Holden's Hats from Abbra

So our friend Abbra made the cutest little hats for Holden, they are still a little big for her, so this is just a preview, but trust me, the rest are just as cute and you will definitely get to see them all.

Holdin' Holden

In an effort to not have to keep remembering how many of these I have done, I am no longer going to number them.  I know that this will make it nearly unbearable for some of you to even look at the posts, and I am sorry.

Grandpa Frazier

Aunt Bethy

Grandma Hallsten

 

Mommy and Daddy

Abby and Soph come meet their cousin

Soph is just having a little juice while checking out Holden's room.

Abby was pretty excited to see Holden at first, though it may have been more fun to play with imaginary Holden.

These are three girls that will keep us all running around for the foreseeable future.

The whole bunch of us, not a bad looking group if I say so myself.  Though I should mention that Amy made me aware that somewhere at home, Brian was also wearing a similar outfit.  An outfit both he and I must deem appropriate for picking up dog poop, since that was the chore we both saved for Friday morning.

One of the Fam

A photo of the best birthday gift someone could ask for, a beautiful family

Holdin' Holden Part 4

So here are a whole lot of our friends that were out for my birthday dinner and also to meet Holden, or see her again...

Our little girl keeps so very pretty company!

Daddy's Birthday

So I turned 29 this Wednesday, the last good year before 30.  And by that I mean this year was good but by no means does this mean that the next ones won't be even better.

Chase got a cupcake, thanks Grandma.

Alex and I had a cupcake.  Thanks Mom!

Holden did not want a cupcake, sorry Grandma!

And a token Daddy shot...

Sleeping beauties

So Alex and I have taken Holden out and about a little bit everyday, but both mommy and Holden are still recovering from the big day just over a week ago and so they need plenty of sleep.

Holdin' Holden Part 3

Aunt Kristin has been visiting for a few days, it has been nice having another set of hands.  And she made really good chocolate chip cookies.

 

Branden came over and though he said they did not plan it the two of them have very similar color schemes going on.

And another of Cassie, she is making quite a few appearances on the blog.  Please no one else get jealous.

First Bath at Home

We gave Holden her very first bath at the house today.  We threw her in the sink and got to washing.

I officially have become the go to guy for all the things she does not like.  She does not like being naked (something we hope she holds onto) and getting her wet and cold does not seem to help.  which is where mommy comes in and dries, just like the dishes.

 

And mommy got her all dressed for a nice little walk, we made it about 3 and half blocks.  Just a little more adventure for both of them everyday.  

Funny thing occurred to me the other night...

I was laying in the bed the other night and just thinking about what Holden might be into and how we will try and reconcile that with our interests and our hopes for her.  Is she going to love music, if so singing or playing instruments?  What about art, can we count on her drawing and painting and all other types?  Maybe she is going to be into sports and who knows what else.

It is exciting to know she a little blank slate and can do anything she wants and all we really have to do is make sure we expose her to as many different facets of life without forcing her into the things we love.  She can do anything she wants and all we have to do is sit back and watch as she learns, struggles, succeeds, and fails; all the while just making sure she knows she is loved and supported.

This photo was taken the next day, hopefully the first of many times she is just content to intently listen to someone and let them share something with her that can help her along on the way.  Or she is just humoring dad already and she will be just like her mom.

And for the record, she does not have to have the face velcro anymore, which makes her even more beautiful than before.

Just a quick sleeping, smiling Holden

And she is all ours, would not trade her for the world!

Sunday Night Barbeque

We had a little cookout over at the house Sunday night to help things keep on feeling normal even if we are going through one of the more major changes in our lives.  Which has been nothing short of amazing, by the way.  Nothing like a good cookout to help feel at home and relaxed.

 

 

Alex got to have her first glass of wine in probably around 9 months or more.  She looks very happy, at least I would say so.

I had a little single barrel rum and Red Bull Cola courtesy of Mr James Kelly.  It was awesome

 

Grandma Frazier running the grill, making sure none of us go hungry.  We should have leftovers for the next few weeks, not counting the lasagna in the fridge or the tray of meatballs in the freezer.

And the final result.  Cheeseburger, hot dogs, cheesy potatoes, baked beans.  So good.

Holdin' Holden Part 2

So here is the second run of some photos of some of our friends and family holding our little lady

 

We were the first stop on Melissa's baby tour, I think once that wedding is all said and done, Tom will have to start monitoring time holding babies.

 

Here are the two grandmas with a very yawny Holden

 

John and Paige came by so Paige could hold the baby and John got the raw end of the deal and had to hold our other "baby"

Saturday at the Frazier's

So today was a pretty good day so far.  Holden made it through last night with just getting up 2 times.  And to be fair, we woke her up to feed her both of the times.  She is definitely still getting the hang of feeding, though she has the next step locked down for sure. (yes, that means she poops a lot)  Mommy has been moving around a bunch and after a small whoops (doubling her Motrin intake) she is feeling better and better.  We just might even try and go upstairs this afternoon.

We have both sets of Grandparents over which is fun and we are just hanging around.  If you are hanging around and looking for something to do, come on by.  And a special shout out to Cass who brought a crunchwrap supreme from Taco Bell for me.

 

Holdin' Holden Part 1

So we have been fortunate in the fact that we have a baby that is totally ready to get held by anyone.  We have also been fortunate enough to have plenty of friends come by and hold her.  

In an effort to save me the trouble of having to coming up with something interesting for all of the different posts, I am going to have to just post some random little updates with a pictures of people "Holdin' Holden"

 

Here is SW, what you cannot see in the photo is that he was a natural, despite the extremely tense body posture he started with.

Shane's better half Carissa, definitely had the experience side on him.

And though I know this is the exact kind of thing Shane does not want to hear yet, but this looks like a really great glimpse of the future!

And the hand off, I can comfortably say this from experience, the hand off may be the scariest thing for most guys.  I know after a few days I am still nervous sometimes.  James is showcasing the awkward body posture every guy who takes Holden from a girl displays.

And this is definitely the second of many photos you will see from "Aunt" Jess and "Uncle" James spending some time with Holden

Safe and sound at home

We got home last night and met the other grandparents at the house.  Which was good because Grandpa took Chase for a walk, or more of a high speed sprint because he was so excited to have everyone home.  Which by the way was right before Chase checked out the new addition and while he is a little intimidated, he definitely approves. 

Grandma got to give Holden her first bottle of breast milk from at the house, what I am sure is the first of many!

Here is Alex in her new spot for the next few days and see below for the first photo of Holden in her crib.

It is safe to say she is all settled in, though hopefully by tomorrow she will be all settled in without having to wear velcro on her face.  And she totally made it through the night only getting up when those pesky parents woke her up to feed her.

Last day in the hospital!

So we got to go home yesterday evening which was great.  Not to say we did not have to learn a few more tricks before we left, but it was a pretty quick transition.

Holden decided she wanted to get a little bronze for all the entertaining she is sure to be doing this weekend at the house.

The last grandparents visit at the hospital, we went a little camera happy and started snapping all kinds of photos

One of Daddy and Holden

 

And one of Mommy, Daddy, and Holden

 

And one of the little lady herself.  She was a trooper and did not make a peep on the whole ride home.  Stay tuned for a few photos from once we got home.