Happy Birthday, Grandma!

This past Monday we celebrated Jared's Mom's birthday with lots of family and friends. We all went to The Barn restaurant in Smithville for dinner (our first trip out to eat with Bridger!), and it turned out to be a really nice dinner. The boys basically couldn't have done better. Holden sat in his booster seat the whole dinner and tasted everything we gave him, and Bridger snoozed the entire evening away in his car seat. Good boys :)

Then after dinner was over, Holden had lots of fun riding the tractor in the lobby with Grandpa and cousins. And we also brought some bread along, so before we left, we took Holden outside to feed the ducks and fish in the big pond.

It was a really nice time and I'm glad we decided to go out and see everyone.

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

The Birthday Girl
(Right after she opened her card - I think Jared picked a good one :) )

Riding on the Tractor

With Cousin Naomi

Mommy showing him how to feed the ducks

Getting a better view with Daddy

Daddy giving him some bread

Feeding the ducks all by himself!

Daddy, Cousin Hannah, and Uncle Kevin

Everybody feeding ducks and fish!

Our big boy

Sunday Evenings

I love Sundays.

Our typical Sunday is church, lunch at Grandma and Grandpa's with the family, and then dinner at Mimi's with more family. Lots of eating, visiting, family, and relaxing. What's not to love?

And we haven't taken Bridger to church yet, but last Sunday we did venture over to Mimi's for dinner.

Afterward, Bridger and I just sat on the swing in her garden and watched Holden play outside with Mimi. It was such a pretty evening.

Here's a few pictures of our beautiful boys in the garden.

Being silly on Mimi's swing

Sweet Baby Bridger

Swinging with Mommy

"Sneakin'" through the flowers :)

Handsome Holden♥

"Horsey" Rides!

Holden has such a fun Daddy :)

His new favorite thing to play is Horsey Ride. He goes over to Daddy and makes the "click click" horsey noise with his tongue... and Daddy knows it's time to play. Holden's not great at holding on by himself yet, so Jared still has to keep a hand on him. But, oh man, does he love it.

I can't wait to let him ride the real ponies at the fair this year!

Hang on, Holden!

Daddy helping him stay on

He loves it.

Go, Daddy! :)

Life as Four...

I almost hesitate to say all this (for an irrational fear of "jinxing" anything), but this past week has been just an amazing, lovely, smooth transition to our new family of four.

First of all, the recovery after Bridger's birth can't even be compared to what it was like after Holden. What I'm going through now can hardly even be called a "recovery."

I feel like me.

And it feels wonderful.

And aside from Holden having a very bad night of sleep a few nights ago, even bedtime has been pretty smooth, I think. Bridger eats good every 2-3 hours and sleeps well in his bassinet in between - so Mommy gets to sleep good in between, too :)

Holden is also doing pretty well adjusting. He's definitely been a bit cuddlier and more clingy than usual- and I hear "hold you, Mommy" with his little outstretched arms nearly every time I sit down to feed Bridger - but overall, I think he's doing well getting used to having a new baby around. Just needs some extra Mommy and Daddy love for a little bit yet.

And, in general, Bridger is a very pleasant, easy baby. He's great at breast feeding (babies are supposed to have regained their birth weight by 2 weeks and he was already up to 7 lbs 4 oz at his one-week check-up yesterday!) and he basically spends much of each day so far just snoozing away in his bouncy chair in the main room with us. Through all of Big Brother's noise. And so far he's only ever been fussy if there's actually something worth fussing about: hungry, naked, or needs to burp :)

So, basically, we're all doing just absolutely as good as I could have hoped for. And even with Jared back to work this week, so far we're doing pretty good at getting used to being on our own during the day - although we do definitely miss Daddy. We'll just keep taking it one day at a time and praying we keep being given such beautiful, healthy, happy blessings.


Here's some photos from our first week with baby Bridger:

Daddy showing Holden how to hold Bridger's hand....

....and now holding both hands :)

Oh. So sweet.

Big Brother smiling for his picture. Such a little ham!

Looking at his baby

Holden likes to hold Bridger's hand and he likes to give him kisses

Our world♥

The little peanut, awake.

My sweet Bridger Dean

And my arms have never been fuller♥

Welcome, Bridger Dean♥

Bridger Dean was born on (his due date!) August 4, 2010 at 1:37am. He weighed 6 pounds 12.6 ounces and is 18 inches long. Here's our story.


Since first seeing those little "positive" pink lines, I prayed nearly every day that his birth wouldn't have to be another c-section and that it could be a smooth, natural birth. I prayed that my body would be allowed to perform as it was created to.

On Sunday August 1st, I started to have early labor symptoms. These continued off and on over the next few days. By the time I went to my appointment on Tuesday morning August 3rd, I was already about 5 cm dilated and in early labor. All Tuesday the contractions became progressively closer and stronger. That evening I had my weekly non-stress test like normal, but this time Jared decided he should probably go with me - since I might not be leaving. By the time I got all hooked up and they started the test, there was pretty much no denying I was definitely in labor.

They monitored me for awhile (and - silly me - I kept hoping they would send me home, since I was trying to avoid the hospital/interventions and labor at home for as long as I could.) But by around 10pm, my labor really picked up and it became obvious that this wasn't going to just fizzle out like the days before.

My mom came to the hospital, I changed into a gown, and a few hours later, we had our second son♥ (Seven minutes after Mom's prediction.)

Bridger Dean was born a very successful, natural, drug-free VBAC. And I have never felt so unbelievably supported, lucky, and happy.

I know God answers prayers.

And with my two beautiful, healthy boys and my amazing, supportive husband, I also know that have been blessed more than I ever could have imagined.

He's here!

Bridger Dean

Daddy got to cut the cord this time

Tired but so happy

Proud Daddy

(Who was absolutely amazing through the
whole labor. I 100% never could have done it without him.)

Me and Mom
(The toughest, strongest labor coach out there!)

Meeting his Mimi right after he was born

One happy Momma

Snuggling with Mommy the next morning

Blessed with another beautiful boy

Grandpa B

Who knew your heart could be so completely stolen twice? ♥

Grandma and Grandpa H

Our family of four♥

Aunt Megan

Big cousin Josslyn holding Baby Bridger

And finally Holden got to come to the hospital!

And was much more interested in playing with Daddy than in seeing the baby :)

Finally meeting his baby brother

All wrapped up snug as a bug :)

Cuddling with Daddy

Getting dressed to leave!

Home♥

Daddy and his boys

Checking out the baby

Our beautiful boys♥