Maia Lani's First Halloween...

Growing up, Halloween was always my favorite holiday. The costumes were fun. All the free candy you could eat. Going out in the evening with friends. It was all just so good. As I get older, I'm finding it harder to find good costumes and places to use them. I don't get much candy unless I buy it. And without kids to go with me, I don't have much excuse to go out trick-or-treating.

Maia is still a bit young to actually enjoy Halloween. After all, last year at this time, her Halloween costume was a fetus. But, I still had to go out and get her a costume anyway. I figured it would have to be one that is low maintenance and would work for an infant. I saw this and couldn't resist.

Maia as R2-D2. Or should I call her M1-L1? And she comes complete with her own sound effects...

The best part about having a baby trick-or-treat is that you get to eat her candy...

Our branch combined with another to have a big Halloween party with a carnival, chili cook-off, trunk-or treat and costume parade on Saturday night. Although Maia wouldn't know or care about what was going on, we wanted to go.

We went out shopping earlier. I'm going to be off island on Nov 2 so I can't vote that day. We went down to do early voting and it ended up taking much longer than anticipated. By the time we got home, we were all very tired. We slept through the activity. So, poor Maia won't get to show off her costume this year to anyone but the Internet. And since I don't like to have any costume go to waste, I found that if I ever convert to Judaism I can use part of her costume when I go to Temple...

Was R2-D2 kosher? I'm pretty sure he never had a Bris...

Maia's Missed Milestone Memorialized in Media...

Ok, so it's bound to happen. When the big milestones of Maia's life come, I'm bound to miss some, right? Well, I've already missed the first. Maia rolled over. Ok, not huge, I know. But it's our first baby, and up till now, she's hasn't moved more than an inch without our assistance. So, to see her finally do something on her own is big enough for us.

I was on a business trip when it happened. Mom also missed it. She left Maia on her back in the crib, came to check on her and noticed the achievement. Clearly, I have rubbed off on Anna, because her instinct was to grab the camera and record her doing it again. And so she did.



Unfortunately for Maia, she now suffers the same affliction as most turtles. Once she is rolled over, she is powerless to change it. Well, maybe we can record that moment...

The Most Redundant Day of the Year...

Where were you on 10-10-10 at 10:10:10am? I was driving a small car through knee-high water in Chuuk, FSM.

Last year for 09-09-09 we had an impromptu office party. I remember on 10-01-01 at 10:01 I was back stage at a dress rehearsal for a play I was in. It was a big deal because it was a palindrome. I'm more excited for 11-11-11 at 11:11:11am. Not only is that a perfect palindrome of time, but it's also my birthday. I expect at least 11 gifts from at least 11 people on that day. I'll have gift ideas posted 11 weeks in advance.

Take It From Me...

When on the road, don't mix up the travel shaving cream with the travel toothpaste. Minty fresh face, bad taste in your mouth.