tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11138892114424410092024-03-21T01:57:15.757-04:00Mama MazzarellaRebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-16782401684751029162012-01-19T15:27:00.014-05:002012-01-19T16:11:47.072-05:00Back to Blogging... lots of newsMy blog has been callign to me... Yes, it’s been – well way to long. So here’s a VERY short and sweet recap of the past year or so.<br /><br />- I got pregnant around July. Anyone surprised? Probably not. Easier pregnancy than the first time - less swelling, same amount of nausea for the first 5/6 months. Less energy since I was chasing around Dominick. Look at those lips!<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699447097230834418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAleFGoaC3rYjq1zgTsXOrKnkxQpQecUWqqAPYPksIgAneB9QJaQ9lRlYVDficNRNFrl382aOT7UJhEX3lX37KskRgfYSLwAJifScuZnoHILfKutGaGGFZIYV2P8_K-tu-sIEQPvO0-nB8/s320/lips.jpg" /></div><br /><div>- Had a great summer, fall.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699447246681988226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eQdpZFLxPxvF8V-pZqNsJZkDxsgygcAnxqarJiuAB97WPBbduFeO-JIVYxGcpcbm80_vpdp5ry2bRvZVLB-QNKIFXw43t2VLcYmPRu7C2Zg_1kHYqqcRPOxYVP5pK2Bcbc9Vyt3s1DxB/s320/two.jpg" /> - Dominick fell and chipped his front tooth. Major parent guilt on that one since he was under my watch. He just fell face first off of the kitchen chair onto the kitchen floor and I was too pregnant to move quick enough to catch him. Tooth didn’t die… but it’s not pretty either. We decided to wait a while before we did anything to it. <br /><div></div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699447477334749490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvI7VR7rm8Fvw1yI-HLkjkAk71AGF6m5pWSM1hySRVkB9HZ60qs5EOofqSHxG0R07KHpgrWMCdaQPWvzaQIDtQajVjK1yTY0iNlRswWQFQCqjwanyo-T8KyE-UIR5cH7AoWuGnbKGRvW2/s320/twoyears.jpg" /> - Visited Costa Rica with my family! Left Dom at home, but went with my mom, step-dad, siblings, and my two nephews. It was a great time. I was 7 months preggo, but still managed to have a good time. But no zip-lining for me but we had monkees sit on our shoulders! Did have some contractions while I was there – that was SCARY! But ended up I just needed to drink more water. So I took it easy – no problem! </div><br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699447714847796258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSph4uIGiis6ngk6OYNr_7S6PoSp2pEcM5bVNZr6nEfCQKNBdEqqIB3ewX3ilej9eJJ2ITs5AEpngTQ5Caac0bUkWfusPN6fP19bu_uukqli61Sxx5g3lqAoFBUnd7AywK-iNSVyKvR6F/s320/crdinner.jpg" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699448201294893010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktUIU3wvRa22DEYw0WrsbSFD2e9kug58vEolAMASJ3bbZM0FQBu8ZVuRz7hx3oKMgoH_NOKINCHi9IYWcUMvnX94RbhkJ1aMNfkAY1oNRr6UOpecLk0pAzwLREu-qoKjNH9f8a72o-Rkm/s320/monkey.jpg" /> - Dom turned two. Had a great party at our house – while I was 37 weeks pregnant. He talks and talks and talks. The things that come out of this boy’s mouth just make me smile! I’m so grateful! <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699448439418736802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7n5SEpHZ6Gho2Wp5Gam4kkiiLgXa1XpFLeG34HkUd21lEdLXNFb4SOO_6kLcmscb4RMJ8o1TRfPJPm1TDvkRpibOlAEO5I30NDhQ7FntFD1OddCqp1wfNEyiKhp_vOlt7eJEZSgVqZwPD/s320/party.jpg" /> - Maternity leave from end of March till August! It was heavenly.<br /><br /><br /><div>- We welcomed our second son, Rocco John on April 11, 2011 with a scheduled c-section. Great birth date! This was another “big baby” at 8 lbs 14 ounces and 21 inches long. He is healthy, easy going, loving, happy baby. Love him to pieces and he fit right into our family. </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699449122800173234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2tn9Vl2DCLj2pV9arLGy6Q_Bes4qYbQbPM48jlcSmCDHqIgnB8BxHvC8c6K6lfIFKyDnrOih3OPEVHuHf_UT3LfXPAnF3jJb0oXRli3SM-gUjeEs9FO_we3SfakY9Wn7LYxBUtDg6Jbp/s320/rocco5hours.jpg" /> <br /><div>Here's my family getting their first look at Rocco!<br /></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699448834478847522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsJEg6ccvdYJ3XhyLKAvo1EV-hcuVPqiUQPK42cBJNmY6ZU1umzy6rhFb7eMb5Eh3KZYy7trIga_oE3OyxpjyS5lcnMOX1l11xQWQjJxWUmv1TDQREuVNp8kVe2PtDNsNYp_IQlzzc7pe/s320/welcome+rocco.jpg" /></div><br /><div>- I chopped my hair... not sure what I was thinking, but I needed a change. And let’s face it – I really did it to hide the fact that I LOST tons of it after I had Rocco. It’s growing back and I’m growing it out once again.</div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699449379792720786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqD2NiVLqWPPL3-0JHJW6U8Okee8ts3Dldy-k0g2tKtH4Sbawy6plUCtxfO12MSzizFXD46qATHajNPg1JQXaR9PXImZdxJrVmtFPlch3l_ELXcirLSGI0WaWYvxwtb1vpnuPf1QaWBdM/s320/chopped.jpg" /></div>- Took a trip to Nebraska to visist my extended family. This is the boys' first baseball game. Dom didn't sit for very long. Think we made it to the 4th inning. <br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699451250528851122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPb9gKqNquGEr0DrhzfrfadutvEOqaQPIJtnyG-R6la5Na5subc9DuD4zT33MpVZThfpo9TEqbI3ZYPslyTC2pVNHr_nvF4IlYpt44Xtm7KWo4E0haEMKSz_M_LxieVJPgU9EVz2lZPQZ/s320/twoboys.jpg" /> - Lost my dear step-mother Susan to a horrible battle with cancer in October. It's still painful to talk about. She was a HUGE part of my life. </div><br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699449846705681922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNHK8aYokOVV6NSDjf5swHL4MsOYS6tDKR-x8fPDDsNjCnCIvERZg-7AipthFWy5w8t_9_q0YlzKfoN84cZ_jxnhf21efDxbWKBdSS6jLWtoH-yQ3hCCWjkhKoGpAye9L1cDRYVKhIp-2/s320/dadsusan.jpg" />- Just recently got promoted at work. Minor promotion, but way over do. Takes guts to ask for a promotion after being out on leave... You are your own best advocate. <br /><br /><br /><div>- Met several celebrities at work – Bethenny Frankel reality Bravo TV star (former Real Housewife of NY and mastermind behind SkinnyGirl products), various New York Giant’s players past and present including Victor Cruz, Former Miss America Teresa Scanlan (met her while she was the reigning queen) All of these celebs come in to visit the children’s hospital where I work AND I happen to be the celebrity handler so to speak. One of the most fun parts about my job. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699452315016808194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizT8iqT4xJ4MD2KELIgWO_T5It0KIWDQ2pQunpzKONytSPWSWggT6cvQ2I-re5cWJcAQWXqIhh1BqwRqGP_T6H7TCinzJwTKwc-AsbWqkoXYtpB8bxhZnZrnqhArTfcUYD0w3Owb1q0vjn/s320/misamerics.jpg" /> <br /><div>Dominick will be three in March. Rocco just has his 9 month check up and will be one in April. </div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699451797008355458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9NJ0IQdG2ozu9zOUFYyCge7sINlGfZ2LRVRtzfpoBPR3iZt561Zp-Y8OkVtAGuLjvY_sDWGiI8fZUyd2ZfXTIfh3QMkBI196CyOkyJoH80w8fB8JC_LjpWESlNaUoWcGoJtigUAnCqi5/s320/santa.jpg" /> That’s it in a nut shell. Lots more to come. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-50696263524198654832010-06-30T09:22:00.017-04:002010-06-30T09:46:47.962-04:00May - June in a nutshell<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Fourteen & Fifteen Months snuck up on me. A lot has gone done the past few months. Here’s a down and dirty recap.<br /><br />Dominick is walking! He’s walking! He’s walking! Dominick took his first steps on mother’s day, May 9 and hasn’t stopped. He likes to walk on his own and will rarely hold your hand, but we’re working on that. </div></div><div> </div><div>Here is is enjoying some bubbles at one of the many carnivals we have at our hospital. </div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488557846339985666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcICSTHo3ENneQX1zF7lw8bnFx36fj9XyIxTIWUaZdHO8dNsEBrmqk8uJ6vxyxfa9tjg4-ro92htZ2xbvlqPGScc9izQvGoByuXY_KAkyI9yL_xrzqQamoeuV6ww89dUP5nIbsbEsG3qk/s320/d+032.jpg" border="0" /><br />Dominick has been doing a lot new things lately – some of his faves: shaking his head no, blowing kisses, pointing with his pointer finger, give us kisses – mostly open mouth w/ a little tongue!<br /><br />He continues to sign: more, all done, milk, and eat and has added juice, book, paci, and please! AND he now strings two words together – “More please” It’s adorable.<br /><br />He learns so quickly these days. I think he learned how to sign book in just a few minutes. It’s like something finally “clicked.” He just needs to work on the dexterity of manipulating his fingers. A lot of his signs look alike, but we actually know what he means. Juice looks a lot like milk and paci and eat are very similar. But we can usually tell what he’s trying to get at. We’re working on: Ozzie (the sign for O) and his Aunt Kristen taught him to sign the color “Green”<br /><br />We’ve had another round of croup and a few strange viruses with high fevers. Just this past week he spiked a 103 fever with no other symptoms. He now has a bunch of green sticky boogies – YUCK! </div><div> </div><div>Mother's Day 2010 - no I will not sit in this really cool riding toy! I'll push it, tip it over, but I will NOT sit in it!</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488558033840146386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtchAyNq10IeppqEakbflGv1xWQQRucg8CVwnKJwlhWkBOYnGR7AOkyRRf12qx0whR7rXCkU4s933Tz2qYfIqUq6Ph_nvnFbJlyPMKAMlUODFvJ9KAXD_4KjjaQt05fn2p7RzaIURqOKXM/s320/d+049.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Most recent family portrait - Dominick is in the "I will not sit still" phase. He is always on the GO!</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488558193178487810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBwM7wUSTDudX_gWQx94GuVmox1rf-7Y3et3FF-W6yC4VFlA1m3jQAEmod9Lt23hZ35fxZAROgI2cJgtsBzIDgPxf9a5dBqbU5VT8ne2et2-a7Ff2eN66PWxZP2cQ45YuW7DHqClqtApv/s320/d+059.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488558123780673666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj115rJpNWRuXs1fbI5iA47xa-gwKAq5symusHYsCdgtF4ZoLZAkCICN9xnuapumeHY1g0a0lM_su0AKHxZRH58X8tgIDUfgBPm7qFFAPWwUNLyo5LzvQBVd3L-vl6FmBU_z6rG2ywRl_uz/s320/d+051.jpg" border="0" /><br />We took Dominick to the St. John Vianney carnival last week and he rode the merry go round. He LOVED it! As the horse was going up and down he was holding on to the poll with a smile from ear to ear. This carnival is a family favorite. Frank’s parents have been going for decades. I’m sad to report that the food is getting worse every year. Frozen pizza, stale zepole – just awful. But I think from now on we’ll be going to the rides and not so much the food.<br /><br /><div>Out for lunch with mommy, Grammie and Aunt Kristen flirting with all the ladies!</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488558271750280914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNFZdtuhgjJD7EAnU4jLdm2kOfWNvMLjqIKbq8eVuWaJKsZOFDm2H7T5v4rl9rf6vlCY9UoCDMkbnopaprFEK5eqsLSdzgy9-BvrEPjH_RgkrnnHytCxpYfc-KdgXOXFygpghYU_wu7GH/s320/Ham+Carnival+Hamilton+2010+103.jpg" border="0" />We’re gearing up for a trip down to Jacksonville, Florida this weekend for a Wright family reunion. My mom’s side of the family hasn’t gotten together like this in years and it will be so great to see all my cousins and aunts and uncles again. Frank is staying home because it’s department policy to not ask for days off around a holiday – doesn’t that suck!<br /><br />Dominick, myself, my mom and step-dad and my brother, his wife and two kids are flying out at 6 a.m. on Friday morning, returning late Sunday night. My stepdad is funding the entire trip and made the flight reservations. It’s obvious he has never traveled with small children before, otherwise he would have chosen a more reasonable hour to travel – but my motto this weekend is to “go with the flow” and enjoy every minute I can.<br /><br />I’m stocked up on new toys for the trip and hopefully I’ll be able to keep Dominick entertained for most of the flight. Here are some pictures from the past few months to catch us up to speed.<br /><div></div><br /><div>June is all about the pool! This kid LOVES the water. He will litterally put his face down into the water - no fear! Catching some rays at Yaya's house - loving the pool!</div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488559742978584642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuPOdrETdI6Q4aYpzavvirN3WKWoIKKmYZ-NVSPutaKMY5Mfp67ypFVnh1x8M5DWkykVg1RgIFNF0vIOINFUPdj7f9WMNf248aAu_7AT2xEbIoMu0CzV1jn4cKoPNGwWA8WuPM_i63_Br/s320/june2010+001.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Samantha not loving the pool so much. </div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488559813136567650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYu8rtZfqxPInr4IY-eJCAINRE8xs50yFIqNFHT_waiTG5oSsFFSEOIZgReOe3Xw7xbLo9wVijyQpS7EjZVvUQri7AeTUs4rxDvAurPPr2HUL966BPP9XDepnlG9mmuhDosJ-idsF5G6F0/s320/june2010+012.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>One hot, hot, Saturday in June I went to Metuchen's street fair with Zach, his mom Jen, and my mom, Yaya. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488559998586278466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxZzisK4xqvg_5Xo8xAyc-PgGeZ0kk1trcBZuIPKDW0rM9qeHin4rY_ZsegYY1q7QpeP4V3svL1m9Y1n1ySXKzxa5ecnUYpf_ORXRY6FOb9taDa-HRaGw2wuhyphenhyphen_l0TdC_ffFdkpp5lmr4/s320/june2010+037.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Dominick is the newest member of the Metuchen Fire Department.