Shady

Dom has a little obsession with sunglasses. He loves all kinds and always rocks every single pair. He asks me “Mama, glass?” so I hand a pair over and he happily slips them on his head and grins from ear to ear. Man, my kid is so cool:)

Weight War

The scale has not been kind to me. It’s beyond frustrating when I’ve been watching what I eat, working out three times a week, and the only place my weight goes is up. And up. And up.

I stopped doing Weight Watchers about a month ago because I just needed a break. I was burnt out on counting points, food journaling and not being able to eat whatever I wanted. The day I started my “hiatus” I felt like I had just gotten out of prison. I could eat whatever I wanted and I wasn’t going to get weighed! Waahooo! Let’s go crazy! That box of Tim Tam cookies? Yes, I can eat them all if I want! Cookie and Cream ice-cream? Sure, why not?! McDonalds, Del Taco and In n Out? Let’s do it. That lasted about 2 two weeks before I knew I had to stop. I got it out of my system and enjoyed every second. But I couldn’t let all my hard work of losing weight go out the window. Plus, I was beginning to feel sluggish and my skin broke out. I felt a little out of control. I didn’t go back to weight watchers, but I decided to take it into my own hands. I have done WW enough that I know what to eat and what not to eat. Rob joined us up at a gym and we committed to going twice a week, which we do. I also take the jazzercise class with Lanie on Thursday nights. I’m not counting points, but I am eating cautiously and not going crazy every day.

For the past 3-4 weeks, it has crept up on the scale and I can’t understand why. I even took TWO pregnancy tests because I couldn’t understand how I was gaining so much weight so fast. I thought for sure I was “with child.” My stomach looks like I’m about 5 months along…but seeing as both tests came out negative and there is no baby, I just look bloated and fat. Ugh. This is a huge knock to my self-confidence. I was doing so well and now I feel like I screwed it all up. But I haven’t been eating out of control. Is it because I’m not doing Weight Watchers? No, because I’m eating the same way AND I’m working out, which means I should be losing weight, not gaining it. I don’t know why my stomach has expanded so much; I just know that I don’t like it. I don’t feel comfortable in my clothes right now. I just want to cover up and wear baggy shirts. This is extremely frustrating as I worked so hard to NOT feel that way. I lost 20lbs and was happy wearing anything in my closet. Now I look in there and just want to grab the same flannel shirt every day.

I will just keep moving forward and keep working out. Hopefully I will see some progress on the scale soon, before I become totally discouraged and say eff it.

Family Photo

How did I get this lucky?

2 Faces

Dom has two new faces and they both crack me up. The one above is his winky face. He does such a good wink, seriously. Most kids at this age would close both eyes but Dom has mastered the wink perfectly. He keeps one eye open, squints the other one and gives a litte smirk. It's so rad!

This is his cheese face. When I'm going to take his photo, he'll say "cheeeeeeshe" and ham it up for the camera. His little tongue tends to stick out because he has a lisp (which hello, so cute!) Check out the gusto! His little personality is just shining through and I love it!

Mommy Perks

I saw this on a website when I was pregnant with Dom and it made me so excited to have him in my arms (like i wasnt already!)

Now that my baby is almost two years old, I re read this and it still make me so excited to hold him in my arms.

Having a baby changes a mom's life, but the bundle of joy also alters the way she looks at the world and lives each day. Here are some of the purest perks that come with being a mother.

1. You see everything for the first time again through the child's eyes — even ants are amazing.

2. A single gummy smile can save even the biggest wreck of a day.

3. When the infant fusses, your mere presence calms him.

4. If you rest your child on your chest, your hearts beat in unison.

5. When he laughs, he shakes, drools, and almost keels over, but it's the most adorable thing you've ever seen. So you make him do it again and again.

6. You think about the future in bigger and brighter ways. You picture him heading off to kindergarten and graduating from high school.

7. You anticipate and even dream of little things like a cutting tooth, a single step, or a two syllable utterance: "mama."

8. You forget about things you used to care so much about, because they actually don't matter at all.

9. You finally understand what "a mother's instinct" means.

10. Your will to live intensifies because you don't want to miss a moment of your child's spectacular life.

Taking it like a champ

It’s only been a couple of days, but Dom is doing great with getting back to his old schedule. He hasn’t (knock on wood) woken up in the middle of the night asking for milk since Sunday night and has been sleeping straight through to 7:00am. It’s been good for him and for me. We have both enjoyed getting caught up on some much needed sleep. Hopefully it continues this way:)

Clean up connoisseur

Rob and I have been enforcing the “pick up your toys” rule all last week and weekend, and Dom is totally into it. The first time, as I mentioned before, he wasn’t too happy and it took about 20 mins to get him to actually do it. The next night it took about 10 minutes and then after that he doesn’t have to be told over and over again. We just tell him “ok Baby, time to clean up before bath time” and he starts putting his blocks in the tub, books back on the shelf and his little stuff into his busy boxes. It’s amazing! Rob and I help him clean up so it’s a team effort and it has made the whole thing so much easier. Way to go Dom!

Cry. Cry. No milk. Cry. Sleep.

Detox

Dom woke up in the middle of the night wanting milk, and I had to tell him no. Crying ensued. More crying. Some screaming. Me comforting him and telling him I love him. More crying. Crying. Then quiet….sleep

Milk Pusher

I don’t know how it happened, but I think I got Dom back into a habit that took us a lot of time to break. Getting a bottle in the middle of the night. He of course doesn’t drink a bottle anymore, but he has been waking up either in the middle of the night or at 5:30am asking for “waa waa” which is milk. Uh oh.

I didn’t meant to do it, I swear. When we was on formula, we got to a place where he’d have his bottle after dinner, but when it was bed time, no go. He could have some water, but no milk. Then it took him a while to get used to whole milk. He went weeks with just having a little bit here and there. I made sure he got his needed calcium by making sure he eat cheese, cereal with milk etc. Then one day, he suddenly decided he couldn’t get enough of it. Because he went so long without it, I was over the moon that he had his thirst for it back. So I didn’t discourage him drinking, even when he wanted it during story time before he went to bed. He would drink two sippy cups full while sitting on my lap, no problem. Thus began the “drinking milk right before bed” routine again.

But wait, it gets worse. Dom finally broke through one of his molars, and the others are starting to come in too. He had a rough couple of weeks of having a cold, teething and just feeling not well. When he’d wake up in the middle of the night and cry for “waa waa” I gave it to him because I wanted to comfort him. Hell, if having Mommy jump up and down like a pogo stick would have brought him comfort, I would have slapped on a bra and gone at it. But luckily got me, he just wanted his milk.

