Hippity Hoppity…Easter 2011

a happy boy on Easter morning with his basket full of goodies from the Easter Bunny

Dominic’s second ever Easter weekend started with a bang (literally).  On Saturday morning he actually found a way to climb and fall out of his crib.  Dominic was completely fine (thank God!), and I beg you not to call DFCS on us.  It was, however, one of the scariest moments of my life.  I had heard him cutely babbling in his room starting around 8:30 that morning as Brian and I tried to catch a few extra zzz’s since it was the weekend, and he wasn't fussing to get out of the crib.  Around 9:00, I started getting up out of bed to go get Dominic but before I could even sit up, I heard a huge bang from his nursery and then Dominic bawling.  I immediately thought that Dominic was trying to walk around in the crib which he often does and hit his head on one of the sides of the crib, something I’ve seen him do on the video monitor before.  Anyway, I quickly raced to Dominic’s nursery and much to my shock I found him laying on the floor of his nursery beside his crib still crying.  

I, of course, was completely freaked out, picked him up, and started screaming for Brian.  I’m sure my screaming didn’t help Dominic’s level of panic as he continued to cry off and on for about 15 minutes.  He was obviously very scared from the fall, but appeared to be physically fine (no bruises or anything).  How did this happen?  Well, Dominic’s mattress was only lowered to the middle level.  I had been asking nagging Brian to lower it for over a month.  Well, at least I can now safely say that Dominic’s mattress has since been lowered at this point, and I can hopefully breathe a sigh of relief at least for the time being now.  

Aside from the fall, we Mortons had a great Easter!  Dominic took part (well, I use that term loosely) in his first Easter Egg Hunt on Wednesday.  It was put on by the MOMS Club, but Dominic was having a bad morning (thank you, bottom incisor coming in), making us arrive late, and then Dominic didn’t really show much interest in the eggs.  He loved running around on the host’s deck, but then grew tired and clingy soon after.  Mom wasn’t feeling too great either, which didn’t help.  Starting the next day though Dominic stopped taking the Ibuprofen because I could tell he was feeling so much better.  He’s been in a great mood these last several days and sleeping much better.  I guess the tooth finally broke though – although Dominic will not let me get my finger in to feel for it or even all me a glimpse into his mouth. 

Dominic's first Easter Egg Hunt...had a little trouble finding the eggs.

On Saturday, Brian, Dominic, and I took a trip to Murphey Candler Park and fed the ducks by the lake.  Dominic had shown interest in the geese by Perimeter Mall the night before at dinner and at the petting zoo at Lemonade Days last week, so we thought it would be fun to take him to MC to see some more.  He seemed to think they were funny but was - as always - pretty hesitant at first and only wanted to observe them from a few feet away.  The weather was beautiful and so was the lake. 

hanging out with Daddy at Murphey Candler

   

very interested in the ducks and geese

For Easter Sunday, Brian, Dominic, and I started our day by going to church at 8:45 and meeting  my family (thankfully they saved us seats in the cry room).  Brian and I had to wake up way earlier than usual, which we aren't fans of.  Dominic behaved pretty well and loved having his cousin Caroline, who is 20 months old and was staying with my parents from the previous night, sit with us.  After watching them play together, I can really tell that he will love having a sibling/siblings.  I know some young ones get jealous or feel threatened by their moms and dads being around other little ones, but not Dominic.  He just loves other kids.  Absolutely loves them. 

After mass, Brian, Dominic, and I did a quick Easter basket check back at home.  Dominic was rather disinterested (not surprisingly) in what the Easter Bunny had brought him at first.  I had actually considered taking Dominic to see the Easter Bunny at the mall or somewhere, but to be honest it freaked me out way too much.  A human sized rabbit just scares me way too much especially because I’ve had a “distrust” for rabbits ever since reading the book Bunnicula as a child.  Anyway, Dominic did seem to like the spring and summer clothes that the Easter Bunny brought him as Dominic started carrying them by the plastic hangers around the family room and breakfast nook, showing them off.  Eventually, Dominic examined the books that the Easter Bunny brought and seemed to like them as well especially the ones with real babies pictures in them.  Books and clothes…probably the only time the Easter Bunny will get away with bringing Dominic such mundane, practical gifts, but I had already gotten sandbox and pool toys for him, and we have a “no candy allowed” policy for Dominic (although I would have appreciated some candy from the Easter bunny personally). 

Hunting Easter Eggs on Easter morning at Uncle Ryan's house

The next stop on the Morton Easter itinerary was going over to my brother Ryan’s house for Easter lunch with the rest of my family and Ryan’s wife's family.  It was a huge crowd.  Dominic hunted some eggs with his cousin Caroline…well, sort of.  He preferred to just shake the ones with jelly beans in them and watch Caroline running around in the yard, giggling at her.  Between it being way too close to nap time and Dominic still trying to figure out how to walk on non-level grass, he wasn’t too interested in running around with her unfortunately.  He had a lot of fun on the slide with her though, but Brian, Dominic, and I had to leave right after lunch because Dominic was already an hour overdue for his much-needed nap. 

Dominic loves playing with his cousin Caroline!

The 3 of us returned home after lunch and took a family nap – as Dominic napped in his crib, Brian and I napped in our bed.  It’s amazing how much better you feel after a nap, isn’t it?  Following the family nap, the three of us headed over to Brian’s parents’ house for Easter dinner.  We were obviously very well-fed this Easter!  It was great for us especially Dominic to hang out with his grandparents and Aunt Katie.  We missed Aunt Christina though!  Since Brian’s parents live on a beautiful lake, we went out there after dinner and took some pictures of Dominic on the dock on such a gorgeous evening.  Having Dominic wonder around the dock was way too nerve-wracking for me as I was constantly afraid he was going to fall into the water.  

making me nervous playing by the lake

As you may have guessed, Brian, Dominic, and I were pretty exhausted after such a fun-filled, eventful day.  We hated that Brian had to go back to work the next day, but it just makes us look forward that much more to next weekend!  And the holidays keep coming.  Our next holiday weekend is in just 2 weeks…Mother’s Day!!  J  

Happy Easter from the Mortons! :)