Camera Challenge

For this to make sense, please go read my sister's blog.

Joy and I do not have a DSLR camera, but I wanted to see if I could do it anyway. We have a Kodak Easyshare Z710. The results show two things. First, you can still do cool things without a DSLR. Second, you can see why DSLRs are worth their price.

The only part I was not able to do is f22. My camera only goes to f8.0. I was able to set all the other settings like my sister wrote.

Here is our Christmas tree. We refer to it as our Charlie Brown tree. We bought this tree our first Christmas together. One day we will get a bigger tree, but we love this tree because of the great memories we associate with it.

Go read my sister's instructions and post your results.

Merry Christmas!

Last night we went to the live nativity scene at the Assembly of God here in Searcy. While you are waiting in line to drive through it, they have big screens on the side of the church building with Christmas trivia and Christmas movie clips playing. You set your radio to a specific station and get the audio for the video screens (how cool is that!). We got Claira out of her carseat and she sat in my lap and watched the screen and played with all the buttons on the dashboard of the car. They also come by your window with hot chocolate.
We drove through Bethlehem and Claira stared out the window at all the people and animals moving around. They also give you a CD to narrate as you drive through. We listened to the CD and I commentated for Claira on everything that was going on. Pointed out the camels, tax collector, Herod sitting on his throne, the pregnant Mary with no room in the Inn, wise men, shepherds and then baby Jesus. I know it may not sound like that big of a deal but as a new mom it was huge. I get to tell my little girl all about Jesus!! It's my number one responsibility and I haven't been doing that great of a job so far. I can't wait until she can understand all that He is and what He has done for us.
I am so thankful HE is our King!

All you need is a box.

Claira and Carter have been playing with the box that the diapers came in all week. They have beaten on it like a drum, climbed in it, pushed it around the house, put things in it and dumped it out on their heads. It's been pretty funny. I think I am going to take all of Claira's Christmas presents back and just get her some more boxes. Why do we waste so much money on toys?

Happy Friday!

She's growing.

Claira at one month.



Claira today- 6 1/2 months.

I love Fall!

I don't know why it has taken me this long to realize how much I love this season of the year.

I started to realize it last year, I was pregnant and had a huge craving for Thanksgiving food. I'm not sure how many times I made Brandon eat turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. I even helped serve the Thanksgiving meal in the school cafeteria so I could eat it for free! There is a restaurant in Searcy that serves this meal for the entire fall! I thought it was just a pregnancy thing... nope- I've already started craving it.

I love the beautiful falling leaves, the cool air (Claira loves the cool breeze- she laughed all the way from the car into Walmart today), long sleeved t-shirts, pumpkins, trick-or-treating (Claira slept the whole time in her stroller), mums, sleeping under a big heavy blanket, not turning on the AC/Heat, a crock pot full of chili, cuddling on the couch and watching football (Roll Tide!).

Hope you have a pumpkin pie filled weekend!

6 months on Wednesday!

I can't believe our little girl will be 6 months old this week. Oh, how time flies. Brandon and I have been thinking back to the day she was born and how fast our life changed and how great it is now. We are blessed far beyond what we deserve.
My top 6:
1. The way she wakes up in the morning- talking, smiling and now bouncing in the bed.
2. The fact that she said "MaMa" this past week!
3. The way she laughs- especially at Carter when the two of them are "talking" to each other.
4. The noises she makes when she is done drinking her bottle before she goes to bed.
5. Her dimples and the giant smile that comes with them.
6.The way her face lit up when she saw me today after Bible class.

Yesterday, we went to the pumpkin patch with Ben, Amy, Carter, Christy and Collin. Christy is becoming an amazing photographer. I am so glad we live close to family, especially when they take great pictures of my child.



Happy Fall!

Claira update on the past few weeks:
Grammy (and then Pa) came to visit.
Went to Atlanta to see Nonna, Papa and the rest of the Ellis family.
Tittle family progressive dinner.
Got her first two teeth in three days. (Lots of crying)
Went to her first Harding football game and tailgate party.
Slept all night- three nights in a row!
Started scooting all over the place (not crawling yet, but she can get where she wants to go).