And now here we are 3 weeks later, and he is still waking up in the middle of the night about 2-3 times a week asking for it. Shoot. Why did I do this? It wasn’t on purpose. I was just trying to comfort my baby, which was the short term goal. But I didn’t think about the long term in the moment, and now I am faced with having to go through the process of re-learning Dom’s behavior to not expect milk in the middle of the night. This involves a lot of crying and heart break. And Dom’s not going to be too happy about it either.

Morning Shuffle

I can’t believe it, but Doms 2nd birthday is only 4 months away. Every day he is testing his boundaries more and more, and I see his little defiant streak peeking out. As much as I love that he is experiencing his independence right now, it can be totally exhausting and stressful. The mornings are usually a whirlwind of chaos that leaves me ready for a nap before I’ve even left the house.

Most week days, Rob is up at 4:00am to get ready for his first job that he drives to Torrance for. Yes, I said 4:00am. And yes, I said his first job. Let me share with you the awesomeness that is my boyfriend for a second. Not only does he get up at 4am, drive to Torrance, work his ass off for about 4-5 hours while most of us are still sleeping, but then he leaves there, drives to Irvine and begins his day all over again at his second job. There he works just as hard, hanging from ceilings, pulling cable, walking 15 miles in one day before driving home to us at about 5pm. Yes, that’s a 13 hour work day. And he comes home in a good mood. No bitching or complaining. Happy to see me and Dom. See, I told you he was awesome.

But getting back to my chaotic mornings. It’s a challenge to get everything done in the morning when Dom is so adventurous. He’s too old and big to be put in his pack and play (that now permanently resides at my parents house) so after I have got him dressed and fed him breakfast (while feeding Sophie and taking her to go potty) Dom has to come with me to so I can get ready for work. This used to be easier about 3 weeks ago. But in that short amount of time, he no longer quietly sits on the bed watching TV or reading his book. Now he squirms off the bed so that he can go through the dresser drawers or rummage through my closet and pull stuff off the hangers. He wants to explore the cabinet underneath the sink or play with Daddy’s laptop. I can’t even get through brushing my teeth without saying “Dom, no” or “Dominic, stop right now.” It gets me stressed out because I’m trying to get ready for work and trying to keep Dom to sit still all at the same time. I’ve got Sophie barking in the kitchen, Cuddles licking the plastic wipes package and Dom trying his very best to get into anything and everything that he can. By the time we’re walking out the door, I sometimes feel overwhelmed. I don’t know how single Moms do it. I take my hat off, because it’s a lot of work.

Did I mention that I’m super tired because Dom woke up at 4:30am on yesterday and decided he didn’t want to go back to sleep, so that’s when our day started. And then last night, when he should have been exhausted because he didn’t take a nap all day (and, you know, he was up at 4:30am) he still woke up at 2:30am wanting milk. I gave him some and put him back in his crib where he just cried on and off for 45 mins before I gave in and brought him into bed with me. I feel like I haven’t had any consistent sleep in months and I think it’s catching up to me.

But you know what? It’s all worth it. There isn’t one part of me that wishes these weren’t my problems. I love that these are my problems. Because it means that I have an awesome boyfriend, son, dog and cat and losing a little shut eye is a small price to pay for the place I call home.

How To Tell If He’s A Keeper

1. He’s willing to put you first.
When a man is truly committed to you, and your relationship is heading for the long term, he will make you an integral part of his life, as well as his top priority. A keeper will continually affirm that he loves you and is devoted to your relationship, both verbally and through his actions.

2. He’s there for you in a crisis.
A keeper will be by your side when the going gets tough. By showing he supports you in a time of real need, his actions assure you he’ll be there to hold your hand during the birth of your child, the deaths of your parents and any other high-stress or grief-ridden situations that you’re sure to face.

3. He appreciates your quirks.
A good man will fall in love with you because he cherishes your gifts and is willing to overlook your flaws. But a keeper will even find your quirkier qualities-religious reading of your and his horoscopes or habit of eating peanut butter straight from the jar with the spoon- not just tolerable but endearing.

4. He shows how much he cares.
The most important element of any relationship is how the man you’re choosing to spend your time with treats you. We’re not necessarily talking about bestowing upon you bouquets of red roses (though that’s always nice) but by showing you he cares about your well being too: things like checking your tires because he thinks they look a little low or sending you an email to wish you luck on your presentation at work.

5. He’s kind.
Since we were kids, we’ve been told that actions speak louder than words. This is never truer than in how your man conducts himself toward you and others. A keeper is an all-around nice person. He’s respectful to his parents (and yours,) polite to waiters and waitresses and gentle towards animals. And he acts kindly even when he thinks no one else is looking-a true sign of good character.

6. He’s consistent.
Along the same lines as the previous sign, a keeper is reliable- a man who you can truly depend on. While all people change throughout the courses of our lives, a man you’d want to have around for the long-term isn’t wishy-washy. His word should be stronger than oak, as the phrase goes, and his loving conduct toward you should be just as steady.

7. He wants to build a life with you.
When one person in a relationship wants to get married and the other doesn’t, you have a fundamental difference on your hands that needs to be addressed. A keeper, therefore, shares similar life goals as you do, and he’ll readily work with you to make sure his plans and your plans for the future can mesh.

8. He can handle your emotions.
We think it’s safe to say that women have a track record of expressing our feelings more than our male counterpart. And said men need to know how to deal with our doing so in order to be considered our long term partners. A keeper will never attack you for being overly emotional by accusing you of being “just like your mother” or, our personal favorite, “crazy.”

9. He fights fair.
How a man handles conflict shows as much about his character as how he acts during the good times. A keeper will express his feelings, ask for what he wants and can receive constructive criticism-without screaming, whining or pouting. He will also be capable of listening to what’s on your mind without interjecting to correct or blame you.

10. He’s a grown up.
On the road from child to adult, some guys stall out three quarters of the way, never becoming self-sufficient. An immature man who refuses to adjust to the norms and values of society doesn’t see youth as a stage but rather a refuge from responsibility. A keeper, on the other hand, is not just competent but confidant in successfully managing his own life.

Clean Up Time

It seems that overnight my baby has become a full on boy. Right now he’s totally into cars, trucks, dinosaurs, running, jumping, climbing and basically giving me a heart attack every 10 minutes. He loves to use his “Cars” chair as a step stool to climb onto the couch and then look out the window. He also loves to take a running leap to his chair and see where he lands. He thinks it’s hilarious. I’m not as amused. The kid has no fear right now, which I kind of love and totally admire. He’ll be sitting in his armchair and throw his legs up, twisting his whole body so he’s turned upside down with his head hanging off the seat.

