Sea World

So I'm getting better. It only took me a week to get these pictures up.

Last Saturday Tj took Joel to Sea World with Grandma and Grandpa Rosen and Tj's cousin Brooke who was visiting from Idaho. They had such a good time. I knew that Joel would love Sea World because he's such an animal lover and especially likes watching fish. He really seems entranced with them.
He really enjoyed the shows as well. He seemed amazed at all the sights and sounds from the show. I'm surprised that he sat through two entire shows. I will have to see if I can upload video. They took video of Joel enjoying the shows. It is so funny! Tj got an annual pass so I'm sure there will be many more father-son outings to Sea World before the pass expires.
Here are a few pictures from their day.



Joel and Dado at the fish tank.

Watching the fish swim.

Trying to give the dolphins kisses.

Watching the dolphins swim.

Food Glorious Food

Dinnertime!!!
This last week we let Joel feed himself his dinner with his own spoon. Now he's been eating foods that we could cube up and he could use his fingers to eat with. But this was the first dinner casserole that he needed to use a spoon. He did a pretty good job. It's hard to tell from these pictures because you can tell he got so much on his face and bib but he did get most of it in his mouth. He was loving it!!!

And then the clean up........

Ice Cream!!!!
Joel got his first self-feeding of ice-cream on the fourth of July. Two of the little girls there decided to share their ice cream with him. Before long he had three spoons and ice cream from head to toe. The hosts were enjoying watching Joel feed himself that they wouldn't let me stop him for the sake of their carpet. He loved the ice-cream while eating it but a couple hours later it came back to hurt his stomach. Poor kid, loves milk and milk products but they give him such a stomach ache.

Lemons!!!!
The other night we went to dinner and the waitress brought Tj a plate of lemons for his Diet Coke. Joel would not leave them alone so we decided to let him try one. HE LOVED THEM!!! Crazy kid. By the time he got done there was nothing left but the rind.

Joel is getting so big and he's ALL personality! I can't believe how often he makes me laugh. He must get that from his dad. He is running around and keeping us entertained. Luckily he keeps himself busy. He's amazing and we feel so lucky to have such a good kid. Everyone always comments how mellow and good he is. I'd love to take credit for it but he's just always been such a good kid.
He's talking more although most of what he says we don't usually understand but we keep encouraging him to talk. He understands what we're saying though. He plays pat-a-cake, peek-a-boo, will go and retrieve his toys or whatever we need him to get for us and LOVES music and dancing. He feeds himself and his favorite foods are fruit-especially watermelon and mandarine oranges- and carbs- wheat rolls, potatoes and pasta.
Anyhow, here are some of his most recent pics.


When I'm cooking dinner he will
come up to the gate and make
faces for me. It cracks me up
every single time. He's just such
a riot!!!!

Joel feeding himself dinner.

Check out those teeth. He now has 8 teeth.

Waving. He has learned to wave and will wave

when he's leaving or when others are leaving.

He's also learned to blow kisses.

Us with Aunt Reaghan and Uncle Matt.

So I know I'm SUPER behind in my postings. But I'm trying to do better. Anyhow, here are pictures from our trip to AZ. We had a really good time. Joel loved hanging out with Grandma Monie and his cousins and aunts and uncles. He had started walking pretty tentatively before we left for AZ but once we got there he just took off trying to keep up with all his cousins.
We had a great time visiting with everyone and hated to leave. But we're hoping to get out there again soon after the baby is born.
So here are some of the pics from our trip.


Playing at cousin Emma and Matthew's house.


Sleeping cousins


Joel and Aunt Dana


Emma and her Daddy

Joel playing with cousins Matthew and Emma

Joel with mommy, Uncle Brody and Emma


Joel and Aunt Sandy


Joel and Great Grammy Ethel

Time is Flying!!!!

So I know, I know. It has been quite some time since I've posted. I try but somehow life gets in the way. But here is an update and some new pics of all of us.

Joel loves brushing his teeth. He will barely let me get them before he starts grabbing for the toothbrush to do it himself. He is a vey independant little boy! He officially has five teeth now. (Two top front teeth, two bottom front and one just to the left of his bottom tooth that he got this week.) He is still trying to get his top four side teeth but he's a slow teether so who knows when those will pop through.

In April we spent the weekend in Orlando with some of our friends that Tj works with. We got a smokin' deal into Epcot (can you beat free?!) and so it was a really fun get-away. Here's Joel hanging out in the hotel on momma and dado's bed. He was just so interested in seeing everything. He's such an easygoing kid although he didn't sleep quite as well in the pack-n-play as he does in his bed. And here's a picture of the Rosen family in front of Epcot. It was a really fun day and Joel handled it like a trooper! We can't wait to take him back when he can actually appreciate it. But it was a fun time just the same.

