BEFORE....  AND ASHER

ASHER BEAU BRUNNER

Born February 22nd, 2008

At 9:44 AM

Weighing in at 8 lb. 8 oz. 

18.75 inches long.

He is spectacular and sweet and his brothers are both very excited about him.  We are finally a party of five, to be sure!  

Every day he gets more of his own look, but right off the bat he looked a great deal like his eldest brother, Caleb.  

Brody and Caleb had a marvelous time with their Grandma when we were at the hospital with Asher.  While I had been praying that this transition would not be too traumatic on Brody (who has been a mama's boy through and through) he's surprised me by not wanting me much at all.  I guess I should consider it a blessing.  He seems happy enough.  Ahhh... my second born.  

Caleb on the other hand is desiring to be more and more home bound.  He'd rather be with us all than anywhere else.  I can't believe that we are a family!  All of us together.  It's too wonderful for me to get my mind around.  I am so happy!

Here are my three boys getting ready to go outside to play.  I'm enjoying these last few days of our foursome... though am greatly anticipating our third-born miracle's birth.  

If you'd like to be praying for me and my guys, don't be shy:  Join me in praying for a smooth delivery and an even smoother transition into our "party of 5" than I ever imagined.  I'm praying for health and sleep and nursing success for Asher, and love and joy and peace for Brody (my two year old is still adamant that HE is indeed the BABY!)  I'm praying that Matt might be overcome with an even deeper love for his family than he can believe possible.  And that Caleb would have a great sense of joyful pride in his role as eldest of the Brunner brothers.

Speaking of being a big brother, a few days ago Brody, Caleb, and I were at a local park and Caleb was going up to a VERY TALL slide with his brother (bigger than Brody had ever been on.)  Brody was, (unlike his usually self) not sure he wanted to dive down the shoot.  There was a very big, forceful girl coming up behind them who practically accosted Caleb to get to the slide.  Caleb pushed her back and told her to wait her turn, that his brother was going first.  She was a big girl, and determined to boot, and tried to muscle her way past.  I (great with child) leapt up the stairs to come to the rescue of my boys.  But I needn't have worried- Caleb had successfully blockaded the slide and his Brother.  After plucking Brody up and sending him down to a smaller slide I commended Caleb on being a marvelous big brother.  His eyes were full of pride.  He knew he had done well.

On the flip side, he did hit a boy yesterday at his preschool Valentine's Day party because the little guy called Bambi a girl.  So, he's a defender of younger brothers and Disney characters alike.

Next time I blog again I'll be the sleep- deprived mother of three boys!  Marvelous!  Until then...

I need to take a new picture to include in this post... it is forthcoming.  You see, Caleb just got a new "big wheel" bike.  A neighborhood friend had one and Caleb has not been able to control his enthusiasm over it from the moment we hit the cul de sac each day.  I asked Caleb if he remembered all the Bible verses he'd memorized last year (about 40 of them,) and when we both discovered that he couldn't remember half of them I made him this deal... if he would relearn ALL of them, Daddy would take him for a big boy outing to Target to get his very own Big Wheel. It took 2 days.  There are still a couple of verses that he goofs on, and when I say goofs I mean he starts with one, pulls a few words from another, and closes with the last line of a third verse. Quite funny actually.  My favorite verse he has is a short one, and it's a very loose paraphrase of Psalms 1.  It states: "Blessed is the boy who loves the Bible!"  And our two boys truly do.  Each Sunday they tote it to church "just like Daddy does."  Caleb's favorite verse however is: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Since we live by the Spirit let us keep in step with the Spirit."  Both boys enjoy this one because we always march and clap while reciting it.  

If you are appalled that I use bribes to teach my kids Bible verses, then you probably won't like it that I also follow Caleb's vegetables down with a couple of M&Ms.  

ps- the above shot has nothing to do with this post!  Brody just LOVES eating his crafts.  

And speaking of being a big boy, here's our first born SHAVING!  Okay, so it's a plastic razor and foaming "Thomas the train" soap, but Caleb thinks he's really something.  Amazing that someday I'll have four men shaving under my roof!  

While this shot was from October on Brody's 2nd birthday, it's applicable for my post today, January 10th, because today Brody is napping without his "LuLu" (Pacifier) for the FIRST TIME EVER!  

On his second birthday (October 20th) he still hadn't referred to himself as "Brody" but would tell people "I'm Baby."  That was, after all, what we called him for the majority of his first two years.  When asked at his little birthday dinner party (with family friends the Rogers)  if he was Brody, he pounded his fists on the table, scrunched up his nose, and retorted, "No!  I'm baby!"  

But this past Sunday he was given a BIG BOY party complete with cup cakes, a present, and lots of "Happy Big Boy Day to you" singing.   LuLu's been gone ever since.  But so have naps... until today.  Ah, the peace!

It's time to start a Brunner blog, as to keep those we love informed on our transition from a family of four to a family of five.  Our blog is called Brunnerpartyof5 because that is what we are soon to be.  Not only will we hear them announce "Brunner party of five" when we go out to Islands or IHOP, but every day that's the moto we'll be living by.  Life's sure to be a crazy party with three little boys under our roof... complete with party fouls and broken lampshades to be sure!

Currently our "first born miracle," Caleb, is four.  He's begun preschool and loves to play with friends, do crafts, TALK, and play horses.  His younger brother, Brody, turned two in October and is a happy little rascal with platinum blond hair.  While weaning him from his pacifier (his beloved "LuLu") has been hard this week, he is a regular joy!  They both love to ride in their Fire-truck with all their new neighborhood friends.  And there are tons of new friends to be had on our cul de sac. There are 4 four year old boys, plenty of one and a half - two year old children, and countless others to keep the street buzzing with fun.

The hills where we live are full of wildlife (including coyote!) and a five minute drive will take us to horse properties where Caleb and Brody can dream of riding one day.

They also enjoy their swim lessons with "Mr. Damon."  This week Brody and  Caleb both started DIVING!  Brody went first, (which didn't surprise us,) and then Caleb followed (which did surprise us!)  At nap time that day I told Caleb how proud of him I was that he was becoming so brave, to which he responded, "Yeah, Brody's showing me how to be more courageous."

We love their individual personalities and are excited to meet our little Asher next month. With all our hearts we believe that God weaves these little beings together in a mother's womb, complete with personality and purpose.  We are humbled that God is about to give us a new little life to nurture, and train up!