Weekending

Honestly, this weekend was pretty perfect...except for Papa Rob stayed back in Columbus.  He had been fighting a cold all week and we both agreed that it would be best for him to stay back and rest/recover.  Boo :(  Also, this weekend was pretty non stop! 

 

Max and I (mama) hit the road Friday during his afternoon nap...and we went hard from Saturday morning till Sunday afternoon.

 

 

When Ti Ti (that's what Max calls Aunti Stacy) arrived on Saturday morning we headed right out to visit one of our favorite Dayton Metro Parks...Cox Arboretum. This spot is so great because it's full of wide open spaces for Max to run and explore.

 

 

We climbed over rocks and bridges.

 

 

We traveled on gravely paths and strolled among crab apple trees.

 

 

We walked up and down this bridge looking for ducks!

 

 

We threw leaves in the air, got rides on Grandpa's shoulders (surely the best view!), found acorns, walked in the herb garden, and even got to pet the goose dog, whose name is Zip! 

His job is to prowl around the lakes and ponds making sure the geese don't stay too long.

 

 

The highlight was climbing the tree tower. 

For some reason, I didn't take a picture of this beautiful tower...but it's all wooden with spiraling staircases leading up to the top and cedar shingles along the sides.  There are probably about ten stair cases and Max climbed all but three of them before demanding to be carried. At the top of the tower, you are rewarded with amazing views of the park!  Beware though -the tower does shake a bit at the top!

(we made it to the top!)

 

(Max was loving all the freedom to roam! But luckily let me give a quick hug!)

 

Going to the park almost always leads to an amazing nap!  Max slept for almost three hours...which left Grandmim, Auntie Stacy, and me enough time to go to Hobby Lobby AND Once Upon a Child!  We got home and he was STILL sleeping! But...we had to wake him up...because more fun was in store! The real reason for our visit had to do with a special event happening on Saturday called "Enchanted Evening".

 

 

This event was at Aullwood Audubon Farm.  We decided to arrive as close to the start time as possible (so it would still be light out).  Basically it's a night where you sign up for a trail time and are guided through the forest and "meet" costumed animal characters. This was an event we went to a time or two as little kids...so I couldn't wait to see Max's reaction too! I was a little worried he might freak out over the animals...so we only signed up for the short tour - which included three animal stops and lasted about an hour.

 

 

Before hitting the trail - we got to explore the newly revamped farm and center.  It was so AWESOME!  They had face painting (or arm painting in Max's case), train table, play tent, a pretend cow you can milk, a table with sheep wool to comb, live music, farm animals, and even an old tractor to climb all over.  You can probably guess that Max made himself right at home on farm! 

 

 

Before long though - it was time to begin our enchanted evening. 

Our guides led us down the trail to the pond...where we happened upon a Great Blue Heron (one of my favorite birds...after the mourning dove, of course). Max was a little worried when we first saw the bird.  After some encouragement and cajoling from Auntie Stacy - he calmed and did a great job listening.  At the end - he even gave the Great Blue Heron a high five!

 

 

Worth mentioning - we couldn't bring a stroller on the trail - so we alternated carrying him and letting him walk.  He did great though!  Our next stop led us to the fields - where we saw a Wolf Spider.  Max was digging the spider...and I was holding him at this point. I would whisper in his ear "where's the spider?" and Max would shyly point in his direction. We counted her eight legs and even saw her (pretend) egg case on her back.

 

 

Our final stop led us to the woods - where we met a Great Horned Owl and Striped Skunk duo. They were funny and Max was just mesmerized by their banter and kept his eyes glued to their pretend chase!  We made our way back to the center ...played around a bit more...contemplated roasting a smore...but decided to head home.

 

 

 

Admittedly, this outing required a little flexibility on my part.  Max was out past his bedtime and didn't have the best dinner in the world (as in he ate it in his car seat).  But, I have learned that if I can be flexible - it's almost always worth it! This night - it was totally worth it.  I loved seeing his face - completely entranced by the animals...and loved that he was able to explore one of the places I grew up going to.  And those overalls he's wearing - oh man- I hope those fit for a really long time.

