Dear Bently,

Yesterday was the 4th of July. It's still weird to me that we are celebrating 2nd holidays with you and not 1st anymore! I was really worried because I got off July 4th morning at 7am and had to be back to work at midnight that night. July 4th is my favorite holiday and I wanted it to be awesome! Well, it turned out great! :)
We went to the parade bright and early! We sat with Aunt Shawna and her family and Uncle Cole and his. I was super worried about the parade starting because they always start with the sirens going. You still aren't a fan of loud noises! Well just as I suspected the sirens started and you got the most intense worried look on your baby face! I felt so bad! You even cried out a few times and snuggled up close to Daddy! It was adorable! Luckily that part ended soon! I don't know if you were too impressed with the parade. Mostly you like eating the candy and having people hold you and give you attention! Your first 4th of July you were only 3 months old. Let met tell you the difference a year makes! ;) When you were a teeny tiny 3 month old in the blistering July 4th heat, just laying there helpless, they threw ice cream samples into the crowd and one hit you on the stomach. Of course it startled you more than anything and then you cried, quite a bit. This year we decided to try and get you into the candy collecting! Daddy took you to grab a piece and as you tentatively were trying whether you wanted to pick it up or not, another candy was thrown and smacked you in the head! Again there were tears involved. So the candy collecting aspect of the parade will have to wait until next year! Mom and Dad sure had fun collecting there own private stash though! :)
After the parade it was nap time. Dad and I had 0 sleep in our systems. Luckily we all got a little sleep. At last minute the Hyers decided to come and have a little BBQ with us. We had hot dogs, watermelon, cookies, and chips. It was simple but yummy! We learned that you don't like watermelon! We kept trying to feed you pieces and you kept spitting them out! Maybe you'll grow to like it! More than eating though all you wanted to do was walk around the back yard. We have these cement steps and you crawled up them easily. Then you decided that you were a big boy and you tried to walk down the stairs. Of course you had to decide to experiment on the most dangerous steps possible. I hate those moment when I know you are going to get hurt but there is no way I can move fast enough to prevent it. You of course face planted it and in return got a bloody cut on your forehead! Poor guy! I rushed over and gave you a big hug!
After we headed out to a firework show! I love fireworks and couldn't wait for you to experience them again! Aunt Shawna arrived before us and saved us a seat. We spent some time trying to find her. The crowd was huge! We finally arrived, took some family pictures, then I whipped out some sparklers I had from the year before. It turns out year old sparklers don't work very well! It took a hundred years to light and then ended up burning out before it was even half way down. You loved looking at the sparkler. It was hard to convince you not to touch it!
Then the firework show began. The first one went off, and you stared in awe as it shot towards the sky. Then it exploded and the bang went off. It echoed behind us and your head whipped back towards were the noise sounded like it was coming from so fast. And then for the next 5 or so minutes you were scared, crying, and sad. I was sad because I really wanted you to love it! I don't know what I was expecting since you are terrified of loud noises! After a while though you calmed down and seemed to enjoy it! I think you got bored because you started trying to get up and walk around. Dad got out his phone and you happily played on that for the majority of the fire work show. Ah well, maybe next year you'll enjoy them more! :) But there was this moment. As we were laying on the blanket, watching the fireworks together, a moment were everything felt right in the world. Maybe it was the magic of the fireworks making me feel so happy, but in that moment I looked at my two handsome men and just felt sheer and utter happiness. I can't put into words the beauty of the moment, I was just so grateful to have our little family, our house, everything that I hold near and dear! I hugged you guys a little closer, wishing for this moment to last forever!
I love you Bently and love every single holiday I get to spend with you! I loved my 4th of July with you and can't wait for more in the future! Love you little man!
Love,
Mom