A New Buddy

Up until a few weeks ago, Holden has pretty much always been fairly shy/nervous/wary around his uncles.... and to some extent, "men" in general.

And I'm not sure what happened, but all of a sudden now, he is just much more friendly/outgoing around everyone.

We had some family and friends over a few weekends ago to watch an OSU game, and I think Holden was definitely making some buddies that day :)

Uncle Tyler B used to really make Holden nervous, but now I think Holden is pretty much over that!







Holden and his new buddy♥

Sitting on the slide with Tyler

Watching Uncle Tyler text while his friend sits in the corner.. haha

Holden's other new buddy, Garrett. He kept talking about him the next morning. Too cute.

Hanging out with the big kids... and loving being the center of attention, I think :)

“This was just a great game to watch. This is what Friday night football is all about.” - Lloyd Alexander

It had to end... But that doesn't make it any easier.


Every Friday night, since the end of August, it seems like the whole town has cheered for the 2010 Dalton Bulldogs football team. And I am so thankful that we live so close to our family because I was also able to cheer along and watch my little brother play every single game of his senior year.

I watched as he worked hard over the past few years to build his strength and endurance. I watched as he and his classmates of 12 years grew together as not only as teammates, but as friends. I watched as he took the field and owned his role. I watched him do his job over and over and smiled and cheered every time they announced his name on the speaker. I watched him work well as a member of a unit, and I watched as he grew into a respected leader. I watched him experience pride in himself. And I watched him do something he genuinely enjoyed.

I watched as he grew up.

And I have never been more proud of him.

Meet the Team Night

"Let's face it, you have to have a slightly recessive gene that has a little something to do with the brain to go out on the football field and beat your head against other human beings on a daily basis."
- Tim Green

"We have a strange and wonderful relationship - he's strange and I'm wonderful."

- Mike Ditka

Running out onto the field for the first home game

"Football is an honest game. It's true to life. It's a game about sharing. Football is a team game. So is life."
- Joe Namath

"When I played pro football, I never set out to hurt anyone deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something."
- Dick Butkus

"Most football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental."
- Doug Plank

"Some people try to find things in this game that don't exist but football is only about two things - blocking and tackling."
- Vince Lombadri

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault."
- Jack Tatum

Senior Parents Night

Mom and her baby

"Football is about glory, it is about doing things in style and with a flourish, about going out and beating the lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom."
- Danny Blanchflower

The 2011 Seniors

Last Home Game

Just a couple of #55's top fans♥

"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
- Walter Payton

"To have the kind of year you want to have, something has to happen that you can't explain why it happened.... Something has to happen that you can't coach."

- Bobby Bowden

"Taking a Knee" for the last time

"Deep inside, we're still the boys of autumn, that magic time of the
year that once swept us onto America's fields."
- Archie Manning

“For, you see, each day I love you more, Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.” - Rosemonde Gerard

Baby Blue Eyes♥

Sunday afternoon, while Holden was taking a nap, Bridger was just looking too cute and happy not to take a few pictures.

Cookies and Coos

If you know me, chances are you know I like to bake. So this past Saturday it was time to make some cookies.

Holden usually sits on the counter, watches, and gets/steals a few chocolate chips whenever they're out. But this time he actually wanted to really help. So after I measured everything, he got to pour each ingredient into the bowl and then even help stir it. It was a little messier than usual, but it was really cute.

And it made Mommy's heart smile.

"Worry" is not the right word... but I do often get prematurely concerned about when my boys get bigger. I know there's going to come a day when they're not going to want much to do with me, if anything. And I know that's just the way it is. But I'm not looking forward to it.

For now, I'm loving spending time with them. And the older they get, and I can tell they really want to be with me and "help" me.... well, I'm loving that, too.

Chocolate Chip Evidence all over his lips

Sugar Buzz!

My little cookie maker

And while Holden was eating cookies, Bridger was eating his hands

Grinning, but still chewing on those fingers....

There's a good one :)

"Talking" to Mommy.
Probably trying to get me to let him put his hands back in his mouth...

.... and there he goes. Much better. And Holden climbed up and said "cheese?", so I guess he wanted to be in a few more pictures.

Happy Boys

Three Months Old

Today's the day! On this morning, three months ago, Mommy and Daddy were snuggling their brand new Bridger Dean in the hospital and just getting to meet him.

Time is going fast, but I must admit, I'm enjoying each day more and more the bigger Bridger gets.

I love that he likes to sit up and look around now. I love that he smiles and coos back at me now when I talk to him. I love how he watches and smiles at Holden like he is just the coolest big brother anyone has ever had. I love how he's starting to reach for toys and my fingers now. I love that we finally seem to have figured out the whole gassy/fussy/lactose thing and he is now generally enjoying his bottles. I love how happy he is at bath time every night. And I love how stinkin' chunky he's getting!

Like I said, I really do enjoy each day more and more. And I don't mean to rush things, but I very much look forward to when the boys can finally play together.

And, although he's going to have to get used to the whole "sharing" thing, I think Holden does, too.



Here's a few pictures of him the other day doing one his favorite things: swinging!

Watching Mommy and her camera...

There's a smile!

Look at those chubby cheeks! Love♥

Sweet Baby Bridger