Yes, I'm 4 months over-due with my long annual post about Briggs at 9. But to put things in perspective, I never did fill in anything in Briggs' baby book, so 4 months late really doesn't seem too bad in the grand scheme of things. Regardless, this is all about Briggs at 9.
Briggs at 9 is 4'5 (56th percentile) and weighs 57 lbs (26th percentile). He generally wears size 8 pants/shorts and child's medium or 8/10 shirts. His shoes are size 2. Briggs finished up with phase 1 of his orthodontic work, so he has all the metal out of his mouth except for his top permanent retainer. He wears removable retainers at night. Briggs was in Mrs. Coartney's class for 3rd grade. Throughout the year last year, he participated in summer baseball, fall soccer, and Stage Kids. He tried out NTA's Rising Stars group, but did not continue that. He ran in a couple of 5K races and did seem to enjoy running. He was taking piano lessons, but we stopped those prior to the summer. He also attended Wednesday night Kids Connection at our church. Briggs typically goes to bed around 8:30 or 9 and typically wakes up between 7:30 and 8.
Likes: Briggs' favorite thing to do is build with Legos. He also still builds with his Magna Tiles, plays with his Matchbox car tracks and cars, and less often his train set and trains. Writing and drawing are activities he can spend hours doing. He enjoys listening to audio books and playing Wii games. Briggs loves to read. He reads longer books like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series, but also enjoys reading graphic novels and shorter series, like Bear Grylls or Dragon Games. He really enjoys fantasy, adventure, and mystery books. When playing outside, Briggs will ride his scooter, shoot baskets (for short periods of time), draw with sidewalk chalk, and look for bugs. Playing with neighborhood friends is the most motivating reason to play outside though.
Briggs prefers to wear athletic shorts or pants and athletic material shirts. He'll wear jeans or khakis for church or if I make him, but comfort is generally the name of the game. He still likes wearing fleece footie pajamas for bedtime, but has also gotten more in the habit of just wearing pajama pants or shorts with t-shirts for bedtime. (What he really likes is if I just let him wear his clothes that he wore all day to bed. Less steps for bedtime, I guess.) Briggs' favorite foods are tacos, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, meatballs, pancakes, and anything sweet. He likes to watch movies, but prefers ones that he's already seen or read the book. Bluey and the Paw Patrol movies are still favorites. Playing board games is another favorite activity with Dragon Realm and Forbidden Islands being 2 of his most requested game choices.
Briggs is social and has lots of friends. He often talks about "my best friend _______" and that blank is often filled with someone different, depending on the day. People who have filled in that blank this year include George, Ryker, Jackson, Jadon, Freddie, Cedar, Bryli, and Coraleigh. Briggs also really enjoys playing with his cousins, Caroline and Lucy, and his sisters. Although social, Briggs is also very happy to stay at home and play on his own.
Dislikes: Briggs does not like when his sisters don't want to play with him, when he has to do chores, when he is asked to do something he doesn't want to do, when he is rushed, and when he has to wait to do something he wants to do. (Self-regulation and patience are still works in progress.) Briggs does not like storms, the dark, "scary" movies or scary bad guys, swimming in the ocean or murky lakes, and spiders. He is not an adventurous eater and doesn't like most casseroles, pastas, fish, salads, or chicken dishes that I make. Briggs is apprehensive about new situations or things that he doesn't know what to expect. He is a creature of habit and routine, so he is generally cautious about trying new things.
Skills: Briggs is a great builder. He can follow directions to build Lego sets, but also has a great mind for free building with his Legos as well. He is also good with making things out of Magna Tiles, train tracks, blocks, and paper/tape. He is very creative, and his books and drawings continue to improve. He enjoys drawing/writing with action/adventure stories being the general genre of choice. He has piles of book series that he has written in his room, complete with his own word bubbles and illustrations.
Briggs has tried a variety of sports and hasn't found any he loves, but he improves with every sports season he tries. He does run well and has completed several 5K races. Even without any training, he runs the whole way and does well. I could see running being in his future.
Briggs is a really good reader and is very bright. He can read most any book, although still sometimes finds reading long books overwhelming and doesn't always finish those he starts. (He's been working his way through the 5th Harry Potter book for a long time.) However, he can polish off several shorter books in a single day. Briggs does well in school. Learning comes easily to him, especially math. He got all A's on his report card this past year and continues to score in the 80th and 90th percentiles for his MAP testing scores for math and reading.
Briggs has become very capable and independent with most things around the house. Although he sometimes needs reminders for thoroughness, he can complete all the chores that I give him without help (but not necessarily without complaining). He does all his own daily activities, including taking allergy meds when he needs them, remembering to wear his retainers (except for those 10 days in CA that required a visit to the orthodontist afterwards to remold the top retainer that no longer fit), and making his own snacks and simple meals. He is also good about putting books on hold at the library, ordering for himself at restaurants, and staying home alone for an hour or two at a time if everyone else has somewhere to be.
Personality: Briggs has so many facets to his personality. He is bright and funny and sweet and intelligent and kind. He gets along well with others and has no difficulties making friends wherever he goes. However, he also gets angry quickly and throws fits with yelling, door slamming, crying, and lashing out when things don't go his way. He can calm himself down and apologize more quickly than he used to, but anger is still often his most immediate response. Thankfully that is primarily at home. Briggs is a 9 year old boy, so he also can be obnoxious and does things to deliberately annoy his sisters (or, at times, his parents). He can get silly and loud and squirrely and thinks potty humor is funny. I blame his Y chromosome.
Briggs remains a creature of habit and cautious by nature. He likes routines and knowing what to expect. He talks through various scenarios, always having lots of questions about what something new will be like. He is also sensitive, so he gets his feelings hurt if he's being left out or someone is being unkind. Tears still come quickly and easily to Briggs. Briggs is also developing a deeper faith. He asked Jesus into his heart this year, which was so exciting for us as we watch him better understand what this means.
Briggs is very sweet and kind. He still likes to snuggle, make gifts for others, and surprise us with a game he has made or a sweet note he has written or a treat he has made in the kitchen. He is a good friend, generally playing really nicely with a variety of kids. His teacher this year said he is very willing to be paired with anyone in the classroom and is a friend to everyone. Although there are still things he is working through as he grows and matures, I love his sweet nature and his kind heart. I'm so proud of this boy!
