12 month stats

Our happy 1 year old boy!

Dominic’s 12 month checkup went well.  He’s in the 75^th percentile in height (31 inches) and head size (big brain) and the 50^th percentile in weight (23 pounds 6 oz).  Dominic has been calling Brian “Daddy” and me “Mommy” for the last couple of weeks, which we love.  Mommy is used a little more frequently...but mostly in a whiny voice when he needs something, while Daddy or (Da) is usually in a happier tone of voice.  J  Lately, when Brian closes the door to go to work or even to the bathroom, poor Dominic will cry because he misses his daddy.  It's very sad but also pretty sweet.  

Driving his buggy around the neighborhood.  :)

The cutest thing is that Dominic is now saying the words “ow” and “yeah” whenever Brian and I say it.  I feel like it’s a big deal because he’s never been able to copy us like that before.  It’s funny for us to hear Dominic say, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”  He’s also clicking his tongue, which is a new trick too.  Another highlight in the area of language/communication - Dominic finally started pointing.  He has been pointing to random things but not in way like he’s trying to communicate but finally started pointing as a means of communicating in the last couple of weeks.  What did he point at for the first time?  Well, the fan of course.  He’s obsessed with ceiling fans.  Dominic has really perfected his waving.  Instead of just holding his hand up, he now actually moves it around.  We're working on using the words hi and bye-bye with it. 

Very happy to eat such a delicious and messy meal - spaghetti. 

Dominic's new favorite food is spaghetti.  We, of course, strip him down to his diaper because there's no need in staining his bib and clothes for this very messy meal.  Dominic loves slurping the spaghetti sauce off of the noodles.  We've also introduced fish and peanut butter to Dominic, neither of which did he have an allergic reaction to.  I was worried since my sister Stephanie is allergic to both, and these allergies can be genetic.  We gave Dominic some salmon and plan to continue to give this to him since it's very healthy.  I want Brian and I to eat it as well since I'm more concerned about our health too as I become more and more obsessed with what Dominic's eating.  He really liked the peanut butter.  Until kids are a year old, you aren't supposed to give them peanut butter not only because of the high risks for allergic reactions but primarily because it's a choking hazzard.  Brian and I watched Dominic closely as he ate peanut butter lightly spread on a piece of bread, and he did fine. 

The monkey can climb up on the coffee table now.

Dominic’s walking is coming along more and more each day.  I think he would already be walking everywhere if he hadn’t been sick so much lately.  At this point, he still prefers to crawl but as of today he’s walking about 50% of the time.  There are a lot of stumbles and falls, but he’s usually such a big boy and hardly ever cries about it.  He can walk basically the length of the bottom level of our house (family room to kitchen) and has even walked up to Brian when he comes home from work a couple of times, which has always been a dream of mine. J 

a little stroll across the kitchen to the family room 

Other milestones…Dominic can not only crawl up the stairs but now he can crawl down them by going backwards!  In fact, crawling up and down the stairs is his favorite activity at the moment.  It’s very cute although he often gets distracted by the balusters by the stairs or forgets that he’s going down and starts to back up.  He also likes walking up the steps using the balusters to help him. 

As soon as Dominic climbs up on the couch with us, he starts happily sucking his thumb. Adorable!

And the true indicator that Dominic is a real toddler…he now shakes his head to say no.  This is especially the case with foods he doesn't want.  Brian and I are trying to shake our heads like that whenever we say no to him to help cement the concept.  This kid is truly growing up right before our eyes!   

What did we ever before looking at this smiling face every day?