Beach Weekend by Titus

We've been spending as much time as possible at the beach this weekend. I think the trend will continue on as we are now counting down our days here.

Here is the beach from Titus' point of view.

played in the waves-

tried to balance on a rock while eating snack-


found that taking a snack break while sitting on a rock is much easier-


time to go home to bed-

Back to the beach the next day.

fell in the big hole dad dug-

played some soccer-

found a board that had washed up and made a bridge-

what to do with it now?-

put some rocks on it-

got sea plants stuck on his foot in the process-

What more could a kid ask for?

To Do List

1. Pack our house
2. Find a new place to live in PA
3. Pick a name for the baby

Titus Talk

Lying in bed with Titus last night...

Titus poked at my protruding stomach and said,

"Baby Brother, come out."

I can't wait for them to meet.

24 Weeks

How far along 24 weeks 2 days
Total weight gain 8 1/2 pounds
Maternity clothes are so comfortable
Sleep ... I miss it. Between Titus suddenly waking up early and my never being able to find a comfortable position, I'm not getting much sleep at all.
Best moment this week Deciding to move to Lancaster, PA and knowing that I'll be delivering at Women's & Babies with the same midwife that delivered Titus. That also means we'll have someone from our family to watch Titus so that Steve can stay with me and the new baby in the hospital.
Movement Lots
Food cravings None really
Gender A boy with no name
Labor signs None
Belly button in or out In
What I miss Sleep
What I am looking forward to Deciding on a name
Milestones Every day is a milestone.

A New Direction.

We've been praying about a decision that we've needed to make. There really is no way to write down the thoughts and emotions that we've each (Steve and myself) been having. I attempt to write about our experience in making this decision so that we can look back and remember the journey that led us to where our life has gone.

Steve was recently offered a job teaching at Lancaster Mennonite School. Not a school we ever saw Steve in...but, did God?

It's easy to talk about wanting to move "home" but when it comes down to it, is that what we really want? Is that what is really best for our family?

The school that Steve teaches at here in Florida is really beyond words. I've never seen anything like it. The opportunities that the kids have here are really endless. In all aspects-academic, extracurricular, spiritual and ministry. Every area is developed to the degree of perfection. There is something for every type of student.

Right along with that is the church. Pastor Bob Coy is one of the best pastors I have ever heard. The music and worship team are amazing and the kids programs are exceptional. Steve is part of a Next Generation Team and being mentored by one of the pastors. I meet with the wives once a month.

The church has a school of music (Ocean's Edge) where Steve has been able to use the studio to work on his own music.

So, why would we even consider leaving...

Family. Not having our extended family here to support us and share in our lives. Soon we'll have two kids and no help. We were both raised by not only our immediate family, but with grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles all playing a role in our upbringing. We know, from experience, how all these people can come into a child's life and shape that child into who they later become as an adult. Steve and I know that we lack in certain areas as parents, but that our families can fill in those voids.

It was largely due to this alone that brought us to the decision to accept the position and move our family to Lancaster.

It's strange to be at a place where the road splits and each option left will take our life on a completely different path. Each one would take our children through a different journey. We pray that we made the right decision, not for us but for our children.

Nothing is More Precious

Than a sleeping child. Especially when it's a sight you haven't seen often enough lately.


The past few days we continued to have struggles with Titus' sleeping patterns. Each morning he would wake up an hour earlier than the previous day and then he added midnight wake ups in as well. In addition to that he wasn't napping well during the day either. We struggled through it up until last night when he slept from 7pm-7am. Today he took a 2 hour nap so it seems we just may be back on track. We'll be praying that he sleeps well tonight and that our days of midnight wake ups and early mornings are over...until the baby arrives. :)

Never too tired for a little mischief-


I found him up on my make-up table playing drums with my brushes one day last week.

Never Complain

...because things can get worse.

Today Titus decided to get up at 5:30am.

And, like yesterday, only wanted to nap for an hour.

Needless to say, we're watching tv at the moment.

