Say Cheese

I get to check another milestone off my mama check list. Yes, mom’s have milestones too! Last weekend we took Dominick for his first professional photo session. We made an appointment for him at the JC Penny’s Photo Studio. Not so sure I would call it professional, but it sure was cheep! Free in fact. No sitting fee and we get a free portrait. But it’s all a scam. Once you see the pictures of your little angel, you’ll want to buy everyone in every size. And we did.

I definitely deserve some sort of badge because this was no walk in the park. It was a busy Saturday morning and we thought we timed it just right, in between feedings and nap schedules, to ensure we’d have a happy smiling baby. But turns out – so did every other family. Including another Mazzarella family who showed up too! No relation, just strange coincidence.

Dominick was his usual happy smiling self, but poor mom was stressed to the max. There was so much going on and other children having melt downs – I think that all added to the stress level. Dominick took it all in stride and did wonderfully.

We’ll definitely do it again, but we’re going to try different places and probably only do holidays for the first few years and definitely birthdays every year. We never did this when I was growign up and I've always looked forward to taking my kids to get their pictures done. Silly? Maybe. NExt time, we’ll just have to do our best to resist buying every single print.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Six Months

Six months… really? How on earth did that happen? Exactly six months ago today we welcomed our little love bug into our family. We knew our lives would be forever changed, but we had no idea how our hearts would feel like they could burst at any moment with every smile or giggle or coo.

Dominick is just a joy. Everyone says so. Am I biased? Sure am. But when complete strangers say he’s got a great disposition, I’m starting to believe them. He’s always happy and smiling. I'm going to make a conscious effort to really enjoy every minute I can with him. This just went by too fast.

We had our six month check up with Dr. Cavuto yesterday. Dominick weighed in at a healthy 18 pounds 8 ounces (75th percentile) and measured 28 ½ inches long (off the chars said the doc!). He had his last set of vaccinations until he turns one. He took them like a champ. Just as the doc was injecting, little Dominick’s face got all red, he cried for maybe 30 seconds and he was fine.

We will be starting baby food on Saturday. I’ve already made peaches, sweet potatoes and carrots. The doc warned us he might turn a little orange with all the beta-carotene. We’ll take lots of pictures since babies usually make really funny faces during those first bites.

Since Dominick has six teeth already, the doc also cleared us to try teething biscuits. We may forgo them because most people say they’re more trouble and mess then they’re worth.

We’re also getting his first professional photos taken to mark the six month milestone. I’m sure I could take some really nice shots, but I think it’s a right of passage for parents to have pictures taken of their kids.

Looking forward to a busy weekend and spending time with my three boys – Dominick, Ozzie and Frank included!

PS – Frank picked up the electronic booger sucker. I think this has to be the best invention EVER! There’s no crying what so ever! And it works! Just try digging out a booger of a wriggling, squirming little baby. Not so fun. But turn on the fancy music and it sucks it right out. This gizmo comes highly recommended.