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.