A win!

You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find you get what you need. -Rolling Stones

I was trying so hard to catch up this morning. Throwing the next load of laundry in, emptying the dishwasher, toasting breakfast waffles while making coffee. Whatever room Jack dragged me into, I was chipping away at a chore, then being pulled into another room to complete a previous task.

Jack was climbing onto the dishwasher (with good intentions, he helps unload), when I stood up and knocked my head on an open cupboard door. I lost it. I can take pain, but I'll never understand why minor head trauma has me in tears. It could be a chip off pride, feeling ungraceful, shaking up the brain. It has the same effect as running around and stubbing your toe. Putting a halt in your day.

So I gave up the multitasking and sat down to take my health assessment quiz. Feeling bleary and in a post head trauma funk, I tried to focus. And here comes Jack. "OUT!"

He only had to repeat himself four times before I stood up and escorted him out the front door: pajamas, flip flops and camera.

And this is exactly what I needed. Beautiful sunshine. Not a cloud in sight. Happy Jack holding Jack Rabbit tight. Late October's generous breeze. I could breathe again.

I could revel in my happy, blissful, almost barefoot pregnant motherhood and appreciate my finest things in life. I love this boy. I'm not a fan of him posing. I cherish his candid moments. But I got him to smile. Not his real, happy smile. It's a cheesy smile, where he stretches his lower lip and scrunches his nose. But close enough.

And I got what I needed. Thank you, Jack, for being persistent.

We check on the moon every once in a while. If we're standing by a window, we'll sneak a peak.

If any lucky dog walkers were passing by the other side of this window, they would have gotten a full frontal of a toddler, checking on the moon while his shower heated up.

We brainstorm all month about what Jack will be for Halloween. We throw out the mainstream ideas, and some rare ones that require a sewing machine and the ability to use it. Somehow, we always change our minds at the last minute. This year, he was going to be the Terminator. I found a leather jacket, some boots and some black shades, but no luck with black toddler pants that weren't corduroy or sweatpants. So, we improvised. We got biker boy.

Jose tied a little boom box on the back, blaring biker music. Bad to the Bone, Born to be Wild, I Did a Bad Bad Thing definitely brought a nice touch to his bad boy look. While we toted him through downtown Winter Garden with his fists pumping to the beat of the music, we realized he was a hit. So many people stopped to take his picture and point out how cute he looked.

Since his ensemble attracted so much attention, we entered him in the costume contest and he WON! Second place. My little man's first award ever was a ten dollar gift card to Target.

And this proud Mama cut in front of many people to stand in front of the stage, jumping up and down, clapping and screaming, "YAY JACK!"

I love our little town. It's grown, but it has become beautiful. It maintains it's sweet, quaint appeal with little shops and cafes, but can sure throw a good party.

Jack was all smiled out by the end of the night, but I had to get a picture of us just to prove to myself that I was there and not behind the camera the whole time.

Victory was celebrated at our local New York pizzeria. Jack sat on a wooden seat at the bar with his Mama and Daddy on each side. Biker boy ate three slices of pizza, like his Mama (ahem, who by the way, is feeding two). We saved Daddy two. He's a great Daddy.

He's a really great daddy. And eating three slices of pizza and chocolate gelato and Italian doughnuts covered with powdered sugar just goes to show that sometimes, we get what we want. Even if we really don't need it.