The Hauer Family

It happened. My first “my baby is all grown up” moment — we’ve moved to solid food — well, if one can call tablespoons of milk with a few flakes of rice cereal mixed in it “solid”.

Delicacy: Earth’s Best Organic Rice Cereal

Date: 10.2.11

Place: the Stothard house, after Sunday dinner

Other grown-up moments since the last report-out:

– No longer content to just hang out on his back, he immediately tries to roll-over. This usually leads to being on his tummy, otherwise he just hangs out on his side. so far the movement of choice is “roll to the left”

– Now recognizes Molly. Instead of ignorance when Molly licks his hand or just stares at him for uncomfortable amounts of time (anyone who knows our Molly has been subject to this “love”), Molly is now showered with a smile and some giggles.

– Crying for strangers. I don’t think I’ve got a mama’s boy (just yet), but he now notices when he is in different surroundings and with different people. Usually its 2 minutes of screaming (“Mom, we’re not at home, do you realize that, where the heck did you take me and why are these people touching me”) and then all is right with the world again.

And some pictures to remind me he is a baby 🙂

at the St. James Art Fair

all cozy

for the first of the month.

It’s been a little over 4 months since May 17. Say wha?!?

Official stats:

12 lbs. 14 oz.

24″ long

16-1/4 head circumference

All of which put him in the 10-25th percentile…

*Awww he's just a little guy*

A cute little guy in his smedium onesie.

We are slowly entering the rolling over phase — he can do it, but doesn’t automatically do it when we set him down (I secretly enjoy this, it’s like the “stay” command). No teeth. A killer smile. And, according to the Doc, he is doing “exactly what I want him to do” – she sure knows how to make first-time parents feel good 🙂

The main takeaway, we can start feeding him rice cereal if we wish. But, since he goes about 8-9 hours at night between feedings, its not a must. The Doc didn’t appreciate my substitution of prenatal vitamins with Cadbury chocolate — but in England, I assure you Cadbury’s is a vitamin. So there. In all seriousness, I am so thankful that he seems to be thriving on being EBF and we don’t have to supplement. During the first week, I didn’t think I’d be able to make it one more hour never mind 4 months.

mom, the meatloaf.

He’s worth all the fuss.

Written September 2011. Found hidden in the “drafts” — published January 2013.

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I’ve gone back to work, we’re both surviving. This is what it usually looks like before I leave in the morning. Yes, that is 5 bags.

• diaper bag with the essentials
• bag with the cloth diapers, burp cloths, blankets
• the pump
• my computer bag
• purse
• the Bumbo seat

Not to mention this precious cargo.

Jack spends his days with his Nana Pauline and he loves every minute of it. I hear there is singing and reading and cuddling and talking (lots of talking) — who wouldn’t enjoy that? Perhaps the best thing about working is coming home…I get the smile of recognition when I go to pick him up — it may just be the best kind of smile – ever.

things that make me smile:

flying above my Dad’s head.

when we sing “If you’re happy and you know it”.

bathtime.

talking, i never stop talking.

my feet in my mouth.

when mom and dad say “good morning”.

And my birthday.

No, not that kind of labor. The capital “L” kind: the weekend kind; where people come to visit, college football takes over and mother nature decides to mess with you. We went from 105 degrees on Saturday to 65 degrees on Sunday – to a shopping trip to Kohl’s to purchase long-sleeve outfits on Monday. For all of our lovely benefactors out there, Jack is now in 6 month clothing. Weighed in today at: 13.2 lbs. He is long and lean with the exception of the cloth diaper that, quite frankly, ruins his svelte figure.

Labor Day Weekend was full of firsts for little man.

1. Meeting our bestest friends Kim and Brandon. They adjusted quite well to a baby in our mix — they were both flexible and accommodating — two qualities that are musts when visiting the +1 Hauer household. We managed to combine our usual shenanigans with “baby time” quite effortlessly. Glasses of wine and choruses of “If you are happy and you know it…”, Euchre tournaments and readings of Moo Baa Laa Laa Laa, eating bacon, chili dip, Wild Eggs and, well, eating some more.

And, we’re pretty sure Molly was asking to go back to Chicago with them. Thanks for showing the “first-born” some love and taking her on a walk Kim!