Hanging with Grammy.

Loving on Pa.

Working on her second tooth.

Roll Tide with Nonna and Cousin Owen.

Enjoying the Bison football game.

I was afraid of this.

Well, it happened. Something I have been trying to avoid for almost 5 months now. Yes, it is gross but I thought I would share. Claira spit up in my mouth. I was holding her over my head looking up at her, she was smiling and laughing and out it came. I tried to dodge but it came too fast. It was awful. I was screaming (scared Claira half to death) and Brandon came running in. Unaware that it was in my mouth he did what we always do when one of us gets spit up on- he got a burp cloth and tried to clean me and Claira off. I was screaming- "Take her, it's in my mouth!!!" It was disgusting but also hilarious. You should have been there.

And in the latest Claira news:
She has figured out how to scoot around on the floor in the past two days. She is everywhere- ate the corner off of a book while I was putting clothes away in her room. She has also figured out how to push off with her feet when she is laying in the bed. She wakes up screaming because her head is rammed up on the bars of the crib. No, it doesn't matter how far down on the other end I put her. And today she turned completely around in the crib and rolled over. I don't even know how she had room to do all of that. She is pretty excited about her mobility. I think she will be crawling real soon. I'm not sure if I am ready to have her mobile- I think she will stay at my feet all the time. Oh well, here it comes.

And in Tittle family news:
Brandon's mom is flying in today to stay for a few weeks and help keep Carter while Ben and Amy go on a trip. I am so excited about having her here and having an adult to hang out with during the day. We are also going to Atlanta this weekend to see my family. I am super excited about getting out of town for a few days. I love where we live but I love to travel too. Claira will turn 5 months old while we are there. Crazy how time flies.

A couple pictures of our dimple face girl.

Brandon's Birthday.

Brandon had an awesome Birthday. When I get as many gifts as he does, I think it's pretty great.

Brandon came home for lunch on Friday and had bought me a new CD I had really been wanting. (Never mind that it was TJ McLoud's new children's CD.)
Christy, Collin, Ben, Amy, Carter and Lloyd all came over for Brandon's birthday dinner. We made taco stack up and I made a red velvet cake with cream cheese icing. We had a great time and Lloyd brought his Wii over.
Then today, Brandon surprised me with a date. He had it all planned out and Ben and Amy took care of Claira. We went to Little Rock (stopped by the mall to check out the Gymboree sale). Next, we saw Batman on the IMAX. It was sooo good. Then, we went to dinner at P.F. Chang's (my favorite). On the way home we stopped by Krispie Kreme to get some donuts for us and Ben and Amy. It was a wonderful date. **

**Side note: In case you didn't know, we don't really have the money right now for such an evening out. A wonderful couple that we are close to gave Brandon some money and told him that he had to take me out with it and had to get a babysitter. As always, God keeps blessing us.


Happy 27th Birthday Brandon! (Yes, that's right 27... he thinks he's getting old).

Carter and Claira enjoying Brandon's party.

Cleaning my house.

When Brandon and I first got married, I told him that as long as I was working I needed him to help out with keeping up with laundry and cleaning the house. I also told him that if I ever got to be a stay-at-home mom that I would take care of the laundry and cleaning. Well, easier said than done. I've made myself a cleaning & laundry schedule to help me stay on top of everything instead of spending my Saturday scrubbing the whole house. So far it is working wonderfully. One load of laundry plus one chore each day.

Sunday: Mop kitchen floor + load of whites
Monday: Hardwood floors + load of darks
Tuesday: Clean bathroom + load of bath mats
Wednesday: Dust & organize + load of reds
Thursday: Scrub kitchen + load of Claira's clothes
Friday: Make baby food + load of towels and rags
Saturday: Vacuum + load of sheets

I might be a little OCD but it makes me so happy that our house is clean and I never have 5 loads of laundry to do in one day. Don't know if this will help anyone else but it sure had made my life easier. I wish I had done this when I was still working- I hated Brandon and I spending Saturday morning cleaning.
Today I scrubbed the outside of my cabinets and stove. Last Thursday, I cleaned my oven and the week before that I cleaned out the frig and microwave. I might be the only one that notices that the cabinets are spotless but it sure does make me happy. I know I'm weird.