 

Sunday was another gorgeous day.  

In the morning, Max pulled out nearly every toy, played doctor with Auntie Stacy, used his tiny weed wacker (just like Daddy's)....and stuck window clings to every surface of the house (including grandpa's knee).

 

 

We decided to try and fit in one more outing...after all...it was nearly 70 degrees!

This time - we went to Hills and Dales Metro Park.

I don't know if I'm just more aware of it this fall - or it's always like this...but the leaves this year seem to be SO COLORFUL!  Every time we're out - I think, that's the most beautiful tree EVER! And then, I spy another one! Not to mention the one in my front yard!

 

 

We parked and strolled among the leaves.

Max loved climbing on the benches and sitting (for about three seconds).

We looked for fish (and found one huge goldfish) - and collected some very large sugar maple and sycamore leaves.  So very often, I take for granted all of the simple things...like crunchy leaves...but being with a toddler - certainly makes you appreciate all of those things and more.

 

 

Max loves to "swing" between to people!  

 

 

Often in the hustle and bustle of day to day - I get caught up in checking instagram, Facebook, etc.  This weekend I was reminded how quickly time is passing.  My baby is running and climbing...and talking...and becoming quite the little adventurer.  I came across the below quote - and it really resonated with the season of life we are in right now and seemed fitting to close on.

 

You will never have this day with your children again. Tomorrow they will be a little older than they were today. This day is a gift. Just breathe, notice and study their little faces and little feet. Pay attention. Relish the charms of the present. Enjoy today, it will be over before you know it." 

Jen Hatmaker

painting pumpkins

 At the ripe old age of almost 18 months...Max is nowhere near ready to start wielding a knife for pumpkin carving. But, as it is one of my favorite holiday traditions - Papa Rob and I spent some time thinking about how we could get him involved.  We landed on painting the pumpkin! 

 

 Before the painting commenced, we stripped Max down to his diaper and then put on one of Papa Rob's old shirts (with the sleeves cut off and everything #stayingclassy).  Then, we used one of the many rolls of painters tape from the garage and made a little "M" design on the front of the pumpkin. After that our little Picasso picked out some colors and we poured them on a plate. 

 

 

He started out painting very delicately...using several colors at a time.

 

 

Then, with a little encouragement, he began to get both hands involved. 

His little orange canvas really began to take shape! 

 

 

Admittedly, he seemed a little confused by all the mess making he was allowed to be doing.

And holy moly was it messy.  In a matter of minutes he went from cautious artist to wild man! 

Mixing colors....swirling them around...slapping the paint all over.

Whatever it takes to keep the ol' artist inspired!

 

 

Aerial view of the mess!

 

 

The verdict?  Max seemed to love it! He painted almost the whole pumpkin - including the stem.

What started out as five separate colors eventually just all blended into one color - a muddy brownish teal...but no matter - it was his creation!

 

 

Let's just say he's much more aware of the camera now :) 

The above is his "cheese" face.  Whenever he says "cheese" - his tongue always goes

toward the corner of his mouth. 

 

 

Look mom, it's all over my hands! ha! :)

Mama was pretty proud of herself for cutting loose and not worrying

about the mess (aka - literally paint over every surface of his body, high chair, and floor).

 

 

Honestly, once I forgot about the mess - it was so much fun watching him

go to town!  This little project has given me a little more confidence to try more

art projects at home.  In fact for Christmas...I'm thinking it would be fun to get him

some toddler art supplies!

 

Eventually we got the all done signal ...and Papa Rob whisked him off to a bath but not

before capturing this little family photo.

 

 

With Max tucked away in bed...and the pumpkin dry...I could finally see the masterpiece in all it's glory.  That's right - it was time to peel the tape up for the official reveal!

 

 

Behold - Max's masterpiece!

Sure...it's not super sophisticated, but it was super fun. 

And, I think it will be the perfect addition to our porch on Halloween!

xoXO

Pumpkin Patch - take 2

If you've been reading this blog awhile you may remember that when it comes to fall ...I'm all in.

