j & shea

chuck e cheese

2012-02-16T17:29:00.000-05:00

you went to chuck e cheese for the first time this morning, little one, and loved it. i bought some tokens, but ended up giving most of them away - you were perfectly content to climb on all of the rides, sit in them and check out all of the buttons.

let's see what this button does...

hang on chuck e...

hey mom!

look, ma... no hands!

buckle up!

visiting my nan

2012-02-16T16:50:00.000-05:00

another sunny day at the park

2012-02-15T18:54:00.000-05:00

walkin' & eatin'

2012-02-15T17:59:00.000-05:00

hey mommy. whatcha doin'?

i'm just walkin' & eatin'.

one sock on, one sock off... holden style.

my valentines

2012-02-15T17:19:00.000-05:00

xoxo

happy valentines day!!! - part 2

2012-02-14T04:44:00.001-05:00

happy valentines day!!! - part 1

2012-02-14T04:44:00.000-05:00

xoxo

love,

holden

pushing in the new fire truck

2012-02-13T21:10:00.002-05:00

Oak Ridge Fire Department dedicates engine - News14.com

(if you look really close starting around 0:13, you'll see holden & daddy helping push the truck into the bay - look for holden's blue toboggan!)

(more pictures to be posted)

Members of the Oak Ridge Fire Department, its auxiliary, elected officials and the community gathered at the Oak Ridge Fire Department on Feb. 12 to take part in a "roll-in" ceremony for the department's new fire engine. The ceremony goes back to the days when horse-drawn carriages pulled fire trucks, and members of the community helped push the engine back into the station when the fire was over because the horse could not push it backwards. - nwobserver.com

a february afternoon at the park

2012-02-13T21:10:00.000-05:00

what's not to love?!

bye bye orlando

2012-02-13T20:37:00.000-05:00

visiting grampa at work

bye, bye, mickey. don't worry, i'll be back!

thanks for a great trip, grammy & grampa!

14 months old - part 2

2012-02-13T20:19:00.000-05:00

14 months old - part 1

2012-02-13T08:44:00.000-05:00

you're 14 months old, holden! & you're turning into such a big boy! just in the past month:

you've started feeding yourself
you can drink from a sippy cup ("can" being the operative word there... you still prefer your bottle!)
you've taken your first steps
i think you're going to be a little gymnast - you can do log rolls on your own and love to do forward rolls - you get in your head down, bottom up position for us to roll you over
you've started copying a lot more things that we do - you can clap & sometimes you'll pat mommy on the back when i'm holding you
"uh oh" is still your favorite thing to say, but you've also started saying what sounds like "mom" again

you're amazing little one. fun as can be & there couldn't be a sweeter little boy in the world!

we love you so much!

love,

your mama & daddy

disney world - meeting mickey

2012-02-12T18:38:00.001-05:00

the highlight of holden's visit...

you also loved the 3D movie Mickey's PhilharMagic... you were reaching out to grab things. you were so much fun to watch!

a tired little guy heading home after a fun day at disney...

disney world - part 2

2012-02-12T18:06:00.001-05:00

disney world - part 1

2012-02-12T09:27:00.001-05:00

holden's 1st trip to disney world...

this is a typical family picture these days... "let me down!"

i've always wanted to touch that bill...

riding the train around the entire park

which is where little man fell asleep...

out like a light!

pool time - part 3

2012-02-11T20:08:00.000-05:00

is this relaxed enough for you?

pool time - part 2

2012-02-11T19:07:00.000-05:00

pool time - part 1

2012-02-11T16:58:00.002-05:00

you aren't even a little bit afraid of the water, sweet boy. you splash, you put your face in the water & you love it when daddy goes under!

hello, orlando

2012-02-11T09:19:00.001-05:00

here i am!

on my way to see mickey

2012-02-10T10:38:00.001-05:00

sporting my mickey mouse hoodie, of course!

my first airplane ride!

doesn't everyone kick back and relax when they fly?

such a big boy...

in a big boy seat like daddy!

must play.

you did great on your first flight, holden. you did so well that the lady in front of us stopped us on the way off the plane to tell us just how great you did! you slept a little, watched a little mickey, played a little and had lots of snacks. thank goodness for mums!

more january pictures

2012-02-09T17:17:00.003-05:00

holden's 1st mini trim:

holden drinks from a sippy cup!