He’s still completely into music. We have to listen to his Gabba cd every single time we’re in the car. It’s funny because he’s so particular about which song he wants to listen to. He’ll make a funny little noise to signal me that he wants me to move to the next song. We continue that process until he hears a song he likes and then will proceed to rock out in his car seat. He especially loves the song “wiggle wiggle wiggle …hold still” because Rob and I will wiggle and wiggle and then hold still. If we don’t do it, he’ll say “Mama! Dadda!” and then will get into it and he’ll crack up.

Along with all these adorable traits, he’s also become rather stubborn and head strong. Well, ok, he’s always been that way. But now we’re at the stage where he understands what I’m asking him to do, and he straight out defy me. I’ll ask him to pick up his toys and he refuses. The other night he did something where Rob and I sternly told him “no Dominic, we don’t do that” and he got so mad that he stomped over to his bookcase and tried to push all his books off the shelf. Hmm, ok, well this is new territory. We’re going to have to work with him on that. I know he’s still young and is exploring his boundaries, and that’s ok, we encourage that. But I don’t want my son to be a brat who doesn’t listen. Rob and I both agreed it was time to explain to Dom that there are certain things that are non-negotiable.

Last night was our first big obstacle. Picking up his toys. Like I mentioned, right now he loves to dump out his busy boxes, his blocks and most of his toys all over the floor. And we’re happy to let him do that, he’s a toddler learning and experiencing new things. But it usually ends with met taking him for a bath and pajama time while Daddy picks up the toys.

Last night when it was bath time, I turned off the TV and told Dom we have put his toys away first. I started to pick up some toys but he kept on playing. I told him again, “Dom, come on, please help Mama” but instead he turned his back and acted really interested in the wall. Ok, here we go.

On the advice of Nonnie, I picked Dom up, sat him down on the floor among all his toys and told him “Dom, you need to sit here until you’re ready to pick up your toys.” I wondered how that would go over as time out for a 20 month old is tricky. He understands but has a short attention span, so if he sits there too long, he might forget what he’s supposed to do. Also, there is a very good chance he’ll just get up when I sit him down. There is nothing holding him there.

Luckily, Dom is a good listener. He sat on the floor and just kind of looked at me. After about a minute he got up and started to play with his toys. I asked him to put his toys away but he ignored me, so I picked him back up, sat him back down and told him again “Dom, you need to sit here until you’re ready to pick up your toys.” At this point, he was getting upset. He laid down on the floor and started this guttural growl of disapproval while pulling his hair, his fingers, his hands, his jeans…he was expressing his frustration, and even though he wasn’t happy, he wasn’t screaming or throwing a tantrum. I was pretty impressed. After about 3 minutes I asked if he was ready to pick up his toys. He said yes but started taking more toys out. I repeated the process of putting him back on the floor and he once again was frustrated and growled to let me know. Rob and I sat on the couch in silence and let Dom be mad. This went back and forth for about 20 minutes until I asked Dom again if he was ready to pick up his toys. He sat up and said “yea” and started putting them away! Whaaa?! It worked!

It was a pretty awesome feeling to see that our persistence and first real shot at discipline worked. When all the toys were picked up, we had a group hug and we told Dom how proud of him we are. I know, I know, it sounds awfully “Brady Bunch” or “Parenting Magazine” but I really did feel proud of him for listening to what we were asking of him. It was a big step for him and for us.

My Heart

The best thing that has ever happened to me.

Momma Cub

One of the most amazing things about being a Mom is having the power to comfort your child just by holding him close. I remember a thousand times that my Mom has done that for me. Even now as an adult, somehow she can make it all better. All it takes is to have her arms wrapped around me and I feel her love and soothing. I’m actually getting teary eyed right now just thinking about it. There is no way I would have made it through all the tough moments in my life without my Mom. Everything from scraped knees, broken hearts, bad hair days, my car accident, my divorce, my pregnancy…she has always been there for me. Sometimes no words are necessary.

Now that I’m a Mom, I am starting to have the same experiences, of course on a much more basic level. If Dom is cranky, hungry, falls down etc. he comes running for me. I’ll swoop him up into my arms and make it all better. But last night, I really felt that moment of “wow, I was able to comfort him just by being his Mama.”

He woke up at 9:30pm with a scream. That gave way to rumblings, crying and shuffling around in his crib. I let him try and sort it out on his own for about 10 minutes, but he just couldn’t self soothe enough to go back to sleep. When I went in there and picked him up, his head instantly went onto my shoulder and his little paws clung to my arms. Usually when I take him out of his crib he stops crying instantly but this time he kept going. I rocked him, bounced him, asked him what was wrong but nothing was working. Little tears kept rolling down his face and his poor nose was dripping. I think he’s been teething again (another molar perhaps?) so maybe that’s what woke him up. After having some milk in his sippy cup, a diaper change and some cuddles on the rocking chair, I put him back in his crib and hoped he’d be able to get back to sleep. If I brought him into our bed he’d just think it was play time and then would suddenly be wide awake wanting to watch Gabba.

After listening to him cry for another 15 minutes, I knew he just wasn’t feeling well. I plucked him out of his bed and climbed into ours. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled the comforter around us. Right away he snuggled up to me, bunny clutched firmly in his arms, and slowly stopped crying. He nuzzled his little head underneath mine and let out a sigh. He was asleep in under 2 minutes. I lay there in the dark with my baby boy and felt proud and important and special. Even though he was crying and inconsolable a second ago, just having his Mama close made it all better. No medicine, no magic words, nothing specific. Just me. That’s an incredible feeling and I’m so lucky to experience it.

My whole life, my Mom has always been able to make it all better for me, and it always felt so amazing to feel that. It wasn’t until last night that I realized how good it feels for my Mom too.

Dom needs to know

Dom asks me the same two questions every night before he’ll let me walk out of his room after putting him to bed.

1). Where’s Dada?
2). Where’s Woof Woof?

Only then will he settle in and say nah night. And I think it’s the cutest thing ever.

I'm really a Mom

When I look at this photo, I’m kind of taken aback. I look like a Mom. I mean, I know I’m a Mom, but to see it from outside eyes is pretty cool. It makes me smile to see us together in a private moment captured by the camera (thanks Tina!)

We were a petting zoo with Tina and Ethan and I was asking him if he wanted to go on the choo choo train. Despite his expression, he was excited. I think his dire need for a nap was taking over at this moment.

