Happy 7 Months

My Titus Andrew,

Today you are 7 months old! It seems like just yesterday we were in Taiwan getting to know you and spending time in the beautiful country of your birth. I honestly can’t believe one whole month has gone by so quickly since we came home. I hope time starts slowing down so that we can savor all of these moments with you.

I hope you know how much I love you and what a delight you are in my life. I look at you swinging in your swing, trying new foods, attempting to crawl and jabbering and I smile. You really are the greatest gift from up above and I hope that I show you that daily.

You are growing up so fast! You already seem to be getting chubbier cheeks and I can’t wait to squeeze them! I’ll be gentle, I promise. I can’t wait to weigh you today to see how much you weigh now.

I want you to know that when you look into my eyes when I’m feeding you, I melt. You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen. So deep and dark. Just perfect.

There’s so much that I want for you in your life, but I guess we have time to get into that in the future. I don’t want to rush things… After all, you are only seven months old, so let’s just enjoy that milestone!

Just know that you are the most perfect little boy in the world for our family. Thanks for bearing with me as I learn this whole mama thing and I promise that things will just keep on getting better for all of us! One day at a time, right?

Some fun facts about you:

• You weigh approximately 12 pounds
• You are in the 6th percentile in weight and 25th percentile in height
• You wear 3-6 month clothes and size 2 shoes
  
• Your favorite songs are Jesus Love Me, Happy All the Time, and our special Good Morning Song
  
• You are still working hard to trying to figure out how to crawl
  
• Your favorite book is Barn Yard Dance by Sandra Boynton
  
• Dada got you to laugh for the first time since coming home on September 22nd. We hope there are many more laughs and giggles to come.
• Your new favorite toy is a little green dinosaur we call Dino
• You discovered Aly, our cat this month. She isn't so sure about you...but I think you'll win her over eventually. ;)
  

I love you little mister man and can't wait to see what your next month of life brings to our home!

Happy Grandparents Day!

Papa, Grammy, and the grandchildren

Grandpa & Grandma Wolfe with all the Wolfe cubs

We are so grateful for the Godly heritage that Titus has been given.

But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-
Psalms 103:17

Catchin' Some ZZZZZ's

I either wear him out because I'm so much fun or I'm just that boring... ;)
This is the third time Titus has fallen over asleep during playtime.

Wolfe Weekend

After an incredibly hot summer here in the Midwest, autumn can't come soon enough for me. Although, I wouldn't say that autumn has arrived yet, we are getting closer as the temperatures are slowly lowering. Autumn is my favorite season. I love when I start catching glimpses that it's almost here. And, in my opinion, Labor Day is the official start of the autumn season. This year to ring in the official beginning we had a Wolfe Weekend complete with a wonderful autumn tradition of a bonfire.

Titus was completely mesmerized by the fire

Titus' first bonfire. MAYBE next year he can try a tiny bite of a smore.

I think she liked it. ;)

Michaela's perfectly toasted marshmallows

There was lots of other family fun: competitive games, family pictures, lots of play time, talking and laughing. I wish I had taken more pictures to share, but I did get a few shots... Zane has such a sweet spirit and has been very kind and loving toward Titus. He even shared ALL of his cars with Titus.

My new job

This week I started my dream job. The job I have dreamed of since I was a girl. I can't say it enough, I have NEVER been happier in my whole life!

The pay is a WHOLE, WHOLE lot less than any job I've ever had.
There will be no raises or bonuses.
No annual reviews.
The hours are a LOT longer!
I have to work nights and weekends.
I don't get vacation time or sick days.
I can't call in for "mental health" days.
I have to work all major (and minor) holidays.

But my new co-worker is SUPER CUTE!
The person reporting to me - PRECIOUS!
The rewards and benefits- PURE JOY!
The eternal reward-PRICELESS!

Meet my new co-worker.

The little person reporting to me and I plan to have lots of "working lunches", "performance reviews", "coaching" and "team building exercises". I can't fire him, so we are in this for the long haul.

We've been busy this first week home with lots of firsts and activities. Titus seems to thrive being busy and with other people.

Kevin primarily does Titus bedtime routine: pajamas, diaper change, and Bible story time

First bath at home


First time eating solids-brown rice cereal


Johnny-Jump-Up time

First play date with Cousins Elle & Zane and new friends Lily and Maelynn


Aren't these some of the cutest little boys you've every seen?
We envision lots of adventures for these two cuties!
One of the best highlights of the week was celebrating Cousin Zane's 2nd birthday. It was so fun to celebrate Zane's first birthday at home. We have loved watching him become a big boy and can't wait to see what God has in store for this special boy.

There's no place like home!

We made it home!!!! Sorry for the delay in posts. We appreciate all those that have emailed us and called us to make sure we were okay.

We arrived home on Thursday, August 26th and were greeted by a wonderful welcoming committee. We are so thankful for all of you that helped us pray our Titus home. It was very moving and had I not been so tired I would have cried outright. I think Kevin and I both fought back tears though. Thank you all for the very warm and loving welcome home!!! It was emotional just to be home, but to be welcomed by dear family and friends made it the best homecoming! We loved having the chance to introduce Titus to so many of you and we look forward to introducing him to many more of you as well.