1/11/2012

holden's 1st popsicle (yes, in january)...

1/11/2012

(more videos to be posted)

a yummy ending to a beautiful day

2012-02-09T15:37:00.006-05:00

a beautiful january day

2012-02-09T15:37:00.005-05:00

who doesn't love a warm, sunny january day when its warm enough to play outside without even so much as a jacket? we've been fortunate to have more than one of those this month and we've made the most of them!

peacock crossing at the natural science center...

this wallaby hopped right up to you!

i can feed myself!!!

2012-02-09T15:17:00.005-05:00

i'm so proud of myself!

i love how you use both hands!

1/24/2012

january trip to maryland

2012-02-09T15:03:00.000-05:00

we braved the cold maryland weather to celebrate aunt christie's birthday with her...

you & uncle chris are buddies...

mickey mouse with laney...

snuggling with mom-mom...

you loved movie night with your cousins!

and you REALLY loved cars 2...

(video to come)

pictures for daddy

2012-02-09T14:10:00.001-05:00

because what work day doesn't get a little brighter when holden pops up in your inbox?

p.s. holden, someday remind us to show you the other picture mommy emailed daddy of you today (1/13/12)!

looks like the table isn't a "safe place" anymore!

2012-02-09T08:10:00.000-05:00

you're getting so tall, little one!

little climber

2012-02-09T07:41:00.000-05:00

anything to get a better view of mickey!

holden's recovery

2012-02-09T07:32:00.000-05:00

we got a little worried when you didn't immediately seem better after getting your tubes, but within 3-4 days, you were back to your old, happy, feeling better self! i think you had just been feeling so bad for so long that it took your little body a little while to recover. (these pictures, taken the day after your surgery, speak for themselves!) we're so glad you're feeling better now though, little one!!!

tubes - for real (draft)

2012-02-09T06:56:00.001-05:00

one last doctor's visit before your tubes...

mommy & daddy's prayer for holden:

Dear Jesus, please let holden's lungs be healthy enough for him to get tubes tomorrow. please let the anesthesiologist make the right decision, whichever way it may go and the anesthesiologist, doctor and nurses all do their very best at what they do. please hold holden in Your lap, so that he won't be scared. please let his procedure be quick, pain-free and safe and his recovery super-speedy and pain-free. we pray for miraculously wonderful and immediate results. and for our baby boy to feel SO SO AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL again very soon. In Your name we pray, amen.

you had the very first appointment at 7:10 am (to be continued)

13 months old - part 2

2012-02-08T16:16:00.000-05:00

13 months old - part 1

2012-02-08T12:26:00.000-05:00

happy 2012!!!

2012-02-08T11:12:00.000-05:00

jason had to work on new years eve, so holden & i were home alone. which was for the best anyway, to keep our germs to ourselves.

we all ate our black eyed peas, hog jowl & collards on new years day... did you? (thanks for dropping them off at the sick house, mom & dad!)

more december pictures

2012-02-08T09:59:00.000-05:00

what a little ham!

(& look what is in your hand... you love Baby Jesus!)

taking a break from Christmas shopping at Friendly Shopping Center... you and laney are buds!

too many trips to the doctor in December...

tubes - attempt #1 (draft)

2012-02-07T18:23:00.001-05:00

albuterol nebulizer treatments (draft)

2012-02-07T18:22:00.002-05:00

poor baby was such a trooper through his nebulizer treatments...

Christmas stockings

2012-02-07T18:21:00.001-05:00

i love our fourth tiny stocking at mom-mom & pop-pop's house!