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488560070012632738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeaaTeTWkBC41s3p3WANigePV3_ZAKoSL36RH-5NlRRLtktlzocLCO4utXIZZnHcpn0UxptBbISbaefu1tlh-RBjUvklG8Y3bpTGWkex6JDVPzCsHl8nTIIbTsajJ8Xv7lNVg9asJ7puS/s320/june2010+048.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Here's my nephew, Zach, trying to eat his ice cream faster than it can melt! It was over 95 degrees out. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488560147599930226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGBoY62osrVVinkTvHHgNaR0n9_eKeNru1mVQa-8299IBwZkO9X-QcuMTUzqreZSTsGZC_Q-4uXouJ0nVe9c-SE-hbEFBZoVP_qfnCl4hxYKeipiYBNzKAn-T4xIoegPg3y-msQZDN4Qn/s320/june2010+057.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>I took Dominick to Turtle Back Zoo - it's a small Zoo in West Orange. This is the "what the heck is this thing" look. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488559947086849938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjUaBUv3C9TonGjGGgSS0LNOvEXua19ARB5jcbVbOlc9mzB_MOfCsp2d_HLGcLDv2RWqinzjG32ErnOWbBb2R0_uPhNCremhuHEIFm2DDHtiMZ6BOlN3VSFYboSDYjXYIv3JtmY7fwTfo/s320/june2010+028.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Here Dominick is saying "ooohh, oooohh!" at the prarie dogs. </div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488559883878704050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHXoOETU80mCtmABtSkgGv9rU54BrMkZPKgPZ0yW5m_XDf80ZvCwP5z-PyEhOZyYi6QoKcnCsh_fZjWolZ1YPvB336FjXT5zqrbLTIKfqu9L5fJxQiDA7U6rIbjIdSo5P8wPLaYl8eUR5/s320/june2010+024.jpg" border="0" />He LOVES to splash!</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488560259347361906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6T9_N5rjdz5KR3hvbBZPyGjFp4O6S-OntiOtYlDQ7JheV-NhxLI2MAHsc69Lr7sF2ze0dbvC7fJ9sL9d8Q224U2ErqEP0MyhT-9Pws4-wYtijV9DbFwzBXgmHZAkXcWgduROPcT7xVRXy/s320/june2010+058.jpg" border="0" />The little guy was sooooo tired after an afternoon at the pool.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488560304217065106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyNnlxhEhnrC3eSwV2LbcR9ifUjhkkIX-dQZr-qjrlqBf75liUydDSPyv69h6_zB_V6dYW2d3c4zjceeucZN8TcAqXytDX6LgUe6ZqzBaqPQd1rSekoqv0CGt7qpCFD4BxP8a_pt-QL9S/s320/june2010+077.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-26257248064890137532010-06-08T11:41:00.001-04:002010-06-08T11:45:27.691-04:00True Story Tuesday - One Rainy Monday<center><a href="http://tris-adventures.blogspot.com/search/label/True%20Story%20Tuesday"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNUP5S0_xhpojda-YDD8nbnVpYSFGoow7mp3oDM-YfrT8Kj-tiX85PeuFd9mQ6QnX2oxQ4kDlxeTcOEOP5yZnZsCKKdqc_gLzAFNtZrDURyTBKtyjMgKkkRbnVK0Sh_9vmEOxJltKNw31/s320/true+story+tuesday+final.jpg" /></a></center><center></center><div align="left"></div><br /><br />This is my first ever True Story Tuesday post. I hope I linked everything right, but even if I didn’t, this story is truly worth telling. I was inspired to join in by <a href="http://wifemomnurse.blogspot.com/2010/06/protected.html">wife.mom.nurse.</a> Check out her TST.<br /><br />For some reason, I decided to take a mental health day and stay home from work on a rainy Monday. I was working full time and loving the independence of living alone. Well, some what alone. I lived in a two family house, one of a set of three houses so close together you can hear the leaves rustling as my neighbor made it home at the wee hours of the morning. I also, so I thought, lived in a very quiet town. In fact, it’s the town I grew up in where no one ever locked their doors and let their kids go out and play till the street lights came on.<br /><br />My neighbors were, um, a bit sketchy to say the least. The middle house had a man in his twenties that only used this apartment during the week and went to his house on the weekends. The house on the end had a bunch of young men living there and there was so much turn over.<br /><br />Well, back to that rainy morning. It had started to pour – I mean buckets and I was looking out side on my front porch when I look to my right and see one of those young men two houses down standing completely naked. Oh, and yeah, he’s BLEEDING from his side.<br /><br />Oh My God!<br /><br />Just as I saw the young man come out of his house a patrol car was pulling up and the town’s sergeant got out and was going in to help.<br /><br />Good, I didn’t have to call the police. But my heart is racing. What just happened? Am I in danger?<br /><br />I lock my door. I lock my back door. I check all the windows.<br /><br />I call my then boyfriend, who’s a police officer, and says to stay in side. Well no shit Sherlock.<br /><br />I call my stepfather, who happens to be my landlord. He knows who the victim is and he calls the police to get the scoop. My stepfather also happens to be the town’s attorney so he’d have no problem getting the details. Yeah… it’s a small town.<br /><br />More cop cars show up lights and sirens blazing. It’s still pouring. The poor neighbor gets taken away in an ambulance. Then the cops are high tailing it around town to find the suspects.<br /><br />After what seems like HOURS, but which was probably less than an hour, my stepfather calls me back and fills me in.<br /><br />The neighbor, Danny, was robbed, stabbed and locked in a closet by two intruders. The robbers left to use his ATM card. Danny kicked his way through the drywall to get out. I’m not sure why he was naked… was he surprised in the shower? Or was he sleeping in the buff? I never knew anyone who slept naked. That’s just too much information to know about a neighbor. Heck, I didn’t need the mental visual – I saw the real thing. But it was the blood that really got my attention.<br /><br />My little town is small and upper middle class. It’s certainly a fact that in some parts of town we do not have many minorities. Well, if it just so happens the police used a bit of racial profiling to catch the suspects, then so be it. The cops saw two African American young men walking down a side street and picked them up. Turns out, their get away car wouldn’t start so they were trying to hoof it out of town.<br /><br />A few weeks later I come to find out one of Danny’s roommates was hanging with a pretty rough crowd and they came to rob him knowing that he had money.<br /><br />Just goes to show you that even if you live in a small town you really shouldn’t let your guard down. Lock your doors and keep an eye on your neighbors.Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-32579191909450677592010-05-13T14:46:00.006-04:002010-05-13T14:52:52.000-04:00Really? Work Life Balance<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhqhOxBl_75oAPdn7BuaZg_vTsWUrlsRu_mgXuLG_1r0RHFzaJphXYsILLCQyZaoUbnMzdyUYohyphenhyphenpaX-BRzCyW9ECiAtwplGzR3Stg4YJzyf9fAU0r9ovM_OHB008wepOWo0Vr0wMpfxx/s1600/wlb.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 140px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470828881257862546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhqhOxBl_75oAPdn7BuaZg_vTsWUrlsRu_mgXuLG_1r0RHFzaJphXYsILLCQyZaoUbnMzdyUYohyphenhyphenpaX-BRzCyW9ECiAtwplGzR3Stg4YJzyf9fAU0r9ovM_OHB008wepOWo0Vr0wMpfxx/s200/wlb.bmp" /></a> <span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="color:#000000;">Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is my new favorite word to say when I’m dumbfounded, speechless and utterly confused.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><br /><div><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">That’s exactly what I said, out loud, when I read another mom’s post about her days being super busy and overwhelmed as a stay at home mom and trying to find her work/life balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand that a life of a stay at home mom can be busy and most certainly overwhelming at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">This is probably the most “controversial” post I’ve ever written, because I know this is a hot topic that seems to divide the seas between working moms and stay at home moms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">But I felt compelled to share my feelings on this topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m going to say it like I see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I hope I don’t offend anyone because that is not my intention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I just cannot comprehend how a stay at home mom would feel overwhelmed on a daily basis to the point she’s complaining about not having a work/life balance. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Key words here are work/life balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have MANY friends and family that are stay at home moms and I know they can have hectic days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am not saying that being a stay at home mom is easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Every day has its own challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I had my “really?” moment when I was reading about this mom’s experience being so busy with her three kids’ activities and how she doesn’t have a work life balance…</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">First, I would never describe being a stay at home mom was a “job.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sure it’s hard work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sure it can take every ounce of my energy to scrub that pot, or change that diaper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But being a mom <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">is</i> your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There isn’t a work/life balance to even find. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I’ve decided that this particular mom was really trying to explain how hard it is to find time for herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is something ALL moms struggle with and I couldn’t agree more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Second… I am a working mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I work full time outside the home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And as this blogger, went on and on about her day and all the things she needed to do – laundry, house cleaning, lunch making, shuttling kids etc – I couldn’t help but think: I do all of those things AND I work 40 hours a week away from home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Let’s be honest here - I would give ANYTHING to be a stay at home mom where my only head aches and stresses where about which play dates to schedule and what school activities I would go to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I guess another part of my “really?” moment is tied to my own disappointment that I cannot be home with my son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Instead, I have chosen a lifestyle that must be supported by two incomes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I understand this is my choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But it is not an easy choice by any means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">It pains me to know that I may be missing out on something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I’ve had my fair share of mother issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My mom worked full time and I pretty much was what we called back then a “latch key kid”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’d come home from school, I’d let myself in and even start dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sometimes my mom wouldn’t even be home before bed time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I have made a commitment to myself to be a different kind of working mom then my mother was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know that I will make extra time to be there for my children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I know I will struggle with a work/life balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">A struggle that I am thankful for everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Okay – let me have it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’d love to know what you all think...</span></p></div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-13102172913559831952010-05-10T15:32:00.010-04:002010-05-10T15:39:30.105-04:00Sunday Morning Play DateDominck had a fun morning over at Grammie's playing outside and riding in his little blue push car. Here are a few pictures. And yes, I'm a sun nazi. Hats are required when we're outside. I cna't help it... too many skin scares in my family.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469727888005613410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcrbTYg-hu4xkjSQ8NqnhSJmgIY6SkTNJN_kPMRZMpe4qWS1lZLFgmIImsMrxQz5L_7N5iay4XsVMWioK8nkoBWLtI1_Ke7pcR5k08YChqslb6ht17NfFxM-c7jWyuMNAufHg9UlEM34T/s320/d+012.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEYZuAnyY0K-kx90u8vAy8A8sor5XmxOzBmibVhHREzEnL_9clicoED6urQqFTS7vDt5OiyLP5r5oiMelzbW_iVIt8QwqOwzwVQYI3ESj8fNxlphignjIvM8VYFwzXUELcjOevENG4pPa/s1600/d+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469727673764854370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEYZuAnyY0K-kx90u8vAy8A8sor5XmxOzBmibVhHREzEnL_9clicoED6urQqFTS7vDt5OiyLP5r5oiMelzbW_iVIt8QwqOwzwVQYI3ESj8fNxlphignjIvM8VYFwzXUELcjOevENG4pPa/s320/d+020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKR253Vx9hQI3SkOdCgiSG-PjywGFJSmiW86fH5DQooV8CWtsvmQyuxpiv3aeeATH-Ss1yfF0Po-7CJdDYfPPk76z1Hw1uPPXTduKT5oxo4xh0lORUOWiZWI9C_m7W3z51u1h0v8Bfx_x/s1600/d+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469727561886990626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKR253Vx9hQI3SkOdCgiSG-PjywGFJSmiW86fH5DQooV8CWtsvmQyuxpiv3aeeATH-Ss1yfF0Po-7CJdDYfPPk76z1Hw1uPPXTduKT5oxo4xh0lORUOWiZWI9C_m7W3z51u1h0v8Bfx_x/s320/d+024.