Today was Joshua and Dominic's annual well-child physical. Yes, it's way past their birthdays, but the first opportunity I had to take them in together. So the visit went something like this:

We arrived and waited about 15 minutes to be called back. Dominic was his usual self, talking up a storm with anyone who would listen. We then ventured to the scale. Dominic weighed in at 34 pounds and 40 inches tall, and Joshua was 58 pounds and 51 inches tall.

I laughed at Dominic as he "coached" Joshua through the letter chart for the sight test. He kept telling him. "wulla, sound it out. Good job wulla!"

Everything was fine and dandy until the nurse came in to "prick" their fingers for the anemia test. I took the time to educate both of them on the process and offered two quarters for the one that volunteered to go first. Of course, Dominic, my brave little guy, took the offer and jumped up on the table. As expected, Dominic declared that it didn't hurt that bad...no tears, no crying, no nothing. He was more excited to have the band-aid with Bugs Bunny on it.

Joshua, on the other hand, not so easy. It took 3 of us to hold him down and after about 5 mins of struggling, the nurse finally got the sample. Joshua cried for Daddy for about 10 mins after the nurse left and I FINALLY got him calmed down. They both did well peeing in the cup, and fought to see who would have the fullest one.

All in all, I have two very healthy boys and am happy to say I got medicine to clear the "spots" on Dominic. Below are a few pics of our fun visit:

Dominic having his hearing checked

Joshua having his hearing checked too.

Dominic's reaction to the finger prick for an anemia test.

....and Joshua's!

Look what I found!

So Jim sent his digital camera home, the nice one he bought me for Christmas 3 1/2 years ago that I never use because it's so big, and this is what I found. It's hard to believe that Dominic was once 7 months old, but below is the proof. It's clear that he was a bit bigger than Matthew at this age:

Joshua (3) and Dominic (7 mos) ham it up!

I just want to squeeze his little cheeks!!

Dominic once had big bluish colored eyes

Huh??

The original 3 muskateers!

What has antlers and a nose and hooves for toes?

....Matty Moose!! Okay, so the $80 was TOTALLY worth it. Isn't he the cutest moose ever? The costume is SOOO nice. It has antlers AND ears....and the hooves have hard bottoms and actual toes sewn to the bottom. I can't wait for Halloween.

I Can't Believe....

today is my 10 year anniversary with AT&T (aka Pacific Bell Mobile Services, Pacific Bell Wireless, and/or Cingular)! When I think back to 10 years ago, I can't believe the ride I have been on. Since working for this wonderful company, I have been married, divorced, married again, graduated from college, become a mother, and made more friends than I could have ever hoped to.

I received the nicest note from my Vice President and General Manager today so I wanted to share. He made my day and let me know how truly special I am!

"Pam, when I first started with this company, I used to look at folks who had been with us for 10 years and think that they were crazy. My opinion hasn’t changed. The only difference is that now you are one of those crazies. This industry chews up people like no other and the fact that you have made it for 10 years and done it so successfully says more about you than I ever could. As impressed as I am with what you have accomplished here, it does not compare to the respect I have for you as a mother. To be able to juggle both work and home and to do it so well is the real compliment. I am very proud of you and so glad you are with us. Happy 10 years. I know you have a very bright future here."

I must be insane!

Who the heck spends $80 on a Halloween costume? The answer?.....ME! I decided that I wanted Matthew to be a moose for Halloween and after searching EVERYWHERE for a costume, I resolved to checking Ebay. Unfortunately there was only one costume up for bid. I fought it out with three other bidders and finally won with my maximum bid of $75. HOLY COW! It is a very cute costume and I'm sure Matty Moose will wear it well!

Picture Day!

We finally made it to Sears yesterday for Matthew's 6 month photos. Why is it that everytime I make an appointment to take one of the boys for pictures, they come up with a wound on their face? Yes, Matthew decided to claw himself several times on his face. Thank goodness he is so cute that you don't notice the marks. Dominic joined us on the trip as he was feeling a bit sad when I dropped him off at daycare yesterday. We threw in a few poses for his 3 year pics and captured some sweet moments with the two youngest Riggios. Enjoy!

Where grandpa is today....