Even though I live every single day as a Mom, it still sometimes amazes me that I have a child. There was a time where I thought that just wasn’t in the cards for me, no matter how hard I tried and how many types of medicine I took. I finally stopped all the meds and decided that it must not be my time. Some changes in my life took place and then BAM, preggers. I was completely stunned but knew that this was the plan that was laid out of me.

Having Dominic has completely changed my life in every way possible. There isn’t a second in the day that I don’t think about how lucky I am to have him as my son. Every single day he makes me laugh out loud and is very pleased at himself for doing it. I can’t even fathom what my life would be like if he hadn’t come along. I think I would convince myself that I was ok with not being able to not conceive, that I was fulfilled without a need for a child. But I think in my heart of hearts, I would mourn for the connection that a mother and child share. I would have known what I was missing out on something so special that it can’t be duplicated in any other way.

Dominic is my miracle baby. Not only did he come at a time when I thought I couldn’t conceive, but I almost lost him a couple of months later. Despite me losing a ton of blood, my baby held onto that umbilical cord for dear life and made it through stronger and more determined than ever.

My kid is special. He’s going to do something great with this life. No matter what that may be, he’ll put his whole heart into it and give it all he’s got. Because he’s part of me. And part of Rob. He was created in love. Born into love. And will live the rest of his life with love.

My morning post to Lanie’s Facebook page

“So I heard the new Britney this morning and I thought of us doing those brutal chaises with the hold stop…. and I realized I love that exercise even though my calf’s hate me. Also, I have beers rolling around in my trunk and it’s making me thirsty. Lastly, as Rob pointed out, you are totally hardcore for having a rager the night before your open house. You are my hero.”

Dom's Current Obsessions

Little Critter Books

iPhones and iPads

Yo Gabba Gabba (still)

Dora the Explorer

Jack Black

Dinosaurs

Boss

My little brother is one of the coolest people I know. He’s funny, smart, compassionate, sweet, respectful and always has a smile on his face. Ok, maybe I shouldn’t keep calling him my little brother (even though he is) because he’s 25 years old. But to me, he’ll always be my baby bro.

He used to call me “Mama” when he was a baby and I’d take so much pride in taking care of him. When he was a baby, his room was opposite mine. I went to bed, I’d go in there and scoop him out of his crib and bring him into bed with me. I loved snuggling up with him. As he got older and moved into a big boy bed, he’d get up in the middle of the night and come into my room. In the morning I’d wake up and he’d be sleeping on the floor next to my bed, covered with his little dinosaur towel as a blanket. Can you imagine how cute that was? Trust me, it was freakin the cutest thing you’ve ever seen.

Now that we’re both adults, I still love him with all my heart. When I take my one night off a month from being a Mom, we usually hang out. He’s always so much fun to be around and instantly makes any situation a fun one.

He’s always been there for me, even though he’s younger than me. When I got divorced, he was the one who went with me to court. When I found out I was pregnant, he was the first person I told. And instead of freaking out, he said “That’s so awesome!” and gave me a big hug. I know I can tell him anything and there will be zero judgment. That's a pretty increduble feeling.

Through some of the darkest moments in my life, I’d stare at a post it note he gave me that says “You = Best. Everything will be ok. I love you.” No matter how gutted, distraught, heartbroken and full of despair and sadness I was feeling at the time, it would always make me feel better. It’s still taped on my desk at work and is now faded, grungy and worn. But little post it note got me to the other side and it’s something I will always treasure.

I feel lucky to have a little brother like Marcus, especially because he’s one of my best friends. He's one of the awesome people I know, and that's why Rob and I used his name for Dominic's middle name. If Dom turns out half as great at Boss, the world will be a better place and I will know we did something right.

Once a month

My parents give me such a special gift every month. They give me a night out. Dom gets to spend the night with them and Rob and I venture out into adult world and have some fun. It is such a wonderful luxury that we have. I’m so thankful to have that time to recharge my batteries and cut loose a bit. And Dom LOVES staying over there. First thing he did on Saturday morning was grab his suitcase and start filling it with his books and toys. “Yia Yia! Bapou! Boss!”

I had so much fun on our night out. We met up with Lanie and Jeff, Tina and Jorge and Boss and Megs at Westside for some dinner and beers. Taryn showed up too (thanks Boss!) and joined in on the fun now that she’s 21. After about 6 pitchers of beer and lots of yummy grub we headed back to Lanie’s condo (we had designated drivers, of course) and continued the fun there.

It’s so important to get a break every once in a while. Time to hang out with friends, and especially Rob. I’m so thankful that my parents allow me to do that.

Yes

Yes, Dom has matching sunglasses like mine. Yes, he’s the cutest little kid your eyes have ever seen. Yes, he continues to get funnier, smarter, good looking as the gets older. Yes, I’m all kinds of proud of my boy.

New Foods

Dom loves to eat fruits and veggies, but when it comes to his main course, he’s become somewhat picky. Ok, maybe not picky, but he wants the same thing every time, Either mac n cheese or turkey dogs. I can totally understand why. I’m the same way. To this day, I still order the same thing at whatever restaurant I go to. Red Robin? Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich. Rubys? Cheeseburger with low fat American and grilled onions. Mimi’s Café? Asian Chicken Salad. You get the idea.

I decided it was time to try and introduce Dom to some new foods that he could mack on at dinner time. I’ve tried in the past with spaghetti o’s and it didn’t go so well. Next up was meatloaf. He put it in his mouth and spit it out. Hmm. Ok. This was going to be harder than I thought.

While I was working out with Lanie on Wednesday night, I get a text from Rob. It was a photo of Dom eating a plate of his Dad’s spaghetti. Wow! Finally, something other than turkey dogs and mac n cheese. I was doubly surprised because I had fed him dinner before I left. Seems like we may have another one to add to the list!

I think I will give cheese quesadillas a try next. Or maybe I should have Rob give it to him since that worked last time:)

Rules

Seems simple enough, right?

Say Cheese

Every photo I have taken of Dom has been a natural shot to some extent. Sometimes I do something funny to make him laugh but most of the time, I just catch him at the right time. This photo was taken on the way to daycare this morning and for the first time ever, I told Dom to say “cheese!” And when I did, he made this face. Can’t you just hear him saying “cheeeth!”

I love that little face!

Family Fitness Fun

Weekends are the time we get to spend time together as a family, so it’s something I always look forward to. This past week was a busy one.

On Saturday, Rob signed us up with memberships at LA Fitness. I’m not really a big fan of the gym, but the thought of going together sounded like fun so I figured I’d give it a shot. Somehow Rob convinced me to take a spin class and it was brutal. We lasted 25 mins of the 1 hour class, but I was proud of us for giving it a shot. Honestly, I could have stayed longer if the damn seat wasn’t so uncomfortable. My lady parts were not happy with me, seriously so uncomfortable!

