Baby Pork Chop

So as I sit and type before you tonight, I wonder why I haven't updated you more in the last 2 weeks. What a crazy 2 weeks it has been. Here is what I know that you may or may not, depending on who your family insider is. If your insider can be traced back to me, then you are in desperate need of this update. If your insider falls on Nicole's side of the parenting tree, then this is all an old news, and I'd appreciate your bearing with me while I stumble through the list of achievements that my sweet Baby Pork chop has accomplished in the past few weeks.

1. It's a tooth! One has poked through all shiny, white and sharp. And while the tooth is relatively new, him using it on my fingers is getting relatively old. It's still funny to watch him bite down on fingers to test it out. And, yes, it is sharp. Who knew baby teeth were so sharp? He's practically a great white, except his eyes don't roll back in his head when he bites you, and I guess he can't really swim yet, but, he can definitely smell blood, and he will attack. Just fyi for your own protection.

2. He can roll over! And honestly, he's been doing it a while now. What the hell Max? Mom and dad are ALWAYS the ones that get to see new tricks! Otherwise we have to make stuff up just to feel like real parents. But yeah, so he can roll over. We heard he could about 2 or 3 months ago from daycare, but we were sceptical, thinking they just said that so they could let him sleep on his stomach. Then my mom and dad saw it. Then, mom forced Max to show us. He cried and whimpered while she was trying to get him to show us. He yelled and hollered, then, like an old pro, he swung his head around and flipped on his back with a big grin! Then 1 minute later he's back on his stomach for round 2, and he swings his head the other way! So, apparently after he rolled over the first time, he was pretty sure that his secret trick was out. So he threw us a bone by going the other way. He's sooooo in trouble (in 15 years).

3. His 6 month check-up shows these stats: 90% in height. 60% in weight. 0.1% in wimpiness.

4. Now that he's over 6 months old, we can start feeding him some real food. We started with peas, which he didn't mind... spreading all over his body. (see pic below). But really, he didn't mind them, at least until we fed him bananas 1 week later. Now he definitely likes bananas and definitely doesn't like peas. Can't say I blame him really. Most people have the same preference. And yes, I do realize that once candy hits his lips, all food prior will take the proverbial "back seat". Well aware. One downside to real food that lots of parents have warned me about are the "new" dirty diapers. Apparently, for a lot of parents, once real food enters the scene, the current state of poop smell exits, and it gets replaced by some horrid resemblance. Now, I haven't quite experienced this replacement first hand, yet, but I have warned Nicole that should things get worse, all bets will then be off.

So, yeah, what a crazy 2 weeks it's been. I'm starting to realize what other parents say about time flying by. Just 3 weeks ago Max couldn't roll-over (to my knowledge), still had his all gummy smile and was on an all liquid diet. No he's practically bringing girls home for us to meet! Almost wish I had a rewind button already.

In case you were wondering about the "baby pork chop" thing, that's what we've been calling him lately. Really we've just been calling him "pork chop". We've got a few nicknames for him, but that is the one we've been using lately, because everybody comments on how big he is. We do switch it up from time to time. Here's some that we've either discussed or thought about using. Let me know what you think. Or if you'd like to add to the list for consideration, please feel free.

• Bitey
• Chewie
• Smiley
• Slimer
• Diaper Dan
• Dr. Doeslittle
• Insomnimax
• Pepe La Pees-a-lot

Christmas Pictures

4 years and a baby

For those that read Nicole's blog, you have already realized that last Thursday was our anniversary. Fortunately for me, I realized that well before Thursday. 4 years of marriage has now turned our 2-fer into a 3-fer, with baby Maddox joining the circle of trust this year. Well... almost joining the circle of trust. Baby chunk needs a little lesson in discretion. Telling his mom about the "Which toys melt faster" seminar I teach every Friday should always be on the down low, son. Always.


So, yeah. 4 years and a baby. I can't believe it has been 4 years and even more amazing, that I am a father. I have truly been blessed. A stunning, go-getter of a wife and a scrappy, handsome, go-gettem of a son. It's good times like these that make you worried for the bad times. Sometimes I worry too much about the balance of life, like are these good times going to be met with equally bad, bad times. Am I riding really high now because times are about to get really low? Am I about to find out that I was adopted? Am I the little boy version of Orphan Annie, minus the billionaire parent to look after me for all time? Or, is something more hard-hitting lurking on the horizon. Am I about to grow out of my love-affair with sports and into a love-affair with fashion? I have been dressing better lately! Regardless of what the future brings, right now life is beautiful. And no matter what the circumstances may be, I hope I can look back and remember how great I have it now. Because now is amazing. I love you Maddox. I love you babe.


So, now let me tell you about my son. He is changing so fast now that my head is spinning. He tries to talk a lot now. He joins the conversations Nicole, JJ and I are having, with very valid points, albeit, very liberal points, but valid nonetheless. He talks while the TV is on, while it's off. He talks in Church and out. He even talks to me, while Nicole is trying to nurse him and put him to bed. This is probably my favorite thing going now. So, he's nursing, Nicole and I are talking quietly, almost whispering. He hears my voice and then detaches, turns his head to look at me, and starts making noises like he's saying "What's up dad!" "Check this out". Then he turns back and nurses for a few seconds, detaches again, and turns to talk to me some more. It's so hilarious. Because when he's talking, he's just making noises. But he's making pretty much the same noise, but subtly moving his tongue, because that's what he's seen us do. Oh man it's great. I'll try to catch it on video for everyone... the talking, obviously... not the nursing.


Size wise, he's a tank. I've been doing curls with him. He likes it, and it is good exercise for me. He doesn't have any teeth yet, but he drools a lot. Everything he gets his hands on goes straight to his mouth. Hands, toys, sugar packets, you name it. This weekend, weather was great. So, naturally, warmer weather means that he should have some quality time without socks, because honestly, it's been awhile. Only now, without socks, Maddox (just this weekend) found that his big toe is the perfect pacifier. In my mind, this makes him a few things. 1. Unbelievably flexible and 2. Unbelievably innovative. Apparently the logic goes: Real pacifiers are too hard to keep track of. So they get lost. So they are temporary. But a big toe? Now, big toes are forever baby.


And just so everybody knows, I've made a commitment to myself in New Year's resolution form to update more often. Now that work has slowed and that the holidays are over, I really hope to get back into the swing of things. Although, my lackadaisical attitude about blogging has probably lost all the readers of this blog now, so, hmm... maybe I won't. Maybe this blog will become my own personal conversation with myself. That could be fun. But it would get old waiting for updates, so, maybe not.