Another week gone by.

So it seems like the weeks just keep passing by. Joel continues to keep us entertained. He has such a happy personality. He loves to laugh and him and dado play and laugh all evening once Tj gets home. He continues to jabber away and we're hopeful that any day now he'll start talking. Or should I say start using words we can understand. He knows exactly what he's saying- it's just us who can't interpret him. He's getting more interested in Vance. In a way it's cute and on the other hand it's terrifying. I know it's just a matter of time before he tries to hold him or move him. So I make sure to keep my eye on them whenever Vance is within reach of Joel. But he's so sweet to Vance. He tries to share his toys. So cute! Joel is mommy's helper. He loves to help. He'll bring me blankets and loves to help lift things. He thinks he is so strong and loves to show it.

Vance is starting to be awake more and we're getting to know him too. He's pretty laid back and takes the mauling from Joel in stride. As strong as Joel is Vance will be at least as tough. He's got to be to survive. (lol) Vance loves to look around and is just so bright eyed when he's awake. I guess there's always something to look at or listen to when you have such an active big brother. It's fun getting to know him- as silly as that sounds.

Life has been pretty typical although this last week has been pretty eventful. Tj's grandma (Gram) has been visiting- staying with his parents- and so the boys have gotten to spend time with her. Last week we made the adventurous journey to Orlando for three days. It was quite an experience traveling with two boys. But we made it and for the most part came out unscathed. (lol)

So here are some pictures for all of you who need your Joel and Vance fix.


Joel's so silly! He decided he didn't
want to listen to our music the other
day in the car. So he plugged his
ears. Silly kid. He thought he was
pretty funny too!

Vance spending quality time with dado.

Vance all snuggly after his bath.
I couldn't help but take a picture!

Nobody gets Vance's paci! I guess
he's already learned he's got to protect
it from being stolen by Joel. Joel likes
to "help" mommy and take the paci
and bring it to me wherever I am.
Even if that means taking it from Vance!

Joel and Tj at Sea World. Joel was
such a trooper. His entire schedule
got out of wack but he really tried
to be a good sport. You can see
how tired he is.

And he's out! In the walk from the park to the
car he lost his battle with sleep. Classic photo, eh?!

And Vance makes 4.

Okay so it's been three weeks and I'm FINALLY posting pictures. I know I know.

Vance T made his grand entrance on August 16th at about 1:15 pm. He was 7 lbs 7 oz and about 19 inches long. He is such a good baby. He sleeps really pretty well (anywhere between 3 and 5 hours at a time). He's really mellow and seems to thrive on the bustle that having an active big brother involves.


Mommy and Vance at the hospital.

He always looks like he's posing
when he sleeps. He likes having
his hands up near his face. So cute!

More sleeping. Maybe at some point he'll wake
up long enough to get a picture of him with his
eyes open.

My three boys. I'm one lucky girlie!

The boys with Grandma and Grandpa at the
hospital.

The boys with Grandma Monie.

And now for Big Brother

Joel is such a good kid and a great big brother! He loves giving Vance kisses. He is just so sweet. He's adjusting but for the most part he's doing well and usually doesn't mind having baby brother around. He seems to really enjoy being home more with me and Vance but Grandma still comes and gets him a couple days a week to play. He's one lucky boy to have so much attention. lol He's a great kid. So here are some of the latest pics of Joel.


Silly Joel. He has quite the sense
of humor. His laugh is so great!

Joel playing at the park. He loves

running around at the park and we
love for him to run around the park.

My baby is growing up! This was
him playing at home. I couldn't
believe how grown up he seemed.
He has quite the mouthful of teeth
and is attempting to talk more. I
can't believe how fast time is going!

The Latest

Okay, so I don't have any pictures this time but Joel has been so funny lately that I wanted to make a post of all the funny things he's said or done lately. I'll start with the most recent.

Tj's parents have a dog, Molly, that Joel loves!!! Anyhow, tonight while we were over there they went on their normal walk and towards the end Tom let Joel hold Molly's leash. Well when they got home he wouldn't let go of it! So Tom had to unhook Molly because Joel wasn't letting go of that leash. Then once he was out of the stroller he was trying to hook the leash back on Molly. Tj eventually did it for him and then it was a classic case of who was walking who?! It was very funny. Joel finally wore Molly out and was pretty disappointed when Grandpa put the leash away.

So Joel has a whole mouthful of teeth coming in. Cindy noticed the first one earlier this week when they were playing. It was one of his top molars on the left side. Then today I noticed three more. The top molar on the right side is coming in and he has two bottom teeth that are getting ready to push through. It also looks like his canines are going to come through shortly as well. Poor kid. He's been a bit temperamental and now I guess we know why! So we've taken all the teething toys back out for him. It's pretty rough.

Well we're one step closer to getting ready for the baby. I spent all week cleaning and sorting the boys room and this weekend we got the dressers that Tj's parents bought for us delivered. I think we're going to switch them around though. I had the chest of drawers put in the boys room but I think I'm going to have it moved and have the dresser in there and then we'll put the chest in our room. We just have to make sure the dresser will fit. Then once we get that moved (we being Tj) I'll start taking out the baby clothes and moving Joel's clothes into it. Then the only thing left for that room will be to move the desk out and set up the pack-n-play. Only.

Joel's playing has been cracking me up lately. His newest thing is that everything has become a phone. It started with one of Tj's book lights. I couldn't figure out what he was doing until I realized that he was treating it like he does when we put the phone to his ear. He'll listen and then pull it away and look at it and then put it back to his ear. He jabbers and jabbers away. So far just about anything that he can hold to his ear that even slightly resembles a phone has become his phone. I did buy him a little play cell phone the other day at the store and that has become his favorite toy for the time being. He loves that he can push the buttons and play with it and nobody tells him no.

Hmmm, I know I'm forgetting stuff. He's just such a funny kid. This afternoon he took his nap next to me. And when he woke up I was pretty much awake but still had my eyes closed. He took his little hands and was trying to pry my eyes open for me. Then he was giving me kisses to make sure I was awake. He's pretty funny.

I guess I'll give a little pregnancy update. We're now officially down to less than a month. I can't believe it! With Joel the pregnancy seemed to last forever and this one is just flying by! I guess time is crazy like that. I'm to the point now where I'm exhausted all the time. If I don't get a nap during the day (which usually only happens on the weekends) I'm zonked out by 9pm. My doctor was a little concerned about my sugars and so I've been on a limited "diet" to exclude a lot of sugar so that's been a bit trying. On top of that I learned my lesson last time with Joel and have been watching my salt intake so my feet and legs don't swell up like hot air balloons. So yeah, between watching sugar and salt my diet has been a bit boring. At least it's only really for this last month. The baby is still moving. He doesn't seem to be as active as Joel was but he still makes sure that I'm aware that he's there. Other than that life keeps trekking along.

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!