One of our greatest joys this week was to take Titus to church Sunday morning. I teared up when I added Titus' name on the attendance card. Praise the Lord, our baby boy is home!

We are busy settling into life as a family of three. I have so much to share about our trip to Taiwan. Hopefully this week I will be able to share more about our journey.
It was definitely the journey of a lifetime!

Every good and perfect gift comes from above. James 1:17a

Six Months

Titus, today you turn 6 months old. That’s one half of one whole year, which is kind of a big deal, don’t you think? Today is a bittersweet day, it is the day that we leave the country of your birth and also the day that you will become a citizen of the United States. Since the beginning of our journey to you our prayer has been that we would be able to hold you on or before your six month birthday. God is good and answered our prayers.

Some fun facts about you:

• You weigh approximately 12 pounds
• You wear 3-6 month clothes
• Your favorite song is Jesus Loves Me
• You are trying hard to crawl, but for now you are satisfied with a combination of an army crawl and a scoot
• Your first tooth came in on August 17th and your second tooth came through the gum on August 21st
• You would rather sing, talk or play than eat

The Day

Our gotcha moment

First family photo
Feeding Titus for the first time

August 21st was anything but ordinary. Prior to today, August 21st, has been just another day on the calendar. However, August 21st, will never be anything but extraordinary again. Much like December 15, April 26, October 14, February 25, all are special dates within the circle of this family. Dates that have changed our lives for the better. We were on an emotional roller coaster that morning as we contemplated what was about to take place. The plane ride felt like an eternity, but with each minute, hour, and mile that passed we knew we were getting closer to our baby boy. We were thrilled to finally meet our Titus.

We arrived to THOGL at midnight. Titus was sleeping and we received what we call our preview. We could barely see his face. It was so hard to not pick him up out of his crib and love on him. We'd been waiting sooo long for that moment. However, with much self control we went to bed attempting to sleep and dream about what tomorow would be like. Needless to say, neither of us really slept and at 6 o'clock we finally got out of bed to finally meet our son.

Titus is such a handsome little guy, very content, and loves to play. Feeding times are always an adventure as he is not interested in food and would rather someone play, sing or talk to him. Even though he isn't feeling 100% , he is quite the trooper and rarely cries. We are enjoying the time here in this foreign, faraway land that is nothing like home. It's been a joy to get to know the Skiles, the volunteers, and the older children at the home. They have all been gracious, kind, and loving toward us.

Our request is that you specifically for Titus. Please pray that the God who knit him together will comfort him. That somehow beyond fear and cultural divide the peace that can only come from Him will surround and comfort him as he journeys to a foreign and faraway land that will soon be home.

Tour of Titus' Room

Things are getting exciting at our house, and the fun has just begun! We've had a lot of fun preparing Titus' room and it's definitely given this mama something to thing about and keep busy while waiting.

A little hanging on his door.

The library table was mine growing up and before that it was mother's. I love seeing it in my son's room and look forward to him using it a little later in life.

I can't wait to fill the frames with some pictures of Taiwan. Hopefully, we will be able to get some beautiful pictures to fill these frames. The chest of drawers belonged to Kevin's parents when they lived in the States. I love pieces of furniture that have stories and that once belonged to other family members.

Oh What a Feeling!

It is less than twenty four hours before we leave for the airport. Twenty four hours before we leave to go to the country where we will meet our son. Our son, our little boy, our Titus Andrew, the one we've waited so long for. Pinch us, is this real? Are we really leaving finally to become a family? That little boy who has been a dream for so long. The little boy we finally got to put a face to four months ago. The little baby boy that stole our hearts almost four months ago. The little boy who we've been talking to in pictures around our house is finally going to be in our arms-UNREAL!!! Oh what a feeling!!

There are so many emotions we both feel right now. Kevin and I will look at each other and just smile a goofy smile, and giggle, and a deep breath is taken-are we really here?-YES WE ARE!!!

We are excited, ecstatic, nervous, happy, overjoyed, in disbelief, thankful, grateful. We are filled with love, anticipation, a little anxiety, hope, and love...oh so much love!! Love for this little boy who we've only looked at in pictures. Who knew your heart could grow so much? We can't wait to hold our little boy, and shower him with all our love.


Dear Titus

It is the day before we are coming to get you. The day before we will leave to set foot in the country of your birth. You were born in our hearts a long time ago, and now you will be in our arms. God made a place for you there, a place in our hearts, a place in our lives, it has been His will that we become a family. We are your Mommy & Daddy, your loving and dedicated parents. We will always be here to love and comfort you, to help and support you. To show you the way, with hugs and kisses, to hold your hand tightly as you navigate this new world. We are so happy to finally have you in our lives. We will now become a family...finally...forever!!

Little Titus, we are coming to get you, to hold you tightly, and love you forever. Mommy & Daddy can't wait to hold you in their arms. We can't wait to look in those big dark brown eyes for real, and hear your voice. No more wondering, no more just pictures to look at, you will be in our arms so soon, and we will never let go.

Our hearts are bursting right now, we can't wait to begin this next part of our journey together as a family!

Soon, so soon. We love you Titus Andrew!!!