2. Great-Uncle Jeff came to visit for a few short hours — and lured the Hauers of Cincinnati down as well. (yes, Kim and Brandon braved this visit like only true friends could — thank you!). And, as always, he and Sally were so thoughtful and brought Jack a gift.

"Cause every boy needs a bucket hat." - Uncle Jeff

So sweet. It came with a matching bib as well — much needed considering little man’s affinity for excessive drooling. (please don’t let there be teeth). And a stuffed monkey for our little monkey.

the Hauer men

3. Jack’s first Buckeye game — and our first without our fearless sweater-vest wearing leader, Mr. Jim Tressel. Thankfully, it was a W for the books. And, the hollering and carrying-on didn’t wake him as he napped through kick-off.

love the bumbo. love the bucks.

And, with that the 3-day weekend came to a close. We are spent.

August 28: our first time leaving you in the nursery at church. You were sleeping when we got there, so like the novices we are, we just put you and your carseat in a corner and left. Just left. Didn’t let the unsuspecting ladies know that you are a cloth-diapered child, a first-born that is used to undivided attention, preferably while being held. And, perhaps the most disturbing part: we forgot to tell them where to find your pacifier. #parentingfail

Despite the fact that he looks like he cried his eyes out for an hour – which I’m certain he did – the lovely girls who watched him insisted he was adorable. Truer southern words haven’t been spoken when I say “bless their hearts” 🙂

We’ll do better next time, Jack.

It’s been three months. Already.

I’m beginning to wish we had taken these *month* pictures whilst he was laying on his back! This was captured in that sweet window of time between a bath and the screaming that lets you know it’s bedtime.

Jack, at 3 months old: you still like being held, but are now very comfortable sleeping in your own crib; you love bath time, but I think it’s mainly cause you like being naked and when you are awake you are usually talking and smiling. You are such an alert little man with and can make quite the furrowed brow. You are 11 lbs 12 oz — still lean, but working on a couple of thigh rolls I’m sure of it.

The birthday boy received a Bumbo seat. And Mom and Dad enjoyed Fiesta Time.

Happy Birthday little man!

It seems I’m always too late to capture the giggly, happy boy that hangs out with Dad. By the time I get the camera, focus it and snap the shot… well…

He’s still pretty darn cute.

This is what 12 weeks looks like.

Well, let’s be honest, it mostly looks like this…oral fixation and all.

Such a milestone for the little man and me: not only is today his 12 week birthday, but today is the last day of my maternity leave.

Instead of sitting at home waiting for the crying to start, we’ve kept ourselves busy. Lunch at Wild Eggs with Johanna, Shareen and Val. Then, there was the afternoon Starbucks date with Mom, Laura and Holly — Jack still doesn’t enjoy coffee, here’s hoping he appreciates the sugar-loaded iced tea lemonade I had instead.

And since today is the last day of maternity leave, I thought it would be a great time to get Jack into a *new* routine, Dr. Sears style, — you know, so Mom can perfect it when I’m not around. Thanks Mom! So, today we have practiced napping in our crib. And, with the aid of strategically placed rolled up blankets, the swaddle and the pacifier, day 1 is in the books as a success. And tonight is the perfect night to start a bedtime routine.

Maternity leave, in all your re-run glory, you have been good to me. Sure, I have not taken nearly enough pictures of me with my little man, nor have I taken as many morning strolls as I would have liked (it’s been too hot, right?!?), nor can I fit into my pre-maternity dress pants. But, I have watched the entire 30 Rock catalog on Netflix, watched more documentaries on kids in New York City (ballroom dancing, competing for culinary scholarships to name a couple), played lots of Euchre on the iPhone and visited Target more than my credit card wants to admit. I have also successfully completed the following house projects: moved my baking pans and cutting boards to another cupboard, painted 1 coat of the firebox (Bill finished it), and…and…and…well, that seems to be about it. That is if you discount the mounds of laundry, the dinners cooked, the number of times I’ve moved the bouncy seat and activity mat to their “proper spots” (so I can pretend that a baby hasn’t taken over the house) and the 5,000 thank-you notes I’ve sent out. Oh, and being the milk lady.

Ah, 12 weeks, you are infinitely shorter than 3 months.

I’m going to try to keep an open mind and not go running back home as soon as I cross the threshold at P5 tomorrow, i.e. approximately 8:31 am.

Though, I have thought about calling in sick.