Here’s a wrapup of the past weekend.

Friday night, I picked some Basil from the garden (the plants have really taken off) so I decided to make some pesto.  Lori went out and visited/had drinks with her ex-co workers while I watched Dominic.  After she returned home I cooked lemon and pepper chicken breast and made Linguine and covered it with that fresh tasty pesto I made.

Saturday was a big day.  I woke up, fed Dominic and the pulled out the fall decorations from the (meth)shed before the day got to hot.  Next I ran over to Lowes to get a few wire cages to help train some of the plants that have exploded!  The big activity for the day was the Jack FM concert.  I met up with Rich, Rob and Tim and we left for Irvine.  We stopped at The Spectrum for lunch and said hi to Greg and Amy who were also heading over to the concert.

We arrived at the venue, it wasn’t crowded.  We didn’t have the best seats but they were pretty well centered terrace seats.  The plan was to basically just get into the venue and then I’d work to get us better seats as I’ve had much luck in the past.

The first band was billed as ???? they turned out to be “The Lowrider Band” they sucked and played 3 songs, one being “Lowrider” something else and “Why can’t we be friends”  The stage spun and next we had The Psychedelic Furs, I like the band and it was nice to see them but there was something just not right with the lead singer, either he was sick and was lacking the power/energy or the sound engineers had some silly compression on his voice.

The stage spun and next we had Twisted Sister!  They were awesome and they played in full makeup. The entire audience was singing “We’re not going to take it” over and over, they are very good showmen and had the crowd sing a reprise, lots of fun! Up next was Blondie.  During her set I decided to work for seat upgrades as I had seen blondie 9 or 10 years ago at The El Ray theater and I figured this set/experience wouldn’t touch it.

I had a great time working for upgrades it reminded me of the excitement of peak concert going years and I did quite well.  I ended up with 8 lodge seats (scattered about) and 4 Orchestra seats, 1 Orchestra pit seat and 2 backstage passes.  Rob and I went backstage and were happy to find the Archie’s ice cream truck which is at most Devo / Mothersbaugh events.  After some free ice cream, laughing at the drunk people, saying silly things for JackFM on camera and REO LAME WAGON finishing their set, we headed to our seats.

Rich and I ended up taking the 3rd row seats while Rob and Tim took the seats about 10 rows behind us on the other side.  I forgot how loud it was near the stage luckily we spotted the security lead and asked for ear plugs.  Billy Idol was up next and he was great!  The last band was DEVO.  Though there were technical glitches (the sound crew was out to lunch or off the clock and the one guy just couldn’t figure it out) I still enjoyed the DEVO set and I maintain I could easily easily see them once a year and be happy.

I got home from the concert and noticed that Lori had put up the fall decorations.  I couldn’t sleep so I got up drank some water and looked at what she did.  I had a great day but I totally missed Lori and Dominic.

Today we got up and went to church, good message and great worship today and then came home right after as we were both beat!  Lori took a nap while I hung with Dominic.

For dinner, I had a few roma tomatoes so I picked some Basil (I’m an addict when I have it fresh) and made a Bruschetta relish then I grilled some salt/pepper/oil bread and steaks on the grill steamed some mixed veggies.  The Bruschetta relish was very tasty and topped the steak and the bread well.

Tonight was the premeier of Little Britian USA on HBO.  I’ve been excited for this show for a few months now and I found it to be very funny but extremly crude/lewd, so be warned!  Right now I’m winding down the eveing with a nice glass of scotch and enjoying the sweet scent of whatever Lori is baking while Dominic is hanging out on his activity mat.  It’s about time for the Simpsons, King of the Hill and Family guy premieres and then bed.

Life is pretty good!

This week we mailed out a few shy of 100 of these fine announcements and almost met our self imposed 2 month deadline!!  If you didn’t get one of these we either didn’t have your address, felt you were green conscious so you’d appreciate receiving less paper, or we simply forgot.  Please forgive us and consider this your personal electronic/environmentally friendly version and you can print on demand!

Hello all. It has been a long while since I’ve posted on this here blog and I’m husband less tonight and thought, what the heck.

So, what’s been going on in my life you ask? Welllllll, let’s see….

I’ve been enjoying my little guy more and more each day. Dominic and I are getting into a nice groove and I can actually say that we’ve had days where he cries very little. I can honestly say that I do not remember what life was like with out him. I know that it was ‘easier’ to do day to day stuff, like I still haven’t figured out how to get all of the house work done with a baby to tend to. Ah well… I guess you will have to just deal with my messy house for now. So, although my old life was easier, my new life is a whole lot more meaningful. I feel so lucky to have Dominic. You know, my whole life I’ve hated my body. I mean, really really hated it (Ok, I still do). But, now I feel this feeling of gratitude to this body… It created my son after all, and that’s pretty awesome.

3 weeks ago I also went back to work. I was surprised that it wasn’t that hard to go back. I guess since I am only working 50%, it doen’t feel so painful to leave Dominic in the morning. I am now working with Gina and I really love it. I think we are a good team if I do say so myself. I have a lot to learn about the world in first grade. Boy-o is it different than fourth. I like it a whole lot more, but it is a lot more work in many ways. I appreciate the wonderful patience that Gina has because she is having to be my “master teacher” until I get the hang of my new job. But, everyday is getting easier and I love the fact that I never work more than 2 days in a row!

Dominic came to help Mommy get her classroom ready... he's slackin' on the job!