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Practicing walking. Those first steps are coming! </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoek2EJ0HaFB7AGqstrh51tb6zS8ZtYCS1OPMRa6-Zal0fUJN-KqLTYCEvX4H82d-ppCmQ7Klp4nmkq7F_xnD9ps6-ag3U_W8bMku7MPSB-b0dDYximzrVXjQ8DELeVL_96morqHk8pnp/s1600/d+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469727359644089730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoek2EJ0HaFB7AGqstrh51tb6zS8ZtYCS1OPMRa6-Zal0fUJN-KqLTYCEvX4H82d-ppCmQ7Klp4nmkq7F_xnD9ps6-ag3U_W8bMku7MPSB-b0dDYximzrVXjQ8DELeVL_96morqHk8pnp/s320/d+009.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcir4o0pD4sJVmB21vkCKJ2KjNST-OvnVGHJ_lt0fCzLIGuFCFalxURjjDAbaPqaJq6pwY8j04e9DtZGcgvdKX52wrcfR92k7OtA8PTLStQZZ518fmeJ15hoLZAwFSB_tckTiXtCnq53WW/s1600/d+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469727214680250722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcir4o0pD4sJVmB21vkCKJ2KjNST-OvnVGHJ_lt0fCzLIGuFCFalxURjjDAbaPqaJq6pwY8j04e9DtZGcgvdKX52wrcfR92k7OtA8PTLStQZZ518fmeJ15hoLZAwFSB_tckTiXtCnq53WW/s320/d+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ55KpN10KNoLaBrgNHaWevbnD52dhr67G-XKNo3BfjBxM3QrfKtBiL-1Ji6PAQm0Uz16W0VMxdpUSGIVwpsyOQMBMglwk2rU4IGOtmb7_d9fTJNJe7jD8XuCxdD_GcaSXC0DVzPjF2rH/s1600/d+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469727104788343474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ55KpN10KNoLaBrgNHaWevbnD52dhr67G-XKNo3BfjBxM3QrfKtBiL-1Ji6PAQm0Uz16W0VMxdpUSGIVwpsyOQMBMglwk2rU4IGOtmb7_d9fTJNJe7jD8XuCxdD_GcaSXC0DVzPjF2rH/s320/d+017.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Here's Dominick doing "roll it" from patty cake. This is his all time favorite LOOK AT ME move. It's adorable.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgQrrkmC3Q4crIFh9Xq4CKcoGksYyKS9QWToP6pMgy8e7ttdHDgARMnSwXHQWC7iZu209nV1C4E64QB-TsmpTAkRz-02yFf1evjMF_CQBiewJuTzJySWvnoxiQHyjJjw8wlwyIZ6bjNHj/s1600/d+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469726934434594002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgQrrkmC3Q4crIFh9Xq4CKcoGksYyKS9QWToP6pMgy8e7ttdHDgARMnSwXHQWC7iZu209nV1C4E64QB-TsmpTAkRz-02yFf1evjMF_CQBiewJuTzJySWvnoxiQHyjJjw8wlwyIZ6bjNHj/s320/d+003.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-11707592573512485912010-05-10T15:10:00.009-04:002010-05-10T15:31:04.992-04:00Mother's Day at the Mazzarella's<p>We celebrated mother's day in grand fashion.<br /><br />We had a bbq on Friday night and Frank made some mouth watering bbq ribs! To die for!!! They were rubbed and smoked and grilled... yum!<br /><br />Saturday we just took it easy and I guess Dominick got the memo and he slept in until 9 a.m.! I was shocked! The kid went down at 6:30, got a diaper change around 6 a.m. and slept soundly until 9. Of course, I was up after the diaper change and couldn't get back to sleep. I caught up on my shows that I taped throughout the week. I don't have any time during the week to watch TV, so come Saturday, I have 5 or 6 shows to watch.<br /><br />We had the plumber come and clean out our pipes. We have constantly slow drains and hopefully Joe the plumber, yes our plumber's name is Joe, won't have to come back any time soon. We are thinking about working the laundry room... that's a whole other post.<br /><br />Back to mother's day. So the day actually arrives. I'm hoping Frank will spring out of bed at the first peep from Dominick so I can sleep in and maybe even enjoy a leisurely breakfast in bed that he slaved over... oh wait... some one slap me because that is far from what happened. Welcome to the life of a cop's wife. Or anyone who's husband works nights. Poor Frank was wiped out and didn't get to sleep until well after 2 a.m. So there I was up and atom with Dominick. Which I really didn't mind at all. I love spending time with Dominick. I hardly get to see him during the week, so I cherish every minute I can. And my breakfast in bed was a delicious dinner on Friday.</p><p>That said, it's nice to have break once in a while. Hint hint. </p><p>After I pulled Frank out of bed we headed over to his parents house for brunch. Grammie, as we all call her now, had quite a spread of sandwich fixings, salads, and an egg casserole. Who doesn't love a good egg casserole. Dominick ate a bite of everything and really loved sucking on the bread and butter pickles and spitting them right out. This boy eats more than any other kid his age and thankfully he isn’t picky at all. Sure, he’ll spit out the first bite of something new, but it takes him a second to realize, oh, that was good. Then he gobbles it up.<br /><br />Here are a few pictures from our day. </p><p>Here is Dominick cleaning Grammie's table... he's so helpful.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469723997296046434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2W32KJXKwEtzF6Nm0orLiMF2hxGw-38TkCJ0fv28zY0kGKEXZD6Bzh0LETvd0zUx__HN8n4uQKTwb1wNfkyKU9b7vWdlhR8q60sO5g4qAZfJITDDwY1Z5KLcojBSDs_sWkaY78-2jw3C/s320/d+051.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><br />No, you will not put me on this very cool riding toy, I'll push it around, tip it over but I will NOT ride on it!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469724115196080498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMICgUnJ8iShYtQKL8MWhqFsTN7CcxyHC7yK45jLtVGKrAPvlvwFmSbaiYHQdWusjO61cL1PM8qjYojPeuvM9snQ2H56h2dXrZ-EjMFS9C0h_F-uagHvU9HV2zlufEDDqAGOxTWhgbC1E/s320/d+049.jpg" border="0" /><br />Dominick is in the "I don't want to sit still for a picture" phase... we're hoping he ages out of this real soon. But if he's anything like his father, it'll last well into his 30's.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469724225217703010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IUB16t7l8jkz-WghTGe5ZftnIot30OHGW8IJyyy1Ymaw45Tv1a0GW2U3WI5NI9eQReqgqZ_knGq03C0yTnycvvUq9B3qWiEE3lT-MwuoQT35eOybK6tru9QM3cCU3uM4AvJWWGiurTMj/s320/d+059.jpg" border="0" /><br />Give the boy a cell phone and he's as happy as a clam.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469724334524030002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPA6P-ijVcrFPKxtInuiAPMhENL_uU6s4ttYE61r2ulfYhTgnt4UPPJtlGmRpc1cqWmDQ4e5F6gupIoKTs97t4Z-wjL9UPzycygP4JMQOOLapFipj5OMFp1Z1AE5w6WmxFC2TbLbPdlqFI/s320/d+066.jpg" border="0" /><br />Isn't his outfit cute! I just had to get this shirt when I saw it and he looks adorable in jeans.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469724547623740818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgcKhUH8L8ye27e9jk7hWkRCKdldt2kAg6Q23r3_SbyohfxNZQodr4Kc8TxpB_rBPZsmsySwRyTiCmU6jaK4O05NsW6En3c-GcYnmWnZKh8GeH5yZarmcA0TKl3FJRxVaPrwNNgIV-Y6u/s320/d+048.jpg" border="0" />Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-20495746681968939082010-04-29T13:54:00.012-04:002010-04-29T14:11:53.372-04:00Let The Games BeginBabyRama, Babystock, Baby Olympics<br /><br /><div><div>What ever you call it we had one heck of a first birthday party for the “triplets” a few weeks ago. My mom decided to throw a little get together for her three grandkids who were all born last year within 8 weeks of each other. If you know my mother, she doesn’t do anything half arsed. Yaya, as the grandkids call her, planned a fun afternoon full of cake smashing and baby Olympic events.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465620811637754562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_u0gxtH2yoMvP9vYu7-8xIHv9VTwzJkzNDsXttkoJzEu7Io_YrbvNdhSPxGRXcxJEEwDozL88vt_wTO7zqazumH21WRgj7nRG8tGyD73G1Lp8D5EMaHSySS-8Y8cbyR-GHnYMOFuX0k8/s320/babyrama+2010+029.jpg" border="0" /><br />First up, the cake smashing. My mom ordered three fondant covered cakes, one for each baby to smash all on their own. It was so funny to see how each one smashed in their own style. Dominick, the first born and already having lots of practice at his bday party, dove right in. He tore of pieces and down the hatch they went.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465619909118111266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16i5H_n27BRL80sJX8RxigZ7oPqPpAuUqaf0XIIKSbWAtvtZRLR-mnI8v7NQCMmwKpvZ_kCXkZGoeGJJ5nlpRoBAos3xsI0JmuzELppwtckd87vQyVrsQvge0GLYoB4fMBKB1_dl28Hek/s320/babyrama+2010+015.jpg" border="0" /><br />Samantha, our only girl, was very dainty. She didn’t want to get her little hands dirty so she just leaned forward for full on mouth vs cake action.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465620058305700850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQIPtyFuJB3eMBVfkRQ_mYnMRHiFbl6W7NM1ZTyBHdxeLtiylIy5YSZ-PBiaofbgHH0gjqXtO5EMvLXKG-7tOH9XzCd5mCxK_TJGxCviwbNfdjFXRvaf4G4QFEe98UEHJ57IK6-Tu6YRS/s320/babyrama+2010+018.jpg" border="0" /><br />Chester, the youngest of the three, was just beside himself! He decided to dismember his cake starting in the middle and working his way out.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465620177964051010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQSH6j9sN9SEAcJam5UsfwqHL_HCsLtiFSc5GsfcX_GHggNX42TsG1CNyIAJPY_HuywOlIV_a2RL_gA3TTQBQrO5q2j-DZOIpnDbumZxzfwm8ZDVcnJ9r3et_0eYHIJk3Rlw8LAdIeGEE/s320/babyrama+2010+016.jpg" border="0" /><br />We sang, they smashed and they even shared some cake with the grown ups. The room was very festive with balloons and streamers and if you looked closely, you saw little Olympic rings made out of plastic bracelets hanging from the chandelier.<br /><br />Now on to the Olympic games. Each baby had their own little outfit. There were three events: crawling, dancing and laughing. All participants had been given pre-notice of what the competitions would be, so we all came prepared. We trained long and hard and we were eager to see what the other babies brought to the competition.<br /><br />We also had an official judge, namely the eldest grandson Zach who is 5. Zach was super excited to be the judge. He had a ref shirt and even a stopwatch and whistle! Several days before the party Zach told Yaya that he really wanted Dominick to win everything. Yaya had to do some teaching about fairness and making sure the best athlete wins. This kid is a riot! Here is Zach with his best bud, Dominick.</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465620538870189058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8nU13FkyLp3zz1i-M3lBwy291nDzwWF_hPpv5c_fWAYRQZDjNqF3MXd1hJWTXJNvm3lDMyc6vwhOGiRRxEI-I4iIIpQstge9_5TKJ8dfIa0X-0CN-9oihV4XRWTWzxL1CbjhbyMSrqjq/s320/babyrama+2010+027.jpg" border="0" /><br />The crawling competition was set to start and the daddies were on one side of the room and the mommies were eager to coax their little babies across the carpet. We had a little something up our sleeve… namely… a lovey. Yes, Dominick is 100% attached to a little blankie and he will do anything to get to his lovey.<br /><br />On your mark, get set, GO!<br /><br />And they’re off… Dominick comes charging out of the gate, full steam. Wait, there’s Samantha in lane two throwing a huge fit and will not let go of her daddy. Here comes Chester cutting across all lanes to get to the toys. Dominick eased into the finish line and took home the gold. Chester won the silver and Samantha captured the bronze with her stellar dramatic performance. Here's Dominick in his post victory splendor... and clutching his lovey of course.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465620974459413138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGa86DZu8JZozOyA92aO-HGMmEE0NKaPC0KYqDi-DBM5ww79a5KZxqHjgX3S6DpVAEES4AstpDworpZ1tyngJfq8thEwBz5cs64F8cDlr2CcrT2-gQ9Oi2CfBb4GvfFYF00-CV9MCOwjx/s320/babyrama+2010+023.jpg" border="0" /><br />There were actual metals that Zach and Yaya made – very cute. A nice bottle of wine accompanied each metal.<br /><br />Our next event was laughing and Samantha had found her event. With the help of her very funny Daddy, she really performed beautifully and took home the gold. Chester got silver with his silly chuckle and Dominick crapped out and was in no mood for laughing. Here's St. John making Chester crack up!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465621242015043090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSx_gehCRncyqCT4-sR2kh5AeY4NR26Zzd_tWwvOd3pXhX46OgwGcXvZRr6TwmwOPLTjpN589dXdMNF_rmf06w1h-npgZWydrTfKHHqN50Z-yqqbp7V86mK3wDhTTHBk2HrytFmZBqEJh/s320/babyrama+2010+024.jpg" border="0" /><br />On to dancing and on came some great music! The babies lined up holding onto the coffee table. Samantha decided she wasn’t feeling the music. Chester on the other hand rocked the house! He was popping and wiggling, putting on a great show. Dominick came in at the end with some very spirited moves while we clapped and sang. Our official was having a tough time deciding. Zach said out loud, “Dominick should win, he is was the best dancer.” When we all knew that Chester put on the best show.<br /><br />Yaya pulled Zach aside and reminded him of their talk about fairness, but he wouldn’t budge. Zach awarded Dominick the gold, silver went to Chester and Samantha got bronze. That’s okay because we all know how the real winner was!<br /><br />It was a really nice way to end a very eventful year in the Frizell family. We were so blessed to have three new editions join the ranks of our wild and crazy bunch. I can see many baby Olympics in our future.