Well, welcome back to the Adamow adventures! Since the last time I wrote, so much has happened and I've been so excited to share it, that I have again gotten the pictures out of order. Still, it's a little easier to follow than last time, so I'm sure you'll be able to handle it. Just a few weeks ago, we took Jed for his first adventure to Garden of the Gods in Southern IL. We wanted to get out to see the end of the fall color -- and boy what a beautiful day we had. Jed liked to look out at all the trees and to get carried around by Daddy in his front-pack. He was very smiley during our stay there and very grumpy on the car rides. He has gotten so that he thinks that it's no fun to be in the back by himself while Mommy and Daddy have great conversations and laughs up front. He had us bafoozled for a while and one of us would ride in the back with him to keep him from screaming, but we are learning that he's at the stage where a scream that is ignored will eventually go away -- maybe after 5 minutes, maybe after 50. Lately, they've been going away sooner and sooner, so he's learning. . . hopefully in time for the holiday marathon runs we're about to make. So, here's some great shots of our day in the woods.

Before our trip to the woods, Jed quit sleeping through the night -- yuck and yawn! We were at a loss for what to do and thought that maybe our boy was just hungry, so we started with the baby cereal. Here are a couple of shots of Jed's first few experiences with solid -- or slightly solid -- food. First you get to witness Daddy's Feeding Frenzy:

Next you can compare and contrast with Mommy Mealtime:

Notice the lack of caked-on food. Next we have a picture of his actual first-day feeding. This is proof of his wanting to feed himself from the beginning. He has learned that it's actually a lot easier to just sit there and open his mouth. He's learned this so well that he has gone from one tablespoon of food the first day to 6 tablespoons (in 2 feedings). What a big appetite! He is also chunking out nicely with new belly rolls and a double chin. So cute!

Finally, here are some pictures from a picture shoot that we did when he was about 5 months old. We were at the park right down the street from our house. I just love to take pictures -- and expecially pictures of Jed -- so this was a blast for me.

Just a few more updates about this bundle of joy that you might enjoy. He has started to sit up and to babble -- he especially likes the 'b' and 'g' sounds. He also thinks that it is extremely fun the nose dive into every-and anything he can find. Just the other day, he was sitting on a hardwood floor and dove forward, giving himself a bloody nose for his trouble. He has also taken a dive off the couch -- while I was sitting right next to him -- ricochetting off the coffee table before landing f0rhead first on the floor. When I was relaying all of this information to my mother, she reminded me what my Dad used to call me when I was little (BlunderBust). I guess the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree. The other thing Jed still loves in music. He wants nothing more than to sit with Daddy and shake a rattle while he plays his guitar or ukelele -- or better yet -- to suck on the tuning pegs of the uke.

And now, a sad side-note. For those of you who didn't read the blog I deleted or haven't heard, Chris and I found out we were pregnant a few weeks ago, but then lost the baby within a week. It's been kind of a difficult time for us, but we are thankful that it's been easier than our first miscarriage. For one thing, it was within a much quicker time frame. Also, it was a lot easier, physically on me -- fast and no surgery. Finally, we have this cute, amazing, blessing to put our arms around. So if any of you would be tempted to feel sorry for us, all you have to do is what we've been doing. Just look up again at the pictures of the amazing blessing God has given us and you will be able to thank God for how much he's blessed our lives. We are doing that. We are also thanking him for the many prayers that so many of you have been praying for us. It has made all the difference in the world. If we get to have the pleasure of seeing you over Christmas or Thanksgiving, you will see a family who goes through the hard stuff with joy knowing that God is bigger. I was singing an old favorite hymn last night and the words reminded me of a truth that his sustaining us right now

"This is my Father's World,

Oh let me not forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet!

This is my Father's world.

Why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King, let the heavens ring.

God reigns, let the earth be glad!"