Nice Faux-hawk

Dominic's hair cracks me up.  It's the perfect little faux-hawk!  Most days it stands straight up all on its own.  This is hilarious because for the first month of his life he had "old man" hair...bald on top and hair around the side.  It has now flip flopped.  It's the best right after he gets out of the bath tub because it's so fuzzy.   

Jarod just said to me "it's funny that when we had Andrew we thought he was so perfect and now we feel the same way about Dominic".  And it's true.  Andrew was the center of our world, perfect in every way.  I had never loved anyone like that before.  Dominic is a completely different person in looks, temperament and personality, yet is absolutely perfect in our eyes.  I wonder if this is the way God feels about each one of us. 

I hope so.

Look What Andrew's Been Up To...

Ok, we're not actually potty-training yet, BUT he has taken a lot of interest in the toilet lately so I've been letting him sit on the toilet after he wakes up from nap and before bath.  He has a great time on there reading books, playing with the toilet paper and flushing.  The amazing thing is, the first few times I set him on there he actually went, #1 AND #2!  I don't think that's normal for a not-quite-2-year-old boy.  We're going to take it really slow and if he's ready, great, and if not we've got plenty of time.

He is growing up so fast and continually amazes me with all the new things he's doing.  He loves to do housework with me and asks me everyday if we can vacuum.  He gets absolutely giddy when I get the mop out!  I hope he is still like this when he's 14.  If I need to occupy him for an extended amount of time I just give him his shoes.  He concentrates so hard on pulling the laces out, putting them back in and putting them on his feet.  It won't be long before he learns to tie them with the amount of practicing he does!

He's really grown into his role as big brother.  With the weather being so nice this winter we have been going on walks and Andrew has to be the one to push Dominic in the stroller.  When I try to help steer, he moves my hand away.  I am trying to find a balance of letting him do what he wants and making him understand that he has to do what I say.  At MOPS last week we talked about how important it is to teach our children to submit to authority.  They will always have to answer to someone above them...right now it's us as their mommas but eventually they will be answering to God.  I desperately want him to obey me, but more importantly I want him to learn to listen to God and be obedient to His perfect plan. This is a tough job for us mothers of strong-willed children! 

But Oh how I love watching him with Dominic!  Brother are so precious.



My Little Helper

This is how we've been cooking dinner around here lately: my Pioneer Woman cookbook in the stand and monster trucks on my cutting board.

Andrew has taken an interest in everything I do on the counters now.  Any time I start cooking dinner or do some baking, he pushes the chair up to the counter and wants to help.  I am slowly learning to have more patience with this.  He almost always makes a huge mess and wants to touch everything, but I love the few moments when he plays quietly beside me as I chop veggies or knead bread.

 

I am loving this cookbook that my sister gave me. I have tried many of the recipes and they have all been delicious.  That may have something to do with the amount of butter that is called for! 

I also have been trying to do a lot of freezer cooking.  Dinner is the most stressful time at our house so I will do anything to make it more enjoyable.  Jarod doesn't get home until 7 some nights so we eat late.  And instead of making two dinners, Andrew waits to eat with us.  I know that is a long time for a little boy to wait, but I think it is important to eat as a family.  The problem is, he gets whiny when he's hungry and wants all of my attention.  On top of that, 6:00 is Dominic's fussy time and has to be held.  This makes cooking dinner a challenge...  The other night I had Dominic strapped to me in a baby sling and preoccupied Andrew with a chocolate chip cookie just so I could get dinner on the table and it was still not ready by the time Jarod got home.  So having already made meals in the freezer has been a big help.  Yesterday I pulled a pan of chicken enchiladas out of the freezer, popped it in the oven, and then I was free to play with Andrew and hold Dominic until dinner was ready.  Plus I didn't have many dishes to do afterwards which is a huge bonus.  It takes a lot of extra effort to prepare the meals on my cooking days, but it is totally worth it!

New Life to Start the New Year

Peter Michael Casady was born Jan 7, 2012.  We got to spend a few days with our newest nephew who is just about the tiniest thing I've seen.  Even though Dominic weighed less than him at birth, I swear he was never that small!  We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Lincoln.  Andrew got to play with his cousins and I got to squeeze some baby cheeks and help out around the house.  Although I don't know how much of a help I was bringing two kids of my own.  We just added to the chaos...a good kind of chaos.  It's hard to believe that, between the two of us, Kristi and I have 7 kids.  I hope they grow up having so much fun together and will always stay close. 

After holding Pete, I realized just how much Dominic has grown in his 3 short months of life.  I must have been in denial because I have kept all of his six month clothes in a box thinking there's no way he was ready for them yet.  I finally tried them on him and to my surprise some are too small!  He'll be out of them in no time...which is a shame because he has so many cute outfits, thanks to Aunt Sommer lending us Elliott's clothes. 

I also just brought out the exersauser and discovered that he can support himself just fine in it.  I had to laugh when I first put him in it because I noticed a difference in Andrew and Dominic's personalities.  I remember when Andrew first got in he went crazy looking from one toy to the next, overwhelmed with all the possibilities and determined to play with all the toys at once.  Dominic sat there patiently and calmly studying each toy intensely. 

Dominic, I hope you stay my sweet patient child forever!



Goodbye 2011

On New Years Eve we had our friends LJ and Rebecca Eberyly over to help us bring in the New Year.  It was pretty low key but lots of fun.

 

A midnight toast in thanksgiving for a wonderful year and to a new year full of possibilities.

And yes, Dominic stayed up to celebrate with us!

What better way to start the New Year by cheering on our Green Bay Packers!  Aren't they cute!

Where have the last 3 months gone?

Dominic is 3 months old. He makes me so happy.

I feel like I am the luckiest mother.  He is so good to me.  He rarely cries and is content sitting by himself in his bouncy seat most of the time.  But it is hard to leave him alone because he is so fun to play with.  His smiles are contagious and his giggles can instantly put me in a better mood.  Right now he's at that stage where he imitates us when we stick out our tongue and coo.  I love his facial expressions.  He always looks like he has so much to say but just can't get it out. 

And I know that I am biased, but he is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen.  Mothers can say that.

 

Lately he has been trying to shove his entire fist in his mouth.  It's a successful day when he gets both in at the same time.  He also just recently started lifting his head up high while laying on his tummy. 

Andrew loves him too and is so good with him.

I am BLEST

It wouldn't be Christmas without FAMILY