Baby Essentials 6-12 Months

I stopped doing my favorite baby essentials after 3-6 months. So I'm going to do 6-12 months all in one. Obviously that's a big gap, but here's our list.

1. Baby Jogger City Mini Stroller
We have the City Select as well and I love both of them. The quality is out of this world and they both push with such ease. I love this stroller because it's lighter and smaller than the select. We take this stroller most places and when we travel we also take this stroller. I would suggest this brand to anyone and everyone. We found ours used on Craigslist and it's in perfect condition. The one thing I don't like about this stroller is the under basket is very small.

2. Sippy Cups
We love these munchkin cups with the straws and then we also love the playtex insulator cups. I'm not sure why, but I put his milk in the insulator and juice in the munchkin cups

3. VTech Go Go Smart Wheels
We didn't even have any of the playsets, but got Dominick the helicopter and the tractor to just carry around. They're great little toys to take on the go and small enough for their little hands. He still chooses to take these with us when we go places. The helicopter is by far his favorite

4. Little Flap Books
Dominick isn't a huge fan of reading, but he loves to read to himself and look at books. The little flap books are his favorite. He also loves the touch and feel books. Both are great options for him. They're short and sweet too. Little Zoo is one of his favorites.

5. Stride Rite Shoes
Dominick has really fat feet, but I know stride rite shoes are durable and offer good support. They even have a wide option (we don't need that however). They're super easy to put on and take off (even Dominick can do it. ;o)). While I would love to buy him TOMS they just don't fit his feet good.

6. Slide
One of Dominick's grandma's bought this for him and we put it in our house. He goes up and down like a champ (he hasn't always), but it's a fan favorite for sure. It takes up kind of a lot of space, but it would for sure blow away if we put it outside. It gives him more options while inside.

7. Water Table
Obviously, it's winter now but during the 6-12 month period for us it was summer time. Dominick LOVED this water table and it offered him more than some of the other ones we saw.

8. Temporal Artery Thermometer
I got this when awhile ago and am so glad I finally bought it. I love that I don't have to hold a wiggly baby down to take his temperature. We will even give this to Dominick when he's having a diaper change to contain him. He will rub it across his forehead (he knows).

9. Finger Foods
When Dom was first starting to eat snacks we would give him a lot of puffs (the happy baby or gerber brands), mum mums and lil' crunchies. He loved all of them, but I'm pretty sure the lil' crunchies and mum mums were his favorite. As he got older, he loved yogurt covered raisins, flavored cheerios. goldfish, graham crackers and he loves marshmallows.

10. Snack Cups
I think these are a must, but they're not "spill" proof. Dominick quickly learned that if he folded in the tops of the lids and shook then he could pick and choose what he wanted out. He normally leaves me a good amount of snacks behind. In his car seat esspecially.

Christmas 2013

Since it was almost a month ago I figure I should probably get our Christmas post up. Better late than never I guess...

Our Christmas this year was not a traditional Christmas for us. For starters the weather during the day was in the 60's and I was wrapping presents with my windows/patio doors open (and the screens in). I didn't take many pictures at all, but we had a good day regardless.

Santa Came!

When Dominick first walked out he grabbed his dog and ran to his new chair from Gigi and Papa. He was happy with those two items.

On Christmas Eve Ryan and I both got out of work early so we decided to head to church for the candle light service with our friends and go to dinner afterwards. When we got home we got Dominick to bed and Ryan finished his wrapping while I started thinking of things that we needed to pack to take to Michigan.

Who doesn't love light up tooth brushes?!

He got a drill and is now Daddy's little helper. He LOVES Ryan's drill so this was a real treat for him.

On Christmas Dominick woke up bright and early (before light 5:30 am) to start the day. He must have been VERY excited to see his treats from Santa. We opened presents and I made cheese danishes (nothing big) since they were easy and we didn't want any left overs. For lunch we went to our friends house for lunch. I know I say this for every major holiday, but it's always nice knowing we have people in our lives to spend those days with so we aren't alone.We ended up staying later than we planned and were scrambling to get everything done.

Ryan and I think he has OCD and opening presents with him was a task. He had to make sure it was done perfectly and didn't want any trash beside him so he kept giving us all of his wrappers.

This was one of his first toys he opened. He grabbed it, hopped right into his chair and started playing. He was PUMPED!

I'm glad that we were able to spend the day as a family once again. We had the best day just being together and with friends who are more like family.

I think he had a GREAT Christmas.

The Case Of The Sickies

I'm pretty sure this might be the most my family has ever been sick. No joke. Back in the fall Dominick came down with the flu. We didn't realize it was the flu at the time because it was a 24 hour bug. Come to find out it was going around base and quickly. By the end of the weekend Ryan was super, super sick too. Thankfully, the rest of the house didn't get it.

