Halloween 2010

Dear Jack,

I'm not sure what you liked the most about Halloween... all of the people oohing and aahing over the cuteness of you or all of the candy.

Either way, you certainly had a wonderful day.

Love,
Mom

Sea World

Dear Jack,

Today we went to Sea World for our friend, Mr. Ford's birthday. Mrs. Ford suggested we wear costumes and enjoy some Halloween spirit as well. We found that Mrs. Ford's Jesse costume was the biggest hit among kids while your little clown costume was the biggest hit among women. And yes, you kept that hat on the entire time we were at Sea World.

Just like last time, you loved the dolphins and the coral reef exhibits at the front of the park.

You and the Fords spent a lot of time just watching the fish.

I tried watching the fish, but found myself more captivated by looking at you.

Your new favorite exhibit, though, is the penguins. You had me take you on the moving walkway that goes along their tank four or five times.

Then after looking at penguins, you picked out some penguins at the gift shop.

And then found more penguins to take pictures with.

I was glad to see you enjoying the day so much. Everyone loved you in your costume. One random lady got caught taking a picture of you with her iPhone, apologized, and then said, "I just wanted to remember him!" You really did leave that hat on all day. I took it off of you at one point because I thought the elastic might be bothering you, but you asked for it back ten minutes later.

Seeing how they do up the park for Halloween in fun, but not too scary ways, I am tempted to make Halloween at Sea World a new family tradition.

After all, where else can you see Shamu, dressed up in a wizard's robe and hat?

Get a bonus chance to wear your costume?

And, possibly the most important to me, find just one more chance at a Jack play on words...

A play on words which will only get better next year if Jack really does go back for another Halloween at Sea World.

Love,
Mom

Yet Another Play on Words

Dear Jack,

How do you like your box?

Happy Halloween!

Love,
Mom

Where's Jack?

Dear Jack,

When your father came home this evening, he found a piece of ribbon hot glued to the inside of the pantry door.

Why, oh why, he wondered, would I have done such a thing?

So you could do this, I told him.

Somehow the fact that you come out at the end with food is the best part.

Love,
Mom

Halloween Party

Dear Jack,

One thing about having you in an actual daycare, instead of a private home, is that you get to celebrate all of the holidays.

Today was your first Halloween party.

Mostly, as far as you were concerned, it was a plate of nothing but carby-sugary-goodness.

Yum!

Love,
Mom

Good Grief

Dear Jack,

You might be over your stomach bug.

Of course, I said that on Sunday, too. See, you threw up Saturday night several times, slept the rest of the night with your mama, and then all Sunday morning, you were kind of listless. By Sunday night, though, you were your old self.

So off to day care you went.

Then Monday night, you threw up again.

You slept the rest of that night with your mama. You were grouchy and irritable Tuesday morning. But by Tuesday evening, you were so much better. I figured you might be over your stomach bug.

So off to day care you went.

Then Wednesday night, you threw up again. A lot.

You slept the rest of the night with your mama.

I took you to the doctor Thursday. She said that since you weren't throwing up during the day and were acting just fine in between episodes, you could go back to daycare.

I'm skeptical about this advice, but since day care was the source of the bug and I know the teacher and the three little girls in your class have already had it, I'm not too worried about contagion.

So off to day care you went.

You are asleep in your bed right now, having been pretty normal all evening.

I think you might finally be over your stomach bug.

But I've been wrong before.

Love,
Mom

Sweet Berry Farms

Dear Jack,

Today we took you and your sister out to Sweet Berry Farms.

Mostly, this is about my desire to take cute pictures of the two of you. Fortunately for all involved, once I have the pictures I want, I am happy to let people play and do as they please.

So after getting the perfect pictures, both of you and your sister individually, and the two of you together, it was time to do the corn maze.

Last year, you were a little 5 month old baby and had to stay with me in the stroller while your dad and sister did the maze. This year, you were running around it all by yourself. What a difference a year makes!

I thought about that a lot because it was at Sweet Berry Farms last year that I nursed you for just about the last time. You were pretty much weaned before we came, and I had bottles for you. But while your dad and sister did the hayride and picked flowers, you were tired and fussy and the only thing that would help was that unique combination of nutrition and nurturing. So I brought you back to that tree we sat under, thinking of how hard it was a year ago to let go of that bond and how glad I am that we had it for as long as we did. I suppose some day you will be mortified to know this background information about Sweet Berry Farms and that tree right there, but for me it will always be a part of the charm of the place.

Well, that and the fact that they sell Jacks.

Oh!?! Not the Jack puns again!?!

Love,
Mom