So a couple weeks after our Orlando trip we took a Saturday afternoon and went to Mt. Dora with our friends Rob and Norma. There Tj, Rob and Norma took a Segway tour of Mt. Dora. Joel and obviously couldn't go so we mosied around Mt. Dora looking in all the little shops and grabbed some ice cream. It was a really fun afternoon. Of course after riding the Segway around Tj is trying to figure out how we can justify getting one- eventually. lol

So one morning a week or so ago I went to go get Joel out of bed and he had this full fledged mohak going. I had put him to bed with wet hair and sure enough when he woke up it was sticking straight up. It was one of the funniest things I had seen in a long time. So when Grandma Cindy came to pick him up that morning I had her grab a picture. Of course I could never get his hair to do this intentionally but it was just so cute.

And speaking of cute. My friend Kimberlee and I were wandering around the mall awhile back and saw this cowboy hat. Of course we had to try it on Joel for Papa Lines' sake. And that's all it took, before long he was posing and just hamming it up. Of course our laughing didn't help matters. So here's to our cute cowboy Joel.

So in other news. We found out that Baby Rosen is officially going to be a mister Rosen. I keep meaning to scan in the ultrasound pics but it just hasn't happened yet. I'm about six months now and there's no doubt about it that I am officially pregnant. Joel thinks mommy's belly is a fun place to climb. Needless to say the flight out to AZ will be interesting as far as keeping Joel off my belly. But it will work out. I'm still feeling pretty good and can't really complain.

Joel is still stumbling around although his balance is getting a lot better. He now takes about four or five steps between Tj and me or one or two between an object (like the couch) to us. He thinks he's quite adventerous when he lets go and takes those tentative steps. I can't believe he's starting to walk already!!! He also likes to take objects and pull up on them and walk. For instance he thinks it's a riot to dump the laundry out and tip the basket upside down and push it down the hallway for balance. I suppose for his birthday we may be getting him a toy for that actual purpose so I can claim my laundry baskets back!!!

Joel is a momma's boy (not that I'm complaining!!!) but he loves his dado. Tj plays with Joel when he gets home from work and Joel LOVES it. They'll wrestle around or Tee will toss Joel in the air and Joel just laughs and laughs. Throughout the day he'll call out "Dada, dada, dada, dada." He loves when Tj's home because Tj will call back "Joel, joel, joel". When Tj's gone and Joel calls for him I tell him, "Dado's at work? Dada's at work." He'll then go back to playing or eating or whatever he was doing before he went looking for Tee.

Anyhow, I could go on and on but I'll end this now. We hope that you're all doing well. I'm excited to see all my Arizona family soon! I can't believe how fast that's coming up. We love you all!

Happy Easter from us to you!

Us in our Easter outfits outside church.
April 2007

Getting Ready to go to church with Dado--

Joel and his Easter Basket

Running, Running, Running- Achoo!

This weekend/week has been filled with milestones for Joel.

Our most exciting news is that Joel has said his first word. Drum roll please............................ da da. Yes, mommy is the one who feeds, bathes, dresses, plays, fixes, comforts, gets up at all hours of the night with him but Dado gets the first word. Not that I'm bitter or anything. lol Of course it's not enough that it was his first word but he says it all the time. Lucky Tj!

The other milestone isn't nearly as exciting. Joel has officially gotten his first cold. I knew I was jinxing myself when I was talking with a couple of my friends about a week or two ago about how Joel was almost a year old and still hadn't really ever gotten or cold or been sick. He is now. Poor kid really tries to be happy and play but he feels pretty miserable a lot of the time. He's got it all- sneezing, runny nose, cough, little bit of a fever. Lovely. Luckily the past couple of days he has been sleeping better with the aide of Tylenol. We're just hoping he gets over this soon.

Anyhow, other than that things are pretty low key. We have our ultrasound appointment set for April 18th. So we're looking forward to that and will let y'all know what- if any- results we get from that. Anyhow, Tornado Joel is ripping through the house so I guess I need to go contain him.