Our Christmas present being put to good use.

This past Christmas, Brandon and I decided to not buy each other gifts but instead buy a video camera. With a baby on the way, it was something we really wanted to have. So, here is our first edited video of our little girl. No, we don't have too much time on our hands. This only took about 30 minutes to do. If you are surprised... you should get a Mac.

Life as I know it.

Today, as I was elbow deep in dirt in the inside of my oven at 1:15p.m. on week day, made me realize that my life a year ago is very different from my life now.

August 28. 2007
6:15a.m. - wake up, get ready to go to work
6:45a.m.- eat breakfast with my husband, load dishwasher, switch laundry, etc.
7:25a.m.- go to work
7:35a.m.- greet precious children as they come in for school
8:15a.m.- elementary chapel
8:45a.m.- work on projects (anything a Kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade teacher ask me to do)
10:45a.m.-set up in the cafeteria for lunch
11:00a.m.- try to manage a bunch of 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th graders while they eat
11:30a.m.- open ketchup packets, juice boxes, lunchables, etc. for K,1st and 2nd. (also wiping noses and chocolate covered faces)
12:00p.m.- answer the phone, take temperatures, wipe tears and put on bandaids in the office
12:30p.m.- eat lunch
1:00p.m.- work on more projects
3:00p.m.- attempt to get 300 children in the right car without being run over
3:45p.m.- go home and take a nap (remember I was pregnant at this point)
5:00p.m.- Brandon gets home from work and I might help him with dinner if I have the energy
7:00p.m.- doze in and out on the couch- waking up to talk to my husband every once in a while
10:30p.m.- Brandon wakes me up off the couch and I get in bed.



August 28, 2008
7:00a.m.- wake up by the sound of my little girl talking in her bed.
7:15a.m.- snuggle in the bed with Claira after Brandon gets her up and changes her diaper
7:30a.m.- take a shower and throw on a t-shirt and shorts (yes, I love not having to dress up)
8:00a.m.- Carter arrives, breakfast time- feeding two small children and myself at the same time
8:30a.m.- load two kids up and go to the children's consignment sale at the fairgrounds
9:45a.m.- get Carter out of the car, go back and get a sleeping Claira and diaper bag
10:00a.m.- play with Carter while Claira takes a nap , fold laundry and clean up after breakfast
11:15a.m.- give Claira a bottle when she wakes up from nap
11:45a.m.- start getting lunch ready, trying not to step on Carter who likes to follow me around
12:05p.m.- Brandon comes home and we all eat lunch (hiding the pizza from Carter while I feed him his veggies first), spray inside of oven so I can clean it during nap time
12:45p.m.- Carter goes down for a nap, talk to mom while Claira plays for a minute
1:00p.m.- Claira goes down for a nap
1:15p.m.- clean the nasty oven (not sure when it was cleaned last), switch laundry
2:00p.m.- talk to a friend on the phone who is also at home with her little girl
2:30p.m.- surf the internet, read blogs, check facebook, etc.
3:00p.m.- both kids get up from nap
3:15p.m.- snack time
3:30p.m.- give Claira a bottle
3:45p.m.- play with the kids on the floor, sing "If you're happy and you know it" more times than I can count
4:45p.m.- turn on baby einstein to relax before Carter goes home
5:10p.m- Brandon comes home, Carter goes home
5:45p.m.- start dinner
6:00p.m.- feed Claira
6:30p.m.- dinner
7:00p.m.- Claira is always cranky in the evening so we give her bath because it makes her happy
7:30p.m.- Claira has her last bottle
8:00p.m.- prayers and tucking Claira in
8:15p.m.- hanging out with my husband until we are too tired to hold our heads up (which sometimes doesn't take very long), pick up and clean bottles
3:00a.m.- wake up to Claira screaming because she is starving, feed and rock her back to sleep

Oh, how life has changed.

Blessed.

I am blessed because I ......

