It's Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Benson's note to Jesus, we didn't have enough H/U combos, so a sideways C had to do the trick!

Merry Christmas everyone! I think it's been TOO long since I last blogged. Since the last post, Nate safely traveled to and home from Mississippi with work, Benson turned four months old, and we celebrated his first Christmas out here. I can't stop thinking of and thanking God for so many blessings. So, I'll try to slow myself down long enough to share with you... God is so faithful, and here's proof!

A couple weeks ago, we were able to enjoy a date, Benson joined us, to a Hershey Bears hockey game! He did so great, and loved watching the guys skate around on the ice. He finally succomed to exhaustion in the third period with a few head bobs, and complete snoozing, even snoozing through the loudness of a 'hat trick'. This was fun for me. I've been to hockey games in Europe, but never here. I learned a lot from Nate.

Doesn't he look intrigued???

Nate traveled to Mississippi a week ago for work. Often times on his trips, he has fairly decent delays and this trip was no exception. He got stuck in traffic due to an accident on the way to Baltimore. Thankfully, his flight was late, so he didn't miss it. Then he got stuck coming home with a delay, and another, and anotherin Atlanta that *could have* been long and frustrating, resulting in him not getting home for many days due to the storm we had, but God got him home safely that night! We did great here at home, but I stayed up too late every night hanging out with friends :) It was good for me, though and I'm reminded how much I love my girlfriends!

Benson had his four month doctor appointment and he is GROWING! He is now 24.5" tall (36.13%), weighs 16lbs, 4oz (78.58%), and his head is 16.34" (31.55%). The doctor commented how solid he is. He's not actually very fat, except those thighs and cheeks... He also commented he might be a linebacker in the making, which would probably make Grandma Frisky very happy :)

Friday night, shortly after Nate got home, we got sad news from friends and I don't think I've ever cried so deeply. I love how God knits our hearts together, allowing us to weep when He does. You know who you are, and we love you and we believe God with you and for you!!!

Saturday morning we got up early to play in the snow. I couldn't wait to drive in it and Nate obliged. We drove to the mall, which was thankfully very slow due to the storm, then drove to Ephrata, a town 15 miles away or so to go to Ten Thousand Villages to buy Benson an ornament for Christmas. Since he's named after a missionary in Kenya, we decided to buy an ornament for him from Kenya. http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/baobab-tree-ornament. Because of where Nate works, we even got a nice discount - thank you Jesus! Afterwards, we went on a hunt for a wagon for Benson, but ended up just taking a nice, long drive down snowy roads that had barely been traveled on, we even got to drive through a covered bridge in the snow - I was delighted! Now, if it would just keep snowing, that would be nice :)

Sunday church was cancelled so we enjoyed relaxing a bit in the morning, then had our dear friends Rick and Carla over for lunch. These two really know how to love people and we feel inspired by them every time we're even close to being in their presence. They're that cool. They gave Benson his first Christmas present and gave us a couple of steaks (do they know how to get into our hearts or what???).

After lunch, we packed up our snow gear to head to the Weaver's house in Strasburg. I love old friends, don't you? Not OLD like that, but friends I have known for 10 years or so and who I love and appreciate so much. We went sledding and I didn't get hurt! I did, however, manage to somehow end up backwards going down the hill (not on purpose), taking out a bush, and even crashing into Erin's lane as we were racing and knocking her from her sled. I love her laugh. It makes me smile even thinking of it. Benson enjoyed his first sled ride (with dad, since I can't be trusted)...

This week has been busy with lots of work and fun (I got to get out to a great ladies Bible study Christmas feast party) and preparing our hearts for Christmas. I was reading earlier this week the account of Jesus' birth in Matthew 1, 2, and 3. I was struck by how obedient Joseph was. If you want to be inspired, read the passages and think about how the Word says the Lord told Joseph to do something and he did! It doesn't say he pondered it, waited and worried, but that he "got up" and did what God told him to. I want that faith, that obedience and that love for God. I haven't been able to stop thinking about that this week. I'm so glad Joseph obeyed God to stay with Mary, to move to protect Jesus when God told him to.

