Five Months!

Well, Mr. Titus is now five months and is looking (and acting) more and more like a little boy, rather than a little baby, everyday. He is drooling everywhere and everything goes right to his mouth. No little teeth yet, but the teething has definitely begun. He is scooting around pretty well and is desperately trying to sit up on his own. Titus loves to stand up on our laps, on the counter, on the bed, just any old place will do. As Joel always says to Titus, "I'm a big boy, I stand up!!" He is babbling a lot, squealing in delight, and just making the cutest expressions. In another month or so, we will try some solid foods, so that should be an interesting experience. Titus has had a lot of fun this summer and it has been great having him outside (which he LOVES). We continue to just love our little boy and are enjoying our family.

Grammy and Grampy Visit Continued

Well, the ferry to Martha's Vineyard was cancelled for the entire week and weekend due to electrical failures. So, we came up with an alternative plan....the Essex Steam Train and River Boat. It was a gorgeous day and Titus LOVED the train. We had a great time seeing all of the scenery and spending time together. It was so great to have them here, but so hard to say goodbye!



Titus in his big boy Maclaren stroller at Nordstrom.



Titus and Grampy at Abbott's for some lobster.




Here is a happy boy! He is so excited about the train!


Grammy and Titus, checking out the scenery from the Open Car on the train.



Titus checking out the Connecticut River from the Riverboat.


Here is Titus with Grampy back on the train.

Grammy and Grampy Visit!

My parents are in town for two weeks while Joel is away in California for Naval Post Graduate School. It is always so fun to have them around and we have been exploring everything that summer in New England has to offer. I am so thankful that they could take time away from their jobs in Kentucky to stay awhile! Here are a couple of pictures!

Titus is ready for a day on the Boardwalk in Niantic!

Titus is really trying to sit up and always has something in his mouth.

We visited Westerly, Rhode Island and here is Grammy and Titus in Wilcox park with the Runaway Bunny. My mom got this book for Titus, so it was fitting that they had a picture taken here!

Titus' Great, Great Aunt Sandy and Great, Great Uncle Ernie sent him a cuddle Elephant blanket. Here he is enjoying some time with the Elephant.

Sucking on his Ergo in the store. He just loves looking at everything going on around him!

We are going to Martha's Vineyard later this week, so more pictures to come!

Independence Day!

The Fourth of July has long been my favorite holiday! Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving, but there is something about the Fourth that gets me so excited. Perhaps it is the History geek in me or maybe it is because it is such a low maintenance holiday, with grilling, great friends, fireworks, sparklers, and warm sunshine. Growing up we had great times at Fort Monroe watching the fireworks or at the Capitol to picnic, throwing the frisbee, and writing our names with sparklers. My Uncle Mike always has a great cul de sac fireworks display in Orlando and I love the memories of being at the lake in upstate New York, setting off bottle rockets. Although these are all reasons that I love Independence Day, I think the biggest reason is that I am so grateful to be in a country of freedom. I am free to celebrate the Lord on other holidays because of this freedom; I am free to read what I desire; I am free to have as many children as I want; I am just free. When I think of the men and women who had the forethought to write down these rights and the men and women who continue to protect those rights, I am in awe. When I hear "Star and Stripes Forever" or "America, the Beautiful," I cannot help but tear up.

We had a great day at the Rodmans with some of our friends. There were chips and dips, rib eyes, a flag cake, kids, and dogs. It was a wonderful day!


All decked out in patriotic gear!

Sharnel Duarte and Titus. Sharnel and her husband, Ben, are preparing to adopt a little girl and we could not be more excited for them!

Joel, Titus, and Mr. Frog

Lisa and her flag cake

Titus holding his own bottle. This is a recent development!

Titus crashed in our Ergo Baby carrier...by far the best baby carrier out there!

I hope that everyone had a great day and although I believe that this country has gotten away from its roots, this is a day to remember that we have rights by the Grace of God and not by the Grace of Government.


"Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights; that government is only a convenience created and managed by the people, with no powers of its own except those voluntarily granted to it by the people" Ronald Reagan