Caitlin the Friendly Ghost

Originally uploaded by jamiereeves.

Alan took Caitlin trick or treating in our neighborhood. They walked for a long time and she filled Grandma’s punkin bag full of treats! This was her first year to truly trick or treat in the ‘hood. Alan said she was a little shy at first, but then she wanted to get candy at “everybody’s” house. We had a variety of ghoulish visitors, some suspiciously tall. The most unusual costume was probably a disco 1970s type character that looked like she should be in a Parliament video. She and her friends were definitely junior high or high school students. Amelia fell asleep by 7:30 so she missed out on much of the activity. Bailey is very happy Halloween is over. Now if I can only stay away from the candy.

Amelia Halloween 2005

Originally uploaded by jamiereeves.

Today is Amelia Grace’s first Halloween! Here she is wearing big sister’s ladybug costume from fall 2002. Caitlin is having a party at daycare today and is also trick or treating with her friends at school. Alan is taking her out tonight while Amelia and I hand out the tons of candy that I overbought at Sam’s Club. (Can you avoid overbuying anything at that place?!) It’s only 3:35 and I’ve stopped counting the Tootsie Rolls I’ve consumed.

Caitlin models her jumper made by Mimi.

Originally uploaded by jamiereeves.

Caitlin is having a great time with her grandparents. Mimi e-mailed this picture this morning. I need to buy some face paint/makeup for Caitlin but other than that I think we are all set for her fourth Halloween (can that even be possible?) and Amelia’s very first. I’ve been so focused on Caitlin’s costume that I forgot to mentioin Miss Amelia will be a ladybug (big sister’s first costume).

Packed and ready to go.

Originally uploaded by jamiereeves.

Caitlin is visiting our parents this weekend (my mom and Alan’s parents). It’s nice to have a quiet house, but I’ll be ready to pick her up tomorrow! Here is one of my favorite pictures from summer, where she is about to go visit her Mimi and Pee Paw and Grandma. Yes, we live in the South!

There are women who admit their addiction to Target openly on the Web. Check out the Slave to Target blog link. I wouldn’t say I’m a slave to Target, but I have swiped many a debit card there and I registered on their Club Wedd and baby registries. I do have a gripe about Target, though, and it’s something I learned just a few weeks ago. They do not price match their online prices to their store prices. I found a booster seat for Caitlin that was on clearance online at a great price but was out of stock online. I called our nearest Target to find it was in stock and they held one at the customer service area. (Just guess where this is going.) We loaded both girls in the car to purchase this booster seat only to find that it rings up full price at the store. The cashier then told me I could buy it online at the store kiosk, which was just a few steps away. Grrrrrrrrr. It’s OUT OF STOCK online, first of all, and second, why couldn’t the store match their own advertised online price? And what the heck is the point of ordering a product at the in store kiosk if I have to then wait for it to be shipped to my home? I sure as heck didn’t want to pay for shipping and handling. I did get a nice “form” e-mail from Target customer service when I complained via their website. I haven’t been back to Target since. Hmmph. Luckily Caitlin is at the age where she is easily distracted and you can come up with some wild-hair reasoning for why mama made a big deal out going to look at a big girl booster seat only to come home empty handed or I would have really been irate.
(Read on …)

A mindless celebrity mama wrapup for the weekend. Is Gwyneth Paltrow bearing another fruit? Check out bloggingbaby.com. New mama Britney is looking a little frumpy and refuses to take off her Uggs (kind of makes you feel better about your own post-childbirth weeks, admit it.). Photos of Britney courtesy of socialitelife.com. Here’s another peek at Britney, who is not too proud to let her nursing bra straps hang loose, from The Chic Mommy’s Blog. The post-Material Girl Madonna nixes dairy and Dora. Click here. Reese Witherspoon’s new film (blonde mama from Nashville) about Johnny Cash is being released Nov. 18 and looks great. Reese plays June Carter Cash. Dwight Yoakam, one of my favorite performers, was among several to tape a CBS special that will coincide with the movie’s release. Read about it here.

Caitlin and I have had some interesting conversations in the wee hours. She caught a cold from baby sister this week and has woken up every night. She and I were cuddled in her bed early this morning and she started counting to five in Spanish. I had no idea she could do this. She also responded “Si” the other day when I asked her something. I was thrilled and caught off guard at the same time. If she starts rattling off sentences in Spanish…I’m freaking out.