he + she + he // surviving winter, barely

Dear Readers (probably just Grandpa Jim and Auntie Candice at this point), 

My car thermometer read -10 yesterday morning. NEGATVIVE! 

I keep thinking that surely since it's nearing the end of February

winter is almost over? But then, I'm reminded of our unpredictable

Ohio weather in March - so there's that. And the fact that Chris Bradley (our local weatherman who I have befriended on the Facebook) says he is tracking another winter storm for the weekend. 

We three Haucks are doing the best we can with the snow and cold - even if that means staying in our pajamas all day (no shame in our game). But, just in case you were wondering - here's some other things we've been up to/enjoying. 

He // Max

-LOVES to be outside, is not intimidated by the cold at all

-tolerates all of the layers/accessories etc. so WELL (if it means he gets to go outside)

-spent his snow day in his pajamas, watching Mickey, racing cars to and from the kitchen, 

playing in his kitchen, sliding

-has been taking epic naps (from 1:30-4)...probably because he plays outside so much

-is in constant search mode for stink bugs in our house

-loves to watch videos of himself on our i-phones (which is a good way to keep him entertained in the grocery cart or car seat if need be)

She // Mama

-still LOVES her oils and made some roller ball "potions" with Titi on Sunday

-struggles to find the time or motivation to exercise (especially in winter)

-recently joined Amazon Prime...mostly to watch the TV show "The Americans"

-still watches the Bachelor, Parks and Recreation, and Mindy Project and can't believe the TV series Parenthood is over :(

-still can't believe she just turned 33

-has a serious coffee addiction in the morning

-was flattered/confused when someone at work mentioned that it seemed like she has time to

"do it all" - what a laugh - I'm barely doing anything. 

(I love this picture of Papa Rob and tiny boss man, Max)

He // Papa

-shoveled the driveway twice on Saturday during the snow storm

-loves his new Browns hat from Christmas!

-seemed skeptical of the oils at first - but likes when they are massaged into his hand

-watches Rides, This Old House, anything DIY, Marvels Agent Carter, and Doctor Who

-drives Max to music every Tuesday and mama meets them there after work

-loves listening to music before he goes to bed and then keeps his "white noise app" on all night

(which Mama also likes)

-is dreaming of a shed demo and then rebuild this summer

Keep on keepin on folks!
xoxo

More SNOW fun!

Friends, I have no idea how this happened, but Maxwell James

loves the snow!  Who is this kid anyway??  When it snows, my preferred method of

dealing with it is curling up with ALL THE LAYERS, flannels sheets, in my bed, netflixing 

and napping. Max's preferred method is "walk in snow" (that's verbatim what he tells me).

The more snow, the better. 

Home slice is more than happy to put on his hat, coat, mittens, 

and even boots - to go outside. 

He DOES NOT like the wind. 

He say's "it windy mommy"

(and that's what he's telling me in the above picture.)

Because we live in Ohio - it's a pretty good assumption that

we will get snow from mid-October through till March.  Sometimes it's light dustings...

and other times it's a full blown snow storm.  So...

he's had the opportunity to get real comfortable in this cold weather!

This past week, the new hat that I purchased for Max arrived!

(thanks to Grandma Sugar and Kristen for the tip on this!)

Friends, this hat could not be more precious. 

And, it's a little big - so I think it will fit him next year! Hooray!

Thankfully, he seems to love this hat too, 

and bonus, he can put on himself.  

This past weekend, he spent some time in Dayton with 

grandmim and grandpa and they got a decent amount of snow. 

So, of course, Max convinced them to head outside

(the things grandparents do, right?!)

They walked in the snow, pulled him in the recycling bin, created a snow mound

for him to slide down, and shoveled it!  This sounds to me like a great recipe

for a long afternoon nap :)

Did you notice he has new accessory?  Oh yes, grandmim gave Max

his own scarf (which we thought he would hate, but turns out, he loves). 

I swear to you, he never tires of being out - even when his cheeks get rosy, and his toes get cold. 

Grandmim even put vaseline on his cheeks to have an extra barrier from the cold! 

This is his homemade snow hill - that his grandparents said he 

went down over and over! 

Last year, Grandpa Jim and Grandma Sugar gifted us some Columbia

snow pants and matching jacket. At the time, I had a hard time picturing

us using them (well the pants anyway) - but oh man - 

they are so handy!  They are flannel lined, so they are cozy and I don't 

have to worry about his legs getting cold!  Win Win! 

