Starting To Panic!

So, Sunday I will be 32 weeks pregnant with my L'il Turkey.  32 weeks, that right there is enough to make any normal person panic...right? Well, I was just sitting here thinking about everything that will happen and has to happen within the next 2 + months. OK, I am making my heart pound just thinking about it.  Now, bare with me here because I think I may need to make a quick list.  Feel free to bail if you want, I think I am doing this more for my own mommy/pregnant brain than for your entertainment anyway. If I don't write it down somewhere, something is liable to get missed! AAAH

• Pick out and order nursery furniture
• Pick out colors and paint nursery
• Decorate (curtains and misc) nursery
• Go thru all Dominick's old clothes, separating by size then wash them all  (this one is totally stressing me out)
• Brainstorm on a costume for Dominick
• Order/Buy said costume
• Find the PERFECT coming home outfit for the Turk
• Order Dominick's 2nd birthday party supplies, if I do it before Oct 7th I think I get 30% off!!
• Maybe, probably not, decorate for Halloween
• Shop for last minute baby supplies (mostly just pump accessories and new Baba's and nipples)
• After Turkey comes order Birth Announcements
• Christmas and 2nd Birthday shopping 

AAAAAH!  Oh, and maybe picking out a name for this little guy should make it on the list, eh?  Actually, I may have chosen his name today, but I have to wait for Steve to wake up to discuss it.  I am fairly optimistic that he will like it.  Or, at the very least, not HATE it.

OK, I need to take a deep breathe here and relax, all these things will get done....right? 

Now, from Baby #2 to Baby #1 . .  . Ah, what to say.  He is the best friend I've ever had, the light and sunshine of my every day (and night)  I am absolutely amazed by him at least 100 times a day.  He is saying, learning and doing something new constantly.  It's such a gift to be able to watch him learning and growing.  Of course, I am convinced he is THE SMARTEST 21 month old to ever live, but, I haven't really known too many 21 month olds, to be honest.  I am always saying to myself, and often out loud to whomever will listen "Did you see that?"  "OMG, he is so smart" "Wait, is he supposed to KNOW that already?"  He can put all his alphabets puzzle letters in their correct spots, just by me saying the word associated with it (B is for Basket)!  Ok, so that's normal? Maybe, who cares, he's awesome!!  The other day (and I have a witness) he picked up the G and said Grapes! I was like WHOA.  Well, you get the gist of it, I'm the proudest Mama in the world.  He cracks me up with his little dances and hysterical faces, he's definitely quirky, and I love it!

Break time is over, the prince has awaken from his nap.  Wish me luck on my To Do list! I just know I will think of at least 10 more things before I go to bed tonight!

Oh Dis!

Sitting here, watching A Nightmare Before Christmas and watching my little boy - who could ask for more.  He is dumping all his books and putting them back, saying "Elmo" or "Yo Gabba Gabba", naming every book he puts back.  It's the little things that really get to me. He is so smart.  He does something and says something new every single day and every single day I love and adore him more! Yesterday he said brother for the first time!  I truly can't wait to see how he will react to the new baby.  I know he will want to help with everything and be involved.  He is becoming such a big boy right before my eyes!

Speaking of the new baby, we are still having a very hard time thinking of a name for him!  We have a little joke now that developed over the weekend - the joke being naming him OTIS. hahaha.  Ok, let me explain.  Dominick's catch phrase at the moment is "Oh Dis!" (Oh This!?) as he points to new things.  So we are always saying, "Oh Dis" to eachother and giggling cuz it's just so stinkin' cute how he says it.  Well, in one of the catrillion elevators we were in in Vegas we saw the name "Otis" and when we said it out loud we both started cracking up.  Dominick would already know how to say his name.  Haha.  Ok, maybe it's more funny to us?  Otis Oh Dis! hahaah. 

When I planned on writing this blog post I really thought I had more to say...but, it's kind of hard to concentrate with a little monkey climbing all over you. Looks like it's time to read a few books-says the boss!  More to come!

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.

Potty Training and Pull Ups? REALLY?

