It turns out that only my parents will be joining us, after all; Eric's mother hasn't been feeling well lately, and she's not up to the trip. She was just in the hospital a couple of weeks ago with trouble breathing. Poor woman; I wish she could just get rid of the blamed cigarettes! They're hard enough on a body with both lungs, but she's only got one left! In situations like this one, where her smoking is actively keeping her from seeing her grandson, I'm sure she feels terrible. She doesn't feel bad enough to quit, though. I don't know what more can be said to her that hasn't been said.

I suppose nearly fifty years of smoking are hard to escape. I wouldn't envy her the task, certainly.

Anyway, we're heading out tomorrow. I hope Sam handles the trip better this time around, but I'm not putting any money on that. He travels better in the morning than in the evening, though; perhaps he'll make it halfway before the screaming starts.

Sam thinks it's a hoot. I held him up in front of a mirror, and he stared and stared. Then he laughed. I don't know whether or not he realized he was looking at himself, but it was rather funny for him.

I'll be taking him into town on Halloween. The downtown businesses give away candy to costumed little ones. Not that we'll be taking any candy, of course; it's only that he'll get a big kick out of seeing so many kids around him, especially with them wearing bright colors and funny outfits. I'll just have to be on guard; Sam seems to attract little toddler hands full of proffered food and small, swallowable toys. Of course, he thoroughly appreciates the offerings and would gladly accept, were it not for Mean Old Mommy.

I think my mother may not appreciate the efforts I'm taking to give Sam a fun Halloween. After all, she did just the opposite. Still, I'm not backing down. I sent her pictures of Sam in his costume as though oblivious to her disapproval, and she dutifully told me how adorable he was. Nobody's drawn any weapons yet, thank God; nobody's told me I'm dooming my son to Hell by way of candy corn.