Februrary 2010

Big News for the month of February - Dominic started WALKING! As reported previously, he started trying out his skills with two or three steps at the end of January and by mid-February he was all over the place. We now have an expert walker on our hands. I can't believe it! He's growing up too fast!

Cousin Gabriella celebrated her 1st Birthday with a party on the 20th! She enjoyed her party and cake, and looked adorable in her pink bithday dress and princess hat.

We realized this month that we should have gotten Dominic a sled for christmas. He LOVED his first time out in the snow and his ride on the recycling bin lid (in lieu of the sled). We'll have to be better prepared for winter fun next year.

We also have to send out a big CONGRATULATIONS to Joy and John who welcomed their beautiful baby girl Mariana into the world on February 25th!!! We hope to meet her very soon!

In addition to walking, the inner nerd in Dominic emerged in February. He is obsessed with his books and would like us to read to him all day. He especially likes giving kisses to any animals in the books - I must say it is pretty cute!

11 Month Stats: 22lbs 10oz and 29 inches. Highlight pictures in our February Album.

January 2010

What a difference a couple of months make! Dominic now whines for us to stop rocking him and put him in his crib at bedtime. I think this is a good thing? Our little baby is growing up so fast - 10 months on the 25th!

With the holiday madness over, January was a much less busy month. Dominic got to play with his buddies Braden and Sierra when the Przysiecki's came to visit on the 16th. Although I think he did more toy stealing than anything else, we'll have to work on that.

Dominic is getting more and more daring in his walks along all of the furniture, walls, and cabinets - and does let go and balance standing for long stretches. He recently took two steps, but speed crawling remains his primary mode of transportation in open space. He loves to play "so big" and can now also find mommy's nose (but not his own!). We are still working on waving bye-bye with consistency. He has also learned the art of throwing mini-tantrums. These usually involve taking away a cell phone or remote control.

Dominic is very happy that Grandma Robyn has been feeling much better the last few weeks! She had four more tumors successfully "zapped" with gamma-knife radiation brain surgery on the 22nd and will be starting on a new chemothearpy regimen next week. Hopefully this one is not such a butt-kicker.

December 2009

Happy New Year! December was busy, busy, busy. You can see it all in our December Album. Dominic started the month with a trip to "baby boot camp." He learned mom and dad can't hold him all night, and bedtime is becoming much faster.

The weekend of December 12-13 we had three fun events. On Saturday there was lots of fun to be had at Joy and John's baby shower. Dominic is super excited to meet his new little friend due to arrive in mid-February! That same night we hosted Dominic's first Wigilia, the traditional Polish Christmas Eve vigil. He got to meet his extened cousins from the Kupryanowicz family and really enjoyed eating his first meatballs. On Sunday, Dominic's cousins Joey and Kate were baptised. Thank you Nancy and Kevin for the honor of being Joey's godmother!

The following weekend, Dominic met Santa along with cousins Joey and Kate. We have to send a big THANK YOU to Aunt Karen for spending three hours in line at Somerset on Saturday morning to ensure us an afternoon appointment!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day brought more parties. We had fun hosting Christmas Eve at our house with family and friends. Of course Grandpa Ken led his famous annual name-that-Christmas-Carol-singer game. Dominic enjoyed opening presents over the next several days. Although he did not rip the paper off with as much enthusiasm as he rips our magazines and newspaper. I guess it is more fun to tear up the stuff mom and dad don't want you to rip.

The Stevenson Girls celebrated our 12th annual Christmas Dinner on the 26th. With Amber hosting, things came full circle as she was the first to host in 1998! Wow, we're not really that old are we girls? It was so good to see everyone and catch up on the gossip!

Great-Grandma Mari came to visit from Ohio on New Year's Day. She brought Dominic what is now his favorite new book, "Baby Loves Peekaboo." He loves to lift the flaps and see what is hiding underneath.

9 Month Stats: Still only 1/2 of a tooth. An expert at walking behind his push toy and along the furniture. Loves climbing over things, chasing around a ball, playing "So-Big," and emptying the spices out of the one unlocked kitchen cabinet.

November 2009

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! Dominic celebrated his first Thanksgiving with his first tastes of table food. He liked the few bites of Turkey and mashed potatoes, but not more than his favorite snack - puffs. Overall it was a nice and relaxing day.