<br /><br /><br /><div>Here's the whole crew - The proud grandparents: Pop and Yaya; Frank, Dominick and myself; Mike, Chrisi, Samantha and Zach; St. John, Linden and Chester</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465621605481389490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h_xHzadNihcbfSackT6csvrLqOZsgS2Vr64KfCYXLh5Uwm7CCX79UXdsKSc3wNaWGR7RdsHXuhXPKsuxkGJy_EqknHEHrKP3-_1vmwX6bpAuPk296HkZGZfxCGSpPtxvULV4n-0jDcU0/s320/babyrama+2010+026.jpg" border="0" /></div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-38156285074895488882010-04-28T11:20:00.008-04:002010-04-28T12:02:25.474-04:00Lucky Thirteen<div><div><div><div><div>I promise not to be “that mom” that says… “my son is 28 months old.” I think it’s ridiculous. I can’t even do the math that fast to figure out how old your kid is. BUT, that said, I will continue my monthly/bi-monthly updates about Dominick and his milestones. </div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465217751393802754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApW6mUeQcCjnZF3cUtR1bAUME26IFOdCF6wByNmanE0jVDakS3BvT2XXEPckK8C2yJ3xwodg1ZVgTt_KgM0WxJQbQj_t4PyDWFuMEgBJYhQTG_yyW-RSznYcnmGp3dChRdzX-BFnOWdkA/s320/water+play+025.jpg" border="0" /><br />Month thirteen brings much of the same as last month. Dominick hasn’t decided to start walking on his own yet. Despite his Papa's constant bribery. He can cruise with the best of them and is pretty quick moving along the side of the couch or holding on to his play yard fence. He loves to be chased and I can already see him running away from us when he finally gets the hand of walking solo. Dominick’s almost there. He just needs to be a bit braver. He’ll take two steps then fall into your arms. We’re waiting for the three, four and five steps.<br /><br />Dominick still eats like a champ. Even through his recent bouts with being sick, he still manages to have an appetite. Some of his favorites this month are spinach nuggets by Dr. Praeger’s. This is an interesting line of sensible food was developed by two New Jersey-based heart surgeons. Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods are all natural, low in cholesterol and saturated fats, free of preservatives and artificial ingredients and nothing fried with lots of tasty veggies. The food is also Kosher if that’s your thing. We’re working our way through testing <a href="http://www.drpraegers.com/products/category.aspx?SID=1&Category_ID=39">Dr. P’s kids line.</a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465219054841463410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 205px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 131px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPbE9yeeetpPLcua5TCWf69Xl3l2WdLcwa_GwxzS8M8OPbHpfgeI_eyYu_l7BIifhACJJDGsUYQxN_ffyPOQCwgM1HvoXkNYba-wRwojU2UtsgE6HS5i1d_RMzqF5FhQcK-6KWDuI_wic/s320/praeger.gif" border="0" /><br />Dominick is king of the point… well, it’s more of a whole hand pointing in the direction of “I want that!” A book, food, to look outside. The kid knows what he wants and how to get it. He’s doing great at his signing. He does “more” and is now doing “eat” and “all done.” “milk,” and “bye-bye” all look the same, but he does them on command. He’s quick to sign “all done” when he’s on the changing table. He signs “milk” when he sees his bottle. He waves “bye-bye” to every single person he sees. Just adorable. Now we’re working on “please,” “water” and “juice.” Baby steps.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465217606842623042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXtTFXtFS1BXRZLXI1ellLE_-0ODKpft7K55w_wUfk-LjcGR5a2EX3WYzpgjS0A7STXSWKDH5WpmHGbN2HLI8VgzdbhmHx_zc9LEGs0QF2DZ9wTNKrtgbcZxviV8076_-WcW3WATvhcrf/s320/water+play+037.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Here he is super excited about his water table - he tenses all his muscles and squeals! </div><br /><div>Dominick loves to say “Ozzie” and “dada” and occasionally “mama.” When ever he hears music he immediately lights up with a smile and claps his hands. He’s still a fan of the crazy Wiggles. They probably remind him of his dad who has been singing and doing silly dances for years. Even pre-baby.<br /><br />Favorite toys – that would be the water table times ten. He LOVES to be outside, on our deck and get completely soaked splashing away. He’ll even play with it when it’s empty. His Grammie and Papa got him a cute climber, slide and swing set for little toddlers. He doesn’t care much for the swing but loves the slide and to play pirate with the captain’s wheel. He also loves his little blue car his Aunt Kristen gave him – it’s one of those cars they sit in and the adults push them around. Super easy and he just loves to turn the wheel and beep his horn. </div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465217518504382690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTp6q8985GhLa3buxs0KlbUFc2vAGP4ZGq6ww2p7vuOaB9nvuI-kCt_w_Lc6YLI0iSrOlD0_Fs2EBpCc7qwgmT_6zHM60XbfrQdHmj1WgVhPM3t7cUuNv5Mhu4vBs6-0FhWo3e5EvdfxL7/s320/water+play+030.jpg" border="0" />Splashing is very serious business. </div><div> </div><div>Dominick is still a good sleeper and sleeps through the night most nights. But he’s decided he only wants to nap once a day which is great for allowing us to get out of the house more often. He’s usually up by 7 a.m. and then goes back down by 11 until at least 12:30 p.m. Then he may go down for a little cat nap around 2:30/3. He’s surprised me with two, two hour naps here and there, but it’s consistently been a one, really long nap around lunch time. We usually put him to bed by 7 p.m. It works for him, it works for us. </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465217885450600834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6wk16qJLMMV6s6RXh9cgsuAZi1LuysVmJMiJgla3mnKFuY38O9rjDFFCvbOcfz_uNRWlqP3Q_BZ2PDVSPAcUlNAWEiAA_LO6KJvAEexinR7k_OTtwtq7wyNJPua5rYwnLmjlsagrPKUF/s320/water+play+024.jpg" border="0" />I think this picture is hilarious. Frank has his usual, "take the picture already" face on and Dominick wants NOTHING to do with being taken away from his water table.<br /><div><br />We’re looking forward to many more milestones we know are just around the corner – namely walking and talking! </div></div></div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-55070573075726579382010-04-28T09:45:00.000-04:002010-04-28T09:46:26.236-04:00Two BabiesHas it really been two weeks? Really? <br /><br />A lot has gone down the past few weeks. Mainly, the croup. Poor Dominick had an awful case of the croup… and you have to put the “the” in front of croup. I looked it up.<br /><br />At first I just thought that awful sound coming out of his little chest was him getting all worked up after crying, but nope. His Grammie knew exactly what it was and off to the doctor’s we go. Poor guy sounded like he was smoking two packs a day! And it really does sound like a barking seal! Little did I know that the croup is contagious and one of his daycare buddies shared this virus around the class – each baby was out for at least a week. We didn’t have to do the hot shower thing, but we did spend a lot of time soothing him near a humidifier. After a few rounds of steroids the little guy was getting better and we were semi back to normal.<br /><br />Fast forward a few days and just after we had our new roof installed, Frank starts to come down with a scratchy throat. He first thinks it’s allergies since he spent a lot of time outside with the roofers – he even made them burgers for lunch – that’s the kind of guy I married! After a few more days Frank’s scratchy throat turned into a major sore throat and cough. He was home from work for two days then off to the doc for him. Doc gives out antibiotics and says to stay home all week! I’m glad Frank’s immune system has held strong until now, the guy’s got tons of unused sick time. Poor baby… he really was miserable and his voice was so squeaky. Kind of like Peter Brady. “When it’s time to ch**ange”<br /><br />So while my husband is feeling horrible, Dominick decides to go another round with a reparatory infection coughing so hard he throws up and has boogies everywhere. Poor little guy. <br /><br />I’ve been taking care of my two babies this week. Cooking up a storm and for once I’m keeping the germs at bay. I’ve been on antibiotics for a tooth infection and I think that’s was saved me this time! I have an impending root canal that I’m really, really not looking forward too. But I have found a great dentist that does sedation and I’m all for pain management – nock me out! <br /><br />Thankfully, everyone seems to be on the mend.Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-73290078959051179342010-04-12T14:36:00.009-04:002010-04-12T14:44:31.796-04:00Cookie Therapy<div><div><div><div><div><div>Baking cookies, not eating them this time.</div><br /><div>When planning Dominick’s party I found this really cool <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Play-Dough-Cookies/Detail.aspx">cookie recipe </a>online for “play dough cookies.” Basically multicolored cookies swirled up on a lollypop stick. I figured the kids would love to eat these crazy colored cookies.<br /><br />I decided to make them the weekend before because I knew they’d be really labor incentive. Here’s a step by step.<br /><br />First you make a whole bunch of cookie dough from scratch. Easy enough. Then you have to quarter the dough and die them four different colors….<br /><br />Okay, how do you actually die cookie dough? Genius me put the dough in a gallon zip lock bag and added some gel color and squished away. It worked really well. Wish I would have thought of this before I did the first color and ended up with bright yellow palms trying to need it together.<br /></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459322175715595682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlH0wOc0pdKa67fFQkwtnlDjBymJ9C04Y6oKy2OGEt4Fj71Lr0Jk2As75blj-tB4dlrUNVtvMekUa1ZSRk2RbMm44JZNhvHPWDUFB9MeJ8W4UfB590IysVV_BXhyphenhyphenXTpcLvj0_XBUUVlyX/s320/march+2024.jpg" border="0" /> <div>Let the dough sit in the fridge for a few hours. Once hardened, start making little ¾ inch balls out of each color. Now, get ready to sit down and put on some music because this takes FOREVER! </div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459322360109054130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNgz3VIkoprP4C9HlqJimQCcjtlCFQgSwJVfUf7zZiFnzWomC1XeIBSkI05lJbuaTHIN7DOBq_upBW5xYf4Qg1sf-VpgJhm7FcvoAjDysvaDwhziEwJnurMFhwvcdpre0pWv7IG8tI1wY/s320/march+2025.jpg" border="0" /><br />To make the actual cookie, take one ball of each color and roll them together to form on large swirled ball. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459322559566324722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPGCBB6LOzvpj_huQHcuG01H7fkQnbxRP-dsVnjozWoC05_CaVqxlQujs0fo-mszfi0zFVXJjnYH2PMHjoMbxBl6kXfbyNTOUC-aVE8QaR4dnDsL9BOPdEgDWHEO25vDXme3-s-QmJSgl/s320/march+2026.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Then roll the large ball out into a 1 foot long snake. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459322739044885346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1f_2sROwnD08maJnnuR6gMI4lPT0LjW6d8OJKMXBIBn-NH5S_M_qYvZhEJd0vb7rWZ2LVJq-P994n8QWgWPUHau1frSnaqexwWfKSDdtMuSkBQ79swQkxCsg1z2dgABQe3RrRlICm5f-k/s320/march+2030.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Then coil the snake around itself to form the swirled cookie. This is where true clay forming technique comes in. You could so tell my first few cookies… they looked awful. Finger dents her and there, uneven thickness. By the time I rolled out my 40th cookie, I was an old pro. This was one of my first cookies, very lumpy.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459322947680946482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDdDiQw-3LKaOZJhp5EWh955xaXqMNBFRVRFQIox4rphycy2diRAiIAGiblWIqLQQdsai1aRVPf2VyPMEPocGKivt45I0dF43r5dHi_0qTcsFFgrIgqIS-yipRdTtYRAu4ZlP7PkHtdL7/s320/march+2028.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Gently insert cookie pop stick and bake. At the end of the night I looked at all my cookie pops and felt they were TOTALLY worth the effort. They looked great. </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459323109483148802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPR60NgHEjqbQqLrbEZTlFCI6NdxU6hkTyIQacTFJszZoWLc3-PplfNkRvcyqevSGILHmJ6Nr1Xo8Pm2p0uoeLrmcYoDd858lkibUbJmUDUqHKkkFbckelRGmREDnU28yP92qtB_agJaXG/s320/march+2037.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><br />All the kids loved them at the party. They couldn’t wait to pick out their cookie and take them home. I have to say they didn’t taste all that great, but they sure looked good.<br /><br />Definitely therapeutic. </div></div></div></div></div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-20899813538216060582010-04-12T14:17:00.012-04:002010-04-12T14:33:01.163-04:00Easter Fun<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>We had a great Easter this year. Much different from last year when the little guy was only two weeks old. He didn't get the whole look for the eggs thing, but he sure enjoyed dying them!<br /></div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459317103738374338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0_uYmf4zV0A-63dCBQDazbc17uc47RoydkkIhUDkeCjKSK931z01xmSOJPQ7vQ3fdlfDGcYibcKQNNQ2GnC_zb0T045JaH1EiabisBKVozcVzkSnLxFFgqz5yEd73o7vEOiupwi5MlyC/s320/easter+2010+004.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>He loved eating them too! I have a special memory growing up of looking at a baby picture of mine where I'm covered in deviled eggs... we tried to recreate the special moment... Dominick happily agreed. </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459317445844534562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FQx5cxnZRwlElLJEhJaFfFxFg7ko1_sjkzSW0cKlTz2j_kFdmqfkpPsOmOaeD9V3NF0H-Sa3noOKmF3b1MoW1nFC3yUqatkgk3pl1EH67-z_amAxYIFhjPQjoXU4-eeQ_jzrCtbFbmoV/s320/easter+2010+019.