Plus, since I have to work 2 or 3 days a week, Angelo gets to be Mr. Mom. I know he has his moments where he wishes I was home to take over, but I know that he’ll get the hang of it and learn to enjoy every minute. I’ll tell you what though… people would be a lot more happy if they only had to work a couple of days a week! I no longer wake up hating the world! It still hasnt completely sunk in though..  I mean… I can go shopping and run errands during the week when no ones there??? Sweet!  I have moment when I’m playing with Dominc for over and hour and think… “I probably should be doing something…” and then I realize that I AM doing what I’m supposed to be doing… playing and bonding and LOVING my son. God is so awesome. What a blessing he gave me.

Daddy is still Dominics favorite ride

We have been enjoying our Disneyland passes once again. When I was in the later stages of pregnancy, the idea of walking (ok waddling) through a huge theme park in warm weather was the LAST thing I wanted to do so we havent used them all that much in a while. Well, 2 weeks ago we decided to take Dominic to the Happiest Place on Earth. We have since gone another 3 times and he has done so well. He likes to look at all of the lights and then we he’s had enough, he promptly passes out. He rocks.

Mommy and Dominic at DCA

Tomorrow we are getting our carpet cleaned and I’m very excited! It’s funny how things like this make you happy when you grow up. I mean really, having the carpet cleaned makes me happy? I’m old.

After the carpet is done I get to follow Rachel and decorate for Fall! I love decorating the house for the holidays! And this is the first time that we get to share it with another little person! I want Dominic to grow up in a house filled with fall leaves, garland, pumpkins, and the smell of apples and cinnamon. Also, nothing makes a house feel more welcoming and warm than a nice wreath on the front door! Oh I am so excited! I also hope to take this whole “getting into Fall” thing a little further and go apple pickin’. I used to go to Oak Glen with my best friend and her family and loved it. The whole place smelled like apple pie and you could buy pumpkins and apples to your hearts content. I think that would be a cool family tradition…. we’ll see if it happens.

Halloween is also right around the corner and for Dominic’s first Halloween he will dress as Chewbacca! We found the costume months ago… I believe around the time we found out he was gonna be a boy and have been looking forward to him wearing it ever since. Of course he wont know any different and probably will nod off during the nightly festivities, but his parents will think he’s pretty cool.

Well, I should go to bed. Today I came down with my first cold in MONTHS and I’m sure Dominic will not escape it and I feel horrible about that. I know how much I hate being sick, I can’t imagine being a little (or in his case a HUGE) baby and not know how to deal with it. I’m sure I’m in for some fun times ahead….  Pray that he can make it through without catching my germs! Fat chance….

Ok, I’m out…

Today was the big Two month checkup for Dominic.

He started the morning out very happy and was smiling and talking (ah gooing) a bunch.  We got to the doctor’s office… I left the stroller part in my truck (FAIL!) so I had to carry him in the carrier to the 3rd floor… boy is he getting heavy!

In the office he was measured and here is where he is at: 15lbs and 25 1/2” long!!

The doctor then showed us his charts and for weight he’s at about 95%, for head size he’s between 90% and 95% (looked closer to 94%) for height he’s above 95% (looked closer to 97% or 98%.  So what this all means is he’s a BIG, healthy, well proportioned 2 month old baby!  During his exam he was smiling big at his crazy fast talking doctor!

Boy I sure am happy, there isn’t anything that could possibly upset me today!

Then the nurse came in to deliver his SHOTS! RUH-ROH!

As you can imagine he did not enjoy the 3 shots and liquid stuff he had to take today.  He made sounds like we’ve never heard him make before.  We returned home and Lori spent the rest of the day with him (while I went to work) she reports that he slept a bunch and was irritable while he was sleeping and then when he waked he needed to be held close.

He seems to be doing better now and will have another two months to recoup before he has to go back and get boosters!

Today marks two months since Lori and I were given the greatest gift of our lives.  Dominic’s been doing well.  He is more alert/aware and often has periods of time where he’s entertained and content.  He has been talking more (noises) and smiling a bunch.

Lori has started / completed her first real week of work while Dominic and I survived ME watching him on Monday and Tuesday.

Last night along with a few friends we made our first trip out to Disneyland!!  We had a great time and were able to use the *Baby Swap* system which I very much hated having to offer while I worked there.  Though, now that I’m on the other side of the fence, I understand why it’s a great system and I look forward to using it more!

On wednesday we will go for his 2 month checkup and we’ll get to see how much he’s grown, though it’s pretty obvious if you look at photos.

Not much to report here, just needed an excuse to post a quick video and a boat load of photos.

Over the last week Dominic’s been getting more aware and when he’s not been battling milk sensitivity he’s been a pretty happy little guy (and I’ve been able to use the camera more). He’s been smiling and noticing the toys around him more and sometimes our faces/voices can brighten him up.

Lori, in her infinitly awesome, motherly wisdom put up the letters to his name on the wall above his changing pad and he LOVES to stare up at them.  This has made the changing table/pad his favorite place and often puts him in a SUPER good mood.

In this video he is demonstrating his (and my) favorite new noise… AH GOO!

Click here to see the video in High Definition OR if you don’t see a video in your RSS reader.

Also I’ve posted the photos from the recent photo shoots we’ve done with Dominic.

This set contains the narrowed (selects) we’ve printed.

This set contains MANY more out-take photos I’d consider out-takes.

Thanks again to my best friend Richard for offering his time to take nearly a thousand photos and lugging lights over to our place over the last month plus.

Looking at all the photos of his face, I’ve noticed he’s quite an expressive little guy!