happy (belated) father's day

this is a little late...we're behind on our blogging these days; i'm trying to catch up...

but, i did want to *publicly* wish brian a happy father's day...the picture above was taken in february, but it's one of my favorite photos of brian & garrett.

brian, you've become such an amazing dad...everyone warned us that you'd have a tough time with the first 6 months - in reality, you've been a champ! our rock! i watched you enjoy nearly every minute of this transition...not wanting garrett to grow so fast & simply get onto the next "stage" - you've truly relished the *baby* part of his life. in all of this, i've come to love you in new ways...respecting even more your character & desire to raise a child who loves God & puts others first. i'm happy to be on this journey with you. i love you & thank you for being a wonderful father (already!) to garrett!

some more recent shots of my two boys...

on father's day...garrett was only paying attention to huckleberry & NOT the camera!

garrett's new thing is grabbing brian's face (he only does it to him!) and twisting his nose or mouth, ear, whatever!

brian had come home early one friday & was checking email on his blackberry. our smart son thought he'd try to swipe it away!

so special

i love the above photo for many reasons...the smile on garrett's face being one of them! the other is that garrett's being held by his great-grandmother. one of two great-grandmothers he will have seen and hopefully know in his life. this is brian's maternal grandmother, margaret snodgrass (that's right, people. snodgrass!).

nanny barkie, as we all call her (the "barkie" name goes way back), is one of the strongest women you'll ever meet. life did not deal her the easiest hand...helping support her mother & younger siblings after her father walked away from their family...losing her husband when brian's mom was only 4...raising martha alone while working in another town every day...she is a woman of incredible faith & fortitude. a testament to the fact that grace - if we allow it - is so very amazing in our circumstances.

we love you, nanny barkie! thank you for coming to visit & we'll see you soon!

this photo of barkie & garrett was taken on her recent trip here (with brian's parents). they came & watched our little guy while i finished out my last week of work (that info for another post).

happy 6 month birthday, baby garrett!

 

it's hard to believe that 6 months ago today our little man came into this world. revealing a love so amazing in our hearts that words really can't describe. my mother-in-law used to say, "you won't understand the love until you have a child yourself"...she was right. even when i was pregnant, i didn't. you don't. you can't. it's simply not possible. my heart now lives outside my body - garrett carries it with him wherever he goes.