And the matching coat is his absolute favorite. 

He always wants to wear it!

When he grew tired of playing in their yard, they walked across the street

to the pond and fed the ducks! While this is not normally something I condone (PSA alert: bread is actually really bad for ducks) - when it's your kid and they are shrieking in delight - well then I guess

you make exceptions (or at least I do). 

The pond isn't totally frozen because of the fountains - so the ducks and geese 

continue to gather there (much to the delight of Maxwell James). 

Even as the snow melts, Max still wants to be in it!

These last pictures are from two weekends ago when we went hiking at Highbanks. 

Most of the snow was gone from the roads (making it easy to drive), but 

still piled along the sides of the trail.

So, naturally, we had to play in that! 

We also played in the newly renovated nature center. 

They have a glass bottomed bridge, huge (and hollow!) tree in the middle of the room, 

puppet area, and birding window...which all made for endless amounts of fun for Max.

So, in lieu of passing out strong and tropical beverages, and giving you a dose my 

dangerously high spring fever, I will continue to try and celebrate the snow. 

When it brings your child so much joy, what else can you do really?

Love, Winter's biggest cheerleader (mama Hauck)

xoxo

#thewaymaxsays

I started a new hashtag on Instagram called "the way Max says". 

At this point he is saying so many new words all the time - 

he's quite the chatterbox.  Rather than try to keep a

running record of all of his words, I decided it might be more

fun to record tiny snippets of how he says things (when he feels like cooperating of course).

(pretty sure he's saying "more blueberries please" here)

Language is such a funny thing - 

the sounds, the repitition, the syllables - a lot has to come together

for a child to say (or repeat) what you're saying. 

(look! look! fish!)

He's got no problems repeating what we're saying

but what I've noticed now is that I can also ask him things 

and he will consider my question, and then give me an answer. 

Sometimes it's a real answer, sometimes it's some garble-di-gook (that's probably a real word) that

I can't understand. For so long, I feel like we just stared at him.  Willing him to say something. Anything. So now, it feels really exciting to be able to converse (sort of) with him. 

(penguins up there daddy, look daddy, look!)

Case in point:

me: what are you eating Max?

Max: a chip! (a random chip that he found on one of the shelves of the island). 

me: where does a cow live Max? (as he was holding his beloved cow from Chick-fil-A)

Max: barn. 

me: Who else lives in the barn?

Max: chickens!

me: (open the front door)

Max: it's snowing!

me: well kind of - there is snow on the ground

Max: it's icey. go outside

me: who's house are we going to?
Max:  Jessi's house!
me:  Who will be there?
Max. Collin. Ronin. Addie.  Addison
me: Is there a dog?
Max: Jake dog.

me:  do you want to go outside?
Max: walk in the snow. snow mountains.

me:  Who's going to come over?
Max. Titi.

me: Do you want to read a book?
Max. No. no books
me: okay then.
Max:  llama llama. (garbled garbled) BUGS! (I think he means ten little ladybugs).

The "conversations" are not going to be award winning by any means, but it's so neat
to see him process what we are saying and then be able to use the words at the correct time and place. His expanding vocabulary makes it even easier to understand his wants and needs.
It also means he understands us too - which sometimes goes over really well.
And, other times, when he understand we are saying "no" or "stop" - it frustrates him.

(definitely understand the word "cheese" and "smile")

Either way - we are happy to hear his little voice!
Also - check out the hashtag to actually hear his voice!

Xoxo

Max 21 months

(wearing construction pajamas!)

Age: 21 months

Stats:  He's somewhere in the 28-29 pound range. We went to the doctor mid month for suspected (and then diagnosed) croup and their scaled said 29.1 but he had clothes on - so who knows! He was 34 inches tall too. 

(mommy's glasses are lots of fun!)

Clothing: He's wearing 24 months to 2T shirts and pants...but the 24 months fit better (for pants). Lots of his pajamas are 2T too.  Size 4 diapers.  Size 6 shoes. 

Favorite Foods: any kind of toast, mini bagels, smoothies, eggs, yogurt, melon, strawberries, pineapple (he loves this), apples, applesauce, red/orange pepper, asparagus, peanut butter and jelly, mac and cheese, fish sticks, chips, pears, oranges, cookies, donuts, ice cream, raisins, cashews, lunch meat, chicken (fried, nuggets, pulled etc.), pepperoni, and PIZZA!

