Well, it’s official. My little Tigger just celebrated his first Halloween. I can’t say he was too thrilled about it, but I had fun!
Last night, we went to a party at a neighbor’s house. Benjamin took a 30 minute nap and decided that was it, so he would have made a better zombie than a Tigger. Jeremy went as Chuck from one of his favorite shows, “Chuck.” He wanted me to join him in his Nerd Herd theme, but I decided no one would get it and I didn’t want to wear a skirt on a cold day. Instead, I just grabbed a cape from the Halloween box in the basement and called myself Little Red Riding Hood…though, Jeremy said I looked more like a Vampire. Gee thanks.
Next year, we’ll try to be more creative! Anyway, Benjamin had no fear of the big harry spiders, rats, severed fingers or the costumes. In fact, he thought a chandelier of bony hands was incredibly funny when it brushed his head. I think that is the only thing that made him crack a smile all evening! He was so good, though. There was plenty to see, and plenty of kids to watch. Our neighbors all have boys, so he has lots of playmates.
Tonight, we went Trick-or-Treating! Jeremy had to work, so it was just Benjamin and me all day. He was having another rough day. I understood how he felt, because we both are a little under the weather with a cold. He wanted to be held a lot, so we vacuumed the house together. He LOVES to vacuum, though I think he just wants to dismantle it to see how it works. We also did lots of laundry. I set him in a basket in the basement, and he stayed put while I loaded and unloaded the washing machine. Then, I carried him up and put him in the pack and play while I ran back down for the basket. We were efficient!
Tonight, though, he was very tired after crawling around the house (and up the stairs twice). I put him in his outfit, and again… he would not crack a smile. I kid you not…the child who always smiles would not even look at me. He ignored my singing “The most wonderful thing about Tiggers, is Tigger’s a wonderful thing… their bouncy, pouncy, flouncy, trouncy fun fun fun fun fun!!!!” He was still angry that I had shut him behind a gate and would not let him eat the vacuum cord. Sigh.
Look who found his pacifier two seconds after getting strapped in.
Does this look like a happy trick-or-treater or what?
So, we took our normal walk around the block, stopped to talk to every neighbor we knew, and met a few people we didn’t know. One neighbor gave him a Count Dracula rubber ducky, and two others gave him crackers. How sweet! He smiled for a few people…slightly… after much fawning, but he made no reaction to the dozens of children milling about in strange attire. He watched them closely, mind you, but not a single peep came from his normally very chatty lips. I was only accosted by one neighbor who wanted to discuss my levy coverage. Several others wanted to talk “shop” about my thoughts on the issues. I said I had no opinion, and “don’t all these kids look cute?” :) Benjamin miraculously was unscathed, despite having to pass by a neighbor’s home that had the scariest clown I have ever seen, a man carrying a chain saw and another resting in a real coffin. My child will be in therapy someday and recount this, I just know it!
Here is the cold and sleepy boy checking out his treats before bath time.
“Night Night mommy>”
So, I put the little Tigger in the tub, where he spent much of the time growling (literally) at his rubber duckies. He roared, he splashed, and he TiGGRRRRREEED until his paws started rubbing his sleepy eyes and his tummy started rumbling for some warm milk. He curled up in mommy’s arms and was fast asleep as he drank the last drop.
