"Hok!" (Titus speak for Hockey!)

Last weekend, we headed to Minnesota State Mankato for their hockey Alumni Weekend. The best part was getting to play on the ice before the Mankato/Duluth game (in which Mankato came away with a great 4-4 tie)! It's safe to save Titus LOVED the ice and the action! He seemed to also love the penalty box, which may lead to nothing but problems in a few more years! All in all, he enjoyed his first Unofficial visit there (Evie's second)!


On Monday afternoon, Titus was not feeling well and not a happy camper about it while vacationing in Phoenix. Nothing could settle him down and he definitely did not want to do anymore swimming. Finally, I tried walking him around the complex. After about 10 minutes, he said "ball, ball, ball!" We had come across the basketball court and he finally got a smile on his face. For awhile, we watched the boys who were playing and then Titus practiced his own moves on the court!

Triple T!!!

While in Indianapolis nearly two weeks ago, Grandma Lucie and Bumpa stayed with Evie and Titus for four days. Although most everyone was sick for the majority or the time, I think fun was had by all and Titus even came away with a brand new nickname: Triple T! It's fitting and has stuck! Triple T standing, of course, for Titus The Terror (replacing his previous nickname of Titus the Destroyer). Even Evie has taken to calling him Triple T now and he seems to bask in the glory or terrorizing many things around the house...and usually looks back at us after the destruction with a gigantic smile on his cute little face!

Alongside of terrorizing any and everything he can get his hands on, Titus has really come into his own in the past two to three weeks. He still communicates mostly with sign language (milk, please, water, thank you, more and kiss are his go-tos), but now he can also actually SAY ball (his official first word; Chad was thrilled while I silently cried in a corner that it wasn't mama), "ack" (when we ask him what a duck says), possibly Bumpa (the jury is still out on this one) and, as of three days ago MAMA (although it comes out baba, but he will point to me or to me in a picture and say it, so we are pretty sure he just cannot make the M sound). Another amazing thing is he seems to understand about half of what we are saying now. He will head for the stairs when we say it's time to go upstairs for a bath. Putting on shoes, sitting down, washing hands, cars, balls, take off clothes, change diapers and many more are just a few simple commands that he for sure understands and will do an action accordingly. And, although the debate in our household has always seemed to be between hockey and basketball, Titus has seemed to take a huge interest (and seriously is pretty darn good at it) in a sport all his own: soccer! He loves to kick the ball around and into a make-shift goal Grandpa Dave has made for him out of cones! This sparks clapping too, as he knows it is a good thing when the ball goes into the goal! Of course, we have not been able to get a great shot of this on video, but the one below is not too bad! While Chad was in Indy, my goal was to get him used to using bowls and plates too! It has officially been such a success (although occasionally in a Triple T fit the plates or bowls can get flipped upside down still), that we added a place mat today! I think he loves being a "big kid" like Evie! Speaking of Evie, Triple T can still out eat her at every meal! Today he finished off her sweet potato pancakes and blackberries after his own meal that was already much bigger than hers! I guess when you Terrorize your Mom, Sister and Home all day long, you can work up quite an appetite!


For Valentine's Day, Chad and Evie went to the Chaska Community Center's Sweetheart Dance, although Dad's day was complete when Evie asked him if they could leave the dance early to go watch the hockey game next door! They did and she is super into the Zamboni now and claims that all of Titus' big trucks are Zambonis! We continued the Battey-Family tradition of having heart waffles in the morning, followed by our giant heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie in the afternoon. Uncle Marc came for dinner to be Evie's Valentine and she even received her first bouquet of flowers from him!


It has been nearly two weeks since Chad and I have been home from the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. It was an AMAZING experience and one that neither of us will ever forget. I am fortunate to get to reap the perks of Chad's job from time to time and this definitely was the best "perk" I have ever received! The night before the Super Bowl, we went to a party hosted by "The Girls Next Door." It was interesting to say the least! We were definitely the group wearing the MOST clothing there! The next morning, we happened to meet Condaliza Rice at brunch, got to have sushi, Saki and more while listening to The Fray and Lenny Kravitz live before the game and then enjoyed watching Chad out at the field for the coin toss and alongside the Patriot's sideline during the game. And don't even get me started on Madonna! She was AMAZING! It is definitely an experience neither of us will ever forget, but one we are crossing our fingers we will get to do again sometime...hopefully with the PURPLE!