Maverick's 4 month check up

Maverick had his 4 month check up this morning. He did great! He did plenty of smiling and giggling and was completely relaxed during all of the meausuring/weighing/checking-ness that goes on in those appointments. He has had a pretty rattling cough for about 6 or 7 weeks now. You can hear it when he sleeps, breathes, coughs, etc. There have never been any other symptoms or signs of sickness, so that's good. The doc told me that he thinks it's related to how gaggy/reflexy he is. (Like all of my proper medical
terminology?) He is a happy baby. Nothing seems to distress or discourage him. We are very blessed, and his smile is absolutely infectious. I love my little warrior!

Maverick Glen

Weight: 12 pounds 13 ounces (2nd percentile)

Height: 24 1/4 inches (6th percentile)

Head Circumference: 40.5 cm (10th percentile)

and yes...he still sleeps a lot :)

1st Grade Picture

Remember THIS gem? Me too. I still pull it up and look at it probably once a week. It makes me laugh (in the best way possible) every.single.time. This year's picture, although it doesn't invoke the same reaction is definitely a keeper! He loves the camera and isn't afraid to smile. I sure do love this not-so-little munchkin. 

Brayden is excelling in school and I've actually heard him say that he wishes his teacher would speak in Spanish even more, since he doesn't feel he is being challenged enough. Ha. Love him! 

Cool Stuff

I've been meaning to blog about Saturday, September 21, for awhile but haven't found the time. Now, 2 weeks later, I'm finally doing it :)

There was an all day CERT field exercise out at the TVF&R Training Center in Sherwood. I really wanted to go but didn't want to leave Maverick all day. I emailed the guy heading it up and he said "Bring your baby along! He'd be there in real life and we're practicing for real life!" So...I did :)  Maverick and I had so much fun! He was doted on and ended up being dubbed the "youngest CERT member". We both worked hard that day! Me on my radio, and him sleeping away in the Ergo front pack. While we were debriefing at the end of the day (which was fun and successful!) I had Maverick laying on the chair next to me and was tickling his sides. He laughed!! He had a big smile on his face and sound came out and it was beautiful. I'm so grateful for the novelty that never wears off when your baby does something for the first time. First smile. First laugh. First time he rolls over. It is such an amazing experience. Maverick is an amazingly good baby. He's happy and content and he sleeps decently well and eats like a champ. He's growing and is healthy. I have no complaints about him whatsoever. But that giggle still just melted me. He has laughed several times since that, and each time I just die. (in a good way.) He is so precious!!

While Mack and I were gone, Sean took the older 3 boys on the 4T trail. It's Trail, Trolly, Tram, Train. They were gone for 6 hours, hiked 3 miles, and took lots of pictures. They had a blast and the occasional rainfall only added to their fun adventure. He sure does know how to have fun with them!

On the Tuesday, the 24th, I was able to successfully run my first post-baby mile! I did it in 11:22. It was hard. But it was soooo liberating! I had the biggest high afterwards. I maybe shed a tear or two. This run was so symbolic of so many things. The steroids and withdrawals no longer had the ability to hold me back. I have the strength and mind power to start on this journey of health and being fit. I have been really struggling these past couple months with my self-esteem. I feel like I'm in a fat suit. I usually can jump out of my post baby body pretty quickly, but this time I only gained weight after he was born. I didn't have the joint strength or stamina to get out and exercise, and the steroids still messed up my sleep, appetite, and blood sugar levels. 2 days later I ran the exact same mile but I did it in 11 minutes flat. Such a blessing to be able to get back into running! I feel like a new chapter in my life is unfolding.

Asher's 21 Questions

In a tempt at making a tradition actually a tradition, I asked Asher these questions to see how much he's changed since the last time we did this!