It amazes me how many times our lives are touched by grandpa. I swear my boys see him everyday in one way, shape, or form. It's almost like he has a hand on their heart even though he is not physically here. There isn't a day that goes by that Joshua and Dominic do not say "papa is in heaven." Today, Joshua brought home this library book. On the outside, the book would appear to be about space or the stars, or some planet. On the inside, this is what I found:

The next place that I go will be as peaceful and familiar as a sleepy summer Sunday and a sweet, untroubled mind.
And yet… it won’t be anything like any place I’ve ever been…or seen…or even dreamed of in the place I leave behind.
I won’t know where I’m going, and I won’t know where I’ve been as I tumble through the always and look back toward the when.
I’ll glide beyond the rainbows. I’ll drift above the sky. I’ll fly into the wonder, without ever wondering why.
I won’t remember getting there. Somehow I’ll just arrive. But I’ll know that I belong there and will feel much more alive than I have ever felt before. I will be absolutely free of the things that I held onto that were holding onto me.
The next place that I go will be so quiet and so still that the whispered song of sweet belonging will rise up to fill the listening sky with joyful silence, and with unheard harmonies of music made by no one playing, like a hush upon a breeze.
There will be no room for darkness in that place of living light
Where an ever-dawning morning pushes back the dying night.
The very air will fill with brilliance, as the brightly shining sun
And the moon and half a million stars are married into one.
The next place that I go won’t really be a place at all. There won’t be any seasons – winter, summer, spring or fall –
Nor a Monday,
Nor a Friday,
Nor December,
Nor July
And the seconds will be standing still…while hours hurry by.
I will not be a boy or girl, a woman or a man.
I’ll simply be just, simply, me. No worse or better than.
My skin will not be dark or light. I won’t be fat or tall.
The body I once lived in won’t be part of me at all.
I will finally be perfect.
I will be without a flaw.
I will never make one more mistake, or break the smallest law.
And the me that was impatient, or was angry or unkind, will simply be a memory.
The me I left behind.
I will travel empty-handed.
There is not a single thing
I have collected in my life that I would ever want to bring except…
The love of those who loved me, and the warmth of those who cared.
The happiness and memories and magic that we shared.
Though I will know the joy of solitude… I’ll never be alone.
I’ll be embraced by all the family and friends I’ve ever known.
Although I might not see their faces, all our hearts will beat as one,
And the circle of our spirits will shine brighter than the sun.
I will cherish all the friendship I was fortunate to find, all the love and all the laughter in the place I leave behind.
All these good things will go with me.
They will make my spirit glow.
And that light will shine forever in the next place that I go.

What's old is new again

Every child has their favorite toy, but in this case, all three of the boys have had the same one. This is one of the only baby toys that has made it from Joshua to Dominic and now to Matthew....and all three were/are completely mesmerized by it.

Dominic shows Matthew how to make the bee and butterfly go up and down!

It's finally in............

Matthew's first tooth, that is. Low and behold, I caught the sharp edge of his first baby tooth on my finger as I rubbed his gums last night. It makes me a little sad that he is growing up so fast! Congratulations little moose! This is the first of many firsts you will have in the next 6 months. Before you know it, you will be sitting (that will be in the next few days for sure), crawling, walking, and finally arguing back with your brothers in your own little language. I love you baby boy!!

Can you say cheese?

My little Moose

Matthew has a new nickname....I call him moose. And in this photo you can see why. I want to believe that he will stay little forever, but compared to other babies, I now see (and believe) he is already 6 months old. This is Matthew laying next to Logan, Ashley's 7 week old son. Joshua brought a song home from kindergarden last year about a moose and everytime I sing to Matthew he smiles and laughs at me. It just kinda stuck. The song goes something like this:

I've got antlers and a nose, and hooves for toes

and I stand about 6 feet tall!

In the mud up to my knees

Just a chewin' on the weeds

I'm a moose moose can't you hear me CALL?

I love you little moose!!

Lifesaver

This is a picture of Matthew and Mommy's new favorite toy. What is it, you ask?

It's our lifesaver!

As a mom of 3, I know all too well the signs and symptoms of first teeth. Poor Matthew is doing the best he can, but he is having a real hard time trying to figure out why his little mouth pains him so much. With the help of his new vibrating bunch of grapes and tylenol, the smile returns to his face. I wish those darn teeth would hurry up and make their appearance so my little guy will be happy!