What We've Been Up To

So we've been staying pretty busy. It's crazy how fast time goes. To think that we're almost in the middle of January is crazy! Life is going well for us here though. The boys are constantly entertaining us. So here's what we've been up to.

-Vance is officially talking up a storm. He's just about 17 months and already putting together 3-4 word sentences. Some of his favorites are "I want Pa," and "I done pleeesh." Of course we still have his stand by words "what?!" "no way," "apple," "banana," "treat," "up," and thanks to daddy today "Happy Birthday".

-Joel continues to be our sweetheart. He regularly walks up to me and will brush his hand down my face and tell me "I love you mommy." Of course that's all it takes to make me melt. He also loves to help Vance and give him hugs.

-Both boys are water babies. Tj's parents have a swimming pool in their backyard here and so we are over there several times a week. Joel is a little fish and is learning to balance himself in the water with the help of his floating suite. Vance likes swimming but is much more fond of the hot tub. He anxiously waits for someone to take him into the hot tub. He knows and uses the word "hot tub" often when we're over at Pa's house.

-We've really enjoyed having Tj's dad working in town recently. We took a trip down to the beach to watch the sunset, gone swimming, enjoyed a trip to McDonald's where we searched out a McDonald's that had a play place.

-As a family we're really trying to get healthy so trips to the gym have become a part of our daily routine 6 days a week. Joel now looks forward to going to the "gym"- Vance no longer completely freaks out when we go. It's progress.

-Joel's imagine has officially taken off. He is constantly making me laugh with the things he comes up with. He loves playing with his kitchen and making me and Tj dinner. Of course we think we might be raising a real chef, not so much because his kitchen creations but more so because he doesn't like for other people (aka Vance) to be in his kitchen when he's cooking. He also likes to wrestle around with his stuffed animals, daddy, Pa, Vance and well anyone who will play. He also likes to put the blanket over his head and pretend he's a monster. He still loves trains and thinks it's a riot when mommy, Vance and he line up and pretend to be a train. It's a fun age.

-Vance continues to be our dare devil. He has such an extroverted personality. He loves to climb and has just about no fear- unless he's being separated from mommy. He's going through a little bit of separation anxiety.

That's about it for us. Right now we're really feeling fortunate and blessed. We're missing our family and friends but starting to put down roots here.