A Belly Button!!

8 weeks! After testing, waiting, cleaning, and being generally frustrated with that little stubby nothing, his umbilical finally fell off on April 11th, exactly 8 weeks after he was born. He now has an adorable little "inny" belly button!

Mav's Blessing Day

March 28th was Mav's blessing. Our families and friends drove all the way out to our house and attended our ward's sacrament meeting to witness Danny give our son an absolutely beautiful blessing. He told Maverick that struggles and temptations are part of this world, but that he would have the power to overcome them, and also be fortunate enough to be part of and experience good things and good people. It was honestly the most spiritual sacrament meeting that we've had since we've been married!
Afterward, everyone came to our house to play, hang out, and see Mav. I was dumb and was so busy running around that I never brought out my camera. Luckily my dad had my back and took these for me:

Verbal Skills

I tried to get a video of Mav talking. He's started making more sounds than his grunting and creaky door impersonations and I love it! This isn't the best video, but I think you'll get the idea. And just so everyone knows, repeating their noises back to them is helpful for their verbal development. As is acting like an idiot for a camera. Okay I made the last part up, but the other part is true!

We had a tiny scare with him the other day. His umbilical cord still hasn't fallen off (it's supposed to fall off before week 2 and we're headed into week 7 now) so his doctor had us take him in for testing. I don't much like holding my baby down while someone jabs a needle around inside his arm looking for a vein. They were checking to see if his white blood cells were doing what they were supposed to be doing. They called back the next day and I guess they are! Everything's fine, we just have to be patient and wait for the fool thing to fall off by itself. Grandma Julie says that he's hanging onto it because he just want to be a newborn for a little longer. But considering he's already 11 lbs and 23 inches, I'm thinking he's fighting a losing battle! So he's doing fine - perfectly healthy and happy!

Studio Pics

These are a few pictures taken by Laura Bruschke at Busath. She took a TON of beautiful pictures that are getting processed right now. Thanks Laura!

More Mav Pictures

Johnny loves Mav so much he calls him his "brother" instead of his nephew.

Mav's one and only cousin Elodie came over last week to meet him.

My favorite picture. Very peaceful and chill (especially when he's sleeping!

Taken on Danny's iPhone with bad lighting...

MAVERICK AND HIS DOGS

All 3 kids in a row...

Mr. Gibbs is very much the protective one over Mav.

I went to grab a drink the other day and Gibbs jumped up on the couch to get make sure that Mav was safe. It was very cute!

More Maverick

We brought Maverick home from the hospital today. We were so grateful for the wonderful facilities and staff that took care of our every need at Intermountain Medical Center. It was the easiest delivery experience I could have ever asked for.

Now that we are home, it is becoming more and more evident that Maverick is a real part of our family and home and I just love it!

Maverick is a very chill baby. The nurses and doctors commented throughout our stay at just how quiet, relaxed, and mellow he has been, even when getting poked, prodded, moved, changed, and tested. We brought him home and he slept while we got him changed into his outfit, loaded him into his car seat, loaded him into the car, drove home, and unpacked him. He wakes up every now and then and just looks around with his big dark eyes. I don't think he can see much yet, but he's trying to see what he can see!

Here is a little movie I made of the little guy and some more pictures of him.

My dad holding his grandson on the first night. Bishop Holmgren stood up in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday and announced to the ward that the babies of the ward were now safe because "Sister Holmgren is now a Grandma and has her own baby to play with." I think by now he has taken prideful ownership of Maverick and is glad to be his Grandpa too.

Welcome Maverick!

Maverick Daniel Holmgren

Born 2-14-2010 9:23am

21 inches

7 lbs 10 oz.

Maverick was finally born this morning after a very smooth and easy labor for his mommy. Both mommy and babe are doing great, healthy and strong.

Getting his first bath

My brother Johnny FINALLY is an uncle!

Betsy had never held a baby before. She was very worried that he was so fragile, but she did great!

Daddy holding baby for first time.

Maddie right after delivery

Really the only thing Mav doesn't like is having his temperature taken. Toughen up kid, there are worst places they can take it than the armpit!