Teepees, Hoses and Hormones

Miranda and Max left me in Ohio to go to Utah on Friday to spend some time with Miranda's parents and to get some additional rest.  In their absence, I do have more disposable time with which I though I'd do a little update.  

Max is doing very well.  We went in for his two week appointment (a few days early, though, so Miranda could leave for Utah) to find that the little guy had gained 9 oz. in about 5 days, putting him up to 6 lb. 10 oz. Finally back up to (and over) his birth weight, gone are the days that we have to wake him every 2 hours to feed.  

Max does have an unbelievable ability to sleep.  His parents very much appreciate that.  A trait of his that his parents do not appreciate quite as much is his unbelievable ability to discern when he has no or a clean diaper.  Frequent are the times (and most seem to be at 3:00 am) when we have changed Max for no more than 2 minutes when he feels what must be an innate desire to again let loose.  

Additionally, our experience at the airport can also illustrate.  We wanted to change him right before Miranda boarded.  I didn't want to take him into the bathroom, because I'm a germ-a-phobe, and I was already nervous enough about having him travel and being out in public so young.  So we put a blanket down on the waiting area seats off in a corner and started the process.

Now, we have been warned about the danger of changing baby boys' diapers.  And we've even learned by sad experience that it is helpful have something covering the boy--something like a teepee, we had sometimes heard.  I thought I could be the exception.  I thought I would be fast enough.  I thought my son could be above that.  But what happened proved me wrong:

Use your imagination.  Oh the joys of little boys.

Miranda is also recovering well.  Before she left, I was having to force her to rest and to not do chores around the house.  Now, at her parents', the temptation to help is hopefully lessened.  

I cannot go without noting, however, the significant hormonal changes that must have occurred.  Someone did something to my heart-of-steel wife.  That woman is someone of the past.  Things have just inexplicably changed.  Before, I could not evoke even one measly sympathetic tear out of this rock-of-a-woman even at times when I confess undying love like, say, when I proposed marriage.  Now, on the other hand, I might encounter this type of exchange:

I'm baffled.  For now, I'll take it.  Anyway, enjoy more pictures of our new best friend, Max, courtesy of our friend Paige: