Dominic's 6th Birthday!

I still can’t believe my second son turned 6 today! He is such a blessing to our family. I remember his birth like it was yesterday…we had just moved into this house a month prior and he was more than a week late! That morning we went to Raymour and Flannigan to buy our new bedset (at that point we were kind of looking for things to do and I was beyond nesting mode ;) I remember having our toddler in the store and being a little out of breath, stopping to look at furniture and holding my overdue stomach. I remember feeling pressure as we were walking and when we got home! The rest of the day we hung out at home, and I think I asked Nick if he wanted to go to the gym at night and I started watching Call the Midwife. I was also doing a lot of yoga moves I remember, and then when I watched that episode of Call the Midwife it was about a baby being born and it just sprung my emotions full speed! I started crying and probably had a spurge of estrogen. About an hour later I remember the contractions coming! And then telling Nick “I think this is it,” and doubting myself telling him not to call his mom, then about 30 minutes into it knowing this is the real thing! I remember how fast they came and that feeling in the car that I wasn’t going to be able to do this. I remember getting to the hospital and being fully dilated and ready to push! They tried putting an IV in my hand, but as soon as they tried he was ready to come out! It was extremely painful but felt so good to push him out side lying. Unfortunately, I think because of the precipitous labor, I developed a vaginal wall hematoma that they had to rush me to the OR to remove! So for the first few hours of birth, Nick was with Dominic, and thankfully I returned post-op ok. I learned how to try not to rush labor, and how positioning is so important (my next 2 were both delivered on all 4s!) Anyway, we remember those first moments of birth so well, and how excited Nicholas was to bond with his new brother, that was one of the biggest blessings! They are still best friends 6 years later! Sharing a bunk bed and playing together ALL the time!

On Dominics 6th birthday, we all sang to him around the table with our traditional ice cream birthday cake and candles lit. I loved seeing his humble attitude, how he is just like his dad, not wanting attention on himself :) I loved seeing his smile with his Nike suit on, such a sweet boy! We said family night prayer together and went around the table saying what we were thankful for Dominic and of this past year. What I loved most was hearing other say: Nick said, “I was proud for him playing soccer this year,” and I said, “I was proud of him for learning how to read.” Dominic has so many gifts from God, his determination, humility, humor, running speed, creative talents! He is a loving brother and sweet son to us, thank you Jesus! I hope I always remember that I prayed the rosary to Saint Dominic for his birth!

Mom Lesson: Embrace each child the way they were created. Learn their individual temperaments. See the things they love!

It still amazes me that Dominic will ask for a pen and run into our room at night for a spare piece of paper ;) That is nothing I taught him, but simply a gift from GOD.

Happy 6th Birthday and New Years Eve to our second born son, we love you Dominic Vincent!

In Joy,

Alex