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459318979202120754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3Nbhg99ZVGU0M9CMthISOLnXGfQNDEoF8rk0GyuJc8MwD5rBxLaFkME-szS9-yBXF1icnYhJNc7LcQlsbaRJ7T3aG6ZEOG-d8Dij7oi8mnSU-6sJF3vjDfpgKMRTm7kC4lyTIXEQOybT/s320/easter+2010+020.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Frank had to work on Easter Sunday, so I was off to celebrate with out him. We spent some time at both parent's houses. I had dinner with my parents and my mom made an amazing fresh ham. I have never seen Dominick eat so much! And this was after he had all those deviled eggs! </div><div> </div><div>We then went to Frank's parents house for desert. We took a few commemorative photos. Here's Dominick in his Easter outfit. His hair is so stiff from the special hair treatment he gave himself with the deviled eggs. Plus he was exhausted with no nap all day! </div><div><br /> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459317979178282210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzi2PPhtyed7tkrXHi8hX6WpYedcrJow9-I-ObHvAt4KKDrdP7pv8RFyNTBes3t38FDBLupoEBA0LjEJnQYtitg5a8EPpXCYqqhwbgrkmfJvu9bqo5Jc8X5NhcZhQ65ZQtGja7o7tqoZSs/s320/easter+2010+028.jpg" border="0" /> Here is Dominick and his two second cousins, Reese (3 1/2) and Christopher (1). Like the bunny ears? Of course that was my idea!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459318398934600338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUQxLaLDMycbsYy8uTfS_n_pQMlBEUxYuspRx8VwxxpO-U9IE6ynLLlNaTkUOg-zFaapZtJeW4cmEVEkDOFNggIXiMmyCDl0MGHWTMiGFDq1KYYitnI3Hcoi0YKLbudKCMT3jCioxaxPO/s320/easter+2010+030.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div> </div><div>Yeah, they made me wear these... my brilliant idea backfired. </div><div> </div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459318681619515714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIy2qfRbzZdEuUvFgfMF8oRSvczQqnw8zuJD9wiNzzdwdVzKQV-tXBLU9uN8xAJ4iTZWRTsTraDl0KHqhP2E9vIpJ8RNR8_95kzmjVlYSHyaDobMxE1WcXpy2w6-gU1Nw0Ovta67EiyL9/s320/easter+2010+048.jpg" border="0" />Off with the spiffy duds and we slipped Dominick into something a little more comfortable. This was his FIRST time sitting in grass...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459319253039244690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggidbUbrUmpHn4QOmFdnnXvnUkZT8rOb0DusrVVPBzEtxtpvVXnkenmtEOW7tiATLz6AMflaF_4D6lSgJOLQDGjoywadvdhWLkhGYWMno1PALCVKLQaxB5EwmZZedtJkxedAHpvBxis4Io/s320/easter+2010+054.jpg" border="0" />He was soooo excited!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459319360846044754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8odGczEcbh2t5mPcpNXnlMLw8-fo29r4C-98yrURppcu6QkRRM-l7Mr4Wi7AxmLq3leA3Hm_T9ivUWKici8vsdlA2vH_tlaeyCStbv3TXILgw-wKZ4vBr3-jfzwRmvexwrHwH0TFlJOX/s320/easter+2010+052.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>The soccor ball was also very exciting. <div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459319471219023602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCHV6jRH0P4tLelxa55cn5JOM6MJnI6J3agPuGUHgsQ7BbZt9BJu9-nTHQ24sxRZs3DASNgO925ezLSIAVTLv6QtjoapfphLf_MEoDtrwwYsDvowX9TrBVMtRdGtav4A0dN6lE73jUune/s320/easter+2010+062.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>I made some special cupcakes, you know the kind you bake in icecream cones? I knew Reese would LOVE it, and she did. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459319548624598898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyQoNOYi0R6dA1EatXxLhIqsq-uW4SyobvOqnxd_7uCp4v_0l_8MW5pw1RV8eG4h3jF2A-tPcYua1KeytjwdYp05MqTi0mbonjEEYgcRxtHEDETgMNrXINjN7x_imF5AOLXggb-Xs4Q4P/s320/easter+2010+066.jpg" border="0" /></p>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-73889490799133799402010-04-12T14:01:00.014-04:002010-04-12T14:16:42.002-04:00The Prince Turns OneOn Dominick's actual birthday, he headed into daycare with home made banana bread muffins and bubbles for all his class mates. He wore his special b-day boy shirt. Don't you just love the suspenders? <br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459314858321899010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJd7nVAJt3AvrTbW8wgDVV3l-qKj43o_ArLKZvHRRPTCdZjqV6ZzpsLWBE4D2MvNYfDZWdBlJ5QjQB5VxeHGdUk1H6xUjC5-KTuevKrtMEmrZXnSkaZsJTRh5PjtdeZ8wM67UdXqjcInt/s320/bday+003.jpg" border="0" />After school we had a mini celebration on Dominick actual birthday. This consisted of watching him destroy an elmo cupcake. Fun time was had by all. He even had icing down his back!<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459313411925695010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhVBxk02m5nhhV8G1I2QvBJXFjEVXgLmiPua18E9mErljOtX7QI8LEM8TdhVFsxM2yH8XNtfjZztCr7RcxjMYJtnxiyCzAsnlhuKY95ISbY5koaGFrIXd3eeawQ7GLzSu4t1SOorKeIDs/s320/first+b+day+021.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>We had quite the celebration for Dominick’s first birthday party. I’m so glad everyone could join us and celebrate. It was VERY tight and people were all over my in-law’s house. We had about 50 people come and this is just basically my husband’s extended family and a few of my friends and their kids. All in all, we had a great time. </div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459313915413574530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-oDY-LVO0jL9-fvcBD-ogjSL8jDxmQlkssibYMh6AGFtuX2f19xvGOa3LOgIwKkLs6fmnMF3HMy1teXSoL5BtyXakZGyMndHOaP_4BAl2BWdvIUVnjFUUjj6yHpB5qi2hb5vdbTIc5QI/s320/first+b+day+042.jpg" border="0" />We had an amazing punch that Kristen found online and served gigantic subs, baked ziti, salads, sausage and peppers. We had plenty of food for everyone. I really regret not taking enough pictures. </div><div> </div><div>Each of the kids got to make a foam craft or color. That kept them busy for at least 20 minutes. We had the families who attended sign a commemorative plate and photo mat. We’ll use the plate every year for Dominick’s cake. We had lots of balloons and decorations.<br /><br />I made a special “smash” cake for Dominick. I made the icing from scratch and I had these high expectations to make the perfect cake with rolled fondant cut outs… Well, I had a little trouble with the icing and it went down hill after that.<br /><br />In the end, it looked great, but it was a really long night. I still am going to keep my promise to make Dominick’s b-day cakes from here on out! I just need some practice. </div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459313579359352994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZeRbVjqIX-6ifaZ0vkm5j726AIzmqCeZUdU3I1izLSOZuchdaDE1lEmlPjbGcn8xGX9hdC3KaHRgw6DHUqWprN6pyyl7vtwBYq8dDNHNXYwh2TL29ZqAX5XVFUXbkO2gZF_aCpOw_uAy/s320/first+b+day+030.jpg" border="0" /> Notice anything wrong? Yeah, well, I spelled my own son’s name wrong! That just goes to show you how tired I was! Not sure if you know I am very dyslexic and letters just confuse me. Figures, I minored in English... We didn’t even notice it until the morning of his party. With a little snip, that extra o turned into an i. </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459313697310202658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m45AeR73Z-whSajhsjo22YP0Z_LX2bj7QYtsIDnlzYjrVPE9zcRMNCfHuDnHdzLVtoEhVwz57VdlEQ_Cmkwlf1Vgap6arOlj2S1mQSPIN0mvcw0u0EIBXqCC7unXS7c_N8otHSgrLxTm/s320/first+b+day+062.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459314221441072242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBr9P_9HWnvZfOdb1KBc8fkB2-g70JRR1pmi4Va02dzVa_KLWFH2v5fveUGS_WCKm4wtW_vXfHr0veMutsv7NO56RtL7hV-Ka_DKvsPOVJbTVpSihzeHwatBh-xmmJ63w62PfotvBGPGr/s320/first+b+day+064.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459314578398196706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpeNb-6ouc7TEILkvGb7olfSWyzVJ85BuZ3xs2RLGbN0hW3QyG-kVJFGFgBqkIF0HrpwKedmEUDQLaxmpmp34ZrMVBAgwg9JZZY0RQUm4aUziKPVoe7KzyRYSVmGW_vH12nHTSdFrQ7FV/s320/first+b+day+073.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459314364800071858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJps5BH-bTjcHoJ9-UOxI5RucBy8EbN-7yc5mftflN9Sk0X1nb7eQ061H7ULSYTxF0FZTbWjuJ7N5UmP21vBGUtbBOgMxdmPkduHLSjOMtNJp4I6koiC9G01DK_Vva6vQOigBINS_hNm_N/s320/first+b+day+068.jpg" border="0" /><br />Dominick enjoyed his smash cake. And smash he did. </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459314739209714034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rfXs7RIcLZcvcGo9q35mHg10jhxexFrSnDFVZEYORrzXyUhw82RsD3-sP4jErZam7KW1MLlyXbemkB1fqPpvTMOYNMsNzAVe8PWtR2x6QkOiPlQ2MVPwXeblY5tIRWAzBoaolH_jBtN3/s320/first+b+day+080.jpg" border="0" /> <div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459314131889964162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxAtPmE5rfMS3xdcs4EwGNfeF9wXMrghcZ6XKw1P1l8Vm95IKSITjhKdf-qF1O_idv3ODIy9ADjWx8MPMTTqJG8e9Oor3Z84JncRt7ZbUg7QpPb8lBJi7mo_YmNTfPmSrUyOiKvD1wlkJ/s320/first+b+day+063.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Grammie led the group in a rousing game of Simon Says. </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459314472271063874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6PCQVgrlxz31ps8kBBNHYGBUybM8KSH68PEjJHHUTJcPR1ccnwBC_cM8nIk0ntTM-TN2Q8Mx7UxFPlfVDMTQwtqxBzlc_gCqXPRblZ_zPFnDiNX8iGRFAadRqRwOk-nHMaHPTkQiJs7Z/s320/first+b+day+056.jpg" border="0" /><br />We ended the night with another round of food after everyone left. We had some more wonderful punch and opened all of his gifts. Dominick really made out. One of his faves is this ride on Mickey Mouse airplane! He doesn’t’ actually ride on it, but he walks behind it. Some more faves a pop up Thomas the Train play house and a Thomas the Train Tank that follows you around the house. It responds to your voice command. It’s super loud, but Dominick seems to like it.<br /><br />We headed home with a very tired little boy and exhausted mommy and daddy.<br />We couldn’t have done this party with out the love, support and hard work from Frank’s parents and his sister, Kristen.<br /><br />Looking forward to next year. It will be way less people and a lot more fun!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-13844486072252966612010-03-24T09:49:00.011-04:002010-03-24T10:12:49.566-04:00One Year - Happy Birthday Dominick<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF_qTjygZsrezrUAoGgDMk6RiAWOYMUtCj0EH_FSEDek7ssK6hWkUTL17nz7aVo1nl5PGpLECVjq3Vf9yx6wRukpnRdnFLgVFDFpLAf9KmMiD-TGwQBjKiVf7E1lkfNQhGxUCFyas4_JR/s1600/march+2036.jpg"></a><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>One year ago today we welcomed our little boy into this world. Dominick Frank was born at 10:29 a.m., Tuesday, March 24, 2009. We feel so blessed and thankful we have such a healthy, happy baby boy. Read his <a href="http://babymazzonboard.blogspot.com/2009/07/long-over-due.html">birth story here</a>.<br /><br />Dominick has grown so much this passed year.<br /><br />He’s gone from 8 pounds, 13 ounces of this:<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452197378546680034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwopz4zmBHAPgkd-eMXh-SKwcoIq9QYm2XjhTVDsWipr0kJgTso43FvR_NEO_i3rz-WtQJZbEmJLQe1HLqFSVGYmOhVF5qNeoYfxNKF6QKEoiEii1fWFdR9Cwppcu7SGcZKxSX1Esrrd6B/s320/20090324_3403.JPG" border="0" /><br />To 25 + pounds of this:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452197707356246194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3aaxv4jw3XM-Mwxxvr5YQBLxMG4Rf_cL4wdVsaC71PmSu3kkrBSJR-AJvFQuaa-PB97Ha5PIBAmUAiombtGlu6CBQAXvJ3_7M9URZHcfIdYMY5whgAElsVfGCC0eREviEdRUtr2i1pP6/s320/bday+003.jpg" border="0" />Dominick is soooo close to walking. Everyone says he’s about to take off at any minute. But he’s just not ready yet to let go of hands, or walls – he’s still cruising. When you to hold his hands to help him walk, he takes off! He kind of looks like walking dead Berny from "Weekend At Berny" - sort of off balance, belly out, but on the go! I’ve felt the mother’s intuition that he’s going to be a handful and I’m pretty sure he’s living up to my expectations. Dominick is definitely a “boy’s boy” He’s very rough with his toys, things constantly fly off the high chair. He’s already climbing on anything and everything. Yesterday I caught him standing on his big plastic truck! That thing could have taken off underneath him, but he stood strong, trying to reach what the extra few inches he had. </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452199603738255842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbLlkz8YadZ4QfQsNaLdJBf09iiO0YpuWBS5ZAMHH4bS6R_0AT6Mk04vGhHU4sDdN7fMP1vCk4C2li6umfBy8ZWror5mi_IMVu2R63Af4DAwuAEqnbSXMISrsT1F7NLepshHpOkj5Ygr2/s320/march+2014.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div>Dominick really likes to climb into things... even more reason why I think he'll be all over the place once he starts walking.</div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452201028412400066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kfxCO3fHiMVxnGR5ZecX8-pC_0h2u2Q8Sh-JVLy3DXyY2842jxYZNABuJuRYDCqYndI1Hiw2GY2JSpAaotVb17uafHprVqkM0ikhDsDVGneWJMh-kYnYHCeCHC34yzxOkzZQFjKl53h6/s320/march+2021.jpg" border="0" /><br />Dominick has twelve teeth and eats just about everything. This month we tried Chinese noodles and he LOVED them! The boy just loves his carbs. We also tried kiwi, and he can eat an entire one all by himself. I need to schedule his first dental apt sometime around his first bday. Not sure what they’ll do, it’s hard enough for me to brush his teeth every night. He gets too excited and starts laughing at the tooth brush. </div><div> </div><div>Dominick still doesn't "ride" any of his riding toys. He'll push them and crawl behind them. He'll give his sippy cup a ride, or put things in the trunk. </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452201477315029490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZpWKB_slyPoq1PqFBdKIh4EDilNCb-i2uQU7iPB38pboDgXAgl3kwMRg8bQJFa0eHx8KBGbx4kMvfmVAg6tH3VywXU38d3lp_d4cPAyNQHn4WeyexGXJpTlTpKWql7RreDwKQX4DULhs/s320/march+2035.jpg" border="0" />Our signing is starting to pay off with Dominick. He’s had “more” down pat for about a month and now he’s signing “all done” and “milk” – they both look pretty similar, but we definitely know what he’s trying to say. When I’m changing his diaper, half way through he’ll sign, “all done” and want to get up. While we were eating one night at the table, he was finished and he looks at me and signs “more.” I didn’t immediately give him a taste of what I was eating, so he leans forward and signs “more, more” giving it more umph by leaning in. That had the entire table in hysterics.