I didn't give birth to the little girl who made me a mama. But I get to watch her give birth to the little boy who will make me Nana.

And somehow, life has brought us to this beautiful new beginning.

We can't wait to meet you, Jayce.

Love always,

Your Nana 💙

From the little girl who made me Mama to the little boy who will make me Nana. A new generation of love begins with Jayce Lee Curnett. 💙

A Little Love for Bianca and Baby Jayce 🍼

As our family prepares to welcome Jayce Lee Curnett, we're filled with excitement, gratitude, and a whole lot of love.

For anyone who would like to help Bianca and Jaymes prepare for their little boy, we're sharing their baby registry here.

There is absolutely no obligation to purchase anything.

A kind word, a little encouragement, or simply celebrating alongside our family means more than you know.

💙 Visit Bianca Pulliam's Baby Registry on Amazon

Thank you for being part of our little corner of the world and sharing in one of the happiest chapters of our lives.

Beautifully overwhelmed and still showing up. ♡