*should also be noted that he LOVES all kinds of dipping sauce – Ranch, ketchup, hummus, BBQ, guacamole etc.

(eating breakfast and loving all the melons!)

Favorite Words:  sleeping, singing, dancing, ZOO, mommy, daddy, ti-ti, grandpa, mims, kangaroo, crocodile, elephant, giraffe, zebra (can you tell we talk about Zoo animals a lot?, go bucks, cray cray (crazy), walking, snowing, raining, windy, down there, up there, basement, peeky (for our cat), pepe (for his penguin), bed, no, mine, digger, trucks, books, wake up

** lots of small sentences and phrases

***still lots of mimicking what we say and the intonation of our words/phrases

(LOVES to identify his letter "M")

Favorite Activities: going down the slide (that resides in our living room), playing hide and seek (with us or with an object), playing with his animals, carting pepe around, watching Mickey Mouse clubhouse and Daniel Tiger, cooking in his kitchen (especially with the pizza and toppings, and pretend pouring into cups), loves helping with anything (bed making, dishes in the dishwasher, setting the table, cleaning with paper towels, and switching over the laundry, he also loves to take all his stuffed animals out and cover them with every single one of his blankets, playing in his tent, building with blocks, and playing with his farm/animals.

(conquering snow mountain!)

Least Favorite Activity: anytime you tell him no or to stop something he’s doing (i.e. we don’t throw toys that hurts causes immediate tears), sharing (sometimes), diaper changes (sometimes), and coming inside when he’s playing in the snow.

Favorite Things: Daniel Tiger, Mickey Mouse (and the hot dog dance), any cell phone and watching videos of himself, Pepe the penguin, his play kitchen, his slide/plastic fort (that typically goes outside but we decide to move it in for the winter, Megablocks, trains, stickers, and all his plastic (but very realistic looking) animals.

(working on a special canvas)

(started music class again with Wee Joy Sing)

Signature Moves:  running into his tent and saying “I sleeping” and then popping his eyes open and saying “wake up”, can be coerced into putting his coat on with the promise of going outside, dipping all food into a sauce, still loves to say “I dump it out” and then doing so, naming all the Mickey Mouse club house characters when they introduce them on the show, buckling himself into the highchair, climbing onto anything and everything, putting a sticker down and then demanding you take it back up, sitting but only for a short time for a story, indicating who should do something (usually sounds like “mommy do it” or “grandpa do it”), busting in when you are trying to go to the bathroom (do mommies ever get any privacy??), holding hands in the car, and demanding what songs you sing and who sings them in the car (i.e. mommy sing!).

(cooking in the kitchen!)

Mom’s Proudest Moment:  Surviving a couple nights just the two of us (while Daddy was at a memorial service in California). It was hard, but not terrible.

Dad’s Proudest Moment:  All his new words and how good he's getting at talking!

(thinks that trying on mommy's boots is SO FUN!)

(brought our slide/fort indoors for some more fun!)

(stickers and more stickers!)

Other Milestones:

Another haircut in the books – this time lots of hair was on the floor before we were done, but it’s still curly (so Mama is happy!)

Two biting incidents at school (unfortunately he is the biter) and then consequently the he official introduction of “time out”

Using so many words to convey what he wants

Stressing SHARING constantly

Only uses paci for sleep (no more day time use or even car use)

Can sing the ABC’s

Can count (this blows my mind) from 1-10

Knows phrases of songs (i.e. Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall)

Started music class at Wee Joy Sing (again)

Survived two big snow falls – and loved playing in it!

Getting very good at following directions

Can identify lots of animals and make their sounds!

(post hair cut)

Dear Max, 

This month was full of ups and downs as we near the terrible twos.  You get frustrated quickly as you navigate sharing (sharing of your toys, space, and attention from adults).  However, as your vocabulary increases, we are able to figure out more and more of what you want. Your tantrums and fits were tempered with sweet moments as well - you are quick to demand us to "look!".  We look at your towers, your art wall, your cooking, what you have climbed on, at all of your animals...and your enthusiasm for all things is contagious and so sweet. You love to hold hands and sings songs. You developed a real affection for mommy this month - making it a little difficult to leave school in the morning and get anything accomplished in the evening.  For this reason, Daddy has taken over lots of the cooking and cleaning up - and is being a good sport.  Even though you are looking more and more like a little boy - I know that you will always be our little baby. 

