(Upset) Tummy Time: Halloween and Working Out

What do Buzz Lightyear, a little Kitty Cat and a lot of upset tummy times have in common?

Halloween 2012 and Introduction to Tummy Time!

We had a wonderful Halloween! Tammy, Bryan and Luke invited us to crash their neighborhood party and then go trick-or-treating. So I rushed home, put on my costume and we headed over.

Aidan, your Mom had been discussing Halloween with you all day, and you were eager to tell me all about it. When I walked in the door, you were ready to go and said "CANDY HOUSE!"

On the way, I asked you what was about to go down. You seemed to have a pretty awesome grasp:

So, we landed in Luke's new neighborhood, and got everyone in their Halloween costumes before the festivities began and the costumes slowly got soiled, sticky and destroyed. Your Mommy and I did a great job on your costumes this year, if I do say so myself. Your Mom crocheted your Buzz helmet and papier mached the jet pack, and I painted it! Julia, your Mom crocheted your costume too!

(your Mom also painted my costume).

So, may I introduce the winners for best costumes for 2012 Halloween:

Little Kitty Cat:

And her Space Ranger Protector and gatherer of much candy, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command!

Mid-"Infinity and Beyond"

Luke was happy to see you and some of the other children were very happy to meet you!



Then the costumes came off, because the kitty didn't like her hat, and there was a Bounce House for Buzz. Aidan, you had a blast playing with Dinosaur Luke and the other kiddos on the bounce house!



Then bouncing, plus hot dogs plus two cup cakes tested the limits of Buzz's iron fortitude, and the dress whites of a space ranger's uniform got sullied a bit by some upchuck.

But that doesn't get in the way of a Space Ranger's sacred duty to collect candy! So when the sun set, Julia and Aidan, the three of us were off with Mommy, Bryan, Tammy and Luke to Trick-or-Treat! And Julia, you didn't really seem to know or care where you were until you got hungry and Mommy had to go feed you in the car. But Aidan, you were in your element!

As you and Luke went from house to house, filling up your pumpkin buckets, you really got the hang of it. You liked ringing the doorbells (which made me realize how tall and grown up you are!)



and you said "Trick or Treat!" Or sometimes just "Candy!" You'd say 'Thank you' and 'Happy Halloween!'

But, you were all business. There was no time for small talk. You'd proudly announce to each friendly neighbor, "Next House!" and we'd move on!

Finally, jackpot, someone gave you a lollipop and that pushed you over the edge: best night ever!

We said goodbye to Luke, Bryan and Tammy, as Dinosaurs need their sleep.

But you were determined to go to more next houses! So as Mommy went to feed Julia in the car, you and I went to even more houses! You may have been a bit sticky, and bit tired, but you would not take no for an answer. Even as you sat in someone's front yard for a breather, you were ready for more and more houses!

So we loaded up the car, and headed home and you and I went out Rex-and-Buzz for even more houses!

You milked your lollipop for the next several blocks, and stayed excited as we looped around our own neighborhood, having the time of your life.

You may have started to show signs of fatigue, especially when people had the gall to dare not to be home, but you were mostly in high spirits and loved this special night. I loved it too.

Finally, with pumpking bucket full, we looped back around to the final house of the night.

We went inside, showed off our new bling and sweets, and then hurried off to an all-important bath and then bed. This Space Ranger had a huge night and was up waaay past his bedtime.

But it was way worth it to see that smile.

And I think it left an impression on you as well. This morning at 6:30am, almost a full week after Halloween, you climbed in bed with us after playing on your own for a while. Clearly you had been playing with your Black and Decker toolbox, because you came to bed with an orange tool tray and some nuts and bolts. You started doing your early-morning talking fest, where you free associate your mind with fun words. You came to bed telling us about the tool tray.

"Red! Red! Red!" Then you decided it was Orange. "Orange! Orange! Orange Bucket!"

Then it got good. "Orange Bucket. Orange Bucket? Candy! Trick or Treat! Costume. Buzz Lightyear! Halloween!"

Awesome!

And with good cause too: Halloween is awesome. Except that between your loot and the leftover candy for trick or treaters, we now have a pantry too full with delicious candy.

Your Mom and I may have beena  bit too overzealous one night and both wound uip with upset tummies after eating one too many fun-sized candy bars. They didn't seem so fun after the fact.

So, we learned our lesson and have been limited to one a day.

Speaking of upset and tummies, Miss Julia, you might have slept through Halloween (which is a-ok!), but you've been working on your tummy as well. Aidan gathered all the treats on Halloween, but you are working on a new trick!

 That's right, you're holding your head up so well, that we decided it was time to try Tummy Time and Playmat time!

So in and around the night of your first Halloween, was your first Tummy Time! And, as to be expected, you got a little upset. But, that's okay: tummy time is a hard work out, and you did fabulously on your first go, and even better each subsequent time!! 

Your Mom and I have been so proud of the super displays of awesome baby-ness you've displayed during tummy time. You're growing so fast..too fast. And before you know it, if you keep this tummy time up, next thing you know, by next Halloween you'll be cruising the neighborhoods, gathering candy and getting upset tummies with the rest of us!