During our class, Dom hung out in the kids daycare at the gym. He was very upset about going, and cried when I left, but I knew once he calmed down he’d have a great time. Sure enough, when we went to go get him, he was playing with blocks and dinosaurs.

Sunday afternoon we decided to go for a bike ride. Dom saddled up on Robs bike and I jumped onto my trusty beach cruiser and off we went. We cruised down the lake and Rob found this awesome park hidden behind the trees. They had 4 jungle gyms and a huge pirate ship. Dom had so much fun climbing around and going down the slide. That kid had no fear. He’s get to the top of the slide, throw his legs out and whoosh back down. He loved it! We rode our bikes back to the house just as the sun was going down. Total it was about 3 miles but felt like nothing because we had so much fun!

Valetines Day Surprise

I didn’t really expect anything for Valentine’s Day. Rob isn’t a “flowers” kind of guy, and as much as I love him, surprises and romance are not his strong suit. So you can imagine my surprise when I was sitting at my desk this morning and he walked in holding roses and a Jamba juice! I had told him last week that Jamba was having a limited addition item called a “sweetheart smoothie” and that it sounded so good. Well, not only did he hear me, but he remembered that I was dying to try it. Big bonus points for Rob!

Needless to say, he made my day. It’s amazing what a small gesture can do to brighten someone’s mood. It was really special to me that he took the time to come surprise me at work. And the best part? We agreed to do Valentine’s Day on Friday night, so this was totally unexpected. What a good man I have!

As if that wasn’t awesome enough, my day ended with picking Dom up from daycare and getting my first ever handmade gift from him. Its a little foam postcard that he put some heart stickers on and it says “love, Dom.” Ugh, I wanted to cry right there. This is what it’s all about. I can’t wait to be “that Mom” that saves every macaroni necklace and hand turkey that he makes.

Valentine’s Day 2011 was a big success, thanks to the two loves of my life, Rob and Dom xo

Chatterbox

Sometimes I look at Dom, and want to cry. Not in a bad way. No, no, more in an “oh my gosh, how did I get so lucky?” kind of way. He’s just such an awesome kid. Look how cool he is. I mean really. It’s really not fair to all the other kids. How could they possibly compete with Dom’s coolness? He has such a rad personality, and I love that about him.

He’s talking more and more lately. He’ll tell me he wants to go “owside” (outside.) He likes to play on his little jungle gym, going down the slide and climbing all over the place. He tells me that his cup is “coow” (cold) if I just took it out of the fridge. When I ask him what he wants for “brefas” (breakfast) he sometimes wants “sreal” (cereal.) He lifts up his shirt and points to his “beybut” (bellybutton) whenever he sees a pretty girl who’s attention he wants. He happlily exclaims “daunce” (dance) when he hears music and then busts his moves..which are pretty sweet. He’s got kind of an O.G. Snoop Dog thing going on. He pick up Sophie’s leash and want to take her out for a “waal” (walk.) When we go, and Sophie goes potty, Dom reinforces her by saying “goo grrl!” (good girl!) He’ll say plis (please) and “tad da” (thank you) when prompted. And he gets so super excited when he sees something he likes. To see him understanding and repeating words is so amazing and rewarding.

But I have to be honest. My favorite word in the whole world that he says is “Mama.” He’ll say it nice and loud and then we play a little game. “Mama!” and then I say “Baby!” “Mama!” and I say back “Baby!” and then he giggles. There is just no way to explain how it feels to hear my baby say my name. Ever since he was born, I would tell him “say hi Mama” and now it’s here, it’s amazing. It fills my heart up every single time and makes me feel like superwoman.

My precious son, you make me the happiest Mama in the whole world.

A bicycle built for two

I love this photo of my boys! We went to Wal Mart today and Rob got this really cool bike seat for Dom that attaches to the front of the bike instead of the back. It makes me feel a lot better knowing he’s where we can see him, not trailing off in the back somewhere.

Dom wasn’t totally sure about getting on in the beginning. He fought us getting him strapped in, but once Rob pushed down on the pedals, he loved it. They went up and down the street and Dom’s face was just priceless. I can’t wait to go on a family bike ride!

I never met a french fry I didn't like

Having a weight problem sucks. Having a weight problem your whole life sucks even more. I feel like I have been on some kind of diet on and off for the past 20 years. And I have to say, I’m just tired. I’m tired of counting everything I put in my mouth. I’m tired of wondering how many points something is. I’m over not being able to just eat what I want. I know, wha wha wha, right? It’s totally my fault that I have a weight problem. Years of eating the wrong foods and a soft spot for anything unhealthy have put me in a constant state of being on a diet. It’s exhausting.

I know what you’re thinking. Why not just lose the weight once and for all and be done with it. Ha, funny you should mention that. I lost most of my weight in 2008 and felt truly happy with my body for the first time ever. And then I got pregnant. I only gained 26 lbs during my pregnancy and after having Dom, I lost some of it pretty quickly. But the way the weight that was left distributed on me was completely different then before when I was just overweight because I ate the wrong things. Now I have a tummy that just won’t go away, even after losing 20lbs. (Ok, 16lbs. It was 20 but then I got off track, like I always do.) I only weigh 5lbs more than when I was at my happiest but my body looks nothing like it did. Pretty depressing but Dom, you were TOTALLY worth it!

It’s totally my bad. If I could just stick to some kind of physical activity, the rest would come naturally. Hmm...maybe not naturally, but a lot easier. What got me there last time was going to jazzercise with Lanie 3 times a week. I can’t do that now because the time is right smack in the middle of Dom’s dinner/bath/bedtime. I miss it. A lot. It’s the only thing that has ever worked for me.

Ok, enough of the sob story. I just need to re- focus. I need to set some goals for myself. I need to shake things up and get excited about it. I’d really, really, really like to lose another 20lbs. It sounds so simple, right? 20lbs. What’s that? That’s nothing. But it is so hard for me. Damn, why do I have to love bad food so much?

Fight for love

When you find yourself in love, I mean really in love, you would do anything for that person and to be with that person. You would go to the ends of the earth to make it work and the thought of not sharing your life with them is unimaginable.

When you first fall in love, you look forward to spending all your time with that person, no matter how mundane the task. Going to the grocery store, running errands, watching paint dry. They have the ability to make you feel like the most important person in their life. They can pick you up when you’re down. They can make it all better just by opening up their arms and pulling you close. You feel over the moon when they give you a compliment. You feel proud to hold their hand. You want to shout from the roof tops “this is my love!”

