My son Jack is Tigger this Halloween. The costume is adorable. It’s a one-piece furry orange suit with an ear-studded hood. OK, so it’s a tad small — he’s Tigger waiting for a flood. But it’s still adorable. We borrowed it from a friend. Jack is only 2 and not yet demanding in his costume needs. So I’m taking advantage for one more year and saving some loot. I’ll just shoot the photos from the knees up. No big deal. He’ll never know.

Last night we went trick or treating on UA’s sorority row and I grabbed my brown eyeliner as we headed out the door. I figured I’d draw some whiskers on his face for good measure. Well, the whiskers made the costume and we had a great night. Later on, at home, I told my son to check out his whiskers in the mirror. He did — and was delighted. It’s that delight that we parents live for. He’s almost 3 years old and I love that he’s starting to “get” the holidays. And he actually likes Halloween!

I say this with surprise becaues this is quite the change from last year. Last Halloween was a bust. Sure, he looked cute in his cow costume. And he trick or treated at a few houses just fine. But the first masked child who crossed his path sent him into hysterics. My husband hoisted him up and carried him home.

So this year Jack is proving he’s a big boy. Well, not really. Because big boys don’t call whiskers “whipspers. ” He’s still very much a little boy. I guess he’s my big little boy. And I like it that way. Because I know when he’s a really big boy like my godson Ryan in NY, he’ll be too cool to dress up at all. And I’ll long for the days of the “whipspers.”