Then while Ryan was in ALS he ended up getting the flu once more. He told me he thought it was food poisoning, but I knew it wasn't. We had all had the same foods and nothing was different. Off to the quarantined room he went. This time nobody but Ryan got sick. I cleaned our house and disinfected it to the max.

Right before we went to Michigan Dominick came down with an ear infection. He was on an antibiotic for that and took the last dose as soon as we landed. While we were there he was having a rough time and just not bouncing back. We took him to the ER and they said he looked great, a couple days later we took him to a pediatricians office and sure enough he had a double ear infection (so bad there were blisters in his poor ear). Can you imagine how mad I was at the doctor from the ER? We got a second dose of antibiotics and headed back to CA.

Once we got back to CA the poor guy got a horrible diaper rash that turned into a yeast infection from his antibiotics. We were just getting that cleared up and Ryan comes back home with...the flu! The fourth time since June. FOUR times! Since he is active duty it is mandatory for him to get the flu shot every year. Clearly he has the worst luck ever and is once again quarantined to the guest bedroom.

As for me I wasn't lucky this time. Thankfully, I don't have the flu, but I did bring a cold back from Michigan that is still lingering. It got a little better and then turned it's ugly head. Monday morning I woke with a sore throat and a cough and it felt like I was starting back at square one. Monday night I woke up at 1:30 with a sore throat I even contemplated going to Urgent Care it was THAT BAD. Tuesday I called in sick and rested. I also made a dr's appointment where I was told I have a viral infection and it's starting over again. Sweet. She said in about two weeks I should start feeling better. No joke.

To say I'm ready for our house to be healthy again is a complete understatement. Instead of starting the new year in the gym and on the right track we are starting our new year in bed by 8 and sick. Here's to next month!

Dominick - 15 Months

Dominick is no 16 months so this really needed to get posted before I get too far behind.

+At your appointment on the 6th you weighed 24.8 lbs and were I think ~26 in (I would have to look it up). You went from 24% in at your 12 month appt  in your height to 60% at 15 months. You also got 1 shot and weren't a fan. I'm ready for a very long break in shots, as are you I'm sure of it.

+On the 8th you were back into the doctors for an ear infection. You never showed any signs that you had one, but surely enough you did. They gave you an antibiotic which gave you HORRIBLE diarrhea and diaper rash so we were back on the 12th. You weighed 24 pounds.

+You can now say shoe and plane (but I don't know if we can really count this since you haven't seen a plane in a while or said it). You point a plane out whenever you see them in the air. You are also quite the talker. You will go on and on and on. I can't wait to for you to really be able to talk and I can understand your stories. You also say oooooo (when you really like something), wow and you'll say wheeee! when you go down the slide. I'm trying to think of other things you say, but that's all I can think of that are kind of new.

+Your bedtime is now 7:30 and you seem to be doing better and getting up better than last month. I think that extra 30 minutes really does wonders for you. You are also still taking 2 naps a day when at home and I believe still at daycare as well.

+The weekend after you had an ear infection you came down with the flu. It only lasted about 24 hours, but I still felt so bad for you. You didn't want to eat, but aside from that you were pretty happy and acting your normally silly self. You also passed it on to your daddy...who isn't happy or acting like his normal self.

+I took you for a walk around the neighborhood in your little car. I picked up a couple of leaves for you and you held onto them the entire walk. It was super cute. We don't have much of a fall, but the leaves are now changing colors and falling from the trees. Winter is on it's way.

+You are now to the point where you know how to sit down on your butt and then scoot up to the slide to go down. You don't make me such a nervous wreck anymore when we're at the park or even on your slide at home. Before you would basically just walk right off, fall going down and then slide the rest of the way. You have so much fun and are such a joy to watch.

+You love to play catch. I help you by holding out your arms and then moving your arms. You will throw it back to your daddy and then scoot back into my lap when you're ready to catch it. You just laugh and laugh.

+Your daddy also taught you how to kick the ball so you love to kick the ball through the house. It's fine now, but I can imagine this won't be so good when you get a little older and stronger.

+You also really love your mower that pops and another popper. You run around the house with them and make TONS of noise.

+When you get excited you tend to get a little rough. Boys will be boys, I guess. We are trying to teach you to be gentle, but you're not quite their yet.

+You love to blow kisses and also give kisses. You're very sweet about it and I love that. I hope you are always very loving.

