On Lessons in Detachment

So, last November this happened:

:(

I'll give you 6 guesses who caused this, and the first 5 don't count.

Dominic aka Conan the Destroyer was sitting on my lap while I was slowly sipping my morning cup of consciousness and attempting to have a rational conversation with Katie, when he lunged forward at light speed and knocked the bally thing off the table.  The worst of it is that Katie and I were both RIGHT there -- but he was so dang quick that we could only watch in horror as the mug landed with a heart-rending smash.

What makes it so sad is that this was my china shepherdess:  it was given to me when I was a student in Gaming, Austria, and had survived a transatlantic flight and several moves over the last 20 years.  I loved the shape and used it for my morning cuppa every day.  The kids all respected it and wouldn't touch it, lest it get broken.  I think Katie mourned over it as much as I did.

Well, all things must pass away, I suppose.  And really, you can't get angry with a baby.  It's not allowed.

So I got out the super glue and patched it back together so I could at least keep it as a reminder of that amazing semester.

It's not usable for its inteded purpose, however.

Enter My Hero, Mr. Pickles.

He did extensive research to try to find a mug to replace my Austrian one.  He couldn't find an exact match, but he came pretty close!

and not one, but TWO!

He is so good to me. :)

Long overdue Baby Update!

Dominic has been doing all kinds of amazing things!!  I'll go month by month.

7 months continued (March)

Welllll, he did NOT start walking at 8 mos -- however he was still quite mobile!  After he mastered pulling up to a stand, he seemed to hit a plateau for a while, and spent some time perfecting his skilz.

aw, yeah, I'm all dat!

Must. Stand.

His new-found mobility meant that he could now Get Into Stuff.  The good news: he can now entertain himself.  The bad news: he can... get into stuff.

hmmm what have we here?

look, Ma, it MOVES!

power tooooools.....

His favorite thing was using big people legs to stand up.

he LURVES my maxi skirt especially -- so many hand holds!

Stairs are also PERFECT for learning how to stand.  They are exactly at the right baby height.

these are awesome!!

 Finally, when you're the youngest of six and you can't run or hit back yet:

life is rough when you have older siblings

 

but I'm so cute they just can't resist!

 8 months (April)

We attempted to introduce Dominic to solids at around 7 months-ish.  For a long while the relationship was shaky -- he much preferred "real" food (i.e., Mom).  However, every once in a while the planets would align and we would find something he didn't turn his little baby nose up at.

sweet potatoes are acceptable

Really well-ground oatmeal with apple sauce or with pureed bananas seemed okay, too.  In tiny doses.  At the right time of day (which varied).  And as long as he was a little hungry, but not too much.  And he had to be sitting in Mommy's lap and holding his own spoon.  #mrpickypants

We were lucky if we could get a teaspoon into him -- meanwhile he wanted to nurse about every 45 minutes.  That was rough.  (Finally at 9 months he learned that eating was all right, and was able to handle more textures so I didn't have to super-puree everything.)

He also popped out six teeth!  The first two came one by one, and then the next FOUR came altogether!  After that we were finally all sleeping better, hallelujah.  Those naughty incisors did not make their appearance painlessly, for him OR for us.

but look how cute my widdle teethies are!

Speaking of Getting Into Stuff:

how thoughtful of them to put in a wall-mounted entertainment device just for me!

9 months (May)

Nicky TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS!  He was so amused by the whole process and giggled hysterically each time -- even though it was more like barely-controlled falling.  His siblings are the best cheerleaders, and loved providing ample opportunities for him to land on his face practice taking steps.

Babies born into large families really have it made.  For one thing, they never have an opportunity to get bored cuz their siblings are always thinking of fun things to do for them:

baby-sized personal ball pit!

Apparently I spent the rest of May gardening because I have tons of pictures of the yards, but only that one for Dominic.

10 months (June)

After a few weeks practicing his controlled falling, Dominic officially started walking!!!1!.  Soon after that he figured out how to go from a squat to a stand without using furniture or conveniently-located big people legs. 

And soon after THAT, he figured that he could actually go UP those magical stairs. Our baby gates were in a sorry state, so this is what we rigged up at first:

so ghetto.  but hey, it works!

as you can see this baby gate doubled as a lemonade stand

Our slightly more permanent solution until we get some new ones (after I scrubbed the dirt and spider webs off -- remind me WHY we were storing the gates outside again??):

not much better -- still held in place with bungee cords

July (11 months!  I KNOW!)

