Feeding time at the zoo

Max got his first taste of solid food this afternoon, a mush blend of bland rice cereal. The results were mixed. As you can tell from the photo and video below, he was both interested, perplexed and disgusted.

I think he's holding out for a good burger!

Let's eat!

Max's 4-Month Check-Up

Here are the vitals from another good doctor's visit:

Weight - 13lbs 1oz (25th percentile)
Length - 25-1/4" (60th percentile!)
Head Size - 42.4cm (50th percentile)
Shots - 2
Best Quote - Dr. Longo while checking his legs: "Man, he is strong!"

Max Greene, fashion consultant

I was officially initiated into fatherhood this morning. Max, apparently not liking the shirt I spent 20 minutes ironing, spit up on me about 30-seconds before I was about to head out the door for work.

But really, how could I be mad at that cute face?!

Take Max Out to the Ballgame

As you probably could've guessed, Max has already seen his fair share of Mariners games in his four months. He's been to 9 games and owns an impressive 7-2 record and has reeled off five wins in a row. I have little doubt that he's the reason the Mariners are only 2-1/2 games out of first and breathing down the necks of the Angels and Rangers.

He'll go for win #8 tomorrow.

Oh, and his impressive record has earned him a trip to the All-Star Game in St. Louis. Stay tuned, sports fans, for news and photos from the Midsummer Classic and Max's first plane trip coming July 10th!

It's my first Father's Day and I have a 4-month old son

For those of you who have known me for any length of time (say 20 minutes), you know how much it means for me to write the above subject line.

Elisa claims, and she's probably right (in fact, we're teaching Max that she's always right) that on our first date I mentioned to her my desire to be a dad. Now, that wasn't a pick-up line. Most women would've taken it as a sign to find the first opportunity to end the date. Elisa didn't pull the rip cord on our evening. Instead, I think she understood how much someday being a dad meant to me. Between now and then, we've skipped a few steps along the way, and put the proverbial cart before the horse. Although, you can see from the hundreds of adorable pictures of Max posted here on the Grape that it has worked out pretty well for us.

And meeting Max four months ago today worked out better than I could have ever dreamed. I wish I could put down in words how happy he makes me. I'm sure any parent reading this can relate. Despite his fussy and uber-fussy moments, Max is the closest thing I've seen to perfection in my life.

Last Father's Day our V.P. of Human Resources passed out blue carnations to staff members who were dads. When she came into the Control Room, where I work, to hand them out, she looked around and verbally made note of each of the fathers. "Steve's a dad, Frank's a dad, Gregg's not a dad..." That hurt. I came home and told Elisa, who by now really knew how much I wanted to be a dad, what had occurred. She comforted me and told me someday it would happen. Who knew that at the time Elisa was already pregnant?

Now, one year later I will go to the game with my 4-month old son and a blue carnation. It will indeed be a happy Father's Day.

Max shows his range...

...of emotions. Loie and Adriane got a first hand look at Max's ability to go from happy to sad in no time flat.

And yes, that dark stain around his neck is all drool. That's another one of the little man's talents right now.

The weekend that was

Whenever the Mariners are on the road, it's time to get out and enjoy some time with the fam. Here are a few highlights from our recent homestand:

Friday afternoon happy hour at the Tasting Room in Pike Place Market. Max is hailing the waitress for a refill on his '78 Chateau Lafite.

Don't drink and drool.

Daddy points out his old stomping grounds, the Alibi Room.

Seattle's famous "Gum Wall" and every germaphobe's worst nightmare. Don't worry, we bathed Max in Purell after just looking at it.

One little happy family.

Max attempting to get his arm up to the elbow in his mouth. I think my boy is part python.

Saturday night bbq with Cindy & Brian's 8-month old, Finn.

"Seriously, let's blow this popsicle stand and go find us some ponies."

Max's neighbor grandmas attempt to get him to shut up go to sleep.

...and scene.

Happy Anniversary, Grandma & Grandpa Greene!

Thanks for protecting me from from that Coors-wielding dude in this picture. Oh, and thanks for being awesome.

I do impressions

Here's my Elvis.

The Grape returns to his homeland

Max is on a roll