Events of the Day

I've come to a point where I don't necessarily see new milestones as easily. I think this has a lot to do with how busy Dominic is and how much trouble he now gets into. I am so busy keeping after him that I don't always see the new things he tackles or when he tackles them. I also have a tendency to forget what he did even though it happened such a sort time ago.

So, for today,

We started off with Dominic playing with his toys while I take my shower (a morning ritual). However, this morning I look at my feet to see Dominic in his pajamas in the shower with me. You see he has a tendency to want to play with the water, or bottles as I am taking a shower. This morning he pushed it a bit further and ended up in the tub with me!

Now we move on to the late morning, after his a.m. nap. I was cleaning out the cat box and blocked off the room with kitchen chairs. As I am just about done (sweeping up) I hear a knocking. I look over to see the little gymnast up on the chair moving it back and forth. (How did he get up there??? How did he move so quickly??? I had just looked seconds before!!)


Those are the events of today. Other things he is now capable of doing are; saying bye, bye, all done (little distorted), putting shapes into the cut out holes they belong in, crawling onto the coffee table, getting at least a bump/bruise a day, and drawing blood/scaring the crap out of mommy at least once a week! Currently he is a very busy boy who has a TON of ENERGY.

The Great Tree Hunt

Saturday Dec 9th we set out in search of our Christmas tree, Dominic's first. We went to a place we have been going for quite some time and found it to be not only unopened, but it looked like they have given up the business. It was a sad surprise to find it closed. However, there was another tree farm just down the road and we went there.


Dominic saw Santa-but again was not impressed. He much preferred the tractor! We got on the wagon behind the tractor and they took us to the trees. There Grandma and Pupo took Dominic with them in search of their tree and Matt and I set out for ours. After looking all over we met back with Grandma and Pupo. They had found their tree and it was in the process of getting cut down. We ended up finding one right beside the one they chose.

The man cut our tree down and we hiked back up to the farm. I got hot chocolate for grandma and I, fed Dominic a snack and waited for our tree to arrive and be bound up for the journey home. Thanks to Grandma and Pupo our tree made it home and is now up in our living room.

The first morning it was up and decorated Dominic headed straight for it. (We chose a really prickly tree so that Dominic would not be interested in touching it.) He found out rather quickly that the tree hurt his fingers, but that didn't stop him from reaching for the lights. To the lights he replied "hot". :-) Then he was really interested in the cranberry beads. He has figured out how to get to those without interfering with the tree. (He is a smart little bugger!)

It is a beautiful tree and a wonderful memory. The tree hunt is one of my favorite experiences of the year, one that I always look forward to.

The Sink

Matt put Dominic in the sink for one reason or another (I can't recall) and I ran for the camera. He looks so cute in the sink and soon he will not fit. I think he is trying to drive it. He will try and drive anything that resembles a wheel!

Finger Painting

Today was the first time I captured pictures of Dominic finger painting. Usually, he is so messy I have all I can do just to get him paining and cleaned up without destroying the house with paint. Now, when he sees the stuff come out he gets excited and can't wait to get his fingers in the gooey paint. Once he has mushed the stuff around on the paper for a while he likes to play with the paint container, or as the case of today, the spoon I used for getting the paint out. (I did wipe off the spoon with a clean rag prior to him putting it into his mouth, so the paint on his face is from his hands and whatever he got on the spoon.) Then the second stage of this painting experience he likes just as well as the actually painting, the cleaning up. He gets to wash his hands in the big people sink and loves to play with both the water and the soap bubbles in the bottom of the sink. Overall it is a very enjoyable experience for him. For me, I was an art teacher and I don't mind the mess!

11 Months old today!

It is hard to believe that we are approaching the one-year mark. In fact it is challenging to believe that last year at this time I had less then 20 days till my due date (well, that is true, but he decided to come 10 days late). The time has gone very quickly!!

Dominic is unbelievably quick now. He can turn while walking with ease and even stands up from the laying down or sitting up position.

Our most recent photos include a few taken outside last Friday (due to the wonderful 60 degree weather), followed by some of Dominic's first encounter with Santa.

He was very cute with Santa. At first he was curious and wanted to know what his beard was all about. Then he became very unsure, and finally he wanted NO part of him what so ever. A few seconds provides for a lifetime of memories.