October 2011

This month we enjoyed a nice Indian summer spending every nice day outside that we could. The mums bloomed in nice shades of burnt orange, deep red, bright yellow, and delicate purple. The trees went through several phases of color as some turned right away and the most beautiful reds and oranges waited until after our first frost on October 26. We spent the these nice days celebrating the season of fall before finally the furnace came on and the footy pajamas came out.

After watching about harvesting pumpkins in his tractor video and doing multiple pumpkin crafts, Judah concluded one day that we needed to visit the pumpkin patch. So on one mildly warm Saturday evening we took him to see the pumpkin patch where Judah thoroughly enjoyed the sights, smells, and sounds of the pumpkin patch. After riding in the tractor wagon, he led us through the corn maze as we found all the designated stops. Tim and Judah raced down the go-cart track. We then walked through the field of orange and green to pick out our pumpkins. We found the petting animals, trying to feed them acorns. Our day was finally complete after we played with Johnny pedal tractors, rode a horse swing, and climbed the very large hay bales.




Tim went to Boston in early October for a week while Judah and I went to visit the farm. Judah enjoyed all his play time with Jacob. In fact several times the boys would be jumping for 15 minutes straight screaming in excitement to be together. While they played tractors and cars, mommy finished some scrapbook projects. Judah also got his tractor ride in before Papa started harvesting the soybeans. Then when Tim came to pick us up on the following weekend, we picked all the pumpkins out of the patch. Judah looked so tiny next to his sunflower plant that he planted last spring with Papa. We tried to take some fall pictures over at Uncle Lee's farm, but Judah refused to cooperate and instead started walking home on his own back to Gigi's farm.






Another Saturday, we took Judah to the church fall festival for play at the carnival. Judah enjoyed having his face painted for the first time. We did some crafts before going outside to the carnival games. Doing the ring toss among many others, Judah won tickets to apply toward some new bath toys. Judah particularly enjoyed the inflatables where he could jump and plop.






Throughout the rest of the month, Judah experienced his first real trick-or-treat. Before hand we carved two of our pumpkins together as a family, making one a face and another an "R." Judah liked the scary Halloween music playing in the background but did not like cleaning out the pumpkins this year leaving that task to mommy and daddy.




For Beggars Night, Judah dressed up as Larry the Cucumber from Veggie Tales. The day before, Judah wanted no part of his costume but by Beggars night we took a short flash light walk, walking around our little complex to collect candy. Going to people's doors he called it treating. Judah was delighted to get candy, especially two, from each house. Then when we got home he did not want to take the costume off.



Our weeks still busy with Monday play group, Tuesday music class, and Wednesday story time (if we make it). Most of our playgroups have been spent at the park this month enjoying the last of the nice weather. Tuesday mornings we arrive early to music class so that Judah can squeeze in some play time with the instruments. We have then reserved Thursday mornings for doctor appointments as they arise while Fridays we take it easy at home catching up on chores or hanging out at the coffee shop.


Judah still enjoys his music. He knows the each and every word to several songs: Jesus Loves Me, Twinkle Little Star, Isty Bisty Spider, Mary wore a Red Dress, Jesus loves the Little Children, and Pop goes the Wiesel. You will often hear him strike up a chorus as he plays or lays in his bed during quiet time. And he still likes his instruments. In fact one day at music class, his teacher got out an Autoharp to strum a song for the kids. Judah's mouth dropped open, asking "what this was called." Later at the park afterwards, you could see him strumming with two wide looking sticks and singing. One mom came up to him and asked if he was playing the drums. He looked up at her and said, "I am playing the Autoharp." I am amazed with how much this kid knows his instruments. Even playing the drum set at our neighbors, Judah looks like a natural playing so quietly as to not wake their baby.

Judah skills has once again shown this month. He has mastered motor skills by learning to zip and doing more advanced puzzles where the pieces come together. He shows more ingenuity carrying toys up and down the stairs and using the sideboard to climb up in bed. As usual he chatters in complete sentences as you listen to conversations he carries with other kids. He has applied his knowledge of time by using terms like yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He tells me what letter some words start with as in "c" is for combine and "m" is for me. Curious, he is constantly asking where is something at and what are they doing. He says, "Where is ____ at?" and "What is ______ doing?. He repeats your phrases often turning around to use them in context.

Judah has expressed curiosity about baby when we talk about her. Our two neighbors have both have had baby girls in the last month adding to the suspense. Judah saw baby Sarah for the first real time the one night when the family was visiting at our house and she was our bouncy seat. He insisted on giving her his toys. Then after she left, he kept asking where the baby is. We tell him our baby is in mommy's tummy. This conversation is followed by Judah looking down my shirt at my belly. He then talks about the baby in his belly through his belly button. If you ask him about having a baby sister, he tells you he wants to name her "four" every time.