So you can bet that every weekend between now and Halloween we are doing something outside (weather permitting), and amongst the pumpkins (always). If there happens to be tractors (Max's new favorite...from a distance) and the best pumpkin donuts ever...well now that just makes everyone happy.  This past weekend we were able to hit up two of my favorite fall places - the first stop - Oakland Nursery. 

 

 

You know what else I love?  Signs that you can put your face through.  You know who else loves those?  Max.  He is never shy about shoving his curly mop right through.  I don't think I will ever tire of these pics. Hilarious.

 

 

Turns out everyone was game for some fun!  Auntie Stacy, Grandmim, and Grandpa Tim all came with us for the Pumpkin Palooza festivities at Oakland. Some of the highlights included the free tractor ride around the parking lot.  This went so much better than the haunted hayride from hades of the previous weekend.  This time instead of full on crying, Max was doing this weird fake crying.  He would pucker his lips and let out this "ooooo" side while not a real tear was shed.  It was making us all crack up.  He also got a pumpkin tattoo!  If you ask him, "where is your tattoo" he will pull up his sleeve and proudly point to it. (Don't worry Grandpa Jim - we would NEVER in one million years let him get a real one! ha!). 

 

Another cool thing that Oakland does is the National Pumpkin Weigh Off.  You can kind of see all the enormous pumpkins in the background of the above pictures. These pumpkins are on another level of huge. Most of them were taller than Max and they were predicting the winner would weigh about 1,700 pounds.  How do you even grow a pumpkin that large?  And then, what do you do with it?  So many questions.  We did not stick around to see the winner ....but we did stick around long enough to make Papa Rob prove his dad strength. 

 

 

Basically, its all the pumpkins you can carry for $20.  This is kind of great deal if your man can carry four pumpkins...which is exactly what Papa Rob did. You have to balance/carry them all and then take four steps.  Papa Rob obviously did amazing and we have four great pumpkins on our porch now!  Oh yeah!

 

 

While we were picking the perfect pumpkins and figuring out how to balance them all on Papa Rob's huge arm muscles - we corralled Max by putting him in the pumpkin bins.  I thought he would hate it but turns out he really liked it.  He stomped around and attempted to pick up a few of the larger ones 

 

 

It was such a fun morning and we had big plans for the afternoon so we ate lunch and then took Max home for his afternoon nap!

 

After nap - we headed over to Jacquemin Farms.  I love this place because they are one of the only ones left where you can visit an actual pumpkin patch.  Like, they told us to take a knife because the pumpkins were still on the vine.  Proof below.

 

 

The first order of business was to actually visit said patch.  We thought we knew what we were doing (because we went last year) so we hiked it on out to the patch....only to find what looked to be remnants of the previous year.  Later, we figured out they planted in a new area.

 

 

Max says "that way" to the patch.  Really he did. 

It's like his favorite thing to say (after "you sit there). 

 

More signs to put your face through?  Don't mind if we do! We rolled a nearby pumpkin over to act as a step stool for Max...and then he was just tall enough! haha!

 

 

After trekking out to the patch...eating the MOST DELICOUS pumpkin donuts ever....and slurping on the BEST raspberry apple cider slushies in the history of ever (Max literally sucked down all of our first one) - we found a trailer bed full of pumpkins and Max settled himself right in.

Adorable side note: Max calls pumpkins bubbles.  I have no idea what but it's pretty cute!

 

 

Fall is absolutely my favorite. 

(If it weren't...seeing Max in his little overalls and flannel would certainly convince me otherwise). 

I just love all the family fun we are having....and can't wait for more!

XOxo 

 



17 Month Update

 

Age: 17 months

Stats: Maybe 26 or 27 pounds? About 33 inches tall.  

 

Clothes: Wearing size 18-24 months shirts.  Consistently wearing 18 months pants.  Had to bust out all the fall/winter clothing this past month. And of course, lots of Halloween gear.

Size four diapers. Size 6 shoes (we bought two new pairs this month).

 

(loves, loves, loves these suped up grocery carts)

 

Favorite Foods: Scrambled egg, toast, donuts (I really think donuts are his love language...in particular krispie kream), yogurt bites, peanut butter and jelly, chicken nuggets, strawberries, bananas, smoothies, string cheese, sweet potatoes, and anything he can put ketchup on.  

