This morning, Maverick woke up with a sleepy face...  and one arm mysteriously twisted up in his PJs.   I'm not totally sure how it got that way, but it didn't seem to bother him much.  To me, it looked as though he reached under his shirt, and then pushed his hand back up through the neck... all while his arm was already in the sleeve.  I can't imagine what was going through his head to make him want to do this, or how much effort it must have taken.  Although, he is a bit of a night time traveler - he likes to root around and push himself into different corners while he sleeps.  Chances are that this just happened during some routine scootching.  Oh well, I'm glad that he was fine with it, and I'm extra glad it wasn't cutting the circulation off.   I must say, though, the off-the-shoulder bed-head look is quite hip. 

Maverick is a little water baby.  He loves bath time.  In fact, he gets so excited about it that he fights his way to the tub, even before we have him undressed.  He babbles excitedly about the running water, and kicks out like a little frog when we pick him up to put him in the tub. It is entirely too cute.  
Even cuter?  Naked baby butt.  I just happened to have my phone on me so I snapped this picture tonight of Maverick waiting (not-so-patiently) to get in.  He was hopping up and down, trying to figure out a way to climb in on his own.  I hope he's this excited about baths in 10 years....   okay, not keeping my hopes up on that one.  Oh well, at least I have photo evidence that there was a point in time where he looked forward to bath time!

This Easter was very quiet and simple.  In years past, we always trekked to my Grandma's house (about an hour and a half away) and crammed into her tiny kitchen and dining room with my uncles and cousins.  It was always a loud and boisterous occasion, and border-line claustrophobic, given the closeness of the shared quarters and my Grandma’s towering, hoarded collections of this-and-that’s.   
But the day after Thanksgiving last year, my Grandma had a stroke, and she is now confined to a wheel chair.  Not wanting to put a strain on her and her recovery, we decided to stay in town this year, and celebrate the holiday with my mom and dad, who live right down the street.  Grandma still made her presence felt, though - she made her famous Coconut Cake and ferried it down to us through my sister. 
After lunch, which was a tasty turkey, stuffing, and green beans affair, we walked back to my home and hunted Easter eggs.  The day had been a little rainy, so we ended up hunting them inside the house.  Mike's mom and grandmother also came over and shared the Coconut Cake and helped the boys find the eggs.  It was peaceful and relaxing.  I enjoyed listening to my mom (a.k.a. Grammie) and mother-in-law (a.k.a. Grandma Pendley) gab it up.  They’re hilarious when they get going. 

Part of me, however, misses the frenzy and activity of the by-gone days.  The vying for the last scrap of Broccoli Cheese Casserole, the animated conversations of political and social science brought forth so eloquently from the lips of my blue-collar uncle (I’m being facetious), the not-so animated conversations of my unmarried and much younger cousins, who I still shared the children’s table with, even though I had expanded the table to include my husband and our own children.  Unfortunately, I don’t see this type of gathering ever happening with my family again.    

Inside, I realize that this event happens to all of us.  One day, the tides simply turn.  Generations shift.  New traditions begin.  Watching as the changing-of-the-guard occurs between my Grandma and my mom, I am troubled by the inevitable passage of time, and the certainties that will travel with it. 

Then, I realize that allowing myself to be burdened to watch life’s clock is ridiculous.  It’s better to focus on the time at hand, and to appreciate what we have – because what we DO have is truly precious.      

Maverick is showing signs that he will end up being my athletic child.  He is very courageous, and loves to exert himself physically.

Today he proved this when we took him to the playground, and he proceeded to climb up the rock stairs on the playscape and come down the slide.  On his own. 

At first it scared me; I didn’t want him to get hurt, and every maternal instinct I had kicked into overdrive.  But then, he was having so much fun, I didn’t want to prohibit him, either.  So I watched over him closely as he tested his new limits.  Up the rocks, down the slide, over and over!  Way to go, Maverick!

Today was one of the best days ever.  I woke up early, and went to my Long Range Clinic with the Sure Shots, where I had an opportunity to shoot a rifle that is quite possibly more expensive than my SUV - a McMillan CS5 Alias.  Just WOW.  Even though there was 25 mile-per-hour cross winds, and the day grew colder than expected as the front blew through, I still had a blast.  Literally. 
After the clinic, I skipped the office and decided to work from home the rest of the day. As I checked a few office emails, and took a phone call or two, I found myself intermittently begging the boys to keep their noise down.  Seriously, it sounded like a circus in my living room.  On my last, exasperated attempt to ask them to play the “quiet game,” I gave up.  I had to.  They were just being so darn cute, I surrendered.     

So I let work go.  Anything I was doing could wait until the next day, anyways.  Funnily enough, waving the white flag was actually quite refreshing. 

I picked up a Boom Whacker and joined Max’s Parade.  We pretended to be elephants and trumpet players and we made as many crazy noises as we possibly could.  Even Maverick was really getting the hang of making some animal noises.  I marveled at his mimicking ability.  He is doing so well.  And Max is super creative.  The imagination in his head is simply inspiring.    

So I found myself really having a lot of fun today.  So much fun, in fact, that I had a little tinge of sadness when I had to let Mommy responsibility kick back in and prepare dinner, baths, and bedtimes. 

All too soon, those worn out little men were tucked in and sound asleep, and I had a chance to reflect on the day.  It was definitely one that I want to hold onto forever.  I want to keep those rejuvenating laughs and giggles from this afternoon’s cacophony symphony locked in my soul, where I can replay them like videos anytime I need a lift in spirit.

I love you boys.  Thank you for making my day special.       

This morning, I chopped up Maverick's banana and toast, and alas!   I was out of plates for him.  So, I tossed the pieces in a bowl instead.
When I placed the bowl in front of him, he looked at it in wonder.  He leaned over and looked into it for a moment, contemplating it;  then he looked up at me and gave me the cutest smile.   I then realized that I had never really given him a big bowl of food before.  I have always given him a plate, or finger foods on his tray.  When he placed his hand in the bowl to retrieve a banana slice, he shouted in delight. 
It was awesome.  I think I'll have to give him a bowl more often! 

Maverick is too cute when we go shopping.   We stroll along and he sits facing me, making eyes and gurgles and pointing at things excitedly.   Today, he saw this hat with a face on it.  He screamed and laughed and pointed.  "I want that hat, mommy!" he seemed to say.   I said, "does it fit?  Your head is sure getting big these days!"  So I took it and placed it on his head.  He then protested - loudly!! -and immediately pulled it off, throwing it away from the cart. 
OK... obviously he didn't think it was as much fun on his head as it was off, where he could see it!   Funny, silly Maverick.   I thought it was pretty cute, but I'm not going to buy him a hat that he only wants to look at, and not keep on his head.  
    ...Either way, thanks for being my shopping buddy today.  I hope you enjoy shopping with me as much as I enjoy being with you!   XOXOX Mommy.      

Maverick, I hope that one day, you’ll understand what an inspiration you are to me. In one year, you have taught me so much about myself, and you have changed my view of the world. Because of you, I have new definitions for beauty, strength, grace, and resilience. 
        My precious little man Maverick, I know your journey is far from over, but this year, you have shown me that we can do this. You have given me the gifts of purpose and hope, in a time I needed those things most, and I am ever grateful that Heaven has blessed me with you. I love you so much, and I love how your spirit transcends your challenges. 
    Maverick, you are amazing to me, and I am so very proud of you and how far you’ve come. I am blessed beyond measure to have you as my son. On your birthday today, I wish you bravery and good providence as we forge onward.                                           I love you always   ~Mommy