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452199805541720338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNkN4KkIyg1Yz-IJ1VaYjHvx875BN_jOroctJVfRLlAtVY6-M1Z-1g16yQcS7B_1-tvp9TviEDodnnv8FCpxcnPQU-ndjhE0bj9o-29eO3H7gOswopK0VCtfLABHKpQm1xWnnyPkv0g_y/s320/march+2016.jpg" border="0" /> <div>Dominick has taken up a new passed time... pooping in the tub! He's done it twice now and I hope to GOD that last night was the last... </div><div> </div><div>We celebrated our Irish side on St. Patrick's Day - yes Dominick Mazzarella may sound 100% Italian, but the boy is pretty much 1/2 Italian, 1/2 Scots Irish. We had lots of festive green attire and I made homemade corned beef. Here's Dominick with his daycare girlfriend, Teresa. She turns one next week.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452199693846700738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QAk08n5ClMMDE6OXsy4HZmjJ1WO1eqDW-hSx84EFmRG9SL67jxIcAe1-gH3QtvzWaCvRVX6Z1ZavuAOB_fO4NEhhBNk0G1UMsy6IUaC5Izx82IX2nLCEK4j30gaZ00VWmdSTbX_tpn4J/s320/march+2011.jpg" border="0" />I’ve put on my super mom hat getting ready for Dominick’s birthday party on Saturday. Working full time AND being a mom does not lend itself to much free time. I've had lots of late nights, but that comes with the territory. We are having local friends and family come for an afternoon celebration at my in-law’s house. I am really looking forward to celebrating making it through the first year.<br /><br />I never imagined I would enjoy motherhood this much. Sure, it’s a lot of work. Sure, you are constantly feeding someone or wiping something or stepping on that damn Lego piece for the tenth time… but when you see your child, your little angle giggles and smiles up at you… my heart swells each and every time. </div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452197528312518338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetAc-pxISZCa4NWFuPHG9u-M3XqRXTvVScUZx_Ep1UeOGU-NONsRoVHUcA4TRrYXWV9Y6HQ-0GSXEJvtmdDmNY0zi1a1TuNFtAFU5byGGz1olSuIRxuIwWmlVyDeUbABBahIfK8SXpNiy/s320/20090323_3398.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452199950459404802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oHJ7gTr_yQdB2QHdZzGnz4fBQ2T4oNacuAHn3gqnGypYPNwx_7MyWCph1ZEshquzoebJDTmSR8uDnujvUmCblIZtYFz8CguGKIggwkugKcPjSFxruuvR95pEMWZMNhFq2cVwFsT5kPYo/s320/march+2018.jpg" border="0" /><br />Happy Birthday to my favorite little boy. </div></div></div></div></div></div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-47974557143941117722010-03-22T16:02:00.003-04:002010-03-22T16:07:16.169-04:00Double Trouble<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5ymm60r4YakHboISqsgdXUUbAGkZ_YWNG6HmS8Yq0ALT379JuusL5KUGn44bTGWhx9UAubRgLOvF2fBZlwiQtVNIo3jyUFQ3IeUNFGJmwfZryp38uVSG5uja9F5LGNbF4Ct2RDBJtxxc/s1600-h/undulating-ceiling-russia.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451551501701249298" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5ymm60r4YakHboISqsgdXUUbAGkZ_YWNG6HmS8Yq0ALT379JuusL5KUGn44bTGWhx9UAubRgLOvF2fBZlwiQtVNIo3jyUFQ3IeUNFGJmwfZryp38uVSG5uja9F5LGNbF4Ct2RDBJtxxc/s320/undulating-ceiling-russia.jpg" border="0" /></a>Him: “Um… honey?”<br /><br />Me: “Yes…”<br /><br />Him: “It’s raining, in our living room.”Me: “Yeah, I know it’s raining… wait, what?”There was a huge sagging piece of drywall that looked like it would erupt at any moment right above our couch! Oh Marrone! (an Italian phrase for ‘oh my goodness’ – I use it all the time even though I’m not technically Italian, I just married one.)<br /><br />It would drip… then a few seconds later, drip again. But even with those occasional drips, our couch was soaked. Frank broke the water bag in our ceiling so we wouldn’t be surprised with a huge gush… we now have a bucket collecting the drips.<br /><br />My husband has decided we have a roof issue… so we get his father’s cousin out to take a look. When you’re Italian, everyone seems to be your cousin. Vic (the roofer cousin), decides we need a new roof. Something about flashing. We knew it was coming, we knew when we bought the house that the roof would probably need to be replaced in the next 5 years… and we’re coming up on being in the house five years next October. So, right on time. But it’s still a large $$$$ pill to swallow… ouch.<br /><br />So, in the same day, I’m not kidding. My husband and I have this conversation:<br /><br />Me: “Honey, I think you need to take a look at this,” yelling up from the basement.<br /><br />Him: “One second, I’m in the middle of something.”<br /><br />I come drudging upstairs with soaking wet socks and find him busy playing mafia wars… ah, again, the life of a wife married to an Italian.<br /><br />Me: “honey, the basement is flooded!”<br /><br />Him: “Hu?”<br /><br />Me: “There is water coming in from all sides in the basement. What part of flooded do you not understand?”<br /><br />Him: “Let me get the wet vac…”<br /><br />And down he went to try to keep up with the never ending streams of water trickling to the low part of the basement. We had at least two inches of water converging under the stairs. This was not new to us. We had some water back in 2007 when we had a torrential down pour for several days in a row. We prepared and had anything touching the floor made of plastic. But still, if our sump pump went we were sunk! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NRhd6qjncwaL1-meFa3H1pqis2ES3WvPsL4k4Y6d-9gw1wf2t2GyQE9lyT4t2Wk3GZruIcPBiz-ZwXpWubUB7lRY3rM1PmSFwXpotaAg6GDZVZ3Sh8p0O5LeeJzkRC52_CC_AwTSm38v/s1600-h/basement.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451552056092962578" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NRhd6qjncwaL1-meFa3H1pqis2ES3WvPsL4k4Y6d-9gw1wf2t2GyQE9lyT4t2Wk3GZruIcPBiz-ZwXpWubUB7lRY3rM1PmSFwXpotaAg6GDZVZ3Sh8p0O5LeeJzkRC52_CC_AwTSm38v/s320/basement.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />We both decide it’s time to waterproof the basement. It’s an ideal place to make into a play room. Dominick is starting to get mobile and his toys are starting to multiply. I’d love to send him downstairs to play when he gets older. So, we’re going to get a French drain installed. Another, very hard $$$$ pill to swallow.<br /><br />Okay, two huge house costs… is there a third? Usually things like this come in threes… deaths, capitol expenses… Should I do some sort of dance to avoid anything else catastrophic from happening to our house?<br /><br />I don’t think I can handle one more thing.<br /><br />Especially two in one day. </div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-72076676835422424772010-03-18T14:31:00.002-04:002010-03-18T14:34:51.553-04:00Two Birds<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMqdDZoaf9DWjRchJwgBfNU4vzfjaUIGJRWWielzE9EHCfvsewLmJotJbwfBtqrodhFEoHF_M_yfCJYAivJ-BX7DLUn_VXEpJTLS_4QSom6cOgxpboih8Pi5z-kb2yx9xjjX14T_q4oep/s1600-h/duck.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450044024086968722" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMqdDZoaf9DWjRchJwgBfNU4vzfjaUIGJRWWielzE9EHCfvsewLmJotJbwfBtqrodhFEoHF_M_yfCJYAivJ-BX7DLUn_VXEpJTLS_4QSom6cOgxpboih8Pi5z-kb2yx9xjjX14T_q4oep/s320/duck.gif" border="0" /></a> <div>I almost managed to avoid two of the grossest "parent's rights of passage" during our first year - the dreaded poop in the bathtub and a diaper eating pooch.<br /><br />Well, let's just say we killed two birds with one stone last night! Dom took an impressive dump in the baby tub and when I was cleaning Dom up, Ozz was cleaning out the tub!<br /><br />DOUBLE YUCK!</div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-86345093371613694472010-03-16T14:03:00.006-04:002010-03-16T14:17:46.647-04:00First Haircut<div><div><div><div><div>We took Dominick in for his first haircut Saturday, March 20. This was a week over due since Daddy was working through a case of that horrible stomach virus when we planned to go the week before last. We rescheduled for last Sat and glad we did. I think I needed a few more days to get used to the idea that my little baby is growing up.<br /><br />The first haircut is a huge milestone and I thought for sure I’d be sad about it. But when we got Dominick in his little four-wheeler barber chair, he grabbed the wheel like a champ and away he went down the forever road of reaching milestones and end of this important first. I wasn’t sad, but happy to be sharing this special moment with my husband.<br /><br />I didn’t think Dominick would cry. He’s such a happy go lucky type of kid. Nothing fazed him. He was just more interested in looking around than sitting still. We went to All about Kids and Teens, in Clark. The woman that cut his hair, Donna, was great. She was very nice and just went with the flow. She knew exactly when to cut and when not to.<br />She asked, “how short do you what it?”<br /><br />Frank says, “Buzz it!”<br /><br />I say, “Make it look like he didn’t have a haircut.”<br /><br />She smiles and says, “I see we have a difference of opinion, I’ll listen to the boss,” as she winks at me.<br /><br />Here are a few pictures from our visit.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449297007439193650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdKsECN2Q3C6fpUtvgNUG2g0vpCmTrQj-NvgLvq6x42F1X2_-aFoFr46FuuAmudAmPQP5D6B-RcKHT73-oqg3efQOLcjh65aYpv32t1YvQKJzuCjdu3QSaLISBAon_4WqL_kBL-n8j-mH/s320/march+2010+045.jpg" border="0" /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449297117001958418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyidg39VuQFdtr-a6gifQD_-hQX3IGSgfkgpw66Zkw8eCtuVlxby3MulCykd0EpK1gO4PeSRXobGvYr6eGWoHR2tdWhAv7Oblmf1IB6vewp9RXPAQoOCM23JbXs_vAxYIJQEz0Qcvb9SK/s320/march+2010+049.jpg" border="0" /> <div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449297220273363154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbHqtr1PuG7Y0R9IDvOTnWClyU-doCUX3Cfmz0ZLrWQbwk4O1a7zBzWKxyE7baBGYhZTzyYEfokRXK7QvZlWOQdKXgys8f6KlQ7rapBHl1eyHbrqLbCKfjEchIfbKkFZBN9mjXuVj23vy/s320/march+2010+054.jpg" border="0" /> <div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449297308886271154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyA9P5JW9240Z4eg9zBm9H4KktQM799P2yh6kypFSKcgFZMsckbNEynB2rnNfRiM2ZYFD7qw7oRiSfvpaXD1EI75l5nLrwzk0L0iFqYXaXvm9A3hnkofOc-FMY2U9ekuKDiMRWlTOdNLlg/s320/march+2010+053.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-35910009732157448772010-03-16T14:00:00.001-04:002010-03-16T14:03:07.509-04:00Meet Up<div><div>There is this website called <a href="http://www.meetup.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">meetup</span>.com</a> where people with various interests can find each <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">othe</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtB3l2-HJsHo02TK8zJl8ish2gE_IVWj64JtPvpkVrZQXvOoN2ZBkVBwFgsYj3V0AEvgYS-m27te-B0uOW2X2oruzTiiMzqItRJULoEISBDGphw6HqEO3z0oT4FLXFSIEeMPK-LRUWS2k/s1600-h/logo_82.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449293532744738914" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 82px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 54px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtB3l2-HJsHo02TK8zJl8ish2gE_IVWj64JtPvpkVrZQXvOoN2ZBkVBwFgsYj3V0AEvgYS-m27te-B0uOW2X2oruzTiiMzqItRJULoEISBDGphw6HqEO3z0oT4FLXFSIEeMPK-LRUWS2k/s320/logo_82.png" border="0" /></a>r online and actually get together in person. It’s a great concept, using the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">internet</span> to actually make face to face connections.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Pre</span>-baby I went to a few meet ups for pug owners. Pug owners in general are fanatical about their pugs, but imagine when packs of puck owners get together… it was a total pug-fest. People showing off their pug’s newest tricks or collars or talking about the best this or that. It was fun, but a total “mine is better than yours”<br /><br />Recently I went to my first ever official meet up for working moms. Okay, we’re talking about actual babies and their mom’s getting together for play dates and chit chat. I have to say, it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">wasn</span>’t much different than the pug-fest. Moms were comparing milestones and menus, nap schedules and tantrums. All things we have in common. But our conversations steered clear of the “one upping” each other. Or at least most of us tried. When ever you bring a group of complete strangers together there’s bound to be a few, uh, characters. I’m hoping to find a few good friends and we can start our own play dates. No potentials just yet, but I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hopeful</span>.<br /><br />I even started my own Union County Working Moms Group – hoping to expand the opportunities. Our first event is in April and I’m inviting people to my house. I’ll report on that later. </div><div><br />We have a few events coming up. Looking forward to play date in the park with husbands and I may even bring Ozzie. </div></div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-56617533496439542452010-03-04T14:51:00.012-05:002010-03-04T15:01:33.742-05:00Play Date With MommyThis is how Dominick and I usually spend our Saturday mornings...