Happy Halloween from Henry the Elephant!

When Henry's Nanna (my Mama) offered to make his first Halloween costume, I didn't exactly give her an easy task - I requested an elephant. But Nanna and her seamstress skills came through with the cutest elephant I've ever laid eyes on! We had an action packed Halloween that started with the usual: a photo shoot at home.

With the election just two days away and a baby dressed as an elephant, it only seemed appropriate to stop by the Cobb County GOP office. Henry was lucky enough to get a photo with the next Governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal. Congressman Deal and the entire volunteer staff loved Henry's Republican elephant costume. Don't forget to vote on Tuesday!

Since Henry is too young to enjoy the candy that comes with trick-or-treating, we spent the evening passing out candy and barbecuing with a few of Henry's baby friends. The babies were a bit tired of their costumes by that time, so we had a couple meltdowns. I don't think they appreciated all the adults pointing and laughing at them either.

All the excitement from Henry's first Halloween was pretty exhausting. The sweet boy fell asleep in costume before we even made it home.

The History of Mama Mak's Jack-O'-Latern's

If you take a look back at my jack-o'-latern's, they seem to tell you a bit about my life that year. In October 2007, I was too busy getting married to carve a pumpkin. I celebrated Halloween while on my honeymoon, but I didn't mind. It's easy to forget about carving a pumpkin when you're laying poolside with your new husband and a banana daiquiri.


In October 2008, I was living in Chicago celebrating my 1st anniversary. I was feeling sentimental, and since I love a good monogram, you know where this is going.

In October 2009, I was 3 months pregnant and susceptible to violent candy cravings. I felt the need to warn our trick-or-treaters.

That brings us to October 2010: This year's pumpkin wins the award for easiest to carve. Gus is going to kill me, but it can't get any cuter than this.

Pumpkin Day for my Pumpkin

Last Sunday felt like pumpkin day. So I dressed Henry in his pumpkin outfit for a pumpkin packed day for our little family of three pumpkins (well, four if you count Willy Wayne).

Our first trip to the pumpkin patch was a failure. We drove an hour to North Georgia's most overcrowded popular pumpkin patch only to find what we should have expected to find: a half hour of bumper to bumper traffic to park and an hour long line for a stinkin' hayride. That was not the first pumpkin patch experience I envisioned for Henry.

A few days later we drove five minutes to a local church where Henry got his own personal wagon ride through the "pumpkin patch" on the church's front lawn. It was so much more relaxing and enjoyable, especially considering that there were only two other families there. Plus, the pumpkin sales went towards the youth group mission trip. Helping children and not having half of Cobb County in the background of my pumpkin patch pics? Yes, please.

Once we came home with our pumpkins, Henry tried pumpkin puree for the first time. I think he liked it, but not as much as sweet potatoes or squash. Maybe he'll enjoy it a bit more when he has teeth and can appreciate pumpkin in the form of delicious pie.














Later that night, Henry slipped into his favorite pair of pumpkin footie pajamas (thank you Grandma and Papou!), and put his feet up on the couch with Dad.

My Little Sweet Tater

I have made a few homecooked meals in my day. People have asked for second helpings, but no one has ever cried for more...until I made sweet potato puree for sweet Henry. He LOVES it! No butter, brown sugar, pecans or marshmallow topping, but he still loved it! He sure knows how to flatter his Mama. It has to be the easiest meal I have ever prepared, and at just 10 cents a serving, I am certainly saving money over buying the jarred stuff. Like a good Southern boy, he finished the entire bowl, and only a quarter of it ended up on his face, hair, and Bumbo seat. Not bad!