Spectacular Seven!

Sunday Max was officially 7 months old (4 months adjusted). We were busy with traveling home from Nashville so didn't get to catch you up. We spent the weekend in Nashville visiting family, shopping, golfing (John), and going to Max's first football game. Max rooted on the Vanderbilt Commodores for about an hour before heading back to get tucked in for the night. John's parents have season tickets and that's how they met Colleen Reilly, a nurse practitioner at the Children's Hospital. Max was her patient for a few weeks in April. It was so great to see her Saturday night. I think she really enjoyed seeing how well Max is growing and getting to hold him too!

Without further ado, info about this month in little man's life:
Max is a VERY social baby. He "talks" often. With all the people he visited with this month, he at least gave a smile to each one (if not also some enthusiastic coos). When he goes shopping with me I get a lot of comments about how "bright-eyed" he is. He is also willing to be held by friends and family alike. Just watch out for random spit-up! Great Uncle Mike got a present all over his arm and shoe when he was holding Max this month!



Max's last weigh in was 13 pounds, 6 ounces. His growth has slowed, but his doctor said that typically happens around 6 months. I think he burns a lot more calories with his activities!
Max's calorie-burning activities include some serious jump time in his jumperoo, bumbo sitting, assisted standing, toy-grabbing, and LUNGING for anything that catches his eye. His favorite "toy"? The TV remote in the kitchen. Almost as soon as you enter the room, he spots the remote, leans his entire body towards it, arms spread wide. He could push the buttons forever.
Maxwell wears 3-6 month clothes. They're still a little large on him, but we make it work. He still wears a combination of sizes 1 and 2 in diapers.

His hat size is 6-12 months. The kid has a big noggin. It's a cute noggin though. It may look bald in most pictures, but he really does have hair. His hair is still pretty blond, but some family members think it is getting darker. The giant bald spot on the back of Max's head is finally sprouting! Hooray!

Max has met his first baby friends. He "played" with Grayson, Aubrey, Addison, and Conner. At the Hasenour house, Max was the youngest. He was fascinated with the other babies, watching them play sitting unassisted or walk.
The newest sound in Max's repertoire is "bbbbb" (think motor noises). One book described this as "razzing." It cracks me up how serious Max is when he makes his new sound. And he doesn't quit quickly, preferring to "razz" until his chin is thick with bubbles.


Max continues to think his daddy is hysterical. A little baby talk can go a long way when it comes from John's mouth. I also discovered that some goofy dancing from mom can also illicit some belly laughs.

I'll leave you with a few of Max's 6 month photos, taken by C-rich Photography.

Lions and Tigers and RSV, oh my!

Maxwell had his 6 month check up last week. The doctor said all looks well and though Max is small for his age (duh!) he is growing appropriately. The big discussion was about RSV. RSV is a common respiratory illness that looks much like a cold. However, when preemies contract RSV they can be severely ill and could be hospitalized. Since Max is in a high risk group he may be eligible for a vaccine. The best thing we can do for him though is to keep him home away from all the coughy, sneezy people this winter. This will likely drive me stir crazy, but will, of course, be worth it. We'll just need some healthy visitors to help Max learn about people and Mommy stay sane. Come on over!

Okay, now the fun story. Max went to the zoo for the first time! It was a wonderful, overcast Sunday morning in Nashville. We had driven down Saturday, making the unfortunate mistake of forgetting the stroller. Hmmm, how to get around the zoo without a stroller or the baby carrier...? Mommy to the rescue! I remembered an email advertising a baby gear rental company for families traveling with a young 'un. I called Babies Away in Nashville and paid a whopping $6.55 for a weekend with a rented stroller. I scrubbed that sucker with Clorox, soap, water and then ended up putting a pillow case over the seat. NICU momma= germaphobe.

Happy baby in his borrowed stroller

Max had a great time at the zoo. I considered the trip a success if (a) he didn't scream and cry the majority of the time (b) he looked at 1 or 2 animals with interest. Two for two! John joked that we were really going to the zoo for my benefit. But Max really did look at the animals. He just happened to be more interested in the people! Here are a few snapshots of our outing!

Adult macaws weigh 3-4 pounds, bigger than newborn Max!

Max and I greet a meerkat

Mugging in front of some monkeys

Daddy gives Max a better view of the ring-tailed lemurs

Dreaming about his new animal friends

"Whoa! Is that a red panda?"

Taking a break in the bamboo forest

The Hunt Family (and the giraffes)

"I don't wanna leave!"
(Max models his new Nashville Zoo hat and galloping zebra while lamenting his zoo departure)