There's no way I'd consider doing a family costume without my dog. By far, the most laughs we've gotten have been for Moose as Cousin Itt, and when it comes to "awwws," those were mostly reserved for the little red Tin Man heart on my baby bump. Sure, it adds a layer of complexity adding an animal to the mix, and sometimes it's hard to figure out how to integrate a baby bump versus downplaying it. To make it work, when coming up with a group idea, I always start with the most difficult participants first. Before I'd ever commit to, say, a Mary Poppins theme, I'd first ask, "What will Moose be?" If I were pregnant, maybe I'd forgo dressing as the magical nanny and portray a plump penguin. Then, once the trickier members are determined, it's easier to flesh out the rest.
