Happy Halloween!

I can’t wait for a few years from now, when Anthony is big enough to go trick-or-treating, and I can steal some of the candy he brings home! This year, we’ll have a more low-key Halloween celebration, comprised mostly of dressing Anthony in his Halloween clothes.

He's ready for any occassion a 4-and-a-half-month-old might encounter on Halloween, with a pumpkin-covered sleeper, "I want my mummy" T-shirt and "My mummy loves me" bib. The little fella also got to celebrate at daycare, bringing back an adorable pumpkin (bottom pic) his teachers helped him make (hey, Anthony posed for the photo, so technically he DID help).

As for the rest of the week gone by...

After a week with Grandma and Grandpa, it was back to daycare for Anthony on Tuesday. The morning dawned chilly, by Miami standards – we’re talking 60 degrees! It's a South Florida tradition to pull out thick sweaters, wool trousers and leather coats the minute the mercury dips below its usual setting of "disgusting swelter." Even though the Northern Illinoisan in me tells me this is a little crazy, I was thrilled to pull out Anthony’s denim jacket, sweats and hat. In these parts, you have to jump at your chances to use your (or your baby’s) cute winter stuff.

Besides, people are always aghast when Brandon and I make the brazen decision to venture out of the house without a jacket on these "chilly" fall days. If I had dared take my baby out without a coat Tuesday morning, someone might have called the authorities. I’m not kidding; I was once reprimanded by a "well-meaning" stranger (who I can only assume is a pediatrician or other such child care expert) for not covering Anthony with a blanket on a 90-degree August day.

So, here’s Anthony bundled up for the trip to school. FYI, a denim jacket isn’t the easiest thing to put on a wriggling baby. However, the end result is cute, and all morning I had this image in my mind of Anthony hanging his tiny coat on a wooden peg next to those of his little classmates.

Tuesday evening, Anthony was thrilled to meet more family, when mom’s Aunt Becky and Uncle Jeff came to town and joined us and the little guy for his second dinner out in as many weeks. The outing got off to a bit of an inauspicious start when Anthony, upon hearing the adults order beverages, woke up from his nap and decided to place his drink order as well – loudly and with authority. But as soon as the bartender (OK, mom) filled his request (a white Russian straight up, hold the vodka and Kahlua), he settled down and was truly a joy to be around for the rest of the evening – smiling, laughing and even chilling in his car seat once the food arrived.

I forgot my camera, but Aunt Becky is e-mailing me photos, which I’ll post later.

Wednesday morning arrived even chillier than Tuesday – it wasn’t even 60 degrees, seriously, how do they expect life to go on in such conditions? – but Anthony braved the elements in his St. Louis Cardinals warmup suit.

He’s becoming quite the sports fan, albeit a bit of an indecisive one... Along with his adorable Cards outfits, he has St. Louis Rams and Green Bay Packers clothing, and now, thanks to Becky and Jeff, a Chicago Bears warmup suit!

The little guy is going to grow up so confused, but he looks so cute in his team wear that I’m OK with it – as long as no one expects us to put him in a Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots or Chicago Cubs outfit.

On Thursday, Dad brought home a treat for Anthony. Brandon's coworker, Vera, made this adorable book of nursery rhymes. It is truly the perfect gift for Anthony, because A) He LOVES nursery rhymes, staring in rapture at pictures of Mary Mary Quite Contrary and Humpty Dumpty while mom (or anyone else who's willing) reads to him; and, B) the book's cloth pages mean that when he lays his head down, as he is apt to do while "reading," he gets a soft landing.

On Friday, Anthony got up bright and early to head to the polls with mom for early voting at the Miami Beach North Shore Library. I offered to drop him at daycare so he could hang with his buddies while I cast my ballot, but he mumbled something about acorns and how it was about time I offered to drive him to the polls.

Not sure what he was getting at, but as we left the library after I voted and then located Anthony (he got out of his stroller and wandered off for a few minutes...not sure what he was doing), he was given his very own "I voted today" sticker. Wierd.

Anyway, if you're ever craving attention, grab the nearest baby and head to your local polling place. Anthony got lots of smiles and positive comments about his early civics lesson -- there's the serious little fellow above and on the left, pondering the electoral college. If I do say so myself, he was being particularly adorable, looking around in fascination as democracy unfolded all around him.

Finally, it's not all work and no play for AJ. Here is some video of the young man "having a ball." In the first, he plays with his beach ball as intended, batting it as it hangs on his "baby gym." The next requires an assist from grandma – clearly, Anthony finds this hilarious! As for the third clip, I am at a loss for words – I have no idea what the little guy thinks he’s doing here!