Another Early Morning and Sleepless Day

My day today started at 6:05am when Titus came into our room. As much as I dislike getting up that early, I do love to see him come in and over to the bed to say good morning. We got out of the house early and made a quick run to the grocery store and then to the beach for a bit.

We came home for lunch and then an early nap. He fell asleep within 10 minutes. Thinking that he was exhausted and would take a long nap, I laid down as well. An hour later he was up and ready to go. He actually woke up at the time that he often goes down for his nap. I thought we were in for a long afternoon, so we got out all the toys and took over his room.

Lining his cars and trucks up on his windowsill-



Snack in a truck-

Some strawberries, I was snacking on them and when I asked him if he wanted any he said, "No, I'm good." Then he changed his mind-

Found his old car in his closet-

Of course, Fanti is never far away-

All day today he's been wearing this hat. Starting at 6:30 when he first asked for it. He's always liked hats but has never worn one around the house so continually. Maybe it's because I cut all his curls off yesterday. :)

Late Nights and Early Mornings

It seems Titus was bored of his old, very consistent schedule and felt the need to switch it up a bit. We've had a year or more of him going to be at 7pm and sleeping until 8am. There was even about a week lately of him gong down at 8pm and sleeping in until 9am. Either of these schedules worked well for me because I am not a morning person. In addition to sleeping so well at night he would take about a 2 hour nap during the day. The past couple of weeks he's been fighting us to go down at 7:00, usually not falling asleep until after 8, but then getting up between 6:00-6:30. We transitioned him to a bed about a month ago, so I'm not sure if that has something to do with it or not. He was doing very well the first couple of weeks in the bed. Right now bedtime is a challenge. Even after keeping him up later or running him hard during the day, he still refuses to sleep past 6:30. Along with that his naps have been much shorter. He often seems so tired during the day and we've been having many days where he's been so cranky because of it. We pray that it's just a phase and will be over soon. Until then (if there is a then) we've developed a new morning routine. He comes over to our room and grabs my hand to pull me out of bed. We wander over to the couch and I turn the tv on so we can both slowly wake up together.

This morning-

I'm not a fan of kids watching tv...but a little won't hurt, right? :)

Real Motherhood

Today was Mother's Day
and I turned twenty-nine.

Mostly it was a normal day with a few sweet treats along the way.

We went to church last night so that we could sleep in today.
Titus wasn't a fan of that idea and was up at 7:00.

Steve and Titus were planning to run to Starbucks to get me a frappuccino, but when Titus refused to get in the car, I told them not to bother.

I did a load of laundry, "Fanti" needed to be washed.

I emptied the dishwasher, and re-loaded it.

We went to a late breakfast and Titus threw a creamer hitting the man behind us.

I got chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream.

We stopped at the park on the way home so Titus could get some energy out.

I laid down when we put Titus down hoping for a long nap,
he only slept and hour and ten minutes.

Gave Titus a spanking for throwing his snack on the floor.

Vacuumed up the snack on the floor.

Temperature hit record high, 94 degrees,
so I treated myself to a bowl of chocolate ice cream.

Listened to Titus giggling in the tub while he created a huge puddle on the floor.

Cleaned up the huge puddle on the floor.

Gave Titus 2 more spankings for opening his bedroom door when he was supposed to be sleeping.

Fought with Titus for an hour and a half to get him to go to bed.

Had a good, deep conversation wth Steve about our life and what we want for our kids.

Got my birthday gift from Steve...money to go shopping.

Talked to a dear friend on the phone while eating m&ms.

Felt baby boy pushing on my sides.

Checked on Titus and found him sleeping peacefully...and smiled at how much I love him.

Cut the back of Steve's hair.

Felt guilty for eating chocolate all day, but only for a minute.
After all, it was my special day.

Chapter Four

I am still working my way through the book Raising Your Children With No Regrets by Catherine Hickem. I bought the book after hearing her speak at our church. It's great, but deep. I feel like to get the most out of it I have to work my way through it slowly. I have also been reading several other books as well, so it's been a little while since I had picked it up.

Some of the other things I'm reading at the moment, or recently finished are...

