Happy Halloween!

Tonight was "halloween froggy"s big night on the town and this little girl was loving every minute. We've been practicing saying "trick or treat" for some time now but -- with the night finally here -- it all clicked and Graham and our friend Brent tell me she had it down to a science as she went door to door.

Kellee and I stayed back to hand out candy which I enjoyed probably way more than is normal. I just love these darn kids and how each one has a totally different approach to the situation. Some are out to charm you, others are painfully shy, some are adorably grateful, others give you dirty looks when you say "take two." (As if they don't have enough in their pillow case. )

To toot our own horn, we're pretty sure her costume took the prize for "best homemade." We already started scheming future sweatsuit and felt creations, however, when I asked her what she wants to be next year she emphatically said: FROGGY!

Over the weekend our friends Brent and Kellee joined us for Maggie's first camping trip. (And my first in about 10 years.) I forgot how much I love setting up in the woods, cooking camp food, and having several days dependent upon the success of your camp fire.

That fire was especially crucial because it got cold. (40 degrees overnight.) Maggie was our saving grace because her little body is like a living furnace when she sleeps. She went to bed each night fairly early and by the time we crawled under the covers with her, she had toasted them to perfection.

She handled all three days and two nights with gusto, and really seemed to enjoy trekking through the woods and making herself at home on the campsite.

Pictures from top to bottom:

1. Settling in to our new digs
2. Dinner
3. Graham and Brent being dudes
4. The banks of the Potomac
5. Waving for a self-timed pic
6. Breakfast
7. Drinking chocolate milk, pondering life

This is Maggie at nearly 22 months. Almost 2 years old. Can you imagine that?

We're getting ready for Halloween and spent dinner making faces, creating various voices for this mask she is modeling, and acting out the concept of knocking on a door, saying "trick or treat" and getting candy in return. I think she is starting to catch on to the idea and she is definitely on board with dressing up as a frog. (We'll have more on that later. Her costume is nearly complete.)

Maggie is growing leaps and bounds right now, and in all ways imaginable. She is saying things and doing things that are continually taking us by surprise, to the point where we almost can't keep track of it all.

My favorite moments always seem to come at bedtime (which is in a big-girl bed now) when I lay with her, lights out, and ask her about her day. She is at a point where she will always recall something specific like "Maggie, Pop Pop touch the sign" or "Maggie go daddy slide." ("Daddy", by the way, functions as another word for "big". Same for "baby" and "small".)

Graham mentioned this in a tweet but just the other night she had very specific things on her mind that went something like this:

Maggie: Care Bears help.

Me: Yes, Maggie, Care Bears do help.

Maggie [patting her tummy]: Maggie belly badge.

Me [surprised]: Maggie has a belly badge? Really??

Maggie: Maggie belly badge rainbow.

Me: Oh wow. A rainbow? Mommy's belly badge is a heart.

Maggie [with no hesitation at all]: Daddy's belly badge star!

Maggie [recapping]: Maggie belly badge rainbow! Mommy heart! Daddy star!

This concept made her extremely happy and - despite my distaste for Care Bears - it made me really happy too. I love that she chose a rainbow for herself which, to me, is the best of all belly badges.

Short and sweet. New shoe dance party, care of Grandma Susie.