Titus and the Little Pear

For my birthday this year my parents gave me a photo program. I've been enjoying learning the different effects. For these pictures I used a "time machine" technique. They are aged to look like photos taken and processed in the 60's. I like the artistic look it gives them. You can really notice it in the first picture because I left the the edges on.

Titus and I went to the grocery store today to find him some new fruits and vegetables to try. He is eating very well now and isn't too picky. However I felt like I was feeding him the same few items in a rotation. Since we are so close to the islands, our produce section is somewhat exotic. We bought some new fruits for him to try this week...we'll see how he does. The first thing we found was the cutest little miniature pear. I had no idea what it would taste like but instead my first thought was..."I could get some cute pictures of Titus with this tiny pear." Even the guy bagging our groceries commented on what a cute little pear it is.

It was just his size and he loved it! Next up is coconut...we just need to figure out how to open it.

Memorial Day

These are some pictures that I took of a few flags that lined our street today...

Today is a beautiful hot and sunny day. After posting that we don't get rain during the day, the past two days were overcast with occasional downpours. Today we woke up to the sun coming in through the blinds once again. A beautiful Memorial Day. As I was thinking about Memorial Day, two thoughts came to mind. The first is a movie that I saw recently, "Taking Chance." It is a true story that was made into an HBO movie. Below is a summary I copied from the HBO website...

'Taking Chance' chronicles one of the silent, virtually unseen journeys that takes place every day across the country, bearing witness to the fallen and all those who, literally and figuratively, carry them home. A uniquely non-political film about the war in Iraq, the film pays tribute to all of the men and women who have given their lives in military service as well as their families"

I watched this movie a month or so ago and cried the entire time. It did bring up some emotions of my own brother's death. Not because my brother was a soldier (he wasn't), but because of the journey "home" the soldier took. The movie tells the story of Chance Phelps body being taken from Philadelphia airport to his hometown in Wyoming. My brother died in Wyoming and had to be flown to Philadelphia. The soldier was killed 6 months before my brother's accident. While Dustin was in Alpine, two hours away in Dubois, Chance Phelps was being buried while his family was grieving. And shortly after that, Dustin would be put on a plane by our dear friend DC to be buried by his family who misses him more we could imagine.

Here is the trailer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtmiLdzzgGE

Another thought that comes to mind on this day is of my cousin Austin. Austin is going to be deployed to Afghanistan in June. He completed his first tour of duty in Iraq where God protected him and we are praying the same as he heads to Afghanistan. I love all my cousins and am proud of each one...however there is a special place in my heart for one who is willing to put his life on the line in this way.

Summertime

Even though we haven't had the official start to summer, it sure feels and looks like summer around here. We are actually in the rainy season now. The great thing about the rainy season in Florida is, unlike April showers in PA, it only rains in the morning and at night. The days are hot and sunny. We've been enjoying the cool breezes that come with the evening rain. The daytime temperatures are getting up into the 90's now. We've been using our air conditioner most of the time so it's been nice to take a break from that this week. Another thing we've noticed it that our condo complex has emptied out. Apparently most people head north in April. It's been great for Titus and I during the day as it means we've been having the pool to ourselves. I am amazed that there hasn't been anyone there when we've gone the past few days. Titus has been enjoying his new floaty since his other one sprung an air leak. Sorry, Adrienne, if you wanted it back. He has also taken a liking to the boats that pass by the pool. He looks and laughs as they go by.

Charlie

Saturday we went to see the CCA middle school performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The moment we walked in the door we could smell chocolate. The kids did a great job. Even Titus enjoyed it although he did fall asleep during the second act. Here is a little video of it...

Father and Son

The two boys of the house are fast becoming Best Buddies. When Steve comes home from work I tell Titus, "daddy's home!" and he drops what he's doing and scoots quickly over to the door. He lights up when he sees Steve coming in the house. Lately Steve has been taking Titus to the park after work. It's fun for me to see Steve strapping the little guy in his car seat and heading off with towards the park. They play for an hour or so and come back for dinner. I know as Titus gets older the two of them will be doing even more together. I picture Titus following behind his dad as the two head off to play basketball or go fishing. I know that my job in raising Titus is much different from Steve's responsibilities in his upbringing. I make sure Titus is fed, clean, and happy. I enjoy my time with my son but I know that Steve has a much different role in raising our little Titus. He is the one who will teach Titus what it means to be a man and to help him grow up to be the kind of man that we desire him to be.


"A mother spoils her sons and trains her daughters, A father spoils his daughters and trains his sons."

the Weekend

It was a big weekend in our home. My birthday was on Saturday and my first Mother's Day was Sunday. The weekend was filled with gifts (Steve always overdoes it...he reminds me of my dad with my mom), relaxing, naps and trips to the beach. How wonderful to have two days to celebrate me! :)

thank you to everyone for all the lovely cards!...

Titus' thumb print mouse gift bag...

book from Titus on my first Mother's Day...

I didn't get any pictures of Titus and I on our first Mother's Day together..something I am very much regretting. I set up the tripod and self-timer on Monday to try to get a decent picture of us. I got ONE...

Here are a couple more pictures from the past week---

This is how we find Titus each morning, after every nap, and while he's supposed to be napping. Now that he has learned to stand, he doesn't ever want to be lying down or even sitting. It has been a challenge to get him to go to bed at night and to take naps during the day. Unless he is exhausted, he will stand up, turn his mobile on (by pushing the buttons), and "yell" for someone to come get him. As soon as I open his bedroom door he begins to jump in his crib laughing. That makes me laugh and any chance of him napping has just gone out the window.
I took this picture of him at the park last week. I think he looks like such a little boy. It is so hard to believe that he is almost ten months old (on Friday).

Morning Swim

On Monday Titus and I went to the beach after breakfast. This was the first time that I really let Titus get down and play in the sand. I dug him a hole to play in...but he wasn't too sure of it. After all his playing I took him to the water to rinse off. He sat by the edge and let the waves wash over him. One of the wonderful things about the water here is that it is very calm. We don't have the big waves of the beaches up north. I was able to walk into the water with Titus without getting knocked down. It's also warm enough at 9am to get in!

Mr. Mischief

Growing up my "Paw" used to call me mischievous. He said I always had a mischievous look in my eyes and would kid me about having to stand in the corner at school. After watching Titus the past few days, I know that Paw would call him mischievous as well. Paw was in a car accident when I was in 7th grade. I miss him dearly. I know he would've gotten a kick out of Titus.

Lately Titus has been trying to sneak into the bathroom and has discovered the toilet paper. I thought I'd let him go at it to see just what he would do. He actually didn't pull the entire roll out like I thought he would. But he did have fun unraveling some of it.

Today's shenanigans included a little playtime in the washer. I was holding him (because he is stuck to my hip lately...he follows me around the house and tries to pull up on my ankles) while doing the laundry and he was very interested in the washing machine. There is just enough space for him to stand up and he seemed to rather enjoy it! ...having a blast.