We enjoyed Christmas Eve by making cookies for our neighbors - yummy sugar cookies with orange rind and an orange rind icing. YUM!

We celebrated Christmas with Nate's family last night - complete with the traditional feast of shrimp, ham, waffles, blueberry sauce, fruit, veggie tray, cookies, and I'm sure some other stuff. It's a weird menu, but they used to have Christmas day brunch, then moved it to Christmas Eve and kept the menu the same. I like the weirdness. Benson had fun opening gifts, dressing as a cow for the Christmas story, and listening to our nieces play Christmas carols on the piano. We enjoyed singing together, reading of Jesus' birth, and receieving/giving gifts! I had a surprise with my gifts because I couldn't remember what I had on my list! Angie spoiled me! Benson was blessed with a hat grandma made for him, a rattle, a fun wood tool set and Global Babies book, and Nate got tools! We are so blessed to be part of such a great family!All the grandkids with the hats grandma made for them!

Okay, people... Seriously, how cute is this??? Nate's mom made head-pieces for Released Time last week to act out the Christmas story and we used them last night. Benson makes a cute cow, don't you think???

This morning, we woke up early - I made homemade wheat cinnamon rolls - thank heavens for quick rise yeast ;) and we opened gifts while they baked. Nate blessed me with Peridot earrings and necklace (Benson's birthstone), Benson got blocks, a couple Bibles (one of which I think I want to read front to back - the pictures are awesome - so expressive!), and I crocheted him a little blanket (about a foot square (ish, because really, it's not that square!), Nate got an impact and regular drill, gloves, and a hat.

I'm missing my mom and Gretchen this year, but look forward to seeing them in just over two weeks in ARIZONA! This will be a first for us in Sedona, and a first for Nate in California and Arizona. It'll be fun to show him some of my old stompin' grounds! We are so fortunate for the trip, Nate will be out in California on work, I had a flight voucher from my trip home from my "world tour" in January that paid for almost half of my ticket that we got for WAY CHEAP. We'll get to see my best friend and her hubby for a couple days then drive to Arizona to meet mom and Gretchen. I can hardly wait!

I better run now - we're headed back to mom and dad's for Christmas lunch with Grandma, Grandpa, and great Aunt June!

More pictures on our picasa site: http://picasaweb.google.com/nateandjenny.blogspot.com

Many blessing and much love to you this Christmas!

Oh, Tannenbaum

What a fun week! Okay, so our baby is 16 weeks now, or is that 17? I can't keep track, but either way, he's growing and getting cuter and cuter and laughing and having fun, but it is hard to show you all of this, because the camera comes out and he freezes up. Performance anxiety, I guess ;) He got his first taste and feel of snow this weekend and he loved it. I think the hat from N-pal kept him plenty warm and well, he might just be on his way to becoming a snow-freak, like his mama.

We traveled to State College (about 2 hours away) with some friends this past Saturday (also where most of them (except our friend Jeremy and I) went to college. They loved it there, so it was fun to return with people who really liked the town. The Christmas tree farm we visited was called Tannenbaum Farms http://www.tannenbaumfarms.com/index.htm and it was so beautiful! ANY TREE, that's right, ANY, is only $35. The employees were very nice, too :) We prayed for snow and God delivered white, wonderful, beautiful snow :)

Speaking of snow, I've been thinking a lot since Saturday about why I like snow so much. I like that it covers everything and makes it new-looking, pure, spotless. But I tend to like it a lot less after the heat has melted it a bit, cars and people have polluted it, turning it that nasty grayish brown color, and it no longer looks pure and spotless. I am so glad, though, that as co-heirs with Christ, we have been made white as snow. Not grayish brown as snow, but white as snow. Isaiah 1:18b says, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Thank you, God, for sending Jesus so we could be fresh and white and pure, like a new snowfall. You are so good...

Thankful and Blessed

What a wonderful time of year! I love Thanksgiving, Fall, and Christmas - some snow would make it perfect, but I'll be happy without it, too...