Christmas morning at Mom-Mom & Pop-Pop's - part 2 (draft)

2012-02-06T12:05:00.000-05:00

Christmas morning at Mom-Mom & Pop-Pop's - part 1

2012-02-06T10:13:00.000-05:00

Christmas morning at Grammy & Grampa's

2012-02-06T09:15:00.004-05:00

Christmas morning (draft)

2012-01-30T15:36:00.000-05:00

Christmas Eve (draft)

2012-01-30T12:51:00.002-05:00

our Christmas Eve started off more eventfully than we hope future ones will. you had been at the doctor the day before and had been given a z-pac, but as Christmas Eve morning progressed it became apparent you were getting worse, not better - even with ibuprofen, you were still running a fever, you just wanted to be held & even when i was holding you, you were just moaning. i called the doctor & they were about to close for the day, but advised us to take you to the emergency room. that's right - the emergency room on Christmas Eve. they did a chest x-ray, which came back as possible pneumonia, but inconclusive. by the time the results were back a couple of hours later, your fever was down and they sent us home. if it was pneumonia, the z-pac is what they would have prescribed anyway. you weren't feeling up for much the rest of the day, so mom-mom, pop-pop, aunt jenn jenn, aunt christie, uncle chris, catie, audrey & laney packed up Christmas Eve and brought it to you. luckily by Christmas Day & your third day of the z-pac, you were starting to feel somewhat better.

Chrismas Eve pajamas from mommy & daddy are a tradition. You & your cousins had matching pajamas & we didn't even plan it!

another Christmas Eve tradition... a new Christmas ornament from mommy & daddy...

wade family Christmas (draft)

2012-01-29T18:31:00.000-05:00

tanglewood - part 2 (draft)

2012-01-29T17:17:00.003-05:00

pictures to be posted

tanglewood - part 1 (draft)

2012-01-29T17:17:00.001-05:00

pictures to be posted

santa claus at the gardens at gray gables

2012-01-29T17:16:00.000-05:00

it's official!

2012-01-29T13:03:00.000-05:00

the doctor confirmed on december 15th that baby brooks 2 is due on july 29th!

playing dress up in pigeon forge

2012-01-29T12:35:00.000-05:00

happy boy at harrah's

2012-01-29T12:26:00.000-05:00

...happy to look at everything but the camera! :)

our trip to cherokee

2012-01-29T11:22:00.002-05:00

we decided to extend our mountain trip by another day & spend it at harrah's in cherokee. jason had never been & it had been almost 15 years for me. it's come a long way since then & was a beautiful drive from gatlinburg. we even saw elk!

who's that handsome boy in the mirror?

this picture is for you mom-mom...

holden eats out

2012-01-29T08:17:00.000-05:00

our trip to the mountains - part 2 (draft)

2012-01-28T20:24:00.001-05:00

holden's 1st visit to the aquarium (draft)

2012-01-28T15:50:00.000-05:00

and as we left the aquarium, we were surprised by a beautiful snow fall!

our trip to the mountains (draft)

2012-01-28T08:29:00.000-05:00

holden's 1st birthday party - part 4

2012-01-27T21:41:00.000-05:00

birthday parties are hard work...

especially when your ears hurt...

i need a few days in the mountains to recover from all this birthday!

holden's 1st birthday party - part 3 - the cake (draft)

2012-01-27T21:27:00.000-05:00

holden's 1st birthday party - part 2 (draft)

2012-01-27T16:51:00.000-05:00

holden's 1st birthday party - part 1 (draft)

2012-01-24T20:05:00.000-05:00

holden's 1st Christmas parade (draft)

2012-01-24T13:45:00.001-05:00

holden's 1st birthday - part 3 (draft)

2012-01-24T13:13:00.000-05:00

holden's 1st birthday - part 2 (draft)

2012-01-24T12:49:00.000-05:00

holden's 1st birthday - part 1 (draft)

2012-01-24T07:38:00.001-05:00

Happy 1st Birthday, Holden!!!

2012-01-23T20:26:00.001-05:00

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

santa claus at oak ridge fire station

2012-01-23T19:05:00.002-05:00

pictures to come

special ornaments on our Christmas tree

2012-01-23T18:53:00.000-05:00

mommy & daddy's 2008 Christmas ornament:

mommy & daddy's 2009 Christmas ornament:

holden's 1st Christmas ornament from mommy & daddy:

an ornament from mom-mom & pop-pop:

our family's 2010 Christmas ornament:

holden's 1st Christmas ornament from grammy & grampa:

holden's 1st Christmas ornament from mom-mom & pop-pop:

mommy & daddy's wedding ornament from mom-mom & pop-pop:

ornament from mom-mom & pop-pop:

ornament from mommy's wedding shower:

one of mommy's favorite ornaments:

ornament from mom-mom & pop-pop:

another one of mommy's favorite ornaments (i love the glitter!):

ornament from mom-mom & pop-pop:

ornament catie & audrey gave mommy & honey:

ornaments from grammy & grampa of abby & quik:

ornament santa clause brought mommy when she was little:

we look forward to adding more & more special ornaments to our tree with you every year, holden!

