Walk This Way

So, a lot has gone on over the past couple weeks. I spent a fantastic week in Naperville with the boys. We did all sorts of fun stuff - Cosley Zoo, swimming lessons, took the train to 2Toots Grill, Blackberry Farm, Build-A-Bear, saw great friends and family, and had a lot of pool time. It was sort of a "summer vacation" for me and the boys and I tried to pack in as much fun stuff in a week as possible. We wished Mike could have joined us, but someones gotta bring home the bacon! Here are a few pics from the trip!

Melt my heart! Two brother's lovin' on each other :o)

Pool time with Katie and the boys

Petting the goats at the zoo

Here comes lunch. Choo choo!

No one wanted to build a "bear", so we made "George" and "Moo Cow" instead :o)

Somone LOVES the merry-go-round!

Dinner with my darling, Liz. Sweet friend since we were 14!!

Riding the carousel at Blackberry Farm with Grammy!

Mitchell taking swimming lessons at the pool where I used to swim, coach and lifeguard

But the biggest news is that Dominic is CRUISING on his own! He has been pulling himself up constantly onto everything, which means he's getting into everything. He has almost fallen head first into the bathtub several times because that quick bugger gets in there so fast I can't take my eyes off him long enough to get dressed! He also seems to have a new fascination with playing in the toilet. Gross. But it was encouraging that he was motivated and wanted to explore. So, today I was working on the computer at the coffee table (now that Dominic is doing so well, I'm hoping to start picking up more work again from my old company) and as usual, he pulled up to standing and peeked his head over and said "hi, hi, hi" in his cute little voice. Then, I noticed his eyes zoned in on the bowl of faux pears adorning the other end of the coffee table. Then, he started taking steps. After about 3 or 4 steps, I jumped up to get the camera. Unlike most times, he actually kept going and I caught it on video. You'll see I'm trying to entice him to keep going with his ball.



I got so emotional and I'm not sure why. He has made so many gains over the past year and I'm always proud of him when he reaches a new milestone. But this time was different. Maybe because he's walking the way you're supposed to. He's always only rolled one way and army crawled in his own "half-using his arm and leg" way and everyone always says "aww, he's doing it Dominic's way." He's walked in his gait trainer and with a walker, but always needed assistance. But watching him today, he looked so "normal".  Yeah, you can tell he doesn't use his right arm and he's still wobbly, but it gave me so much hope to know he'll walk! And he figured it all out on his own! My heart just swelled with pride and all these emotions I had a year ago came rushing back - wondering if he'd ever sit on his own, if he'd walk, talk, feed himself etc. It just hit me how far he has come in LESS than a year post-surgery. Our God is sooooo good and today He really wanted to remind me of that. Ah, God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

TROUBLE!

Stand By Me

After a couple days of "practicing" pulling up to standing, Dominic quickly caught on and officially does it himself - ALL THE TIME. In his crib, in front of the TV, in front of the toilet (while splashing in it), etc. As he masters of these small milestones, Dominic seems to gain more and more freedom. I can tell he loves the feeling of being able to move and go where he wants when he wants. He's actually even started taking a few "side steps" around the ottoman. A little early to call it cruising, but he's starting to get the hang of it. I'm sure it will be no time before he's cruising around the living room!










Last week Dominic got his first "official" haircut. Not sure if you can consider me botching an at-home buzz cut a real haircut, so I'm declaring this his first. Clearly the reason I haven't taken him before is because it costs $20 for a cute young girl to buzz him instead of me. But, whatever. He didn't scream and yell and roll around eating hair. So I suppose it was worth it. And he looks pretty dang cute!

Pre-haircut

I cannot believe it's July already! Not sure where the summer has gone, but between therapies, playgroups, trips to the beach, picnics, parks and visits with family and friends; we have had a busy month! We are heading to Naperville for a week on Friday to spend some quality time with Grammy and Grampa. We spend so many weekends traveling for quick trips here or there that it will be nice to spend several days there just hanging out. Mitchell is looking forward to swim lessons at good old Hobson West Pool where I grew up on swim team and eventually coached and life guarded. We'll probably hit up Brookfield zoo and a couple other places as well.

Yesterday some friends and I hosted a baby shower for one of my besties from college. Afterwards, the hubbs and babes joined us at the house for dinner/drinks/fireworks. It was so much fun and so surreal to look around and see how much we've multiplied since college! These are the girls I rushed my sorority with, stayed up late studying (or not) with, went to parties with, graduated with, planned weddings with and now run around after kiddos with. Times sure have changed :o) It was a fun and crazy night to say the least!

Love these girls!

There's a lot more of us now! And what would be more fitting than playing with fireworks!

Look at these mini-me's. It's the next generation - watch out!