Another entry in the Getting Into Stuff category:

ooh! it's the happy box!

how do I get them out?

success!  om nom nom

Dominic hasn't said any real words yet, but he is experimenting with new sound effects.  His latest are saying "oo" with adorably puckered lips, and a shrieking cackle that he uses when chasing his siblings. 

Even though I'm sad at the thought that someday he will no longer be a baby, we all rejoice with him whenever he masters a new skill!  Every age has been the best age, so far. :)  And he is so, so loved.

Wayyyyyy overdue Baby Update

I have been failing -- FAILING -- utterly in turning this blog into an all-baby-all-the-time love fest.  I'm too busy feeding, changing, holding, feeding, holding -- did I mention holding? -- and of course gazing at, the baby to do any actual blogging about him.  So here you go, a Baby Update Photodump!  Beginning with...

2 months old (October)

Dominic's baptism

Pictures!  Pictures!

Dominic was baptized the last Saturday in August.  He was just three weeks old.  We asked Mr. Pickles' sister and Mrs. Pickles' brother to be godparents, and they were both able to trek across the country from the Middle West and the Far West, respectively.  When the other sibling and the parents on Mrs. Pickles' side heard that, they made a point of coming too, so it was a real family reunion!

all that fuss for me??

40 days

No, I can't believe it's been that long either.

Dominic passed the 40-day mark last week, so technically he isn't considered a newborn anymore -- and I officially have to get off my duff and start pulling my own weight around here (in addition to Dominic's too, of course, since he practically lives in the Moby).  And what better way to get back to work than spending hours taking baby pictures?

good idea, Mom!

There is something about the six-week mark.  His little rhythms become more predictable, he smiles all the time, and all of a sudden we see more of this little person emerging.

loves loves LOVES standing up!

also LOVES being outside

Before Dominic was born, I made this little gown for him from a vintage pattern.  I love it -- WHY did we as a culture ever switch from the ease of baby gowns to onesies and sleepers with millions of snaps??  

what is it about baby yawns that are so dang cute??

and their widdle toesies!

He is also rather turning into... Da Huuuuuudge.  (He already weighs well over 12 lbs. -- I've moved him up to size 2 diapers and 6-mo clothes.)  I need to get a picture of the sight of his belly spilling over his diaper for you.

they make even spit bubbles cute!

Everyone adores him, of course.  They think everything he does is hilarious and adorable (except maybe spitting up -- that usually sends a few of them running from the room gagging).  Youngest children in large families are so lucky -- they are so loved.

milk drunk!

 I blame the blurry pictures on small children -- either they are the photographers, or the lens is covered with greasy fingerprints.

Dominic Smiles!

I have several blog posts in the works, but now for your Sunday viewing pleasure we are happy to present a gratuitously cute movie of Dominic smiling.

I love that newborns smile with their whole bodies.

One week old!

Dominic is a big kid.  He doesn't hold the family record, but he's running a close second.

I would just like to take a moment to say thank you to Aunt Katie H. for giving us a jumbo package of size 1 diapers.  Dominic fit into the newborn size I had purchased for him for about... 5 minutes.

Usually 3-month-size clothes are enormous on newborns.  This onesie is a perfect fit.

He is also very strong, and mature.  He figured out nursing right away.  He has some extremely alert times each day, and really focuses hard on his family's faces.  Miriam and I think he might be an early smiler.

aw, yeah, I'm all that

His hiccups are just... massive.  There was no sleeping through these when he was on the inside.

There's no sleeping through them on the outside, for that matter.  It's annoying when he gets them at 3am.

So far he seems to be a fairly relaxed kid (so long as you don't do something horrible like change his diaper).  His cues are easy to read, and he's settling into his own little rhythm.

And here's just some gratuitous newborn cuteness to satisfy the grandparents:

Finally, the package of imaginary Red Vines goes to... Aunt Terri!  Rachel got a point for being closest on time of birth, but A. Terri was closest on both birth weight and date.  No one else possessed a gambling spirit!

Back to reality.

So!  Postpartum!

After that beautiful, amazing birth, the week of recovery was one of peace and delight and happy joyful family times, right?

all riiiiiiight! (4 days old)

Ha.

Saturday's Child

So... details!  And pictures!

As you all know, this was a *planned* homebirth. 

the Birth Team (rah! rah!) -- two midwives, the birth assistant, and wonderful labor coach (Mr. Pickles)