Dominick Eleven Months

Dominick 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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…

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!

Dominick Ten Months

Seems 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!

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.

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.

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!

Here he is eating the meatball like an apple! This boy is definiately Italian. Here's the aftermath.

Family Fun with Feathers

We 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.

Emma giving us a concert... ABC's, Isty Bitsty Spider - you name it, she sang it!

Dominick isn't so sure about Emma's singing...

Cousins Emma (3), Anthony (7?), and Dominick (10 months)

Emma loved her "feathers" that her Aunt Becca got her... She's definitely a girly girl.

Spending some quality time with his great Aunt Lena. She's so funny!