17 months

July was a huge month for Titus!
He is growing, developing and changing so fast.  

Our baby is now in full toddler mode.  

 Titus now weighs 18 pounds and is 31 inches tall.

He wears size 4 shoes.

He wears 9 month clothes (with a few 12 months here and there)
and size 3 diapers.

Titus doubled his teeth, with 8 new ones in one month. Yes, EIGHT!

 He was a trooper and we really didn't know he was teething. :)
However, when I was brushing his teeth last night I noticed he has 2 more coming in. 

Titus climbs EVERYTHING and is BUSY all the time.

It seems like the only time he sits still is when he is being read to.

He LOVES reading books and sometimes will sit for 15-20 minutes.
His favorite books right now are:
Pat the Bunny
The Wheels on the Bus

15 Animals
Old McDonald Had a Farm
God Knows Your Name
Noah

 Titus is now using more and more words.  It seems everyday he says a new one.  

In general he talks all the time!

Words that we understand:  ball, hi, bye-bye, wow, Titus, dog, kitty, eat, mine, Baba (for grandma), Papa, Dada, Mama, banana, Boz, bear, Bible, and EIEIO

Phrases:  Oh wow!, Bye Dada, night-night!
Titus can point to his eyes, nose, mouth, hair and ears when asked. 

Firsts:  pushes himself on his corn popper car, gets up and down from a chair, he is starting to sing, hums, uses his fork and spoon (he still prefers his fingers though)

Loves:  his bear, food in general, Boz

Titus stories:

Every night we tell Titus it is time for bed.  Fairly consistently, when we tell him that he goes to the stairs, says night-night and climbs up the stairs.  I hope getting him to go to bed is always this easy!  :)

Right now one of Titus' favorite song and book is "The Wheels on the Bus."  We were at a store looking at shower heads when Titus started making the sign for round from "The Wheels on the Bus".  He did it several more times before we realized that he was putting together that the shower heads were round.  Once we acknowledged this to him that yes the shower heads were round he stopped.  As we were walking down the store aisles he started saying and making the sign for ball and the sign for round.  He looked so happy and proud when we replied to him, "Yes, balls are round!"

We love watching Titus make connections with bits of knowledge.
Toddlerhood is so much fun!

Fun with Friends

The #1 reason we went to STL was to see old friends and meet new ones from The Home of God's Love.  We had a wonderful time picnicking together, watching our children play together, reminiscing about Taiwan, and marveling at God's amazing design of creating our individual families. 

Our attempt at a group photo.  :)

The Arch

What would a trip to St. Louis be without an adventure to The infamous Arch?

Since neither Titus nor Daddy have ever been up in The Arch, we decided to buy tickets and enjoy the adventure to its fullest.  It was a HOT, crowed, July day and it seemed as though half the population of St. Louis must have had the same idea for an adventure too.  The two lines to enter The Arch were both out the doors and meandered through the beautiful park.  Finally, when Daddy purchased our tickets, we were told there was a 2 hour wait.  Oh no!  What to do with a one year old boy, for two hours?  We decided to buy tickets for a riverboat ride on a paddle wheel steamboat down the Mississippi River.   Might as well make good use of two hours, learn some history of St. Louis, and go for a long, hot ride. 

The Flooded Mighty Mississippi

Finally it was Arch Time!!!!!   Titus fell asleep in my arms as we were waiting in yet again another line to begin our ascent up The Arch.  I have to admit I was a bit disappointed, but realized that he wouldn't remember this experience anyway.  However, right before we entered the claustrophobia inducing egg  with three strangers for a LOOOOONG three minute ride to the top of The Arch, he woke up.  Yay!!!!  

Titus loved The Arch.   He crawled right up into the little windows and pointed, smiled and looked and looked.  So happy he was able to enjoy the adventure.

The Old Courthouse where the famous Dred Scott case was tried.

Busch stadium.   Wow, look at that humidity!

Illinois

All Creatures Great and Small

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

~Cecil Frances Alexander~ 

"St. Louis Zoo"

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While at the zoo Daddy was able to fulfill a childhood dream of his: to touch a stingray as well as a hammerhead shark.  Mama had no interest whatsoever and was happy to watch from a distance, man the camera, and let Titus and Daddy share an experience.  

Magic House Fun

We absolutely loved the Magic House; it was hands down our favorite place that we visited while in STL.  When planning our trip, we almost skipped this destination because we thought it might be too old for Titus.  Boy, are we glad we didn't miss out on this fun!  Titus had a blast and we spent four hours playing and having fun together as a family.   

 

 Titus has always been drawn to musical instruments and the Magic House didn't disappoint him. He could have played all day with each instrument; but there was so much to see, play, and do that we had to almost tear him away from each one.   

Titus loved the alphabet peek-a-boo activity.  And in true Titus fashion he went down the line in order opening each box.  Even exhibiting patience as he waited on a little boy to open R, S, T, and U SEVERAL times.  Love my little boy's order in all things!

Titus' eyes were wide as he watched Daddy blow HUGE bubbles.  He loves bubbles but for some reason our bubbles are never quite that large at home.  

This was Titus' first time to play in sand.  At first he was a bit hesitant but after a few minutes of Mama helping and encouraging him he enjoyed himself. 

After the sand play we had to visit the water area.  Titus loves playing in our sinks at home, so we knew this would be a big hit for him.  I love the slicker they give little ones to protect their clothes. We couldn't help but laugh, he looked like he was about to head out on a shrimp boat.  

And what would a trip to the Magic House be without playing with the static electric ball generator.   Daddy is blessed to have short hair and not have this embarrassment, errr fun, with his son.  Oh, the things we do for our children!  :)

We could have spent a few more hours playing; there was so much to see and do!   Maybe in a few years we will have to come back to play again.

A Star Spangled Day

We had a wonderful time celebrating our country's birthday with family.  We enjoy holidays, and the Fourth is right up there at the top of the list.  It was so much fun watching Titus experience so many new things: corn on the cob, fireworks, a bicycle ride with Papa, and of course, Fourth of July in general.  We are blessed beyond measure and so grateful to live in the "land of the free and the home of the brave".  

 

Thank you to all those that secure and protect our freedoms everyday! 

Dragon Boat Festival

Another adventure we shared with Papa Rex and Baba was to attend the annual Dragon Boat Festival.  We met Uncle Eric, Aunt Kate, and Cousins Elle and Zane to share in the fun. I love the fact that Titus shares a rich heritage with several of his cousins.  We enjoyed watching the traditional dragon and lion dance, several native Chinese dances and of course a couple of Dragon Boat races.  To complete our adventure we enjoyed a delicious Chinese cuisine.  What a fun filled day!