We love you so!!

xoxo, 

Mommy and Daddy

While Daddy's Away...

It would seem I'm falling a bit behind on the blog - but alas - I didn't want you to miss

out on the exciting details of our weekend - which was actually two weekends ago - which was actually the weekend Papa Rob was in California for FOUR nights!  Yeowza!  

I hate, hate, HATE staying by myself, but managed to do so for two nights until 

Grandmim came to stay for the weekend. 

While Papa was away, we occupied our time with...

you guessed it, lots of COFFEE!  

(well just on Mama's part and in my new donut mug!)

We also managed to get out every toy that Max has ever owned 

in the history of EVER. I tried to teach him about colors 

and how awesome rainbow organization is...but

he was all like, no thanks mom, I would rather dump

everything out and laugh like a maniac. 

Trying to straighten up while he is still playing 

is basically a lost cause. 

By Friday evening, I think we were both going a little nutso - 

thank goodness Grandmim arrived and treated us to a little Jason's deli

and fro yo (that's frozen yogurt for all you novices). 

Max loves Jason's Deli, mostly for the fro yo - which he eats

copious amounts of and ALL BY HIMSELF. 

He mostly wants to do all things all.by.himself. 

Heaven forbid you would try to buckle him

into the high chair or car seat..I mean he's 20 months old - 

clearly ready to do all tasks on his own. 

Strong willed much?

Auntie Stacy also joined us on Friday night for a little 

dance party on the paper which involves all of us singing

"Go Maxwell, Go Maxwell go!" over and over again

while he works it out on the paper dance floor. 

Auntie Stacy is also the creator of the bath time drum

(I'm completely in favor of any bath time

illusion that will get him willingly into the bath).

What is the bath time drum you ask? 

Well it's a wash cloth stretched over a 

bucket that then you can pour water on, rest your toys on etc.

Safe to say Max's mind was blown.

Why don't I ever think of these things?

Saturday morning - jammies, barn yard fun, and all the coffee. 

Even though I'm 33, I still manage to convince myself that

every creeper, pervert, stalker, weirdo etc. in the Lower Powell area

will somehow know that I'm home alone and burgle (again, that's burglarize for you

novices) our house while I'm home alone.  Therefore I toss and turn all night

and occasionally reach down and pat the baseball bat I have stored under the bed

for security reasons (obvi) - just to make sure I'm prepared. 

Have I ever swung a baseball bat effectively?  No. 

But the creeps don't know that!

After I reached my threshold of playing with our toys at home 

(which was very likely about two hours after we started playing) - 

we hopped in the car for a make up music class

and last minute trip to the Franklin Park Conservatory. 

The conservatory was decked out in orchids this time. 

They were stunning.  Truly. 

I have never managed to be able to keep 

an orchid alive (even the ones that come with a tag that reads  - "feed me three 

ice cubes a week" and I will live despite your black thumb! not true.) - but

these ones were pretty perfect. 

Max was happy to snack on his pretzels in the stroller for a bit

and we also ended up eating lunch there before heading home.

At home, he took an epic nap that Grandmim arrived in the middle of, 

leaving me just enough time to get my hair blown out and my dress and heels

on (oh, you fancy, huh?!) for our employee recognition dinner. 

I was recognized for my TEN years of service to the Zoo

and even got a hug from Jack Hanna!

We ate dinner, drank (I had the salamander slime drink - which went 

down a little too easy), tried to win some raffle prizes, and even 

watched a comedian/magician. 

My co-workers are pretty awesome too - so we all 

posed for a picture under the sea (like ya do). 

Sunday morning dawned and we headed our for our weekly

donut date at Krispy Kreme with Mim.  Then, we made our way 

down to the Art Museum to enjoy the last day of the Lego display. 

The museum is free on Sundays and actually has a lot of toddler

friendly areas!  Max loved climbing in the tree house, building with the 

tree cookie blocks, and looking for Lego "guys"

Monday was a homeschool day with Mim - which 

resulted in Max getting to say in his pajamas ALL day. 

He was in heaven! It had also snowed quite a lot - 

so they made a snow man with button eyes, and a carrot nose!

It was waiting for me on the porch when I got home. 

All in all - we survived (though I'm not ready to do it again any time soon). 

I'm thankful for the additional help, thankful Papa Rob made it home

safe, and thankful for coffee and fro yo forever and ever. 

XOxo