Growing, Growing, Growing

So it seems like everyone in our house is growing-Growing-GROWING! Well not so much Tj but the rest of us are.
Joel had a doctor's appointment this week. I knew he was getting big. He weighed in at 22 pounds- it's no wonder my back aches after hauling him around! He was 29 1/4 inches tall. I can't believe how big he is getting. He looks like such a little boy. He went into work with me for a little bit last night and everyone in my department there was amazed at how big he was getting. People still say that he looks just like me- I'm hoping that's a compliment. lol I think he's pretty cute so I take it as a compliment.
Joel is getting quite the personality. He's pretty adventurous. He has started letting go and balancing himself once he's standing. He gets so proud of himself. It makes me smile. Tj even had him taking a few steps the other night. He'd help him balance about an arms length away and then have Joel walk towards him. Sometimes it was a control fall and sometimes they were actual steps. It was exciting! Before long we'll be chasing him as he runs around our apartment.
He's not speaking words yet but that doesn't mean he's not talking or expressing himself! Sometimes he is very vocal- especially when he's being told no. Yes, Joel has learned the art of the fit. Grrrrr- it's a lovely time. Always interesting. We're working on it- so fun! Luckily it's usually when he's tired or hungry that the fits rear their head. So we try and head them off before they show up. I suppose it's just a glimpse of what's to come. But when he throws his fits it makes me wonder where my sweet Joel went. It's a bit ironic though. Joel has begun throwing fits but he's also getting more cuddly. He's never really been one to "rock-a-bye" or cuddle, however now he will. He still has to be in the mood but it's pretty sweet to have him snuggle up to me with his blanket and resting his head on my shoulder. He's such a good boy and we're so blessed to have him.

Climbing up and over!

Joel loves his juice! And he's learned to drink

from his sippy cup straw. Mmm, yummy juice!

Standing with crazy hair!

I also had a doctor's appointment this week. I'm four and a half months pregnant now. I'm fairly certain that it's pretty obvious now. I already have a little belly. I'm not putting weight on as fast as I did with Joel- probably because I'm chasing and hauling Joel this time around!-but still healthy. In the next week or so I'll have my second ultrasound. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the baby will not be shy and let us know if it's a boy baby or a girl baby. But of course the most important part is that the doctor can check out the baby's heart and make sure he or she is growing properly. It's still pretty surreal that it was only a year ago we were going through this with Joel.

So I'm pretty excited. Joel and I are going to be out in Arizona at the end of May. I'm excited for him to see and spend time with his Grandma & Papa, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. Plus I am super excited to see Angela's new baby. We can't wait! Tj unfortunately will be working and can't make the trip this time- this is his most busy time of year. Maybe next time.

Joel's First Wedding!

So Joel went to his first wedding yesterday. Tj's boss got married. Of course they insisted that we bring Joel- they love him and think he's the world's best baby! So we brought him. Aside from a few minor outbursts he was pretty good. Both the bride and groom mentioned later that they were so glad that Joel was there because his little outbursts made them smile and kept them from getting over emotional. Glad to be of service! lol And of course he was a hit at the reception! All the girls loved him and he got passed around- which was a little interesting at times because he's starting to get separation anxiety. But overall it was a good night.

Joel dressed to the nines with Norma- the bride.
Pretty dang cute if you ask me!

The Rosen Family
Besides my squinty eyes (the FL sun is bright!!!) it's a pretty good picture of us.
Tj was a groomsman and looks pretty handsome in that tux!

Joel's Ninth Month

So everyone always says that the second nine months go by so much quicker than the first. Well I'd agree. This last month Joel has just gotten so big. He is definitely on his way to being a toddler and is probably more so a toddler than a baby. Sigh-

He officially is cruising to go along with his crawling. He's still pretty cautious though. But anything in his line of sight is fair game. He's so interested in everything especially once he is pulled up to standing. We have seen many a cup pulled over in attempt to see what it is. Luckily they're usually empty! The funniest thing was when I had a travel box of cheerios on the coffee table and Joel dumped them all over. He LOVES cheerios!

Joel has also learned to make a plethora of new noises with his mouth. Of course he still refuses to talk or attempt words like "mama" or "dado" but he loves making "motorcar" noises and his favorite "fart-sounding" noises. Of course those always come during the prayer at church or other inconvenient times but luckily he's cute and everyone just laughs. He also likes to make choking/coughing noises. He swallowed something wrong one night at dinner over at Grandma and Grandpa R's house. When everyone was sure he was okay they started to laugh- and of course since he had an audience he proceeded to perform. What are you going to do?!

He continues to make us laugh every day. He loves pulling himself up on stuff and jumping. His favorite is his crib- when he should be sleeping. He fights naps and bedtime like the plague: he gets that from his dad. So now sleeping time is always an adventure. We're hoping he grows out of it! So here are the latest pics.


Joel all decked out for the ONE winter
day in FL. I think it reached like 47
degrees that morning.

Sleepy Joel!

Joel all decked out and ready to go!