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444870301776274290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrTgnjqh_aqgpH832phX8ZSJytnAWY37MqL8E_btO-0ABzSgUC0m-GWEbp63viBbLxqVGERv_bYvC9BcIGWaLU0S4BtN1Ypf92tq4Jc6im_FZVWnI286f1JBWq-pzpMfmoLpnVTOVPg9k/s320/IMG_5145.JPG" border="0" />Just being silly.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvB016HYlzpQ7E4vLiwDn_56Bh9Ut6lzCDxdpXbKq-WeFmiHDGSrmsKHG_fMaN_fbB_Cu-JQS46Qr0UD9s8kqYoxhQb3nujjeX5-elOwvt0Xs1CF-ij4q0ZYrNEVMQpBHXyzG5nEXwr-0/s1600-h/IMG_5143.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444869561021352562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvB016HYlzpQ7E4vLiwDn_56Bh9Ut6lzCDxdpXbKq-WeFmiHDGSrmsKHG_fMaN_fbB_Cu-JQS46Qr0UD9s8kqYoxhQb3nujjeX5-elOwvt0Xs1CF-ij4q0ZYrNEVMQpBHXyzG5nEXwr-0/s320/IMG_5143.JPG" border="0" /></a> He's going for the cat!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZsL-99gYpcLMX9hyOkwABvzukHO7aC-UGKK6CqbFpIKZL87IYHmlOZJj_499yqM1gTk7GLSk4_C4wdvEy7_YZ6ms6zxVNkuZ-NaJvJCL9uqpRrby-2-TaxsVYwdANWlVS3OyCi1C1Uit/s1600-h/IMG_5138.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444869488502900194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZsL-99gYpcLMX9hyOkwABvzukHO7aC-UGKK6CqbFpIKZL87IYHmlOZJj_499yqM1gTk7GLSk4_C4wdvEy7_YZ6ms6zxVNkuZ-NaJvJCL9uqpRrby-2-TaxsVYwdANWlVS3OyCi1C1Uit/s320/IMG_5138.JPG" border="0" /></a> I just love how he sits with his little feet crossed -so cute! He does this all the time.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIesd-ynuLFClk_4TkI3CFlYWkj1l7S6167a_9vN_oMEDnHahJ2Vmh4Ru79wsjpjUvgqRc7mGXuIqeiXN2XWO7xeLosGIX2jCRum1pKOv7BrHfWSi0jePCpUXn8Y2p7pfdCLyZJIiaqYb/s1600-h/IMG_5158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444869367628437698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIesd-ynuLFClk_4TkI3CFlYWkj1l7S6167a_9vN_oMEDnHahJ2Vmh4Ru79wsjpjUvgqRc7mGXuIqeiXN2XWO7xeLosGIX2jCRum1pKOv7BrHfWSi0jePCpUXn8Y2p7pfdCLyZJIiaqYb/s320/IMG_5158.JPG" border="0" /></a> Dominick loves to turn all of his toys upside down. He's got to look at every inch.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cPr1504XCK6e63J-Qd_ILlDzO8pAj-M8ZlWcXDmEsVCaB4b1FcX6rOYLjEm9ShHF1RKe9G7Xlq6ymP58VMdLyr-GeETdQweIQ2_aKgL5PPDhj0okmscSBq1OOh1rCqcBy1BaWlnCNUBn/s1600-h/IMG_5149.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444869145586438770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cPr1504XCK6e63J-Qd_ILlDzO8pAj-M8ZlWcXDmEsVCaB4b1FcX6rOYLjEm9ShHF1RKe9G7Xlq6ymP58VMdLyr-GeETdQweIQ2_aKgL5PPDhj0okmscSBq1OOh1rCqcBy1BaWlnCNUBn/s320/IMG_5149.JPG" border="0" /></a>He loves to stick his little tongue out when he smiles!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuDHY2mZ6lX-iTEYowTsMRaGJy2fir-pPhp3YuA3uVTvsGUnOaaZLJcOgvnRQBTwR6CSjIiV4IZW6_8yVDTnKNDDmU7kFrJP5n0FfbGY2yFHTc8icoqrBEh3yZIyFZ4NV-ITxO0pi28I8/s1600-h/IMG_5133.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444868919457635954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuDHY2mZ6lX-iTEYowTsMRaGJy2fir-pPhp3YuA3uVTvsGUnOaaZLJcOgvnRQBTwR6CSjIiV4IZW6_8yVDTnKNDDmU7kFrJP5n0FfbGY2yFHTc8icoqrBEh3yZIyFZ4NV-ITxO0pi28I8/s320/IMG_5133.JPG" border="0" /></a> Welcome to baby land... aka our living room.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4vwapleQkR-BaYlpQz0Qfm-X71IPFgXIvKVTEpUChRMX0F8cJEpJWVCT9A93qv-IPHyhyphenhyphenM1xneIKD3FJZIzizdT4rhYE-2A331DRUXVE_4xhvf8U4Tbd703kXAQv3FeDBO1uYvVmjn0D/s1600-h/IMG_5131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444868821850592738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4vwapleQkR-BaYlpQz0Qfm-X71IPFgXIvKVTEpUChRMX0F8cJEpJWVCT9A93qv-IPHyhyphenhyphenM1xneIKD3FJZIzizdT4rhYE-2A331DRUXVE_4xhvf8U4Tbd703kXAQv3FeDBO1uYvVmjn0D/s320/IMG_5131.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here he is, 11 months old. Such a sweet heart.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-28512626473351973552010-02-25T11:33:00.007-05:002010-03-03T15:38:21.334-05:00Dominick Eleven MonthsDominick has been growing, growing, growing. He’s wearing 12-18 month size and he loves to explore the world around him. He’s much better at cruising – walking while holding on to something. He even took a few steps behind a push and walk toy yesterday. He’s not hesitant to walk, but we can’t make him do anything he doesn’t want to do. His personality is really starting to show.<br /><br />He wants to get everywhere by himself. Don’t even try to stand him up and hold his hands to help him walk, he’ll plop right down and find something else to hold on to. He also is very rough on his toys. Throwing them all over the place! He’s starting to arch his back if he wants down or off your lap. So we let him slide to the floor and go on his way. It’s funny to watch. We’re pretty sure he’s going to be a handful as a toddler. It’s payback for being such a wonderful infant.<br /><br />Speaking of toys, his favorites right now are anything with wheels. He loves to turn his wagon on its side, put something on top of the wheel and spin it to watch it go round. He’s even started to stack things on the wheel and spin it to watch them tumble.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443769655141030578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQU8DWtVdzAxQs_3RUOFJcYZ5bETrcMfqifhhs0LzK2QodeM3oUjBFgkZn0Jm9hrlFTFA6pcUkxJouHWtmc_JLzuCiBAz-S5p_7nyZqK8bMUU219Vaj9cXI6uVEhL2pZyfBQmiLL80Riq/s320/DSCN0247.jpg" border="0" /><br />Dominick is eating everything under the sun! He’s got 10+ teeth. He pretty much eats what ever I cook for dinner. This means, I have to cook more often. This month he’s had beef stroganoff, chicken pot pie, baked ziti and chicken tortellini. He loves bananas, pancakes and waffles. He hasn’t refused anything! I usually cook on the weekend and we have enough leftovers to make it to Thursday when Frank’s home and he does dinner.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443768147165379954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrpg1d2THW3K0AY6eNOZ3k50B1MJzd3_8Fv4D9DVifgmZpFSE4lBDyU_oL3AO3ctFldBIuZBw5hpFiPSYMGLKyghiAZ4XmA271IjEcjBvp1-cuj5Gy2W6zlOpy43MIwwwTvIqSOraE4xF/s320/DSCN0239.jpg" border="0" />The absolute cutest thing Dominick does is the “roll it” part from pattycake. I have to get it on video. When he wants your attention or wants to show of for new people he meets – he just does it! And he rolls his hands backwards. It’s so cute. And of course every time he does it, we make a huge fuss and give lots of kisses. </p><p>We’ve had a break through with our signing – Dominick has understood signing for a few months now. He’d get excited when we’d sign “eat” or “more”. Just last week he signed the word “more”! He pretty much just putts his hands together when we ask him if he wants more food, and he always does! He still says mama, dada and Ozzie. We’re working on Yaya, Grammie, Pop, Papa, Auntie etc.<br /><br />We have been battling ear infections lately – this week he’s on his fourth. Doc says that he should be fine and prescribed a stronger antibiotic. Let’s hope this one clears up completely.<br /><br />Just this week he started waving bye bye! We were at the doctor’s office and we said bye bye to the doctor and he did it! He kind of waves his entire arm, but he gets it! I was shocked. Now he does it every time someone leaves.<br /><br />I’m getting teary eyed just writing this. My dear little boy is now eleven months old and we are so close to him turning the big one!<br /><br />I’m happy and sad at the same time. I would love for him to stay little, cuddle and oh so cute for ever. But I also enjoy seeing him accomplish new things and grow! I’m sure lots of moms have these mixed feelings…<br /><br />We’re going to have a small celebration at our house next month. Small meaning, under 50 people in our house! We have a HUGE family and this is only the locals. When we started planning, Frank and I agreed – small is best. But after we started thinking about it, we really want to celebrate with everyone! The party is really a celebration for making it through the first year! I’m all about celebrating!</p>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-49801385803954229032010-01-24T11:06:00.006-05:002010-02-25T11:20:30.855-05:00Dominick Ten MonthsSeems like January really did buzz by. We all have been sick, pretty much since Thanksgiving. Dominick goes to daycare twice a week and just those two days of exposure seems to sabotage any efforts at keeping everyone healthy. But, they say, that if your child is sick when he’s a baby, he’s just building a kick ass immune system. Yeah, yeah, yeah… tell that to me at 3 in the morning when I’m rocking in the glider keeping my little guy elevated, with both of us dozing off. We’ve spent many a night in the glider, which is extremely comfortable. It even reclines!<br /><br />Dominick has been hitting all sorts of milestones. He’s still doing a commando crawl, but he’s really good at it! He loves to be chased if we say, “I’m gonna get you” he squeals and takes off. He’s still cruising around on the furniture, making his way around the room. He’ll probably be walking by his birthday.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442213537197598258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2Osuu3ceYq4hwJDuC8l6RcdybQfvcqVrr00TM70UkR7l3DgSg56FBRBAkl1Ex-Tt33rIY5DI2pQun6eykUNPLynyiZB8R0qXggzbSKtnMWPLE-vcuj_mspXxO3MqauwInXsaDJVv36OO/s320/Jan+2010+010.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442213618311843426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNtaSDHRWUeXUoAguz6uRbrQnW4osq8D7c9VDT5xa-ucoj9kyUgzDmXClaWdFcM7KY5GrjSSqJ0b7dD0YUn4CMBCrpndEZFydLQpfvmKiDVqG3tMDYq00UoJ0Gv_0rqOX6ikf17koKjbI/s320/Jan+2010+008.jpg" border="0" /> We’re pretty sure he says mama and dada. Now he’s added Ozzie to his vocabulary! When we get home, he says “oozzziiee” so cute.<br /><br />He’s eating all sorts of food since his molars came in. Still mostly mushy, but people food. I’m so glad to be done with baby food! Here he is trying his first meatball… his Grammie made them for this special occasion. We’re pretty sure he enjoyed himself! </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442213826976325282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzu5sM5H_I8-CnSxv6-JFwjSzfZzaQv9kWMZ3wWvGPbOk-VCl1n150m1XGhXz2tcKKxsJuyuP0N6-mW5P0JjIART0E1eNkAG3h_cOUBWTEszsDY3H-x6De1OHrYgBuj0WpOdkIYRyghmp/s320/Jan+2010+084.jpg" border="0" /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442213961032404002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi025-RXDaNgPFRYL199BzCq8QrCA_oIGQ27nvU49cANoMSxPaMXJRerioFWB94sjuhQPRLMvXo5f5tfchI0ZRCvANn7fxMORwK1mcHXqIg3EbzNiRroVD5gEcu8IHGFm2CimxQw532dZ1u/s320/Jan+2010+062.jpg" border="0" /></p>Here he is eating the meatball like an apple! This boy is definiately Italian. Here's the aftermath.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442214371927692162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPRRApwCpSrwZYvnjiLGWVEm6fRLHFP4tOy9eKDRp_BTcd1bV5tZE1nOgNx3PgHbA-_C35OMYrkrl3qikcfLJcPGLmj1uTSHTe0RtZhB9BMVmGv30BneXBgLB7o4Ex679RBfxkGuHR4BB/s320/Jan+2010+096.jpg" border="0" />Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-82861978112234877962010-01-17T11:11:00.001-05:002010-02-25T11:20:05.443-05:00Family Fun with FeathersWe had the pleasure of going to Frank's God daughter's birthday party. Emma turned three and was just a sweetheart. Here are a few pictures from our fun day.<br /><br />Emma giving us a concert... ABC's, Isty Bitsty Spider - you name it, she sang it!<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442214848631009970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1OhpIgEhGZHA9UqSjiSJM04XV3piE3H5Mdne0Ix8m4Sfv3b5IUd7s-mZPi0ai4v9ZAjb8f3uTLOrA21lRmCDrqxfrcR5wXm2zbji6qLDugE0tnmACI1Z-WVEXlNmrhlsPbbkZ2P8AR58/s320/Jan+2010+029.jpg" border="0" /> Dominick isn't so sure about Emma's singing...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442214972130004098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOg8y-rHXu4OV611WtmNZaHDVK0GkYzTmYvoW7IZ2I0LXSOQ1KYMvCnQk8IQ0Zn-wHESholy1ZS6XnFx5fizFwhoNR00cHEZaq4smKk_hyphenhyphenE_8w7AZbm_OVTEbdkM8Btta6nICSHpi6Yqa/s320/Jan+2010+027.jpg" border="0" /> Cousins Emma (3), Anthony (7?), and Dominick (10 months) </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442215080017252194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbnGH2cWANE9kbEvpqeBV2Rz7vbAhqcEQTm1J-3bSyrKF6xlQY2rLaQlQURNQDWZl6csUP0FazVkdtfqpnMAdPuXYd6LqSq0jxNfqV_fWYmFuZf32Xm60M17jv6i5P-uduc7V7AgwkOIm/s320/Jan+2010+035.jpg" border="0" /><br />Emma loved her "feathers" that her Aunt Becca got her... She's definitely a girly girl.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442215200616334546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKceJxY5l4K2wz5bu7-L76n0jwWw6WDrfdhBod_7_FgK4uTgOL9pj3WKsxG3C3na4mhHu_Lvg1VqmROPVlowkUiVWjGwNlRkdrAgyC_nfWNdA-zfFnVl-31SNZSFuAH1YQj8f2XZ5G7Iz1/s320/Jan+2010+039.jpg" border="0" />Spending some quality time with his great Aunt Lena. She's so funny!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442215309645705538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqHMsHCKpUIEBlTLKHWHXYrn-coa7LsxmTum-3V-xnvXZhHbv84FT9e9o7NpugOM21JRcSiO7JEf-0ei-O5P0oB5iu7FiDQjPoP0EW4fParDD63n2jt0zMva0TIjtnyO6Lmye6gM8-nnT/s320/Jan+2010+042.jpg" border="0" /></p><p></p>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-26134726213563386452010-01-01T10:24:00.000-05:002010-02-25T10:41:26.094-05:00Christmas in a nutshellWell – it was Dominick’s first official Christmas. We did everything to make it a special one. Baked all sorts of cookies, wrapped each present with care, we even arranged Santa to come visit him on a fire truck! I know what you’re thinking… “He’ll never remember this!” True, but really, isn’t the first Christmas all for the parents and family anyway? So we had fun. We were festive. And boy am I glad it’s over! Here’s a recap.