Have a beautiful baby girl who wakes me up each morning with her smile,
An amazing husband who is making sure I can stay at home and take care of our daughter,
Great parents who have taught me that money is not what makes you happy,
In- Laws who raised a young boy into a Godly man and taught him the importance of family,
Sisters and Brothers (in-laws) who love on my child,
Precious niece and nephews that keep life fun,
Life-long friends that I know no matter where we are or how long it's been since we've talked- I can always call,
Most importantly a Father in Heaven who has given me all of the above.

Claira: a brief update.

Claira had a big week.

She found her toes. (It might not seem like a big deal to you, but just imagine if you didn't know those things were attached for three whole months!)



Matthew and Cynthia Montana drove in to meet her. Matthew even let us put her in his lap for a picture (it was a big stretch for him).


And she ate her first bites of rice cereal. Our girl is an eater- it didn't take her very long to figure it out. I think she is so excited to finally feel full. She has been laughing and smiling alot more since we started the cereal.


Life in the Tittle house couldn't get any better. God is so good to us and we try to remember to thank him for all our blessings. Claira turns 4 months old on Thursday. We are thankful for each day we have to spend with her- she is the biggest blessing we could ever receive.

Just me and two small children: day 1.

I am staying at home with Claira and not going back to work!!! I am super pumped about being able to be at home. We aren't exactly sure how we are going to make all the money stretch as far as we need it to but, we know God is going to help us make it work.
Amy and Ben are letting me keep Carter while they are at work and I am so thankful for it. Not only do I get to see my nephew every day but they are also paying me to do it.
Today is the first day and I was a little nervous about the thought of having a 3 month old and a 14 month old at the same time. I know Claira can't go anywhere if I lay her on the floor but Carter is walking all over the place. I know lots of moms have two small kids but it is just a new adventure for me. Today has been wonderful. Carter and Claira have both been angels and it just makes me so excited about all the fun we are going to have (especially when Claira gets older and can actually play with Carter).
Carter's favorite thing today is to pat Claira on the head (sometimes you have to remind him not to do it so hard) but, it is so sweet. He wants to know what she is doing and tries to give her toys to play with. Claira took a good nap this morning and Carter and I got to hang out and explore our house. He loves walking up and down our long hall.
Right now, I have two sleeping angels. I can't imagine doing anything better than this.
God is so good.

Claira's crazy beginning.

A recap of Claira's first 17 weeks of life.


Week 1: Being born, coming home, lots of friends and family came to see her.
Week 2: Doctor's apt., Uplift meeting, Nonna stays to help out.
Week 3: Aunt Jessie & Uncle Taran come to visit, shopping in Little Rock and rolling over.
Week 4: 1st Sunday at church, Nonna & Papa go home, Uncle Jordan comes to visit.
Week 5: Baby blessing at church, went to the doctor with thrush and sucked her thumb.
Week 6: One month old, Grammy comes to visit and Cousin Carter's Birthday party.
Week 7: Slept through the night, Grammy went home.
Week 8:First plane ride to Houston, first Astros baseball game, meeting Aunt Kelly, Uncle Tyler and cousins Keynan and Parker.
Week 9: Uplift begins, Nonna & Papa come, spent the afternoon with Aunt Amy.
Week 10: 2 month shots, Grammy comes to visit, Uplift continues.
Week 11: Aunt Melissa, Cousins Ty and Emily come to visit, Uplift continues.
Week 12: 1st time swimming, 1st night away from Mom and Dad, Uplift ends.
Week 13: 1st trip to Atlanta to meet Aunt Melissa, Uncle Jay and Cousin Owen.
Week 14: Dad in Nicaragua, 1st time in the nursery at church, came home from Atlanta.
Week 15: 1st trip to Pensacola to meet Grandma and Gulf Shores to meet the rest of the family.1st time to the beach, ate sand!
Week 16: Spent the week with Nonna & Papa while Mom and Dad went on a cruise.
Week 17: 1st time to Stone Mountain park for family photos, home at last.

Claira has had a crazy and fun beginning- hopefully she won't get to bored just being at home with mom.

Home from Atlanta: Packing for Cruise.