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Together, you feel like there is nothing you can’t get through, as long as you have each other. When you’re apart from them, you ache. When you’re together, you can’t get close enough. There is absolutely nothing you can’t share with each other. You never have to hold back your feelings for fear of seeming over the top, because they feel the exact same way. You share everything with this person. And they listen. Intently. You feel safer than ever before. You can’t stop smiling. Every song reminds you of them. You listen closely to the lyrics and feel your heart swell. You heart races when you’re about to see them. You pour over every email from them, again and again. Reading each word makes you fall more and more in love with them. When you’re together, you can’t take your eyes off each other.

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They always know the right thing to say. Total strangers come up to you and comment on how intense and electric your connection is. You want to make that person the happiest they have ever been. You know that you’ll always have each other’s back, no matter what. You talk about big plans for the future together. It just feels so right. You finally understand why everyone is always going on about this “love” thing. It’s the most amazing thing you’ve ever felt in your life. It’s a feeling you have never experienced before you and you hope it will always be like that.

Over time, things can change. Along with all these euphoric moments, the rush of new love gives way to real life. You find yourself in routines and ruts. there are also times that you feel hurt, sad, mad, misunderstood, unloved, under appreciated, and overwhelmed. The romantic emails stop. The gushing of feelings are now barely a trickle. It’s not that the love is no longer there. It is, you both know it. But there is lots of other things going on that take up your time and energy. Work, raising children, dealing with ex’s, pets, bills, budgets, expenses. It’s not all fun, all the time anymore. And even though you’re still happy and in love, you sometimes wish you could have a taste of what it was like in the beginning. To feel invincible in your love, even just for a second.

That being said, when you do have a moment to connect again, it feels pretty great. When you hold hands, lie in each other’s arms, find a note left by your loved one..it pretty much makes your whole day.

There are definite differences to the beginning stage of dating and then really being in a long term relationship. There are ups and downs and sometimes it’s just a straight road for a while. If you find yourself in a situation like this, feel lucky. It means that your love still holds up under real life pressures. Yes, there isn’t as much romance as the start, but through all the madness of day to day living, you’re doing it together.

If you can still look across the room at your partner and feel butterflies…you’ve still got it. If they can still make you laugh out loud, even (especially) if no one else thinks it’s funny…you’ve still got it. If after a long day, you favorite place to be in curled up in bed together, watching TV and chit chatting….you’ve still got it.

I feel lucky enough to say, we’ve still got it. I love my man so much that I would fight to keep loving him. Does he make me mad sometimes? Yes. Does he hurt my feelings sometimes? Yes. Do I get frustrated and upset at times? Yes. But at the end of the day, I value our love and cherish our commitment to each other. The fact that we gave up so much just to be together, the fight for a love that we believed in, all that we had to endure, it was worth it. And even though we’ve been through the ringer, made it through the fire and have found a happy life with our baby boy, I truly believe the best is yet to come.

I love my job

Being a Mom is a hard job. It’s right what they say, you never get a day off. You’re on the clock 24 hours a day, no sick days, no overtime. You could get called in at 2am, 4am, you just never know. Regardless, you will drop everything and be there. Oh, and did I mention there is no money to be made? No paycheck, no health benefits, no 401K. But you know what? This is my favorite job I’ve ever had. Even more than House of Blues, and that was a fun gig!

Every day I get to see my boy grow up, learn something new, amaze me. He makes me laugh, like really laugh, and that’s pretty cool for an 18 month old. He has a cheeky personality on him..not sure where he got that from (cough cough) but I love it. He’s so smart and curious about everything. I often look at him and can’t believe I’m lucky enough to be his Mom.

Trust Me

When life is good, it seems like it might have always been that way. When life is joyous and goes in a direction that feels good, the dark days seem to fade away. That’s the beauty of being happy. Content.

Making change in your life can very often shake up those around you more than you yourself. When I told my family I was getting a divorce, they were flabbergasted. They all thought I was crazy and just being over dramatic. I think they really felt a sense of panic. For me. For them. I don’t blame them. Divorce is a scary word. I’m sure to them it came out of nowhere, but it never really does. Lanie and I were talking about that the other day. You see married couples and they seem so happy and put together. They seem like they have it all figured out. But the truth is, you have no idea what happens when they get home. You have no idea how they are really doing as a couple. As partners. And when you find out someone is splitting it, it’s always such a shock. But the truth is, if it’s come to that, there was probably something going wrong for a while.

The overall feeling I got when I shared my news was it felt like they thought I was giving up. I was turning my back on my marriage without even trying. They had never seen us fight or be angry at each other. They had never seen me crying because he was mean to me. Those things never happened. But it’s not always a mean spirit that breaks up a marriage. Sometimes things just fall apart on their own.

We had a good life. A beautiful home. Lots of friends. Trips, parties, celebrations. I wasn’t unhappy, in fact far from it. I was having the time of my life. But amongst all the good times, there was something was missing. And we both knew it. Passion. Chemistry. Most people think that’s not enough reason to walk away from such a perfect life. And maybe their right. But for me, all that good stuff couldn’t fill me up. There was always something missing. No matter how much I partied, drank, danced, shopped etc..there was always a something that didn’t feel quite right. When it was time to go to sleep, and I’d lay my head on the pillow, staring into the darkness. The silence was deafening and I had nothing left to distract me.

Do I just stay where I am spare the hurt feelings and shocked whispers? Or do I get truly honest with myself and brave the fall out that would surely come with my decision? I don’t think anyone understood how terrifying it is to make a decision like that. What if I’m alone for the rest of my life? What if I never find this connection that I’m yearning for? Is it better to just stay in my marriage and come to terms with the fact that not everyone has passion, chemistry and a perfect relationship? But the truth was, I wasn’t looking for perfect. I was looking for that deep connection. Something that tied my heart to someone elses. I thought time would fix it, but it didn’t. Fear of the unknown was staring me in the face.

Once the news was out, people were (as predicated) shocked. And there was fallout in the biggest way. But there was also support. My family didn’t understand and probably didn’t agree, but they were right there. They had my back, regardless of how upset they were. 95% of my friendships disappeared, but two stuck by me. No judgment. No trying to talk me out of it. Just there for me.

I think over time it became clear to everyone that I was never giving up. It’s actually the opposite. It’s about not giving up, especially on yourself, and just having the guts to start over. Finding happiness within yourself is truly difficult and something we all strive for. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever done, but it was worth it. Things I wasn’t sure I’d ever have are now all mine. A good man who I’m totally in love with, a precious baby boy who is my whole world and a drive and motivation within myself to be the best that I can be.