When rattles double as sunglasses, you know daddy has been gone for too long and NEEDS to come home and rescue his son ;)

Thank you for praying for us while Nate was away and traveling, Benson was a great baby and we had fun getting ready for grandma's visit. My mom made it here on Friday night, and Nate was supposed to be here Friday, too, but due to mechanical issues on the plane, didn't make his connection and got home Saturday. God was with me the whole week, keeping me from fear and even giving me a good attitude when I found out Nate would be late :) I was glad they fixed the plane before flying and would rather have a late husband than a dead one. I know that's a blunt way of stating it, but sometimes I think I forget the eternal or long-lasting stuff by getting caught in the here and now. God protected me from whining and being ungrateful for His blessings. I was able to make the most of the extra alone time with my mom and I think that was fun, too. Nate was bummed to miss helping his brother and sis-in-law move into their new home. Nate worked to help get the house ready and it looks great! We were grateful to be able to take them dinner and help a little bit Saturday night. I don't have pictures, but we pray blessings for Sheldon, Mindi, and the kiddos there!

This little bear was ready for a hike at Lancaster County Park with mom, dad, and grandma...

We had such a great time this past week - thanking God and even though my mom had strep while she was here, Benson got (and is still fighting off) his first cold, and Nate and I are kind of sick (but fighting the illnesses!!!), we are happy. It has been a joy to watch Nate love on our son, being selfless and serving the two of us. Our little sweetheart of a baby has, aside from bouts of sadness from fever and not being able to breathe, been the same smiley, happy little baby we love so much. God is so good to us, better than we deserve in every way.

For Benson's first Thanksgiving, we took some pictures of him by the turkey, they were about the same size, the turkey weighing in at 17.5 pounds and baby Benson at 15 lbs. 1 oz. (one blessing of him getting sick and having to go to the doctor was getting to find out his weight ;).

This is actually Benson's second Thanksgiving. One year ago, Nate and I were on our trip up north right after Thanksgiving. I was exhausted tired, hungry, and didn't know I was pregnant, but God had already blessed us with this wonderful baby, growing and thriving, ready to be our Thanksgiving blessing one year later :) That made this year even more special as I thought of the surprise God had for us last year....

I'll stop writing now and let the pictures speak for me, except to say, we love you and thank God for you as well as the countless other blessings of our lives...

We enjoyed a wonderful time with Nate's family and my mom for Thanksgiving - Sheldon is leading us in worship together...

My mom says these two pics look very much like I did as a baby...

Jenny for Nate and Baby Benson :)

Three Months Old!!!

Benson is Three Months Old today. At the risk of sounding cliche, I will just say I'm not sure what life was like before him. I know it was good, but he's just so much fun and such a joy!

Today, for Benson's three month birthday, he decided to finally, after many days of rolling from his back to his side, make it all the way over to his belly!!!! *yeah, Sarah, about 40 minutes after we left your house!* I thought it was so fun, but he, on the other hand realized that motion created a dilemma for him. Now he was stuck in his least favorite position - the belly. And he was laying on one of his hands. Ha. I had to rescue him after many minutes of intense frustration.

My (Jenny) mom comes tomorrow for an eight day visit and I think Benson will delight her. She hasn't seen him since he was one week old, so this will be a special treat for all of us. AND! Nate comes home tomorrow, too. It's going to be a great Friday for me and for Benson!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Season everyone! We all have SO MUCH to be thankful for!!!!!!!

Horses, horses, horses and celebrating 12 weeks!!!

Howdy folks,

Micah, being quite excited for the ride!

Major, making sure I got his face in the shot of Jeremy, Nate, and Jim working on the reigns/halter.

These two cuties are getting hitched in June ;)

The guys, ready to go!

What a beautiful weekend we had at the cabin!!! Nate and his dad and two of their friends rode horses on Saturday, while Benson held down the fort with the ladies :) He rather enjoyed himself and somehow made it almost 24 hours without crying once. And I was nervous he wouldn't sleep well in a strange place. Silly me.