Claira and I spent this past week with my family in Atlanta while Brandon was in Nicaragua. It was the longest amount of time we have been apart since we were dating. I had a wonderful time but it was alot harder than I thought (just ask Kelly who I called crying one night). I have an amazing husband and I think I must have forgotten how awesome he is until he was gone. I am so thankful that I am not a single mom- I have so much more respect for those women who are. All that to say, I am glad to be home and glad my husband is home too but, we are once again packing our stuff.... this time to go on a cruise with Brandon's family. I have major mixed emotions right now. I am excited about our vacation and a little sad because Claira can't go with us. She is spending the week with my Mom, Dad and Grandma in Pensacola. So, pray for me as I leave my 12 week old for 5 nights.

Here are a few pictures of Claira in Atlanta- she is getting so big.

There is more than one way to watch fireworks.

Claira and I flew into Atlanta today to spend the week with my family while Brandon is in Nicaragua.  Who knew that there was more than one way to celebrate the 4th of July?  I always thought it involved laying on a blanket with some good friends and good snacks watching LIVE fireworks. No sir, not today- I learned what people who drive a Mercedes (yes, we parked the old church van in the same lot) do for this special day. 

My brother and his wife work at several different venues selling merchandise during concerts.  Today they got us tickets to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's 4th of July show.  (It was wonderful, just different than what I was thinking.) People came all dressed up and sat outside to hear the orchestra and watch fireworks on big screens.  There were three different types of seating. 1. Tables and table clothes in the very front of the amphitheater for those people with the most money. 2. Seats under the amphitheater for the middle class people to sit.  3. The grassy hill that you could rent a lawn chair for $5 after paying $15 for the ticket to get in (this would be where we sat).

I think the best part of the whole evening was when the lady in front of us broke her lawn chair and fell to the ground. Everyone around us was laughing so hard- she just decided to stay on the ground with the broken chair under her until the orchestra was done with that piece. Jordan and I were both crying we were laughing so hard.

All that to say, I love the thought of live music during fireworks but we were all a little bummed that they fireworks weren't live.  That's the best part.  

Just thought I would share that I learned something new today- there is more than one way to watch fireworks.

Happy 4th!

Uplift Week 2: The Snellvile Army.

Week 2 of Uplift is always wonderful. I have a group of ladies (and a few of their husbands) that come from the Snellville church to help me do whatever I need done. They are awesome! I just give them a list and I don't have to worry about a thing- registration, t-shirts, Uplift Central, snacks for the counselors, sitting with Claira when I had to do something, filling out annoying dorm forms, mowing our yard(Brandon really doesn't have time for that right now)... the list could go on forever. They come in a day early and get it all done and then today, they helped get stuff ready for next week before they leave in the morning. If only I could convince them to stay for three weeks.
Just wanted to say thanks to my Snellville Army for spending their vacation time helping me make week 2 a wonderful experience for about 900 teens.

Uplift week 1: God is good.

For those of you who don't know, Uplift is a summer youth camp at Harding that Brandon runs and I help out with. There are three weeks of camp, the first two have over 1000 people each and the third week is around 500. Needless to say, it's a crazy time of year for us and we just added a baby into the mix (another ball to try to juggle). I was really worried about how we were going to get everything done while at the same time tending to our little girl's needs. I can only say that God is good and as always, knows how much we can handle. The two days before camp started were a little rough- there is just so much to do and I hadn't figured out how to fit Claira into all of that stuff. Since camp started she has been fabulous. She has been carted around all over this campus and even slept through an entire Acappella concert all with a smile (and dimples) on her face. Last night she slept for 8 1/2 hours!!!! It was a first and I was very thankful for it. I even got her up out of her bed, went to Taco Bell and back and she never opened her eyes. God has blessed us so much with an incredible life where we get to spend our summers watching teenagers grow closer in their walk with Him- and now we get to share that life with our precious 8 week old. God is so good.


So, while I was writing this, Brandon was baptizing an Uplift camper. She came with a group that didn't have any male sponsors and told Brandon she was ready if someone would baptize her. Brandon jumped in and baptized Sydney into Christ. Once again.... God is so good!

The Astros and an Angel.