+You are so, so tough and rarely ever cry when you fall down. If something really hurts you will cry, but not even for very long. When we were at a friends house M was pushing you around on a toy and you ran into I think the fridge and you got a black eye and you didn't cry long. Then you fell off of your slide face first and bruised your nose...you cried at first, but only for a second. And you turned a corner too quickly and ran into the wall (I laughed) and it made you so you didn't cry either, but you did want a hug. I'm proud that you don't cry all the time.

+You really love to skype with your Gigi and Papa. You always want to hold the iPad and it normally results in tears when we don't let you, but there are things we do to distract you and you're okay after that. This month you've been all about Papa. You will pick up the phone and say "papa, papa...hello" and when you are talking to Gigi on the phone you will say "papa, papa, papa" over and over.

+At daycare you sleep on a mat with your blanket and pillow. I tried getting you to nap one day on the weekend you weren't having it so I brought you out to the couch and told you to lay down. Any amount of relaxation is better than none. You know what it means to lay down and you will do so.

+You've started becoming more interested in television. We let you watch bubble guppies on your iphone in the car or when we are running errands and need you to settle down. At night time you are also able to watch about 15-30 minutes of TV before bed. You drink your milk and then you watch. Some nights you fall asleep and others we will read to you and then you go to bed.

+You really love your thermometer and if given to you you will run it across your forehead. Sometimes you will put it to your ear and say "hello".

+On December 2nd you bit someone at daycare for the first time. I still have no words.

+We celebrated Thanksgiving with friends (The McMullens, The Berkins and the Huffstticklers) and while you didn't eat all that well you LOVED being with and around your friends that day.

+You had a boys day with your daddy the Friday after Thanksgiving (Black Friday). Daddy took you shopping and to McDonald's for lunch. You loved spending the day with your dad

+We've found a church (FINALLY) and made it each week, except the one week you were sick. You are doing so much better going to the nursery and playing. The first week they had to page me to come and get you, but you enjoy the songs and music part and you're getting more and more comfortable there. I love that (that we have found a church and that you are doing better in the nursery).

+You LOVE the Christmas tree and you have a small one for your room that you also love. You shuffle your feet and do this weird noise/talk thing while pointing at them. We also put Christmas lights up on the house and you wave to them.

+By the end of the month you've started to enjoy books a little bit more, but you really don't have the patience or want for Momma and Daddy to read to you. You are getting better though.

+Your daddy has been in ALS this month so you've not gotten to spend too much time with him at home. I know you miss him, but it'll be over on 12 Dec.

+You love to wash your hands! When I start singing (this is how we wash our hands, wash our hands...) you will start to rub them together.

+You have at least 11 teeth and if not 12 you're working on your 12th. You have both of your top molars now and your left bottom for sure.

+I know there's more, but I didn't do a very good job updating throughout the month so I don't have much this month.

+When you get in trouble you like to hide your face or not look at us. It's super cute, but I know you're upset. You also do a huffing and puffing noise. It's so funny.

+I'm sure there is more, but this was over a month ago so I'm just going to hit publish. :)

Handmade With Love

Back in October a friend of mine told me that for a few years she has made hand print/foot print calendars with her kids for their Grandparents. She asked if I wanted to join in this year and I thought it would be so fun. I was a little hesitant at first, but now that it's finished I'm so glad that I decided to do it. It took us about two months to complete all of our "paintings" but I'm sure it could take less time with a. older children and b. if you wanted to spend more time on them. Dominick and I would do 1-2 a morning on Saturdays. Obviously, some days we were playing catch up and would do a few more or I'd do one during the week. We ended up making one for Ryan and one of me. We scanned 3 pictures and added it to a calendar for my parents and my 2 nieces and nephew also did 3 to complete the calendar (we ordered from shutterfly).

Some of them were a little difficult (the multicolored ones; i.e. the turkey/bonfire) because I would have to paint each finger individually and then clean his hand off and then do the next finger. Dominick really liked to make a fist when his hand was painted which is why we had to paint each finger individually. Anyways, here is how our pictures turned out. I think they're really cute and I am so proud that we actually finished.

I wanted to do a leprechaun, but this was easier so we chose this one instead 

I took this picture before we added the stars. 

My August

Ryan's August

Currently...

I am watching: unfortunately, nothing...it's my first day back to work after Christmas and our 10 day trip to Michigan. 

I am eating: just drinking some water.

I am wearing: black dress slacks and a black, pink, gray and white floral top

I am thinking about: how I really wish I would feel better and how Dominick is doing today. 

I am listening to: my coworker talk....she's been talking for the past 40 minutes (I'm not joking)

I am dreaming about: feeling better, having all the posts in my drafts completed and what this new year has in store for us.