Benson smiling with Grandma Hoover

Nate and I were really looking forward to this trip, as he and his family and the Horning family have been going on horse-back rides together for 10 or 12 years. I really enjoyed hanging out with the women and going on a nice long walk in the cool fall air. God has really blessed us here!

Benson and the ladies out for a walk. Notice Jean's selflessness, pulling the large stick up the hill to mark our spot on the trail so we could find our way home.

We ran into these cowboys on our walk :) I think the guy in the middle is pretty cute ;)

We found this beauty randomly on the trail... Sandhill cranes are not too common in these parts...

Benson celebrated his 12 week birthday by getting two vaccines, which he only cried for about 30 seconds afterwards, then was grinning up a storm at the nurse. I saw a neat lesson in quick and total forgiveness there :) He then went to work with mama and sat through a couple teaching sessions, lunch, and disintegrated big-time right as prayer started. He's been smiling and happy and talking tonight though, and we thank God for being his Healer, Protector, and Strength today! (and everyday, for that matter!)

And we leave you today with a parting video with our tough li'l guy :) Please pardon my sweet cheapo photo camera video :)

More photos at...... http://picasaweb.google.com/nateandjenny.blogspot.com

Baby Benson is 11 Weeks and "Doing His Part"

Happy 11 Weeks (+2 Days) My little Baby Benson.

Baby Benson slept SEVEN HOURS last night, and this mama almost didn't know what to do with 6.5 hours of CONSECUTIVE sleep. Bliss, I tell you.

I thought I'd post some cute toes pictures, a pic of Benson in his daddy's loving arms, and a picture in honor of my job and the "work" Benson does to help me continue working. Such a good, sweet, awesome baby boy :)

Here Benson is "Doing His Part" so the world will know...

Happy Friday everyone!!!

10 Weeks!

Our little baby Benson is 10 Weeks Old (+ 1 day)!!! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves (well, mostly :))

Happy Birthday Luke!!!

Two months with our blessing!

What a great day! We celebrate our precious son today and thank God for what a gift he is to us!

We had our two month checkup today and here's a quick update on his stats:

23" long in the 54th percentile (last month: 21.75"/60th%)

12lb 10oz in the 74th percentile (last month: 9lb 14oz/54%)

15.12" head circumference in the 17th percentile (last month: 14.76"/40%)

***at least he's not getting a big head about how quickly he can grow! hardeehar. Give me a little credit. I think sleep deprived women can get away with some cheesyness ;)

He's responding very well, cooing and smiling even as I type, to the two vaccines we got him today. We're doing a delayed schedule of vaccines and will forego some alltogether for a while until he's older. We've done a lot of research and feel peace about spacing them out and also about getting them. We feel we've weighed the risks of the vaccines and the risks of the diseases and have made what we hope is the right decision for Benson :)

Here are some pictures from the past 24 hours. I wanted a picture of him last night, just before the time two months ago we were going to the hospital and hadn't yet met this wonderful baby. A night full of uncertainties but mostly hope and excitement :) (see above pic)

Here are some pics from the doctor's office today - what a cutie.

He was clearly unhappy about the cold room :) but check out those sweeeeeeeeeet thighs ;)

Post shot - just a few tears, then smiles - a pic of his band-aid, that incidentally, is not actually covering his injection site - that's about an inch lower... Ha.

And just a few minutes ago, very happy to be TWO MONTHS OLD! When he really smiles hard, he scrunches up his shoulders. I love it. And I really love him.

Thanks so much for your prayers and love - he is a testimony of God's faithfulness to us!

**Car update - the catalytic converter was diagnosed as needing replaced by the end of November and the check engine light went off on Friday, so maybe God healed our Montero! Yippee! We shall see when inspection comes up!

8 WEEKS!

Happy 8 weeks to this little cutie pie...

We are enjoying our baby Benson SO much! God has blessed us abundantly! Two month checkup coming on Monday. We are looking forward to checking out his stats!