<br /><br />On a snowy night in December we headed to our cousin’s house to wait for Santa to pull up on his fire engine. This is something that Clark Fire Department does every year. They go around town, meeting children and even delivering presents the parents secretly gave him. The fire truck is all decked out with as many lights and animatronics displays it can hold. It’s quite the site to hear all the jingle bells they have tied to the tires. We have a video and once I figure out how to post – you bet it’ll be up here. Dominick was just in awe at Santa and his very large elves – all firemen. It’s a sight I know I’ll never forget and I hope we can do it again.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442205109091288018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7SeEeqDMp3YjtDgzAfNWoGnDAlpp5e5s6-KWWUsBCLDAb9snEdVToq94dn6VBSlwhKt3zoJtbpmDGj-naqpxzro8Mr6AyprCYTvuFu5EFcqO1w9ie9SnF-hZQlULyqZtXRKz7wNT8HnB/s320/IMG_5077.JPG" border="0" />As is tradition with the Frizell family, we spent Christmas Eve in Metuchen. My mom had prepared a Parisian gourmet meal including beef wellington! Everything was scrumptious and even the babies stayed up long enough to open a few presents each. Then it was a free for all. With as many “extended” families as we have, we’re lucky that we get the majority at Christmas time – this year we had Mike, Chrisi, Samantha, Catherine, Chris, Frank, myself and Dominick. Zach joined us after dinner. It would have been nice to have St. John and Linden, but we understand we have several families that have to share our time.<br /><br />I have proposed we do Christmas sometime near the actual holiday and not on Christmas Eve. This will allow the kids who split holidays with moms/dads and St. John and Linden who have three sets of families to visit more time. Or even allow us all to do our own “thing” on Christmas Eve. I really do put a lot of thought and effort into the gifts I buy for every one and I really want to see them open them. Isn’t that the fun part!? Wouldn’t’ it be great once the kids get older to have everyone there to play with all their new toys? My proposal was well received I think… I just was sick of not having everyone together on the day we choose to celebrate.<br /><br />After a late night at my moms, we headed back home to prepare for the big day.<br /><br />We have started a new tradition in our house – we’ll have Christmas morning brunch. This year the Mazzarella’s came and we used this time to open all of our gifts. Next year, we’ll probably invite my parents as well since Christmas Eve is still up in the air. It will just be plain chaos, but pure Christmas fun.<br /><br />I did a lot of the cooking the night before. I made two breakfast casseroles that sit over night. A stuffed French toast with a berry sauce which was to-die-for and an egg sausage thing. Surprisingly, both turned out pretty well. I brought out my china for the first time. The table looked stunning and I’m so mad I didn’t get a picture. We sipped OJ from crystal and enjoyed every bite!<br /><br />After brunch we opened more gifts and Dominick sure made out like a bandit this year. He got lots of toys for 1 +, which is great ‘cause he’s starting to get board with his current set of toys. Here are a few samplings…<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442203160595410658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9azHi718nXC4hHKiran0s4oKlfiMbnmiOdvJxUoUH27qVjMVD1yeDC789HC1bFvwIaq9G36dcF8qXnK1gGhpPkp9sXwHIRTiCt-A8a0tqxVh5NVP4NkUFW4XLNgEdwCmSJdtvW_vyktaj/s320/Copy+(1)+of+IMG_5087.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442203301510205138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdsieEolnWnmk8-1tPNCOd9qVnJCt_9RPlGYi40r5YGCtACrrVrkAN_sjEJFcrdg0GA5g55JKJICLDVTIyriU0xX37jv3lvr57mS_P3hCZTctC4rEL6x6ZpYNDSg8vrzzIeLIINDcZ0D9/s320/Copy+(1)+of+IMG_5089+virt.jpg" border="0" /><br />Dominick really didn’t seem to be into the opening part of Christmas. Like most babies his age, he was more interested in eating the paper, than ripping it. Give the boy a bow and he’s happy for at least ten minutes.<br /><br />Ozzie of course got his presents, several new stuffed animal toys. He loves to unwrap his presents! He’s too funny and been great about not playing with Dominick’s toys. Once we break out the ball popper, that’s a different story. </div><br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442203450084675554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtCgQ9d-9HtdptfVe8bznVWXaWTe62ykt4DNv6wiHx5gSuYprwynmbSBhjM50MsY4gpWrawufNbe5ehfgjFUKA6bxRdw6QIEoRu3pndcSxoIQ80Cqm-DyavDSOGFIuG7v_u9PBB6vtpsQ/s320/Copy+(1)+of+IMG_5097.JPG" border="0" /><br />After presents we crashed for a while. Showered, had our second pot of coffee and got ready for the third act of this Christmas celebration. We headed off to Frank’s Aunt Gen’s house. We had the usual – and it’s the same thing, every year. I can say this since I’ve been celebrating holidays with Frank for about eight years now. Here is Dominick with his cousins, Reese and Christopher. Reese is very good at wrangling the boys for pictures... we hold her back just short of a head lock!<br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442203741372726642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIC3ATUMwa3MYv0sZlRdZh5Pd-xMbaTTTeRc2M9MSLJHrT6CzIUyb7_p3MDRHNuChLQbygT0l3GTn-Vdgw73gm5o-AH0alyQXLeLLr20fReRCw0Zpq44J-m6u-BeCo0buoCOS6G7mSXJQ/s320/Copy+(1)+of+IMG_5066.JPG" border="0" /> It’s nice to have one family who does something different every year and one that sticks with traditional fair. My mom has come up with some doozies – the seven fishes cause we’re Italian Wanna-Be’s; Cuban from my grandmother’s heritage which is my favorite, French, gourmet “American” with a standing rib roast, traditional ham or duck! She’s an amazing cook who’s willing to try anything. I wish I had an ounce of her bravery in the kitchen.<br /><br />Thanks Christmas in a nut shell. We’re looking forward to celebrating Dominick’s first birthday in March, just three months away. The jury’s still out on what type of “party” to have. Should we rent a hall with a band? Should we keep it small and just family? What about a restaurant? Everyone seems to have an opinion. Frank and I are keeping our’s to ourselves and deciding in the next few weeks. </div></div></div>Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-80402002462572472592009-12-28T10:31:00.001-05:002010-02-25T10:41:55.761-05:00The Woman Behind the TinselThere’s a laundry list of things no one ever warns you about when you become a mom. You get over your bodily fluid phobia real fast, sleep deprivation is an art form, you will never pee alone again and quite often you’ll leave the house with spit up down your back and not even know it! One special little tidbit hit home this holiday season.<br /><br />When you become a mom no one ever really tells you about the enormous amount of work that goes into making each and every holiday special for your children and family. Not only do you have to take care of your child/children 24/7, but you also have to shop for every family member, bake all sorts of cookies, decorate the entire house, go to numerous holiday parties pretending to be festive when all you really want to do is go home and finish your to-do-list so you can collapse on the couch.<br /><br />When I did get in bed after a long night of to-do’s, all I could think about were the next things on my list that had to get done tomorrow. I literally had to write everything down because I didn’t trust my sleep deprived over stuffed brain to remember anything. I do have to shop for a lot of people – we have a HUGE family and lots of nieces and nephews.<br /><br />Don’t get me wrong. I actually love Christmas. I look forward to it every year. But now, as a mom, it has a whole new meaning. It means that I have to plan every spare second to be sure everything gets done. It means that sure, I’ll stay up late till two in the morning wrapping Christmas Eve because the little guy was up till midnight.<br /><br />I hope Dominick will some day appreciate all of our efforts into making his holidays special.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442204676428458066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WYvAWh_IPGcuYciUA-gJW34b4uxW7UyhGY54NtOezWDq-yaLW0iLPWMPMxq7MqreJxQwC3xWWm9a5eglujLPODZPhSUi5e8VnGpvz2HZ3a0AQQVVIWWRJgJ4pLf-Rihz7Mel3wJ7LT9r/s320/Copy+(1)+of+IMG_5080.JPG" border="0" /><br />Thank you mom for all of your hard work, endless hours and loving time you put into my cherished holiday memories.Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-47233274555751510932009-12-24T10:22:00.000-05:002010-02-25T10:41:02.664-05:00Dominick Nine MonthsI always begin these posts with… wow, how did time fly buy? But these past few months I’ve taken every opportunity to really sit back and enjoy my time with Dominick. Relish in every cute smile, giggle or silly game. So this month didn’t go by any faster and I hope to continue “living in the moment.” The laundry will get folded and the dishes done, but my baby will only be a baby for so long.<br />Let’s see – developmentally, he’s right on track with his milestones. He doesn’t crawl on all fours, he kind of does an army scoot – we call it the “wounded solder” too funny! He can now push himself up into a seated position. He had just gotten up from a nap and I walk into his room and to my surprise – there he is, sitting straight up! He LOVES to stand. He would much rather stand than roll around on the floor. Good thing he has lots of standing toys on his Christmas list.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442205837667857202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwDhSHfyKOvu3dmHmmnMyOpkN_cPakWWh6Y10NXKtgJFzQezo3AMliKoDN-9utxolQKDDjFjrM5hH3hz93q8PLbeJb7tGHD6iBQzNXtXmlAXLSbAR_yWBcmnadnBQlaWZPpqqV0DSa43X/s320/IMG_4926.JPG" border="0" /><br />Dominick is quite the eater – he loves to eat solids. His faves are still sweet potatoes. We’ve added apricots, pears and CHEESE! This boy loves cheddar cheese. If I’m having a hard time getting him to eat, I just sprinkle on a little cheese and down it goes. He likes to feed himself and will take the spoon out of my hand. He gets a kick out of that. I’m still making all his food which is really easy. Now I leave some texture to the fruits and veggies. He chews them like a pro! He loves his Cheerios and if he’s in his exersaucer, I’ve caught him slipping one or two to Ozzie who’s waiting patiently near by. Dominick has started to refuse the bottle a bit more in hopes he’ll get more “grown up” food. We’re introducing as many new foods as we can! He had a little taste of tomato sauce from pizza and a little bit of the crust. As soon as he tasted the sauce, he got excited. His arms started waving and he started grunting for more! He loves my “veggie medley” of broccoli, cauliflower, peas, carrots in a cheddar cheese sauce. We’re sure he’ll be a great eater.<br /><br />Sleeping – this boy is what moms call a rack master. He sleeps hours, and hours. One night he clocked 14 hours without a peep! He has at least two naps a day, for at least an hour each. Sometimes he’ll sleep 2+ hours for me at home. And he’s sleeping much better at daycare too. That’s a relief.<br /><br />Dominick is very social and loves to smile at everyone. He’s started to be a little “clingy” and wants his mommy to pick him up – which is just fine with me.<br /><br />He’s had a few colds since thanksgiving. With double ear infections that returned, we had two rounds of antibiotics. He’s much better, for now.<br /><br />I will be updating more often. I too have been sick since Thanksgiving. We shared two very nasty bugs with everyone in the house. We’re all better and with the holidays behind us – I’m excited to get things back to normal.Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113889211442441009.post-56296801366156553542009-12-15T10:38:00.000-05:002010-02-25T10:40:32.106-05:00Meeting The Big GuyWe took Dominick to get his 9 month pictures, which happen to coincide with Christmas. We lucked out on that one! We weren’t too happy with the service from JC Penny’s, so we headed off to the Picture People. The customer service was much better, people being very patient and working much harder to get that perfect smile. But, I was a little disappointed in the props. Again, I didn’t voice my opinions, I just went with the flow. Imagine that! I think I’ll be more vocal, especially for his first birthday pics. Not sure where we’re going. We may end up hiring a private photographer. We’ll see. Here’s a sampling of the pics. My fave is the caboose.<br /><br />Along with his nine month pics we also went to see Santa for the first time. I knew Dominick would do great. He’s never once cried when I put him in someone’s arms – even a stranger.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442206221785718242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfT8efV0i55AzJ3Gw69YJKRAydL7g9oq2rYgIQb7cEh3pxcdd1w67boblnImOktUC1UpiRTqgmlAIcwAJ25djOXubWbg1-vRGDF0pKzkP2D9sk7IDzoHOOea2A4SkgYGcHmG2eZKYvn74/s320/Copy+of+Dom+Santa.jpg" border="0" /><br />He did take a few long looks up at the bearded man, but in general was happy to smile at us as we made fools of our selves in the mall. Doesn’t this Santa look real? He’s been at Menlo Park Mall for years… maybe he is real? He hasn’t aged at all!Rebecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12628967846366982411noreply@blogger.com0