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Getting a jump on the holidays, sort of

Valentine’s Day and Easter are just around the corner. Wasn’t Christmas just yesterday?

For me, Valentine’s Day is tough this year. Not tough because it will be sad or depressing or anything like that. Tough because I don’t know what to do.

When we first found out that I was due in February, we became concerned about getting Little Man to the Monster Truck Jam in Pittsburgh or Wheeling. We take him every year as part of his valentine’s gift.

We knew I would not be attending. I will either be at home with a newborn, if he makes his arrival early. Or, I will be at home, anxiously awaiting his due date that Monday (Feb. 25), probably not wanting to get up off the couch.

And we knew Pittsburgh (Feb. 15-17) was out of the question from the start. It is just too far away for my husband to be when I could have the baby anytime. However, Wheeling (Feb. 22-24) was doable. He could go with his cell phone attached to his hip, if Baby Boy has not yet made his arrival.

I decided not to decorate this year. I usually have a few things to set out with teddy bears and hearts and such, but I can’t find the energy to dig the box out of the basement. I did put Cars’ window clings on Little Man’s bathroom mirror. Other than that, the Letusicks are skipping the Valentine’s Day decorations this year.

I bought and addressed valentines to send to members of our family. But I can’t sign them. What if Baby Boy decides to make his entrance into the world before the holiday? His name would then need to be on the cards, too. So I have decided to wait until Feb. 12 to sign them, just in case.

I bought valentines for my husband and Little Man, and I had to get one for Baby Boy, again, just in case. I can always save it until next year. After all, there is no date on it. Just a baby’s first card.

I did not buy him a gift though. He would be too little to know any better. Plus, what do you buy a newborn for Valentine’s Day? A chocolate bar?

And then there’s Easter. Would someone please tell the stores to get out their Easter stuff? I need to buy an Easter basket for Baby Boy. I don’t want to wait until after because I will feel like I am unorganized, and I hate that. I need to have all my ducks in a row. I need one now.

I have been picking things up from the Easter Bunny. But again, you can’t buy a newborn a chocolate bunny or marshmallow chick. So, instead, I went with rattles and binkies and a stuffed toy. Little Man’s stuff was much easier.

I am trying to prepare for the upcoming holidays without too much stress and mess. Is that possible? Any other time, it would not be — not for me anyway. But this year, I am trying to take it easy as we anxiously await the arrival of Baby Boy.

Only four weeks to go.

Maybe sooner? (Fingers crossed!)

(Letusick, a resident of Rayland, is a copy editor for the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.)

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