Halloween

Logan received 3 costumes to wear for Halloween. Grandma Vivian Estep sent him the pumpkin and puppy dog outfits, and Grandma Jean Himes made the knight costume for our little guy, which he wore to JBU's Medieval Faire, coordinated by his father Jonathan. I took his picture in the pumpkin costume out on our front walk since it was such a nice day. Later, we met up with several other JBU faculty members and their children to go trick-or-treating in the dorms. Logan doesn't yet eat solids, so his parents have been forced to sample his Halloween candy instead.

JBU Homecoming

JBU's Homecoming occurred early in October and was made even more special by the presence of Hadden and Betty Wilson from Northern Ireland. Jonathan and I so much enjoyed getting to know them when we co-led the Irish Studies summer programs with Hadden in 2005 and 2006. The Irish Studies Program celebrated its 10th anniversary: some of the past leaders and team members stopped by for this picture.

Logan's 1st Starring Role

Yesterday Logan starred in the role of a lifetime as baby Jesus in a nativity skit at Watts public elementary school over in Oklahoma. Holly Allen, a JBU professor of children and family ministry, asked if he could take the part for a class project that her curriculum students present each year for school kids. I was squeamish about letting our precious son loose into the cold, cruel world of germs and sinners at such a tender age, but I suppose that's exactly how our God felt about sending His son. Even though Logan is now 3 months old, I was reluctant just thinking about all the runny noses out there and someone possibly dropping him on a hard floor, but thankfully the college student who played Mary is an experienced babysitter of 6 week-old infants and she was very careful. The Bible story and skit were well done, and I think it was a good outreach to this lower-income community.

Logan is now saying "Meh!" instead of "leh" when he wants milk. Maybe he's shifting over to "moo." His trunk and legs get longer and chubbier every day. He's getting ring-around-the-cranium (little bald patches) from his little hats since he is growing so much. Sometimes he wakes up around 9 a.m. and whines mildly but then lapses into cooing and just patiently waiting for the day to begin. It gives me time to brew some coffee before I change his diaper and hand him off to Mama. He had a bit of indigestion and fussiness for a few days after our Texas trip, but I think he is getting back on track. What a blessing he is!

Bathtime

This morning before church I gave Logan a bath in the sink at my parents' house. He enjoyed having his hair brushed afterward. What a cutie pie!

Logan goes to Texas

Last night we drove down to Texas to see our families during JBU's Fall Break. This morning Logan, his mama, Aunt Jerusha, and Grandpa Estep drove to Longview so Logan could meet his great-grandma for the first time. The Senior citizens at my grandma's assisted living residence all loved Logan, some even offering to keep him permanently! Logan's great-grandma enjoyed holding him and my dad had fun tickling the baby on his chinny chin chin. We will have to make a return visit soon. Logan has spent a lot of time in his car seat on this trip: in the picture he really would like some milk but is making do with a pacifier until we get back to Palestine.

Logan the Long-limbed

Logan seems to get taller and larger every day. He's already starting to outgrow many of his favorite outfits; it's hard to fit his head through many of his onesies, and he's too long to fit between the shoulders and rear end of the little suits. This striped one is from Uncle Brent. Look at how happy he is, and how his smile is reflected in the little mirror of the playmobile. Logan is using his hands a lot more, trying to hold his bottle (see below left with Daddy). At some feeding times he bats at Mama a little and uses an insistent "Lleh!" which I think stands for "leche!" (milk).

He has definitely put on weight; his waistline has expanded, making his outie a tad less prominent, and his thighs are more thunderous. His legs nearly hang off the end of his car seat now. Daddy hopes this means that basketball is in his future. He's a lot more regular now, thanks to a little prune juice in his formula supplements. He's been such a good lad when we've taken him out with us to eat or go to church, though he's starting to stay awake in church and complain just a little of the lights in his face. He had his second baby-sitter, Mandy's work study Melanie, this Wednesday when we both attended a faculty meeting. In future, we might trade off going to these.

We're hoping he might start sleeping from midnight to five a.m. now that he's caught up on weight, but last night he woke up without my assistance at two a.m. and drained nearly 5 and a half ounces of formula (the latter with my assistance, of course)! He makes great cooing sounds, and he definitely has inherited the Mama Carlon sneeze, a primal scream that shakes the rafters. The other day he did this and afterward made a surprised, high-pitched "hooo!" in response to his own outburst. His neck is getting stronger, almost able to support itself. Whenever we prop him up to sit and burp, he looks around the room, taking stock with a curious expression on his brow. Mama sings a variety of songs to him throughout the day, including hymns and nursery songs, and reads to him. His favorite book is called Look at Me! which has a lot of baby faces. Another book has a small mirror that lets him see his reflection. Soon he'll be reading Beowulf and Pride and Prejudice.

Tough Guy

Logan got his first round of shots yesterday. Mama says it was sad to see him cry harder than he ever has before, but the squalling lasted only 3 minutes or so. We gave him infant Tylenol, but it seems he didn't develop much of a fever like they said. He even slept from midnight til five a.m. without a fuss! (Actually, Dad was supposed to do the usual feeding in the wee hours, but he was so wiped out after raquetball and teaching that he slept right on through it for the first time!) They weighed him, too, and he's now 11lbs 5oz., which means he's gained an ounce a day over the past week.

Logan has resumed making little humming tunes as he nurses. My favorite is the one that sounds like he's going, "oi, oi, oi, oi, oi." We have framed pictures of him in his sailor suit at the 1 month mark here and in our offices. My favorite is the one where his hand seems to be making a secret sign known only to Masons.

It's been getting a lot cooler. Last night it was downright chilly on our neighborhood stroll, and we had stepped out without jackets or sweatshirts, not expecting the windiness. But Logan drifted right off in his stroller beneath the mosquito netting. I think he has forgiven us for those nasty shots -- he only complained with a few irritated whimpers yesterday afternoon from where the nurses had stuck the needle. But he's been smiling again since last evening. He's our tough little guy.