Why People Have Babies

Dear Baby,

There are many things that I am procrastinating on. Your Nonna graciously offered to buy us (or rather, you) a crib, and I want to do some research on what is safe and stylish before we proceed. I hate reading product reviews, but I feel like anything I buy for you has to be met with extensive research. So, of course I am procrastinating on making decisions about other major items as well… like car seats, strollers, etc. etc. There is so much out there nowadays and the choices are overwhelming. How is a mother supposed to choose the best out of a million? Damn the internet and its endless information. Usually when I get overwhelmed like this, my solution is to put it on the back burner and either take a nap or think about something else entirely.

SO. With that being set, let’s move on to more pressing matters…

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE FOR HALLOWEEN?!!!!

This. Is. Very. Important. To. Me. It may completely be fate that your due date is roughly a month before my favorite holiday. I have always, always wanted to dress a (well, my) baby up for Halloween, and it is probably in the top ten reasons why I wanted to have you (I’m sure it will be emotionally rewarding and all that yada ya… as well). But, YES. HALLOWEEN. I’m quite skilled in the costume making department if I may say so, and over the years have whipped up some fairly creative ensembles. I promise you that when you are older I will create a costume for whatever it is you wish to be. However, I only have so many years where I get to pick it and this is one of them (regardless of the fact that we will likely go nowhere and do nothing with you as you will be a 1-month old infant. BUT… there will be pictures)!

I don’t have any ideas yet (well, one minor, but we’ll see), and I have NO idea how to make an infant-sized costume. I don’t even know how big you’ll be, but judging by the Cicala family history there’s a chance you may be a big baby. I would be devastated if I made something that doesn’t fit. Now is the time when I actually have time so it really should be homemade. All of these things are running through my head when really I should be focusing my stress on cribs, car seats, and preventing mosquito bites. Honestly my own mind is almost as overwhelming as the internet sometimes.

I shall continue to think on this Halloween matter. Perhaps we will go with a family theme and do a trio of costumes. Your father will support that if I can come up with something creative enough. I’m also excited to take you to the pumpkin patch and get some ridiculously cute pictures as you will likely be about the size of the pumpkin (even if you’re large, I’m sure I can find a nice big one). I hope you like to do things because I don’t ever plan on you being a bored baby. And I hope as a mother I am able to keep pace with all of my great ideas.

I should probably get back to my research now. If anyone has any brilliant costume ideas, in the meantime, please… I am open to suggestion.

Love,

Mom

Dad & My Impressive Record of Halloween Costumes Prior to You:

2013

Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty.
This was actually your father's idea, and I don't think we could get a more appropriate costume for Dad.

In fact, his costume was so good that I had to give the full view,
right down to the yellow socks.

Allan from, "The Hangover"
By now, this costume is overdone, but MAN, your father pulls it off well.
This is what he wore while handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.
The kids didn't get it, but the parents really appreciated it.
I came up with this costume idea for him years ago when we worked together.
It was for a "Halloween in the Summer" party, and it was as massive a hit the first time around as it was the second.

2013 was the year of many Halloween costumes.
It was our first Halloween together so we had to go all out to show off.
This one was for an 80's Halloween party at the British Embassy.
Your father (sporting the MC Hammer look) was delighted to find a storm trooper at the party.
Also, in October 2013 the Red Sox (your favorite baseball team... I'll concede alternative sports to Pittsburgh)
won the world series. I like to think it is because of the lucky pumpkin your mother carved.

2014

Ygritte, Daenerys, and Margaery Tyrell (left to right),
from Mom's favorite show and book series, Game of Thrones.
On this  Halloween, your father and I had returned from CHINA on Tuesday. Halloween was on Friday.
He was NOT having a costume this year, so I joined up with my girlfriends.
Pretty on point if I do say so. And thrown together very quickly.
We ran into a SOLID Khal Drogo on our evening of gallivanting. That's not Dad.

2015

Your Dad is dressed as Nux from "Mad Max, Fury Road."
Very creative and relevant (this movie was nominated for Best Picture in 2015).
This was your Mom's year to slack off because I was preoccupied with...

THESE BABIES.
2015 was also the year of Star Wars, Episode VII.
See how on point we are with the current times?
This is the kind of pressure I'm dealing with for your first costume.