Going to the Orchard!

One of our family traditions each Fall is to go to the Apple Orchard and yesterday Judah experienced this tradition for the first time. Aunt Rachel went with us to the Deals Orchard in Jefferson, Iowa. Judah enjoyed the fresh air as well as the apples. We picked some Jonathan and Empires for eating and cooking. Judah also went on his first Hayride behind a tractor (and he fell asleep). The rest of us ate some delicious caramel apples. Overall we had a nice day trip to the Orchard. Happy Fall Judah!

Fall is Here!

The smell and color of Fall is in the air. The leaves are dropping and I have already put some home made apple sauce in the freezer from this year's apples. Tim's fall retreat has come and gone and his first class of the year was a success even with his class of thirty-seven. And most importantly Judah has reached 3 1/2 months. As fast as the leaves have fallen off the trees, so has Judah advanced to the next phase.

Judah has become even more active lately achieving sitting up and refining his play skills. This week, Judah learned to sit up. Of course we sat him down but he maintained the sitting position. Now that he actually can sit up, he wants to stand instead of sitting down, just like before when he wanted to sit up instead of laying down. He enjoys standing in his Ex Saucer very much, turning, pushing, and even pulling the toys with his hands now. He has become fascinated with bright colors (especially our flag hanging outside) and toys that play music. Judah has even discovered how to take his Binky out and play with it. On his tummy he does this slightest scoot now and has been practicing getting up on his knees.

Judah becomes increasingly more interactive as he explores the world around him. He is captivated by our faces often pulling on our noses, hair, and mouth. I find pieces of my hair in his hands several times a day. He likes to grab our hands and play with them or watch us move our feet. He blows me kisses by sucking on my face with his mouth wide open. And sometimes Judah will just watch you until he has something to say and then he likes to carry on a long conversation with oohs and mmmm's. When we blow raspberries on his tummy or play Peek-A-Boo, he just laughs and giggles. I have even caught him laughing at Tim's funny faces or my silly dance steps. He has also become interested in things that we do like eating as he reaches for our plates now. Judah has even become more interested in watching Maestro smiling when he sees him.

Today at his 4 month check-up (Sept 24), Judah weighed 13 pounds, proving that he is getting bigger and changing especially from that earlier growth spurt. He has almost outgrown his 3-6 month clothes already, especially as he grows longer to 25 inches. His hair has really lightened up and gotten longer giving way to a blond halo in the front. Even his rat tail is starting to disappear as it gets lighter and the hair around it is growing evenly in the back much like Tim's course hair. Judah looks so cute in blue as it displays his bright, big blue eyes. We had his three month pictures taken to showing off those blue eyes.

Judah loves to be outside. In fact he even sleeps better in the fresh air as sometimes he naps on our walk. He loves to stroll and you will often find him slouched in the stroller with his feet reclined on the tray watching the world go by. Last week he felt the grass on his feet for the first time. He is always curious about the sites and sounds around him.

His schedule has somewhat remained the same, eat, play, and sleep. Putting him down for naps has been a little easier with either wrapping him up or rocking him for about 10 minutes. We are still slowly moving his bed time earlier, starting the bedtime process now around 9:30pm or so. He definitely keeps things going but it is worth it when those big eyes look up at you in anticipation and that little hand holds your finger.

Wednesday night is bath night!

I'm so cute in the morning!

The 3 Month Mark!

My Dearest Mr. Wiggles (Judah),

That is the nick name I often give you now that you have reached your third month birthday. You love to be on the move exploring your world that is ever expanding. It is fun to watch you get excited as you discover new things and do new tricks. You hate missing anything doing your secret service glance around the room.

It is especially fun to watch you play as you spend more time interacting with the world around you. You now grasp your toys and swing them around, often talking to them. On your bouncy seat of a morning, you have become quite skilled at grabbing your parrot and monkey, making them move with more control over your hands. Earlier this week I set you down on the floor under your play gym and you literally scooted in a full circle on your back. It also did not take long for you to figure out how to turn yourself around in your new Ex-Saucer that your cousin Isaac gave you.

You also like to play with your blankets by putting them up to your mouth. I finally got you this new blanket that has tags on it. You like it so much that that blanket is often very soaked in drool. One of your favorite games with the blankets (towel) is peek-a-boo as we get you ready for bed during your nightly sponge bath. And you still like to play fort with daddy.

You become more like your daddy everyday as you have started a fascination for technology. You become so engrossed in the pictures that flash up on the computer screen saver. Often I catch you looking at the ceiling fan as if you are trying to figure out how it works. You also watched your first football game with daddy on TV - DNH against AP! Go wolverines...touchdown!

You really like to be on the move. When you are on the floor, you turn yourself over from your back to your front and back again. You get so frustrated when you cannot go anywhere on your tummy. Now that we have the Bumbo, you want to sit up any opportunity you can get to watch what is going on. I have to be careful when I change your diaper on the floor because you scoot away from me (silly boy). Somehow you manage to get lint between your toes now from all your scooting.

All this moving around though does wear you out after awhile (and me to). I am really thankful that you have been sleeping through the nights, especially from 10:30pm until 7:00am or even 8:00am. Lately it has been hard to put you down for a nap in the mornings but you do take a nap in the afternoons. You also have been going through a growth spurt as some evenings you want to eat every hour. You must want to replenish all that energy with sleeping and eating so much so that you are already into your 3 month clothes and size two diapers (and these won't last much longer).

I also like to call you my cuddle bug. You do have a cuddly side and I like to watch you sleep. You still make your faces when you dream. Then when you are rested, you wake with a great big smile. You often smile when you see daddy after work and you get excited when you hear my voice. You liked to be tickled and often just laugh and laugh from the raspberries being blown on your tummy.

We are so proud of you for reaching 3 months! You are getting so big, getting long bodied and getting stronger on your feet. Your hair is lightening up almost into a golden buzzed halo except for the rat tail in the back. People say you look like your daddy except for your eyes. I think you look like both of your grandpas as you can really notice the similarity when they hold you.

I continue to thank God for everyday with you. We love you Judah.

Now let's take our morning walk - you really love the stroller!

Mommy