Loving Our Little Man!

Family picture at Pumpkinville.

Benjamin having fun with his daddy!

Benjamin Oostra and our Benjamin trying to figure out these things called pumpkins!

October has been filled with many fun filled activities- going to the Newport News Fall Festival, going to Pumpkinville with the Oostras, watching the ups and downs of the Tennessee football team, attending the Poquoson Seafood Festival, making new friends as well as fall time crafts (Benjamin made his first craft) and attending the MOPS (Mother of Preschoolers) Fall Harvest. As you can see, we have been very busy as a family as well as just Benjamin and I during the day while Daddy is at work.

Benjamin has also been very busy growing. He has accomplished some milestones over the past month and we have enjoyed watching him grow. Benjamin has started pulling himself up in his crib, in the bath tub, on a play time block, and has tried to pull himself out of an exersaucer at the YMCA! He prefers to be standing for some reason and has started to cruise around. I am sure Chris and I will be chasing him around pretty soon; however, we are enjoying him staying put for now. Benjamin is not crawling right now, but is able to roll all over the place and rock in a crawling position for several minutes. He loves to play while sitting on his knees which we think would hurt him, but it doesn't seem to bother him!

As far as eating goes, we believe that this is his new hobby! Benjamin LOVES to eat. When he sees me turn the high chair around he starts kicking his feet and shrieking! He enjoys green beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, squash (winter and summer) pears, plums, peaches, and applesauce. This past weekend I started making recipes that incorporated mixtures of both veggies and fruits so he will get a variety with each meal. The only food he does not like so far are bananas!

On the 10th of October we took a day trip up to Williamsburg to visit the Oostras and Pumpkinville. We got to watch the first half the Tennessee/Georgia game together where Tennessee ended up winning big! The Oostras and Owenbys enjoyed our time together and loved watching the boys discover the pumpkins and gourds for the first time. Benjamin Oostra enjoyed trying the eat the pumpkins while our Benjamin sat there and tried to figure what the orange things were. He was so interested by them that he sat there staring at them for several minutes, ignoring everyone around him. I do have to mention that Benjamin recognizes and LOVES playing with Benjamin Oostra. When Benjamin Owenby first saw Benjamin Oostra that day he kept trying to hug him over and over again. I guess showing him pictures of little Oostra when they are apart as helped.

During this past month Benjamin as also come out of his shell a little bit. When we are at church he notices the women who take care of him each time we go and has a...."girlfriend." I work with a woman named Sarah and she has a daughter named Elle who is three years old. When Benjamin saw Elle for the first time, he shrieked, grabbed her arm and "kissed" her sleeve! Now, whenever I pick up Benjamin Elle goes with me. He has the same reaction every time he sees her and they get to spend some time together after we work.

In closing this month has also been a huge blessing for Chris and I in realizing how much God loves each and every one of us! For Him to sacrifice His one and only Son for the people of this world to spend eternal life with Him... it's indescribable! Chris and I were just discussing how we can NOT imagine what God went through when He saw Jesus die on the cross. We are SO blessed to have Benjamin and we are looking forward to dedicating Benjamin to the Lord on the 15th of November at Liberty. We can't wait to see what God has in store for us next month with family coming into town, Thanksgiving, taking Benjamin to his first football game at VMI, but most importantly dedicating him to the Lord!