candy cane lane

2012-01-23T18:13:00.000-05:00

before you got your tubes, little one, you got through many bad ear moments sitting on pop-pop's lap listening to candy cane lane...

family picture

2012-01-23T17:47:00.000-05:00

brooks family picture

2012-01-23T17:26:00.000-05:00

holden's 1st thanksgiving - part 2 (draft)

2012-01-16T14:50:00.001-05:00

holden's 1st thanksgiving - part 1 (draft)

2012-01-16T14:04:00.000-05:00

holden's big news

2012-01-16T13:33:00.003-05:00

we found out in november, that you're going to be a BIG BROTHER & this is how you told your daddy...

you look pretty proud of your news! & we know you're going to be the best big brother ever, holden!

trip to mt. vernon - part 1 (draft)

2012-01-16T13:17:00.000-05:00

november trip to maryland - part 2 (draft)

2012-01-16T12:12:00.000-05:00

november trip to maryland - part 1 (draft)

2012-01-16T10:05:00.000-05:00

holden's november - part 1 (draft)

2012-01-06T16:15:00.000-05:00

holden's birthday invitation photo shoot - oak ridge military academy II

2011-12-16T13:09:00.000-05:00

holden's birthday invitation photo shoot - oak ridge military academy I

2011-12-16T09:04:00.000-05:00

holden's birthday invitation photo shoot - fisher park

2011-12-15T21:43:00.000-05:00

you are so wonderful, little one. & we love you SO VERY MUCH!

holden's birthday invitation photo shoot - center city park

2011-12-15T20:38:00.000-05:00

we set out to get a picture of you for your birthday invitations, little one, and we ended up with lots of great ones! you're such a good sport with mommy's camera always in your face... thank you!!! :)

trick or treat, daddy!

2011-12-15T16:45:00.000-05:00

visiting daddy at work on halloween...

you were such a good sport with all of the costume changes, little one. i'm pretty sure you're saying "NO MORE" in this last picture, though! next year, we promise not to make you put on your costume(s) so many times!! we love you, little panda bear!

happy halloween

2011-12-15T15:40:00.000-05:00

our little pumpkin

2011-12-15T15:13:00.000-05:00

halloween eve at grammy & grampa's house

2011-12-14T20:57:00.000-05:00

halloween eve at mom-mom & pop-pop's house

2011-12-14T13:14:00.000-05:00

holden's halloween eve

2011-12-14T09:50:00.000-05:00

daddy had to work on halloween, so you got dressed up the night before & went trick-or-treating at your mom-mom & pop-pop's house & your grammy & grampa's house. you were the cutest little monkey ever!!!

holden's birthday video

2011-12-05T18:18:00.001-05:00

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

pumpkin patch with grammy

2011-12-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

grammy met me at our church's pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin for nan...

a very special pumpkin patch with mom-mom & pop-pop

2011-11-29T08:56:00.004-05:00

mom-mom & pop-pop took you to pick out a pumpkin at the same church pumpkin patch maw-maw used to take your mommy to pick out pumpkins when i was little. such special memories... & as you can see from the pictures - you were VERY proud of the pumpkin you picked & you weren't letting go of it! you picked a GREAT pumpkin, little one - great size, great shape & it even had "warts" on it like mommy likes, for a little personality!

and a video of your soldier crawl!

hill ridge farms with marcy & hadley

2011-11-16T11:27:00.000-05:00

we met miss marcy & hadley at hill ridge farms in youngsville on our way home from raleigh after miss heather's shower. it is such a neat place! this year we rode on the train and took a hayride out to the pumpkin patch and there are even more fun things to do as you get older. this will definitely be a yearly trip for us, little one! & one of these days, mommy might even get the hang of planning things when you aren't ready for a nap!