 

Favorite Words: Wa-Wa (water), Uh-oh, bye-bye, No, mama, dada, yeah, outside, hello, ball, open, banana, up, sit down, baggie, blankie, cookie, cracker, truck, train, "i see him", "over there", back, "i want more".
*this month he has just started to put two words together.  He especially loves to tell people where to sit when reading to him (as in "you sit there") and also he loves directions "that way", "over there", and "down there".

(the "eagles nest" park by Auntie Stacy and this pic was pre hair cut...god I miss those curls)

 

 

Favorite Activities: Max is still super into any kind of vehicle.  He pushes his stop and go school bus all around the house and gives various other toys rides in it.  He also loves to push cars around his Mega Block track...and push his tractor up and down the table.  Is really good at building tall towers with any kind of blocks too.  Books are also getting a lot of play lately - he will say "book - though it sounds like boo-k...and either plop down beside you, back it up into your lap, or tell you where to sit and read it to him.  If you are laying on the ground - protect your back.  He loves to rough house and ride on people's backs (or belly in the case of Papa Rob).  He still likes to dance to music and is very interested in our phones (amazing how quickly kids learn to "swipe across" on an iPhone).
Mostly he just likes to be on the move - climbing chairs, bouncing around on the couch, walking up stairs, and sitting at the dining room table! 

(can summer weather please stick around?? we love being outside!)

 

(Max is also very good at helping pick up leaves and walnuts with Grandmim)

Least Favorite Activities: Homeboy will do anything to avoid getting his diaper changed.  We are also in an ongoing battle with giving up the pacifier during the day.  We are trying to get down to only using it at nap time and bedtime.  It's way more difficult than I thought it would be because he can simply tell you "I want paci" and he does...like over and over.  Sometimes he fights sitting down in the bath (would rather stand) and then eventually does not want to get out of the bath. He also still hates hats but loves his hood (on his coat).

(loving bath time but not getting out of the bath)

Favorite Things:

Going outside (though sadly that might be coming to a close)

Eating freeze dried fruit

Playing with trains at school (literally he makes a beeline towards the box of trains the minute his feet touch the ground)

His new water bottle (from Target)

Listening and looking for trains, trucks, and airplanes (yep, we see/hear all three in our yard)

Visiting the playground - and sliding

Spending lots of Saturdays with Auntie Stacy and Mama

Swimming "lessons" and the pool toys at the YMCA

His book "Elephant and Piggie' - which I think combined Rob and I have read thousands of times.

(swimming with daddy at the YMCA)

Signature Moves: getting really good with a spoon and fork, demanding "I want more", sucking down the smoothies, bringing you a toy and saying "help" or "open", dumping out his plastic bin of sea creatures and putting them on the couch pillows so Grandpa Tim can launch them in the air, going #2 in his diaper every morning at 8:15, saying "i sit down", sitting down so you can put his shoes on, getting really excited about tractors (pumpkin farm season here), saying "cheese" (but only when he wants to) for the camera, and still loving seeing himself in videos and pictures.

(getting good at "huggies" especially when they are for daddy)

Mom's Proudest Moment: Max is becoming so vocal lately!  It seems every day he says something that I didn't know he could (pointing to the toothbrush and saying it last night while reading). This has also consequently made him a little more demanding. #mytinyboss

 

Dad's Proudest Moment: Being an angel while getting his hair cut a second time!  He sat on Mama's lap the whole time and barely moved!

  

(loves side walk chalk...scribbling with it and collecting it in his bucket)

Other Milestones:

Connecting lots of words

Surviving the haunted hayride at Windmill Farm

Overcoming a mean cold - had to bust out the nebulizer again

Down to one nap - usually lasting about two hours

Finally staying in the grocery cart longer (as long as you ply him with food)

Working on identifying "knee," and "arm"

Can usually find a circle shape

Climbing.on.everything

Trying orange juice and loving it.

Getting good at sharing (at school) - at home...he loves to say "mine"