When did THIS happen?? I'm not ready.  Well, I guess it doesn't matter if I'M ready, one handsome little toddler is.   I mean, sheesh, he's only 18 months old.  Wait, did I just say "only"? My ass only.  More like HOW IS MY BABY a YEAR and a HALF!?!?  Time just flies by.  So, these past few weeks Dominick has been showing signs of Potty Training readiness.  Well, OK, maybe training to be trained?  I really don't want to force it on him, actually I really don't even want to accept that we are at this stage at all.  Sigh.  But, he has been pulling at his diaper the minute he does a tiny tinkle or fart.  Poor little guy makes the most grossed out face and comes to me for help.  What's a Mama to do, but help of course.  So, today I bought a downstairs potty and some pull ups.  Now, let's not get too crazy here.  This doesn't mean I will actually start enforcing these things just yet.  I'd like to say that I will leave the potty down here for Dominick to get used to, but in reality I am the one who needs to adjust to this.  The moment it was out of the box he pulled on his diaper and popped a squat.  EASY kiddo, let's not rush this.  Mommy needs some time here.  I mean, who woulda thought that something so silly as potty training (training) would make me cry?  Such a sap.  Maybe I should just blame the pregnancy hormones, they've been getting a lot of fingers pointing at them lately.  But, seriously, he doesn't even TALK yet.  Ok, I suppose I will slowly get used to the idea.  I know that I will be SO proud of him when he makes his first pee pee on the potty, I *almost* can't wait!

In other news.....Dominick still isn't saying much, but he does seem to be more interested in making "sentences", which is totally cute.  I am still working on getting him to say Yo Gabba Gabba, since it is his absolute favorite thing in the world.  He does the hands in the air, universal Yo Gabba Gabba sign ~ like all day and night.  Still no words to accompany them yet.  I mean, you'd think it wouldn't be too hard, isn't Yo Gabba Gabba pretty much baby gibberish to begin with?  I guess why bother saying it when you can use your sign language and get your point across?  

Oh, did I mention the tantrums? Oh Mommy in heaven send me patience.  And I thought I had a lot!  He just will NOT hear the word no.  How dare I deprive him of such things as climbing under the end table to get to wires and touching every button on the TV.  Apparently this is his inherent right.  Well, the Dr. DID say that the terrible 2's started at 18 months.  It's gonna be a LONG year.  Year?  More like years.  

OK, that's my update.  Thanks for listening!

One Proud Mama!

It's been so long since my last post, I don't even know where to start!  So, instead of trying to cover a month's worth of doings, I'll just stick with the present.

Presently Dominick is saying at least one new word a day!  Of course he will only say the word once and NEVER on command.  It still counts tho!  Today's word of the day, well morning is : TEDDY!  hehehe.  And he said Banana for the first time, instead of Manana. ha.  The list of words said clearly are:
Teddy
Banana
Knee
Belly
Elmo
Nemo
I DID IT
Mama, Dada, Hi and ByeBye go without saying, of course.  Actually I am definitely missing some here, and I feel awful that I can't remember them.  That's what I get for not blogging about it IMMEDIATELY.  As if I've had the energy or a sound enough stomach for such things lately.  I have still been feeling awful and really hoping that this morning sickness passes SOON.  Silly me for trying to blog with a maniac monkey munchkin on the loose.  I will try to post more frequently from now on, so I don't miss anything!!

Off to the supermarket we go!

Been a While

Well, it's been a while since I've updated my blog.  I have not been feeling well at all, but today, by some miracle, I feel sort of human.  So, here I am.  Not that I really have all too much to say.  Dominick is still the smartest, sweetest little man in town.  Still growing WAY TOO FAST!

In other news, hubby and I were able to go on a "date" for his birthday Sunday.  It was so nice.  I didn't realize how much I missed him until it was just us.  We went to a movie and dinner and it was amazing!  I have my friend Jenn to thank.  She took on the task of running around after the maniac all afternoon and evening and I am extremely grateful.  Hopefully he didn't ware her out too much, because I fully intend on doing it again! haha.  I honestly don't know what took us so long to take her up on her offer.  But, now that it's done, watch out Jenn!

I am so excited, and totally scared for our trip to NY in a couple weeks.  I am slightly nervous about the plane ride with a 16 month old who does not like to be held for more than 5 minutes, let alone 5 hours~~!!!  Still, it will be worth it once we land and see Aunt Jaime and Uncle Mike!  Uncle Eddie is even making a trip to NY to see us!! I am so excited!!!!

Ok, this stinks, I FINALLY feel ok and wanted to jump in the car with the munchkin and head to the park before it gets too hot.  BUT, hubby stole my car this morning to go to work.  Man!  Oh well, there's always later or tomorrow morning if it gets too hot.

Well. that's my sad attempt at an update.  Hopefully I will be feeling well enough to be doing it more regularly.

Ciao!!