1. What is your favorite color? dark blue
2. What is your favorite toy? My capes and my mask, and my vampire teeth. And my laser fingers.
3. What is your favorite fruit? canteloupe
4. What is your favorite TV show? Superman
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? the white macaroni
6. What is your favorite outfit? my capes and my mask
7. What is your favorite game? *shakes his head* I don't know! That game where you disappear to jail (Monopoly.)
8. What is your favorite snack? graham crackers
9. What is your favorite animal? snakes
10. What is your favorite song? "I don't want to answer that one."
11. What is your favorite book? The Biggest Bear, when Dad uses his Toby voice.
12. Who is your best friend? Baron and Tommy
13. What is your favorite cereal? Frosted mini wheats
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with friends and ride my bike
15. What is your favorite drink? Juice
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My teddy bear.
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Aebelskiver
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? White Macaroni and Cheese
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a cowboy and a snowboarder
21. What is your favorite thing to do inside? Play Monopoly! (He's never even played Monopoly so I have no idea where this is coming from!)

We love you Asher Briggs!

Happy 5th Birthday Asher!

You turned 5 today! I can't believe how grown up you are! You are growing into this funny, active, smart, daring, happy little man, and I couldn't be more proud. You definitely have opinions, and keep us on our feet, but you make us laugh and smile so often. You have this light and spirit about you that is unexplainable but is so attractive. You LOVE life, and you LIVE life. Every day you ask "What are we doing that's fun?" and if we have nothing "fun" planned for the day, you make your own fun.

We've gone without any screen time since the beginning of August. You (and your brothers) haven't watched shows or movies or played video games on the phone or computer or x-box. This has been the best thing that we have done as a family. Your imagination has erupted. You find joy in the littlest things. You've built several of forts, drawn dozens of pictures, painted, cut, stapled, glued, sculpted a myriad of little projects using fun materials like popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners. I constantly have new art work hanging on my fridge and am almost daily brought a new paper cut out, of a heart, or a crown, or a flower. You are obsessed with wearing masks and capes. Not to be any superhero in particular, but just to be in disguise is so fun for you. You love flying around and saving the world. 

You watch your older brother doing his homework and are so excited to get out and do your homework too. You work for hours beside him working in your pre-k workbook. All of the sudden know how to read. "S-T-O-P. That says stop!" and you love a challenge (usually). You'll say "Mom, I can spell anything!" So I'll say "spell monster" and you will! It takes you a bit but you love figuring it out. Even more than spelling you LOVE numbers. You are constantly saying "4+3 is 7" or "20 and 20 is 40!"

You have this laugh that from the very beginning of your life has made my heart just swell each time I hear it. That hasn't changed. Your laugh is, to this day, my absolute most favorite sound on this planet. I could listen to that forever and never get sick of it. 

You had a hard time recently when your "best best best best best best friend" Baron moved away. Your little heart was crushed when you realized you couldnt' see him on a practically daily basis anymore. It took you a little bit to find your spunk again but you're back. You got to Skype with him today and although you both are still kind of awkward on Skype, you were completely content just sitting there and seeing him in front of you. He has definitely been your other half since before you could remember and I hope that this friendship lasts forever, despite the distance!

You love holding your baby brother. At least 10 times a day you will come up to Maverick and kiss him with your lips puckered wide, leaving a huge wet mark on his cheek. You ask to hold him constantly, and are concerned when he cries. You love having a little brother and are so glad he isn't a girl! 

You are a maniac when it comes to physical activity. You are starting to do jumps on your bike off of the curb, and each time you are on your bike, you do something a little more daring than last time. For your birthday, Dad and I bought you a pass to go rock climbing 5 times. You went on Saturday and you couldn't get enough of it. You can't wait to go back and I can't wait to go and watch you!

Asher, I know that you will excel at anything you do in life. You are determined, capable, and strong-willed enough that anything you put your mind to WILL happen...it's only a matter of when. I so admire this about you.

Now that I've written you a novel, I want to just let you know how much I absolutely love and adore you. You make me crazy but I am so in love with you. Your spunk, love of life, and imagination are a combination that makes you so uniquely incredible. I cannot wait to see what you end up doing with your life because undoubtedly, it is going to be phenomenal. Just don't grow up too fast. I like my cape wearing, adventure-seeking, life-loving artist and want to just enjoy every minute I have with you!

Love, Mom

(same picture, just cropped in close because it's AWESOME. It definitely deserves a closer, second look.)