Talking, Screeching, Sitting (Almost), Drumming, and Just Being So Stinkin' Cute!

So, in a week Dominic will be 6 months old and I don't quite know where the time has gone. We can't imagine life without this charming little guy. He is such a blessing! He's got such a beautiful little personality. He makes us laugh a million times a day. He's very social and will flash a brilliant smile at anyone who locks eyes with him. He's also very strong willed and knows what he wants and just how he wants it... and he's quick to let us know if we're not quite getting it.

Lately, he's discovered the "Mmmm" consonant, and all we hear all day now is, "Mamamamama-mahhhh! Mamamamama-mahhhh!" Rich makes sure to periodically inform me that he doesn't know what he's saying yet. Haha!

He's also developed an affinity for screeching and squealing. He'll belt them out until he's purple in the face. He doesn't do it in anger... just does it to hear himself. So funny.
Another thing he's started doing is blowing great big raspberries. Spit flies everywhere... cereal too. He thinks it's great fun.

Thanks to everyone for all the advice on helping him to sleep better! You guys are awesome, and I love you all for trying to help me. You all had great advice. We're doing the routine thing... tried to put him to sleep on his stomach, (you're right Lyndi... I guess it's a little too late for that, as he's already used to sleeping on his back) and he still has a bit of a hard time. The GOOD news is that about every 3-4 days, he'll have a night where he only wakes up 2 times. I'll take what I can get. Hopefully over time those nights will outnumber the bad ones and maybe some day we'll ALL sleep through the night... maybe. :)

Tomorrow, Dominic and I are off to Louisiana to visit my sister Robyn and her cute little family while Rich is away in Germany. We'll be gone for two weeks and when we get back, I'll post some pictures that Rich takes of Germany. Wish me luck on our next plane ride... it's five hours and Dom is sitting on my lap. Ugh. Maybe I shouldn't be so darn cheap and just buy the kid a seat so he can sleep in his carseat. Oh well.

Anyway... here's some more pictures of our Little Guy!

Dominic loves to stand up.

He likes to rock back and forth while standing on Rich, it's their little game.

He doesn't ever do it with me. :(

Giggling

Sporting his "Babylegs"...Daddy loves those!

"Hi friends!"

Practice Makes Perfect! "Okay... concentrate, balance, focus..."

"Hey! Piece of Cake!"

"Uh-oh!"

"Awww, man!"

Don't worry, he's tough!

Little Drummer Boy Making Noise!




"Mamamama-maaaahhh!"

"I Wanna Be a Part of It.... New York!"

Hey there! Here is a picture tour of our trip to the Big Apple! We had an amazing time. In a nutshell we saw the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Museum of Natural History, Bodies the Exhibition, South Seaport area, took a cruise around the island on a ship, saw the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, took two double-decker bus tours... one in the daylight and one at night, saw the Brooklyn Bridge, went to Brooklyn, went uptown and downtown, walked/shopped in Time Square, navigated the subway, saw China town and Little Italy, and probably a whole bunch of stuff that I can't remember right now. Hope you enjoy the pictures!!!

Here are Rich and Dominic waiting at the train station for our train. Dom is flirting with all the ladies who were doting on him at the station. On this trip, Dominic took a: taxi, plane, train, car, city bus, double-decker bus, and the subway! A whole bunch of firsts!!!

Dom was quite a trooper. He ended up having two VERY long and overstimulating days. He did quite well and took naps whenever he could squeeze one in. The train proved to be a great opportunity.

We took a Harbor Tour that cruised us around the island of Manhattan. It was great! The tour guide was pretty funny, too.

Beautiful, huh?

Ellis Island. The 2nd floor of this building is where the immigrants were taken and it was decided who could stay and who could not.

Liberty Island

Lady Liberty in all her majesty. Pretty cool.

Here's our little "King of the Island" himself... enjoying the cruise around Manhattan island.

We're about to pass under the Brooklyn Bridge here.

Time Square!!!

Manhattan traffic.

Here's our family right before we took our "night tour" of the city from a double-decker bus. We're in Time square in this picture. Dom was thrilled at this point. It was really neat to see the city from the bus. No worries about having to be the one maneuvering in the traffic. An excellent view in all directions. A knowledgable tour guide to tell you all about what you're seeing. And... you were so high up that you could actually TOUCH the traffic lights without even standing up... although we opted not to... didn't want to get arrested or anything, ya know?

Empire State building in the early evening.

Doesn't it look pretty all lit up like that?

I really wish this picture would have turned out better. The skyline was breathtaking at night! We took a double-decker night tour of Manhattan and Brooklyn and it was amazing!

We made it to the top of the Empire State Building. It was a pretty long wait, but it's just one of those things that are neat to be able to say you've done, ya know?

Here's a North Eastern view... that's the Brooklyn Bridge in the distance and Brooklyn across the river.

This is a Southern view of Downtown from the top of the Empire State.

From the top, you had a great view of Liberty and Ellis Islands!

A great picture of the Empire State Building from the ground.

Me and Dom just had to get a picture with a member of the NYPD! When I asked him if we could snap a shot with him, he said, "Show-uh!" ("Sure" in New York-ese.)

Rich in front of the Trump Tower

Trump Tower from the bottom.

Us in Central Park. It was sooooo beautiful! We walked all the way from Penn Station up through Central Park to the Museum of Natural History. That's a VERY long walk. But we had a blast doing it. We very easily could have spent an entire day in central park alone. It was amazing!

Central Park

Here we are at the Museum of Natural History!

This is the one from the movie "Night at the Museum".

Dom, livin' it up on the sidewalks of New York!

Man, that binki clip was a lifesaver!

Bright eyed and bushy tailed at 10:30 p.m. on the train on our way back to our hotel. I know, I know... we were bad parents.

Dominic excited about the flight home... he's the only one.