The Escandell Family

Ballerina or Princess? That is the question.

tani74 — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 20:36:15 +0000

One morning I saw Dominic getting some socks out of Angelina’s drawer and then trying to see over the crib where Angelina was sleeping. I asked him what he was doing, and he explained that he wanted to put socks on Angelina. I told him that she was in a sleeper outfit that already had her feet covered and mentioned that we might wait and put socks on her another day when she is in a different outfit. The next day I purposefully dressed Angelina in something that could go with socks. I was in the living room on the couch and sent Dominic to get Angelina some socks. He brought back what he called “princess socks”. They look like Mary Jane shoes. The pink wasn’t quite right, so I sent him back to bring the “ballerina” pink ones. He ran and got those. When we put them on her feet he started singing so sweetly to her, “Ballerina, come to me. Ballerina, come to me!” Then he proceeded to lean down and kiss Angelina’s head whispering, “Tomorrow you are going to be a princess!” He said it with such excitement behind his voice as if it was going to be the best day of her little life. It was truly the most precious moment I’ve ever seen. Dominic has been so sweet with his sister and so patient with me.

Dominic’s Baby Philosophy

tani74 — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 20:27:53 +0000

One day after breastfeeding Angelina, Dominic declared, “It’s hard having a baby!” I said, “Oh, how is it hard?” He went into a full explanation saying, “Well, when they cry you don’t know if they are hungry, need a diaper change, or if they just want you to hold them. That is the difficult part!” You’d have to be there to experience the cute facial expressions and hand gestures that he put with his explanation, but it was like he just had a revelation!

Do You See What I See?

tani74 — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:40:22 +0000

Ever since Dominic was itty bitty he’s seemed to find letters or shapes in the context of the real world. When he was about two he was eating pretzels for a snack. He’d take a bite and announce the letter he saw. I would look at it and was amazed when he was right. He was also around two when we were eating at a restaurant that had different shapes on the ceiling. He looked up and said, “pizza.” I looked up and saw the triangle he was pointing at. I asked him what shape that was and he correctly labeled it triangle. Well, today, at age four, he still is constantly making connections to other things. He was walking along a ledge that bordered a playground and ran back to tell me he was walking on the number five. Sure enough it was in the pattern of several fives one after the other. Dominic took a bite out of a strawberry the other day and immediately exclaims, “Look the letter ‘C’!” He held the fence to his little people in his hands and was quizing me on the shape he made. I said a square. He said yes and turned it some asking, “Now what is it?” I said, “A diamond?” He asked, “What else?” I said, Well, it is also a rhombus.” He said, “No, the bank symbol is what I’m talking about.” I thought about it (we bank at Chase), and then I realized he was right. He matter of factly asked, “Why didn’t you think of that mom?” I told him that he sees way more than mommy sometimes!

Sound waves!

tani74 — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:28:37 +0000

Dominic has a stuffed cow he just loves to take everywhere! It is probably his best friend. We forgot to bring him with us the other morning. From the driver’s seat I hear, “Moooooooo. Mooooooooo.” I asked Dominic how I was hearing Milkdud (the cow) when he was back at home. He said, “Cow is yelling. It just sounds like talking from here.” I asked him why, and he explained that we were far away. I told him he was correct, and mentioned a bit about sound waves and how they travel, etc.

Omnipresence

tani74 — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:15:32 +0000

Dominic was attending Vacation Bible School a few weeks ago. One morning at breakfast his daddy asked him, “Does God go with you to VBS?” Dominic quickly said, “No.” David was confused by his answer and asked, “What do you mean?” Dominic cleverly stated, “God can’t go with me because he’s everywhere. He’s already there.” We thought that was a pretty sound conclusion. Don’t you?

Wake Up Baby Girl!

tani74 — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:09:41 +0000

The other day Dominic was with me in the waiting room for my OB appointment. He was patting my belly saying, “Wake up Baby Girl. Wake up Baby Girl.” He wanted to feel Angelina kick. After a few unsuccessful tries he says in a frustrated voice, “Mom, open your mouth!” I asked him what for, and he replied, “I want to yell down your throat, so she’ll hear me better.” It was too cute, so I opened up and let him try. Unfortunately she still didn’t kick, but at least we tried our best.

Uncle Impersonation

tani74 — Mon, 28 May 2007 03:58:47 +0000

Dominic has this funny wig I put in his dress up chest. I think it used to be my mom’s. Anyway, he and his Uncle Anthony were playing. Apparently Dominic put on the wig and said, “Look, I’m Uncle Anthony”. You’ll have to look at the picture to understand. Anyway, it was too cute! The picture will be added to our photo gallery soon. I hope to get it off of Grandma Susan’s camera tomorrow. Someday I’ll figure out how to add a photo right next to my blog.

Marriage already?

tani74 — Sun, 20 May 2007 04:11:37 +0000

Now here is something I meant to blog awhile back. Dominic went to a his friend Alex’s birthday party ( a playgroup gathering). My friend Melissa comes out of Alex’s room to inform me that I may not want Dominic and Sydney to be under the covers of Alex’s bed together. I went in the room to check it out. Dominic and Sydney were under the covers and I heard Sydney say, “Dominic, I love you.” At this point I decided to go get her mom, Robin. Neither child realized we were in the room. The dialog continued with Sydney declaring, “Dominic, I’m going to marry you when we grow up. Who are you going to marry?” Dominic replied, “I’m not a grown up yet.” Sydney again asked who he’d marry. Dominic exclaimed, “Well, it isn’t going to be you!” Sydney asked who he was going to marry, and Dominic quickly responded, “I’m going to marry Ellie.” Sydney, offended, answered, “Well she’s weird!” Dominic defended her and insisted, “No she’s not!” At that point both Robin and I hurried out of the room laughing so hard. Wow! Dominic is already a heart breaker! Really, marriage already? Who knew preschooler’s brains even thought about such matters?

New Haircut/Highlight

tani74 — Sun, 20 May 2007 04:02:46 +0000

I finally got the chance today to go get a new summer haircut and disguise most of my grey hair with new highlights. You’ll have to check our photo gallery to see my new look. I love it, and was so happy that it turned out just as I imagined.

Dominic’s 1st Pick-Up Line

tani74 — Sun, 20 May 2007 03:58:16 +0000

We were at McDonalds the other day and Dominic was busy meeting new friends. I told him how to say, “Hi, my name is Dominic, what is yours?” He approached this little girl and asked her name just as I taught him. Then I overheard him say, “What is your number?” Now you have to understand he was trying to find out her age, but his innocence in using a pick-up line was too funny. It sounded just like he meant her phone number.