Everything with baby Boolina is healthy so far. We another doctors appointment on October 13 followed by our 20 week ultrasound on October 27. Mom's sinuses have been acting up still and she is definitely growth spurting October 30 causing cravings of cheese, chicken, and lots raisen cinnamon bagels with cream cheese.


Tim had a busy month at work. He took that week earlier in the month to go to Boston for a leadership conference with Boys and Girls Clubs. We also celebrated the ribbon cutting for his DSM leadership project at the Amos Hiatt Middle School to open the new renovated theatre his class project. At home we finally woke out of the dark ages and bought a new wifi dvd/ blue ray player. This allows us to stream more video options through Netflix onto our TV which Judah really likes.


Admist chasing Judah around, mom has been trying to complete scrapbook projects before baby comes. She is also helping the church establish a volunteer plan. We started out the beginning of the month with viruses and colds, requiring mom's nursing care, as Judah came down with Hand, Mouth, And Foot disease.

September 2011

We have lots of proof that Judah went through a growth spurt this month. At his 6 month check-up with the ENT doctor, Judah weighed in at 24 pounds as he had been at 22 pounds for so long. The extra weight also showed up in his height at 34 inches. As a result, he finally moved into some smaller 24 month clothes and size 5/6 shoe, meaning new clothes and shoes for fall. Even his hair grew, marveling us once again how much hair the lady took off at his haircut.

Judah has matured into a little boy from the toddler he used to be. He now almost always sits (rather stands) at the table to eat his meals. He uses the stairs at his leisure going up and down to play on his own. He does the playground equipment all by himself, climbing up and going down the big slides. He even manages the climbing bars on his own to mom's dismay. He also has started expressing more interest in helping with chores as he particularly likes to help sweep the kitchen floors with the broom. His independence has grown too as he often expresses his wishes. For example, he has really decided that he likes to take off his socks and shoes wherever he goes.

Judah continues to be a little chatter box. His sentences have become longer and more complete. He has discovered past tense words. Curiosity has constantly permits him to ask, "What is that?" And he also says, "No, I not," expressing his preferences and dislikes toward something. His sense of humor allows him to say funny things quite often too. He even walks around and tells people he is five now (including strangers). He frequently talks about activities we did, remembering and relating more and more details as he describes things. He learns new words like atmosphere and then applies them later in the right context. One night we had gone out to dinner on a Friday evening. We stayed long enough to hear the live jazz music. Naturally the restaurant turned the lights down low and Tim explained the meaning of "atmosphere." When we went to the ultrasound a week or so later, Judah noticed the lights were turned down low and told us it was atmosphere.

He has really learned how to play by himself this month. In fact he sets up his train tracks now by himself, running the trains along the track. He especially enjoys playing with his tractors and implements setting them up and talking about who is driving them (often family members) and what they are doing.

We finally got into our Fall routine this month. Monday mornings we still host playgroup although we have been exploring different places as a group. Tuesday mornings we enrolled for music class again. Wednesday mornings we have the option of going to toddler story time at the downtown library. And Thursday mornings have become chore days. Fridays are left open for whatever like crafts or walks to the park. In addition, we have been spending time with our neighbors often eating meals together.


Saturdays have become more family outings day. Several weekends this month we went on a special outing together as a family. On Saturday, September 17 we saw Thomas the Tank Engine at our Day out with Thomas. Traveling up to the Boone Scenic Railroad, we spent the morning riding the train, seeing Sir Tophan Hatt, and doing all sorts of activities. Judah especially talks about his trip to see Thomas at the station. He enjoyed every minute riding the train, playing in the hay bale maze, jumping in the inflatable, listening to music, and enjoying a magic show. By the end of morning, after we stopped at Pizza Ranch for lunch, we headed home where fatigue wiped us out from the cold, but fun adventure.








The following weekend, we used our free tickets to see the Living History Farms. Judah had fun exploring the animals at the 1900 century farmstead, chasing the chickens. Next, he toured the village with daddy, sneaking in a pickle for a snack. Judah's idea of looking at the village was to run along the little path back and forth between the buildings.





At home we have been trying to celebrate the season a number of ways. Judah and mommy did a number of pumpkin crafts, often getting out the paints and glue. Our house suddenly became decorated with orange. And after watching his tractor video about harvesting pumpkins, Judah requested to go to the pumpkin patch....he knew it was that time of year.


Mommy has started feeling better this month, eating more variety of foods especially cheese and chicken. Also, mommy has gained some much needed energy which helps as Judah continues to take less and less naps . Mommy's tummy has grown to make her look very pregnant as she turns to getting out all the maternity clothes. Judah even has started to adjust to sitting to the side of the belly. We had the opportunity to hear the heartbeat on September 28 of the baby. Then at 15 weeks (September 30) our new doctor did an ultrasound revealing the sex of a baby girl. Since Judah's nick name is Boo, baby is now referred to as Baby Boolina, only Judah pronounces it Balloona. Thankfully everything continues to look healthy.