As reported in October, Dominic started officially crawling on November 2nd and has been off and "running" ever since. Within a week he had mastered getting up the small step from the family room to the kitchen - and access to the whole house. So out came the baby gates! By mid November he was pulling up to stand and shortly thereafter began walking along the fireplace, couches, and everything else. Nothing is safe in our house anymore!

Dominic and I (Kristi) started a fun new activity for our Wednesday's home together - swimming! Although the original plan was to hold off until the new year, we were hooked after a free trial lesson in early November. Dominic was a bit aprehensive the first day, but he is having more and more fun every week. Thanks to Aunt Karen for finding the pool and coming with us every week to help out and cheer on our little swimmer!

See our November album for the month's highlights as well as some fall family photos we took in October.

8 Month Stats: 19 lbs 15 oz and 28 inches. One tooth breaking through. Crawling and cruising everywhere.

October 2009

Dominic's first Halloween was the highlight of the month. He says he loved dressing up as a duck and trick-or-treating at the next door neighbor's houses! He also really enjoyed the pumpkin outfit his cousin Maeve let him borrow - hand crafted by Great Aunt Noelle!

Grandma Robyn continues to improve. Dominic was excited when the neurosurgeon cleared her to drive so she could come over and play anytime! She finished her radiation treatment and is on to more chemo.

Great Grandma Mari came up from Columbus to visit early in the month. She brought some fun books for Dominic to enjoy!

Dominic discovered his love for straw on an outing to Blake's cider mill mid-month. We met up with Grandpa Ken, Grandma Robyn and cousins Kelly, Tony, Tommy, Gabriella, Nancy, Kevin, Joey, and Kate on a gorgeous fall day.

The most exciting update - Dominic is officially crawling! We're in trouble now. Technically this feat was accomplished in November (2nd), but it's going in the October update anyway. October 20th - November 2nd were a big two weeks. In that time Dominic started clapping, learned to feed himself puffs, and became mobile with crawling. He has also started experimenting with a lot more babbling sounds.

Click on our October album, top right, for lots of pictures!

September 2009

We kicked off September with the 2nd Annual Friends and Family golf outing at Bruce Hills golf course in Romeo. The team of Kit, Jan, and Jim beat defending champs Robyn, Mike, and Kevin. It was a gorgeous day and everyone had a great time hacking up the course!

Dominic had all sorts of play dates and out of town visitors this month! Brooke and Scott came into town from Seattle over Labor Day. Dominic enjoyed when they came for dinner and a visit along with Brooke's mom and step-dad.

On September 11th he took his first journey to Ann Arbor and had lots of fun meeting the Buckler's and playing with his new buddy Will who was in town visiting his grandma and grandpa with his mom and dad (Molly and Josh). Dominic especially enjoyed story time with Megan. Kit and I especially enjoyed an impromptu adult only dinner out in Ann Arbor - thanks Mr./Mrs. B. and Megan!

Dominic's pals Noel and Ben came into town from South Carolina and visited on September 16th. The following week Dominic took his first international journey - to Windsor! He had lots of fun playing with his little friend Zach. The border patrol had a lot more questions than usual including a trunk search, apparently Dominic looks quite suspicious!

On Thursday, September 24th Nancy and Kevin welcomed their two little peanuts into the world. Yea! Joey weighed in at 5 lbs 7 oz and tiny Kate weighed 3 lbs 15 oz. After spending a week in the hospital the whole crew is home and doing great (except for the lack of sleep of course). Dominic was quite amused when he met his little cousins.

Dominic is especially happy that Grandma Robyn is home from the hospital and up-and-about following brain surgery at the end of the month. Yea Grandma!!

Dominic's 6 Month Stats: 17 lbs 14 oz, 26.5 inches, sits up, plays "catch," and scoots all over the place!

Click on September album on top right for photos!

August 2009 - 5 Months

August has flown by! Dominic was excited to attend his first baby shower for his twin cousins on the way. The excited parents-to-be Nancy and Kevin are getting everything ready as their two little bundles of joy could arrive any day now! Dominic advises they stock up on as much sleep as possible before the craziness begins.

Dominic can now roll over every-which-way. He is especially excited about this because it means he can get comfy sleeping on his tummy and side, which he prefers far more then the back sleeping he was previously forced to do. He also enjoyed his first taste of cereal in August and is getting to be a much neater eater. It will be on to veggies very soon.

Dominic's 3 (and 1/2) month pictures were taken in July and we recently got them back. Click here to check out a few!

August highlight photos can be seen in our August album.

5 Month Stats: 15 lbs 14 oz and 25 1/2 in