Daily Wisdom for Mothers by Michelle Medlock Adams. This book is a daily devotional. Each day is just a quick read. It's been good, really encouraging some days. My dear Amy gave it to me as she has it also.

Another book from Amy (my friend from home who I couldn't survive without. She has a daughter just older than Titus and is also a stay-at-home mom, we talk constantly. Lucky for us, and our husbands, we have the same phone plan...we'd be in debt if not) is
Mom...and Loving It by Laurie Hillard and Sharon Autry. This book has been amazing! Dealing with the guilts and fears we face as moms and challenging us to really enjoy the journey of parenting. I just started reading it through for the second time.

Another book I just finished reading for the second time (read it the first time a couple of years ago) was Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Great book and a must read for women.

Lastly, I have been going through the book The Love Dare that was featured in the recent Christian movie Fireproof (which I haven't seen). I've been doing it for 20 days. Steve and want to start from the beginning and work though it together. It's so great!

But last night I once again picked up Raising Your Children With No Regrets and continued to work my way through it. Here is what I underlined from Chapter 4 Become A Thinking Mom, Principle 4: Be Intentional about Developing Emotional Intelligence

Our children's feelings don't need to make sense to us.

Our job is to recognize our children's emotions-and then to hear them, accept them, and help our kids process them. It isn't our job to fix their feelings, justify their feelings, or deem them worthy.

Kids are relational. They're born that way. Yet in order for them to achieve their optimal level of human interaction and blessing, we must make the relationship area of their life a main priority. We call this area emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence includes:
Knowing one's emotions
Managing emotions
Motivating oneself
Recognizing emotions in others
Handling relationships

Moms wake up to the incredible opportunity we have to develop our children emotionally. If we don't take the time to cultivate this dimension of our children's hearts, we will experience greater challenges when they are teens.

Children and adolescents need time to think through their options, choices, consequences, benefits, and outcomes. Thinking is a skill that requires time, patience, and opportunity. Practice doesn't necessarily make perfect, but it does improve their odds at making better decisions.

If a mother can't identify her own emotions, or sends them underground, she will have difficulty being sensitive to her children's feelings.

Emotional maturity begins in childhood with how parents relate, speak, listen, touch, and pay attention to their children.

Our Trip to The Keys

This weekend we took a day trip to the Keys. We didn't make it all the way to the end (Key West) but instead drove the 2 1/2 hour trip to Islamorada. I had searched for the best beaches on the Keys and found Anne's Beach. We left around 8am and drove straight through. Titus did really well. He is becoming quite the traveler.

The minute we got into the Keys I was in love with the area. So many cute little shops and restaurants. I wish we would've had the time to stop at all of them. However when we pulled into Anne's Beach, Steve said, "This can't be it." We had heard the beaches in the Keys aren't great...and this was supposedly the best one. It was much more rustic than we're use to. We basically pulled into a parking lot with woods and a wooden walkway. Off the walkway there were pavilions which led to little areas of beach.

It actually turned out to be a great day and the perfect beach for Titus. He couldn't wander like he does on the beaches near home and the water was so calm and warm. As the day got later and the tide went out the beach became much bigger and a lot of people came. Each area stayed pretty secluded though, which is what I liked about it.

I found these at the Dollar Store awhile ago and was saving them. I was surprised that they actually worked and Titus loved them


Cookie break

The water was so shallow, but not nearly as blue as I was expecting. Driving home across the bridges we saw the Caribbean clear blue water.

Another Dollar Store find, the inner tube got a lot of use. Titus could walk out with it on. He'd say, "Woah woah woah" the entire time.






Exhausted, Titus took a little mid day nap in his stroller. Something woke him up and he sat up for a second and then fell back asleep like this

Ready to go home after a long day

And now we can say, "Been there, done that" and check it off our list of places to go. The drive was long, we took 95S until it ends, then drove on US1 through town, and then on The Keys Highway...it felt like it took forever to get home. We arrived home exhausted and needing showers. Fortunately for the boys, they don't get sunburned...unfortunately for me, I do.