January - March 2010

Well, it is almost June and I'm just getting around to the 1st quarter 2011 update! So I'll keep this one short.

Dominic took full advantage of the record snow falls early this year. He loved playing outside in the snow and "shoveling." Actually mom appreciated the encouragement to get outside during the winter too. I think I may have enjoyed building Dominic's first snowman more than Dominic did.

In January Dominic started a gymnastics class with Aunt Karen on Fridays. He is a little too fearless diving into the foam pit, jumping on the trampoline, and just being an overall crazy boy. Grandpa Ken says he obviously doesn't understand gravity yet! Dominic has also gotten very good at hanging from the bars.

We had fun at many birthday parties this winter. Happy Birthday to:
Mariana - Age 1
Gabriella - Age 2
Christian - Age 5
The "Beaumont Babies" - Una, Braeden, Blair, Mia, Olivia, Brooklyn, Caleb, Evan, Izzy - Age 2

And last but not least - Happy Birthday to DOMINIC! Our baby turned 2 on March 25th. We celebrated with a party at our house. Dominic's favorite part was singing Happy Birthday and blowing out the candles.

Benjamin Matthew added his birthday to the mix when he joined the world on March 30, 2011 weighing in at 8lbs 12oz and measuring 21.5 in long. Congratulations to Kevin & Nancy and big sibs Joey & Kate

At age 2 Dominic is talking like crazy. He knows his ABC's and can count to 16. It goes something like this... 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 11-teen, 16! He loves Dora. When Aunt Karen tried to pretend she didn't know what channel Dora was on Dominic informed her, "Dora is on demand." Humm, we may be creating a monster. He also continues to love music and is getting very good at singing many songs and nursery rhymes.

Oct - Dec 2010

It's been difficult to get back into the spirit of blogging after the loss of Grandma Robyn. But in between the heartache, we've had some happy times these last three months - and this update will focus those positive times. We are just sad Grandma Robyn is not here to share them with us.

The original early October day for our fall family photo shoot was gorgeous. And, everything was going great until Dominic stepped into a mysterious hole and we were subsequently attacked by a swarm of angry wasps. Dominic was stung in the ear an twice in his leg. Kit was stung in the hand, and one got me in the stomach. Yep, they were mad. Take two a week later went much better!

In mid-October Dominic enjoyed his first horseback ride with Grandma M and her horse Cody. He loved the other horses, cats, and dogs at the farm as well. That same weekend we celebrated Grandma Mari's 89th birthday with Kit's aunts and uncle all in town!

We went pumpkin picking just before Halloween at The Bower's Farm. Dominic's favorite part was the Kiddie straw maze... yep, a year later his straw obsession continues! For Halloween Dominic dressed up as his favorite animal, a puppy. We trick-or-treated to a few close neighbors' houses before heading to Aunt Linda and Uncle Ronny's house where the real fun began for Dominic - running endlessly in circles with cousin Tommy.

Happy 3rd Birthday to cousin Ryan in November!

We found that Dominic's generally outgoing and friendly attitude can be shaken - by Santa! He almost immediately started begging for us to come save him, "Mommy, please, Mommy, please, ... ." He also now seems to think that any stranger with a beard or a moustache is "Santa."

It was fun to have the family over again this year for Christmas Eve. Papa Ken emceed another intense game of name-that-christmas-carol-singer. Dominic got lots of fun gifts including a sled we were able to test out on Christmas Day. He had fun being pulled around the yard, and everyone else had fun watching him try to maneuver in his snow gear!

From the end of September to the end of December Dominic's vocabulary exploded. And along with it, so have his demands! "I need it," "I want it," "Please have it"... . He has also become somewhat of a backseat driver - "Green Go," "Red Stop," and exclamations for "Tunnel" entertain us during car rides. In addition, we may have an actor on our hands. Dominic has taken to the idea of pretend declaring he is "A Baby" and pretending to cry, once even to the point of real tears! This can be pretty funny. Unfortunately the little boy at open gym who fell down crying didn't find it so funny when Dominic pointed to him, said "A Baby," and mimicked his crying. Humm....

Click on puppy Dominic to see our Oct-Dec picture highlights.