Pierce Street Re-Do

Last night Rob and I went out to celebrate Steve's birthday. A group of us went to Karl Strauss for dinner and then to Pierce Street for some drinks and dancing. It was so great to go out with my man and have some fun. One of my favorite place to be with Rob is on the dance floor. It just feels so good to be out there, dancing close, letting loose. I look at him and feel so much love in my heart and the smile cannot be wiped off my face.

The last time I went to Pierce Street was, well, a total disaster. It was last August for my 35 birthday and I drank way too much. I drank Long Islands and shots all night and I'm sad to say, i don't remember much of the night. When I woke up in the morning I felt extremely embarrassed and mad at myself. I was told that I had a great time but I don't remember it. I was bummed that I drank so much that I didn't dance, which I love to do. Later I saw photos, and there I was on the dance floor. I was so mad at myself. It felt like a total waste of an evening because I didn't remember anything that happened. It's almost like I wasn't there. It left such a bad taste in my mouth and I guess you could call it "my bottom." I couldn't shake the feeling of shame and disappointment in myself. Rob and I both made a deal the next day that there would be no more long islands in our future.

Since that night, I have very rarely drank. When I have, it is has been in moderation. I haven't gotten drunk by any means. Even at Lexi's wedding, I had some wine, got a little bit of a buzz and stopped there. I think there was a part of me that was scared to drink too much for fear of getting into the state I was on my birthday. The great thing is, I haven't missed out on anything. I have a couple beers or cocktails and still have a great time without the hangover or guilt the next day. There have been birthdays, weddings, bbq's, get togethers, game nights and lots of other occasions, but I have had no desire to drink more than I can handle.

Last night was so much fun and it was even more great for me because I went back to the scene of the crime (Pierce Street) but this time I remember every song I danced to, every conversation I had, every funny moment, and I still had an awesome time. I had three beers with dinner and then when we got to the club I had one beer and two cocktails (Jauger and Red Bull.) It was the perfect amount to just get a slight buzz but still be in total control. And the bonus? instead of looking like a drunk idiot in the photos, I just look happy:)

Snip Snip

Dom is a professional at getting his haircut. He has had about nine or ten since he was born so he knows the drill. we used to take him the fancy kids place with the cartoons playing and cool firetrucks to sit in. But now that he's so experienced, he now goes to Supercuts like a big boy. It's so cute how he sits in the chair and knows to move his head. Only 18 months old and acting like a big kid:)

Chompers

The past two night Dom woke up in the middle night, crying inconsolably. I brought him into our bed because the poor thing was definitely not feeling well. I was worried that his ear infections hadn’t cleared up all the way since the last time it took two rounds of the antibiotics to make it go away.

Wednesday morning he woke up at 2:00am and I could tell he was in pain. He has different cries and I can tell if he’s just trying to play me or if he’s really crying. Something was wrong so I brought him into bed with Rob and I, but even that didn’t work. He laid down with me and after about 30 seconds popped up and said “hi!” I could tell he was tired because every now and then he would lay down with me and then shoot straight back up. I was thinking it must be his ears because it hurts to lay down. Rob got up at 4:00am to get ready for work so we all went into the living room and Dom figured it was a good time to play his drums and break out his blocks. By this point, I was crawling on my eyeballs and just wanted to sleep. I managed to get him to lay down with my about 5:00am and kept him there by showing him “Yo Gabba Gabba” clips from You Tube on my phone. He was totally into it and just wanted one after the other until he finally fell asleep.

The next morning he woke up at midnight and I was up with him until 2:00am. This was just not like him so I made an appointment to go back to Dr. Christianson to see what was going on. Well guess what? It wasn’t his ears. Poor Dom got his first molar!!! No wonder he was in so much pain. That’s a big tooth to rip through the gums and it defintily explains the crying and not being able to sleep. Now we knew what the problem was, I knew how to help him. Before bed he got some Motrin for the fever and pain, some teething tablets and lastly some Orajel to numb the guns. I got him into bed and prayed it worked because I was running on fumes and needed a good night’s sleep. He went to bed at 7:00pm and woke up at 6:30am, right on schedule. Phew!

Thank goodness we don’t remember these occasions. Can you imagine the pain of having a tooth rip through your gums? We still have some sleepless nights ahead of us because the tooth isn’t all the way out yet and let’s not forget the other big ones that need to make an appearance. But as long as we stay stocked up on Orajel and Motrin, it hopefully won’t be as bad as it was. You know what? It’s crazy to me that Dom is getting his molars. I remember when he had no teeth, just gums, and it seemed like he be like that forever. Then two bottom teeth sprouted and it was the cutest thing. Now all of a sudden he has a mouth full of chompers. Where is the time going?

Milestones!

Today is a day of milestones in our home. Sophie held going to the bathroom in her crate all night (10pm-7am) for the first time. This is a first for her and a big step in her crate training.

The second milestone is not as exciting. Dominic has figured out how to climb out of his pack n play. He’s only in it for about twenty minutes in the morning (while watching and dancing along to Yo Gabba Gabba) while I get ready for work. But this morning he threw one leg over and escaped. Rob and I knew It was coming…I just didn’t think it would be so soon. I’m not sure what I’m going to do now when I get ready for work. It seems he’s hitting all his milestones with stride and not looking back.

Bottle Be Gone

Dom and I made a deal a few weeks ago. Once the end of the year came, no more bottle. He wasn’t very pleased about this deal as he absolutely loves his bottle. I was kind of dreading how it was going to go, but I figured that if I gave him some warning that it was going away, it wouldn’t be too bad. I began the weaning about three weeks before D day. In the morning I would give him his milk in a sippy cup instead of his bottle and he would just throw it right on the floor. “nooooo!” Hmm, ok, this isn’t going as well as I’d hoped. In the evening he was allowed his bottle because I didn’t want it to effect his night time routine. As the weeks went by, I kept trying to give him is sippy cup at night but he was very sure of what he wanted. “Baaabaa!!!” That broke my heart. He’d run into the kitchen and point at his bottles, crying. What am I doing to my child? I’m depriving him of nutrients, healthy supplements and his God given right to a bottle! Ok, I was being a little dramatic, but you have to understand Dom’s bond to the bottle is also somewhat shared by me.

