Cosi Bear,
Yesterday marked a very special event. 6 months ago, a whole half a year away, your daddy and I became known as Cosette’s parents. I have to tell you it’s one of my most favorite titles.
Before you were born, we didn’t know if we were going to have a boy or a girl. Things like this can’t be decided by us but what we did decide is to wait until you came out to find out if you were a boy or a girl. I have to be honest here. We thought, both your daddy and I, for sure that we were going to have a boy. See – We both really wanted our first baby to be a girl and because we were always taught that you can’t always have what you want – we really thought we were going to have a boy. A friend of ours – you call her Aunt Liz- is a very smart woman and she insisted we were going to have a little girl. She said that with all the little boys that were going to be born (she was speaking of the other parts of the Fantastic Four) that there would have to be a girl in the mix. But we weren’t swayed. We kept thinking we were going to have a boy.
Here’s your first lesson in expectations, Bear. Just go ahead and really hope for what you really want. Because if you don’t and you do get what you really want – You’re going to be really confused for a couple of days. When you first came out, the doctor held you up really high so your daddy could announce your gender to the room. And when she did, your daddy was really confused. He may deny it now, but his first thought was “oh my god, that boy doesn’t have a p(*)nis”(You don’t know what that is right now, but you will someday). And he kept calling you a boy. Just for the first couple of hours, but we all thought it was really funny. Then I made the mistake of asking the doctor when you would be circumsized. Again, you don’t really understand why this is funny, but believe me it was.

When you get older, you may hear stories about how strong and brave and amazing your momma was when you were coming out of her. While I am real proud of myself for going through it all without a lick of pain medication, let me tell you this. The most amazing thing was how much help and strength that your Momma got from y0ur family. Your Granny Jo and your Daddy were there pretty much the whole time. And Grandmum and Mammie helped out too. Grandpa was there too, but he pretty much stayed out of the room, ready to talk your Daddy’s stress and fear away whenever he needed it. So know this, you may be applauded for something someday and no matter how much it looks like you did this amazing and wonderful thing all by yourself – there is no way you could have done it completely alone.
When you first started moving around inside of me, I read online somewhere that you were just the size of a banana. Later on, when you’re able to read, you might read things about you in which you are referred to as Banana Beeler. It was a good name for a time. Since you’ve been born we haven’t called you Banana once. Other names you have been known as are Crab Ass Cosette, Cosi Bear, Cosi Pod, and Cos-arilla (it’s your alter ego). When I was about 10, I hated my nickname. So I decided to give you many to choose from to hate. You are so very lucky.
So here you are – halfway to one year. I just can’t believe you’ve been here that long. I sit here and I try to think of all the things you’ve done and all the things that you’re so close to being able to do and I am awestruck. I used to be afraid of you getting older. I used to think that you progressing meant that I was progressing closer to death – and I have to say that scared me a little. But now, I look forward to every day. Because every day you get a day older and I get a day older and we do it together.

Well, this much is true. I do not agree with the majority of the state of Indiana about whom should be my representation. It’s alright. I figured as much. But I did think for a minute last night, man, I wish I could have gotten some of these right!
It was quite an exciting election for me. First time that I did so much research and felt as informed as possible.
Go me!

She had no idea what was going on and, for that, we almost considered not even messing with it. But we did it for the grandparents (initially) and we were so glad we did.
There are plans in the works now for john to dress as elliot, cosi as e.t. (in a basket in the front of his bike) and me in a hazmat suit (or maybe gertie) chasing after them.
Look for that, dude, because it will be awe.some.

In the meantime, go here for this year’s escapade.