Dominic's Wheels

So, in a large family, every new baby seems to get some new piece of equipment.  When Joseph was born, he got a new baby carrier.  (The Mobywrap.  Love it.)  Daniel got a new pack & play, since Joseph broke the crib.  Andy got a baby furniture set (sorry, no pictures, except in backgrounds of old posts).  And for Dominic we bought....

...a space shuttle.  Behold, the USS Dominator!

Mr. Pickles' reaction as we drove off the lot: "Crap, we bought it!"

 It's a 2015 Ford 15-passenger Transit Wagon. 

We started out looking at used 12-passenger vehicles, but ended up with this for a couple reasons: our credit union was getting obnoxiously picky about what cars they considered worthy of a loan (so many passenger vans were considered commercial vehicles and therefore not loan-worthy -- so annoying); we couldn't find any 12 passenger vans; and the clincher was that Ford's Ecoboost engine got the best gas mileage (yes, please!).

Everyone else on the road respects me now.

 The kids loved it from the first.  Everyone practically has his own row.  (We took out the two middle seats in the very back for cargo space.)  I don't LOVE IT love it, but it does get all of us where we want to go.  And the automatic wipers are actually pretty cool.

huzzah, we all fit!

 You know you have a large family when the minivan is your SMALL car.

Summer/Fall Photodump

Hi all!  We are still alive.  The baby is still cute.  Of course, I know you require photographic evidence of this, so, always happy to indulge the fans:

da huuuuuudge

hey! don't make fun of my tubbiness!!

Even cuter than a cute baby solo, is a cute baby in conjunction with a cute older sibling:

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)

He's here he's here he's here!!!

Dominic Francis

born at home

Saturday, August 8, 2015

at 9:45 pm

weighing 9 LBS 12 OZ

21 inches long

We are all soooooo glad!!

Random summer photodump

The traditional these-were-intended-to-be-separate-posts-but-now-I'm-hitting-you-with-them-altogether post.

Happy summer!  Once again, Virginia is trying to woo us with diludherin' lies that it is a lovely and pleasant state in the summertime.  We've only had a handful of truly beastly days -- everything else has been 70s-80s with low humidity and gentle breezes.  And here I thought it was going to be the worst summer in Virginia history, since I was due the first week of August!

WE'RE ON TO YOU, VIRGINIA.  No matter how lovely you PRETEND to be, YOU STILL AREN'T SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.