I had always planned on breast feeding. When I was pregnant, Rob and I talked about how it would cut costs but was also the best option for our baby because it’s packed with more good stuff then formula. Everyone referred to it as “liquid gold.” Ok, no problem. I got this! Then Dom was born and guess what? My boobs failed me. I tried for hours at a time trying to get more than a drop out, but nothing. The first week of Dominic’s life I tried frantically, every hour when he was hungry, to get into the right position, have the pillow in the right place, holding his little head, just trying to get him to latch on. He wasn’t having it. I tried pumping. All day. Every day. Rob even bought me a fancy electric pump that does the work for you, but there was just nothing there. Eventually, we just had to see it for what it was. Dom was going to be a bottle baby, and that was hard for me to take. I felt like I had let him down. My body couldn’t produce what he needed. My first duty as being a Mom and failed. So we put the boobs behind us and moved on. Dom loved his bottle. He would chug down his little 2 ounces of milk like he was in a beer drinking competition. Eventually, that 2 ounces per bottle grew to 4 ounces. Then 8 ounces. Then he was holding the bottle by himself. Then he would tell me “Baba” when he wanted his bottle. And now, here we are. 18 months later and no more bottle. Dom and I went through a lot with his bottle. The bottle did what I couldn’t do, and for that, I am so grateful.

It’s been a week and yesterday we made some progress. I gave him his sippy cup during dinner, with milk instead of his usual water. He actually drank some! Hallelujah! When we went out to dinner, he drank milk out of his sippie cup without a fuss. He hasn’t asked for his “baba” so that’s promising. I just can’t believe my baby boy doesn’t use a bottle anymore! He’s growing up so fast and is a toddler, not a baby. He amazes me every single day and I love him so much!

Another year comes to a close

I can’t believe another year is coming to a close. I often say “where did the time go?” and I’m still wondering. It seems like just yesterday Dom was a little newborn and now he’s almost 18 months old and a toddler. He has changed so much over the past couple months. He's gone from eating finger foods to eating with a spoon or fork. In the morning he loves to eat cereal and milk and I can't help but look at him in amazement.


His vocab is growing and he will try and repeat a word if you ask him “say…” Here is a current list of the words he knows:
Ball
Banana
Car
Truck
Grape
Please
No (one of his favorites)
Yes
Mine
Ice
Boss (Marcus)
Lex (Lexi)
Lala (Lanie)
Ena (Tina)
Yia Yia
Bapou
Mama
Dada
Foofa (from Yo Gabba)
Dodo (Dora the Explorer)
Baba (Gabba)
Dede (Dino Dan)
Babei (baby)
Watch
Hat
Bath
Buba (bubbles)
Wawa (water)
Cold
Phone
Dance (he loves this one too)
Woof woof
Frog
Bye
Hi
Coo (cool)
Wow
I’m sure I’m forgetting some, but those are most of them. He is really trying to communicate now and gets frustrated if we don’t understand what he’s asking us for. It seems like every day he is learning more and more and showing me all these new tricks he can do. To see his little face light up when he dances or to feel his little head on my shoulder when we snuggle, there is truly no greater feeling.


This year has really flown by but to look at Dom and how much he’s changed, it’s been a year packed of lots of learning, growing, loving and laughing. And some big occasions too. Dom turned one on July 3rd, 2010 and he was baptized on September 19th. Lex and Luciano got married on October 23, 2010! Three big moments in our life!

My life is very much about being on a schedule. I get up at 6:30am with Dom, get him dressed and give him breakfast, take Sophie out to go potty, feed Sophie breakfast, take her back out to go potty, get ready for work, drop Dom off at daycare, go to work, go home, tidy up, do laundry, dishes etc, pick Dom up from daycare at 5pm, come home and give him dinner, make dinner for Rob and I, hang out with Dom and play, give him a bath at 6:30pm, read him a story and bedtime at 7:00pm and then plop down on the couch ready for bed. That’s my life. Every day, all day. Monday-Sunday. I never thought this would be my life, but it is. And I love it. I sometimes marvel at myself that I’m able to do this every day, over and over again. Before you say “people do this every day, it’s not that big of a deal,” let me explain. I was always big on sleeping and not cooking. I wasn’t ever what one would consider a domestic goddess. Not even a domestic princess. Nothing close to the word domestic. And now, I cook dinner every night!


It’s amazing how you can change when you have a kid. I found a strength and desire in myself that I didn’t know was there. I found a love that I didn’t think could be real. There is nothing in this world that gives me as much joy as my baby boy. Just seeing his little face makes my whole day.


It’s funny how life just goes on. Something major could happen in your life, and it feels like the end of the world, or that things will be never be normal again. But somehow, the days continue to pass, the sun rises and sets. And suddenly a year has gone by. The beginning our journey was bumpy to say the least. But now it feels like we were always right here. My life feels like this is where I’m supposed to be. I love my little family and am continually thankful for all I have in my life. I can't wait to see what next year brings!

Double Ear Whammy

Dom went to the doctor today and it turns out he has a double ear infection! I had no idea! He hasn’t been sleeping as well as he usually does and has been putting up a fuss when it comes time to go to sleep, but I figured he was just testing his boundaries. He has never had a fever, never rubbed his ears etc so I was surprised to find out both of his ears were infected. Poor baby! We got his meds from Dr. Christianson and hopefully it will clear up quickly. I feel terrible that I didn’t know and he has been in pain, but he never displayed any of the tell tale signs. He just seemed a bit crankier than usual. What a tough cookie!

Bye Bye Bottle

Dom and I have made a deal. On January 1st, he will relinquish his bottle and make the jump to sippy cups to drink his milk. Doesn’t sound like that big of a deal, but it really is. It’s time to say goodbye to the beloved “Dr. Brown” bottles that have been a life saver over the past 18 months. It’s time to be a big boy and drink his milk like a toddler, not a baby. I don’t know how this is going to go down, but I’m hoping it won’t be too tough on him. I know he loves his bottle. A lot.I guess if all else fails, I'll just give him a straw. He's learned how to use it and now he loves them!

Puppy Love

If you know me, you know how long I have wanted a dog. I drag Rob out every chance I get to Fashion Island, Main Place Mall, pet stores and animal shelters…just so I can hold the doggies. We have talked about it a lot over the past year, especially the past 6 months. Is it too soon? Is Dom old enough? Do we have the time to dedicate to a dog? Is the expense too much? Are we ready to have our hands full? Well, I guess the answer is YES because today we brought home the newest member of our family, Miss Sophie McCool! We got a dog! A Bulldog puppy to be specific. She’s 8 weeks old tomorrow and she is the cutest lil thing ever. We got her from a breeder, and for whatever reason, we both just knew that she was the one. I’m so excited! Yes, it’s a lot of work, but I think our family really needed a doggie. It just feels right.