Recently Mrs. Melanie Bradshaw, NDA art teacher, shared some very exciting news: she and her husband are expecting their first baby!

Bradshaw and her husband, Matt Motiff, have been together for  six years and married for a year and a half. Both have been wanting to start a family and are thrilled for it to actually be happening.

“I am really excited and scared at the same time. I have always wanted a family, so both my husband and I were so excited to find out that was becoming a reality. At the same time, being responsible for the well-being of another person is a big job. You want to do it right and be the best you can be,” said Bradshaw.

“I had a really great mom, so if I can live up to half of what she was to me, I will be happy,” she added.

The couple is not planning to find out the gender of the baby as they are looking forward to the surprise. Both Bradshaw and her husband grew up in a family with one girl and one boy so they are “used to the mix” and would be happy with either gender.

“One of my friends waited to find out, and I was actually surprised with her when the baby was born. The excitement of the surprise was so fun that I wanted that for my husband and me as well,” said Bradshaw. “It also prevents falling into the trap of supporting gender stereotypes right from birth.  I would rather have a little more neutral approach, so that my child can decide for themselves the kinds of things they want to identify with.”

As of now, Bradshaw explained she is very fortunate as she has not experienced many ill effects from pregnancy besides being more tired than usual along with some minor discomforts.

Baby Motiff is due September 16, which is just a couple weeks after the first day of school.

Bradshaw is hoping to continue teaching in the fall and then take a maternity leave after he/she is born. She plans to be back to finish out the semester.