In The Arms Of The Angels

Ah, time seems to be flying!  Here I am 22 weeks pregnant! 22 WEEKS!? I guess it feels so much faster because, well, because I'm having FUN! Dominick keeps me well entertained.  He has started spewing out new words daily, repeating almost everything I say.  He seems to really love the process too, I can just see how proud of himself he is when he says something new.  Not as proud as me of course, but really who could even compete?  That's not to say it's all been fun and games.  We went through a slight rough patch there last week.  I will admit, I was terrified it would be more than a phase and just a new way of life around here.  But, we're talking about Dominick here.  Mr. Adaptable.  He just out of nowhere decided that he would NOT go to sleep without me holding him or at least sitting next to his crib.  I have no idea where or why it started, but it just came on like lightning!  I spent the whole week trying to diagnose the situation, not being able to wrap my brain around it, until I finally took him to the Dr. to rule out any illness or teething.  As I suspected, nothing was physically wrong with him.  He was just testing his limits.  It took 2 days to get him back on track, but boy oh boy, those few days of guessing and crying were torture.  I really appreciate how well he sleeps even more now. I don't know how you Mamas out there function on little to no sleep.  I was a basket case!  Nevertheless, he is back to himself now, going right down to sleep.  He has decided to start waking up a little earlier, but not quite consistently.  Can't complain about that tho, I am just so grateful to have my happy little sleeper back!

In other news, my skin still gets goosebumps thinking about it, yesterday Dominick did something that just baffled my brain.  (If you've read all this already on facebook, feel free to shut me down.  I won't be offended)  We were hanging out, watching TV when the ASPCA commercial came on, you know, the really super sad one with Sarah McClaughlin's In The Arms Of The Angels playing in the background?  Well, I usually change the station immediately, especially nowadays.  Yesterday I couldn't get to the remote fast enough and by the time I did Dominick was just dancing and singing his little heart out.  He LOVED that song.  I'm not sure why, but he really has a thing for slow, sappy songs.  Not sure where he gets THAT (ehem).  So, immediately I turn my head away from the TV and start dancing and singing right along with him.  He makes me rewind the thing about 3 times. (more! more! more!) Finally I see him struggling with the words "Angel" so I keep singing the song and emphasizing the angel part.  And what does this little munchkin do? He goes over to my end table and points to a picture of my Mommy. Now, he didn't just point TOWARDS the picture, it was turned half way around, he went to it, turned it the right way and pointed right at her, even made sure I was looking.  Now....ok, I totally believe she is around watching over him and all of us.  This is no surprise to me.  The surprise is HOW DOES HE KNOW SHE'S AN ANGEL?  I still can't quite comprehend the magnitude of it all.  Has he seen her? I've never referred to her as an angel or anything other than Grandma.  Was it just an intuitive sort of thing?  Maybe he just read my mind, since that song is a song that has always brought me to tears - thinking of my Mom.  Either way, I cannot get over it.  Maybe he is reading my mind, my Mom used to always tell me that I could read her mind.  So strange.  I really wish she were here to share that story with.  She'd totally get a kick out of it!  I guess she IS here in a sense.

Anyway, I've bored you enough.  Time to make grilled cheeses!!!

I Had To Take A Pause . .. But I'm Back

Well, it's been a while since my last post.  I've been in a bit of a funk.  I couldn't see how I could sit here and write about anything good when my heart was hurting so much.  It still hurts, and most likely will forever, but I can finally breathe a little bit and start to move on.  I know some people would say "oh, it's just a dog", but they'd be wrong.  Reggie was more than JUST a dog to me.  He came into my life within a month of my Mommy dying and he helped me to heal that wound.  And that was just the beginning.  He was there with me through so much more.  I won't bore you all with long winded stories.  Just saying that he wasn't just a dog to me, he was part of me.  I can't remember my life before him and I am still having a very difficult time adjusting to a life without him.  Anyway, I am going to focus on positive things, and there is nothing more positive in my life that my little munchkin man!

I'm sure you saw the video I posted of Dominick finally saying Yo Gabba Gabba, his favorite thing in the world.  I thought it'd never happen!  Although, I have to admit I miss his signature hands waving in the air to tell me he wanted to watch it.  I wish he'd do both, but I guess he has no use for silly hand gestures anymore. 

Aside from Ba Dabba Dabba, he is also saying something new every day!  I am so proud of him.  Last night I asked him what song he wanted to hear, I always ask him this, but last night I got an ANSWER!!  He actually answered me!  It was crazy!  He said "Baby" which could only mean one thing, Rockabye Baby.  My heart was bursting with pride and happiness at that moment!  Not that he's ever had any difficulties communicating what he wants, but to hear his tiny little adorable voice say the word was like music.  I even got a sort of full sentence at lunch yesterday! He said "Mama (pause) More (pause) Nana"  I was like WHOA!  haha.  Ok, I know, I'm a dork.  But watching him grow and learn right before my eyes has been the absolute purpose of my life.  I know this with all my heart. I will be grateful to be this little boy's Mama for the rest of my life, and I'll make sure he knows it!! Poor kid.