Friday we went with a group from Harding on a recruiting trip to the Houston Astros game. I was so worried about taking Claira on her first plane ride, to her first baseball game, to a whole day of never getting to lay in a bed. She was an angel the whole time. The only time she cried was when she was starving (I couldn't stop to feed her one time for an hour after she was suppose to eat and she didn't cry until a few minutes before we could sit down), worn out, or dirty diaper. I was so thankful for our new sling. She loves being close to mom and getting to see everything going on while we walk around. She fell asleep in the sling for most of the Harding event before the game. Our friends Tyler and Kelly Wiggains met up with us and spent the night with us in the hotel. It was so great to see them and their adorable boys, Keynan and Parker. We had a great time- I think I worried for nothing.
Claira is such an angel. The angel is very happy to be home in her own bed. She has slept most of the morning and when she is awake, she won't stop smiling.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! 5 days until Uplift starts!!!!










Claira's first flight.












Claira and Mom on the plane.












Tyler, Brandon and their babies.












Tyler & Kelly at the game.












Claira's first baseball game.
She was really enjoying the game.












The happy girl back at home
and in her bumbo for the first time.

Three Years.

Just a few things have happened in the past three years (most of which I never dreamed would happen).

• We got married.
• I gained an incredible second family.
  
• Brandon got his masters.
• I worked for Student Publications (after getting my youth ministry degree).
• Brandon got hired full time by Church and Family.
• We bought a house.
• I started working at Harding Academy.
• We went to Nicaragua several times.
• Three new nephews were born.
  
• We bought a new car.
• Took several trips (New York, Colorado, Gulf Shores, New Mexico, Atlanta, St. Louis, Houston, etc.)
• We still live in Searcy,AR.
• We became parents!!

Brandon and I have been so blessed these past three years. I can't believe what all God has allowed us as a married couple to do. He has given us more than I could have ever imagined. I woke up this morning to the sound of birds singing outside my window, to a little girl cooing in the bassinet, to my husband saying Happy Anniversary. I don't think life could get any sweeter.
Hope your day is a blessed one.

Christmas 2007 in New Mexico

Bringing our baby girl home from the hospital.

Our biggest blessing- 1 month old.

Monday morning 9 a.m.

Claira with Great, Great Aunt Nancy and Uncle Harold

I haven't been up and showered by 9 a.m. since Claira was born. Even on Sundays we have been going to late service.
Today was a big day. Claira fell back to sleep (after playing with her daddy for a while this morning) in her swing while Brandon and I ate a bowl of cereal. She was still asleep when we finished so I decided to go ahead and take a shower instead of getting back in the bed. The Lord was taking care of me this morning because not 10 minutes after I was dressed I heard Brandon talking to someone in the driveway as he was leaving for work. The voices sounded very familiar but I couldn't figure out who it was. Who else would stop by our house at 9a.m. on Monday morning but my wonderful Great-Aunt Nancy and Uncle Harold who live in Mississippi. They were on their way to visit their daughter and her kids and put our address in their GPS and decided to stop by and meet their Great, Great Niece. I was so thankful I had already had a shower (mind you I still hadn't brushed my wet head) and that Ben, Amy and Carter had come over for dinner the night before so the house was somewhat picked up.

What a wonderful surprise for a Monday morning. Claira is so blessed to have so many family members who love her so much. Her Grammy (Brandon's mom) is coming to stay for a whole week on Wednesday and she is super excited about it. (Okay, she didn't tell me she was super excited about Grammy coming but when I told her that Grammy was coming she gave me a big smile- she knows who is important). We like to say she is "advanced".

9lbs. 12oz.!!!

Yes, you read it right. Claira has gained 1lb. 5oz. in three weeks. She is growing and changing so much every day. Every parent you meet will tell you to cherish each moment because they change so fast- but I never thought they meant this fast. I took her to the doctor yesterday because she has thrush on her tongue. When the nurse put her on the scale I freaked out (she was also peeing all over the scale, the floor and me). It was pretty funny. So sorry for the lack of updates- watching her grow is taking up alot more time than I thought. Here are a few pictures of our beautiful girl.