"Little" Quincy

Sleeping peacefully-

Playing happily-

Standing confidently-

Snuggled in-

Loved by his mama-

Titus Takes the Stage

Yesterday Steve performed at the school's middle school chapel. I took the boys to watch. Titus did more than just watch. I remembered Steve telling me that "since it's just middle school, he could even come on stage with me." So I was more relaxed in what I would typically allow him to do. After watching from up front on the floor, Titus made his way onto the stage. Now that I think about it, I'm really not even sure how he knew where the steps were. But, he found them. And I again was reminded of how emotional I am. I got so choked up standing there holding Quincy watching Steve and Titus on stage. Watching them together. Titus wanting to be just like his dad. Titus was dancing and singing along. He's funny though because it isn't the crowd or the attention that he thrives on, it's the music. There were some moments when he was covering his eyes, but still dancing and singing. When we talked about it at home last night, Titus said, "I didn't want to see all those people." Aunt Jane tells stories of Steve first rapping at the age of three. I think we'll be telling stories of Titus doing the same.

The Beach Meets the Snow.

I never thought 40 degrees would feel warm...today it did. Titus played in the snow and the mud...so much melting today, while Quincy relaxed in the wagon. The sun was so bright that we dusted off out our clip-on beach umbrella and attached it to the side of the wagon.



Checking on his passenger-

Yep, he's happy-






Great conversation between brothers...words aren't even necessary-



So warm we didn't even bother with gloves-

Quincy at Five Months...

...is the most lovable, hug-able, squeezable guy. I could just play with him all day and make him laugh...it doesn't take much. I don't know what is it, but for some reason I feel such an intense bond with him. I think he is going to be the one who resembles me more. I actually see my dad in him often. Everyone says Titus is a mini Steve. Although Titus does have more of my personality. He's strong-willed and has a temper. Quincy is laid back. When Titus would cry as a baby, he was mad. When Quincy cries it's like he's heartbroken...just so sad that someone wouldn't pick him up or wondering why someone (Titus) would ever hurt him. And that's the only times he does cry. After Titus hurt him or if we let him "cry it out" in his crib. That's another huge difference between the two so far, the results of the "cry it out method." Titus could cry for an hour, getting more and more mad as time went on, never falling asleep and then we would go through the same thing the next time. It never worked with him. With Quincy it worked after the first time. He would cry these big huge tears until I went to comfort him. He would stop crying as soon as I would pick him up. Then I swear he would hug me. He would wrap his chubby little arms around my neck. He would cry again after I put him back, but then fall asleep on his own. I used this method to get him to nap on his own, fall alseep at night on his own and to fall back to sleep in the middle of the night on his own. Each time it worked after just doing it once. He's doing really well now at night, sleeping about 11 hours straight. He goes down bewteen 6:00 and 7:00 and wakes up around 5am. I feed him and he sometimes goes back to sleep. He's eating fruits and vegetables now. He sat up on his own for the first time with Steve this week. He goes backwards in his walker and jumps in his Jumperoo. He is just overall happy.

It's fun to have two kids at such fun yet different stages. Titus is goofy and funny. He makes faces and rolls his eyes. He sings songs from the radio but with his own words. He is passionate and spunky. Quincy smiles all the time. He laughs and babbles. He loves to be hugged and held. They both are so much fun in such completely different ways.

Here are some of Quincy's 5 month pictures. The outfit he has on is from Israel and was bought by my parents when they were there the days around Quincy's birth.

starting to lean-



he still sucks his thumb-

And Then Came Titus...

...and his cars. They're never far behind.

These pictures just make me smile. They are so true to each boy's personality. Titus is wild and spirited. Quincy is happy-go-lucky and adores Titus. It's such a great place to be at now with the boys...watching their relationship develop. Quincy is at the very beginning of his interacting with his big brother. He grabs at Titus and "kisses" his face. He smiles at him and "talks" to him. Laughs with him. It's an amazing thing to watch from the outside...as their parent. To watch a relationship that will {hopefully} be one of the strongest in their lives. As far back as I can remember, my siblings were there. Every memory I have, even if it didn't directly involve one or both of my siblings, they were present in my life. That is one of the reasons I wanted my children close in age. I can't imagine Titus will remember life before Quincy since he was so young when Quincy was born. And for Quincy, Titus has always been there.





I love Titus' expression...and the finger. It's like he's thinking, "hmmm, what shall I do to him next?"






...and then Titus got a little too wild. :)