Mashed potatoes with gravy, homemade dressing, and sweet potatoes were Macklan's favorite foods this year on Thanksgiving. Once his plate was in sight, he was so anxious to dive into that perfect meal. He would open his mouth as wide as possible, making sure he got it all. To my surprise, he did not like deviled eggs.
On this particular Sunday morning, Macklan was caught with his pants down catching some zzzz's!
The Sunday morning routine at the Blake home is fast-paced and clearly unspoken. Scott and I attempt to sleep as long as Macklan will allow, which is usually around 8:00 a.m. on the weekends. After a family breakfast, I shower then Macklan is bathed by Daddy. While Macklan splashes in the tub, I am busy picking out and ironing outfits for at least two of the three of us as well as packing the diaper bag with books, snacks, quiet toys, and a sippy cup.
It is upon the completion of these tasks that I observe Macklan kicking and screaming because he doesn't want to get out of the bathtub (remember...he loves bath time). Wrapped in a hooded towel, Macklan is carried off to the nursery--lotioned, diapered, dressed, Q-tipped, hair brushed, shoes on, teeth brushed, and hair blow dried.
Once Macklan is ready to go, he has time to play and watch Noggin from his play area in the living room (which Scott calls "the cage") while Scott and I continue getting ready ourselves. Occasionally, Scott plans to leave early for church so he can sort and pass out Sunday School literature. This was one of those Sundays. When he left for church, Macklan was busily playing as I finished straightening my hair and applying make-up. It wasn't long after Scott left that I was ready myself. It seemed unusually quiet in the living room. I couldn't hear Macklan's voice or any noisy toys, but I didn't think anything of it. Sometimes Macklan will just sit contently as he watches a favorite Noggin episode. As I rounded the corner into the living room, I chuckled at the sight before me. 
These pants were slightly big around the waist, so I guess all the squirming to get comfortable on the floor caused them to work down around his knees. Big Red (WKU's mascot) took the place of Macklan's usual sleep pals, Whiffer and Barkers. as he caught a few zzzz's before church.
Macklan has been eating table foods for several months now. However, this comes with limitations and safeguards. The "table foods" diet does not mean he eats anything and everything that is served on the table, sitting on the cabinet shelves, or listed on restaurant menus. Macklan still eats mostly soft, mashed up foods in bite-size portions. Yes, I'm a bit OCD and overly protective mommy which sometimes makes it difficult to find a restaurant that serves foods that I am willing to order for Macklan. However, over the past few months I have found a couple of hot spots for Macklan. He loves mashed potatoes & gravy and biscuits from KFC, spaghetti at Fazoli's, and O'Charley's loaded baked potato soup. Let me make this clear...Macklan loves loaded baked potato soup from O'Charley's! He can and will eat the entire generous portion of cheesy potato soup as he repeatedly says, "Umm, umm," after every bite.
Macklan's cousin Briley has an imagination out of this world. This past summer she was introduced to "bear hunts" by her friend Caden, and she wanted to share the experience with Macklan. Here Macklan and Briley anxiously await their bear hunt adventure.
On this particular bear hunt, Macklan spotted something other than a "bear". He met the man in the moon. Throughout the entire chilly night ride, Macklan pointed up to the sky and repeated, "Moon. Moon. Moon." He was even caught pointing up at the moon in this picture of the bear hunters!
