According to Evan

The people have spoken, and Evan has answered. I convinced him to do a guest blog post for Fathers Day - wasn't that nice of me? :) Hope you enjoy getting a break from my ramblings and some insight into Brenna and Connor's Daddy! Happy Fathers Day to all of the wonderful dads out there, but especially my own father, my father-in-law and certainly not least of all, my incredible husband.

Courtney has done an amazing job chronicling our story with Brenna. The stories that Courtney tells are all the ones what I would choose to tell you all, but she has an amazing way of saying things. And for that I am thankful as I can stay behind the scenes. She wanted me to do a guest post today and I am a little excited and a little nervous as I am more of a rambling talker than an eloquent writer.  

Fathers Day is very important to me for many reasons. My dad is absolutely my role model and I strive to be like him in pretty much every way. He has taught me what it takes to work hard to have ‘things’ for your family but more importantly to be there to answer questions and lead by example for your children. I have learned everything from how to shoot a basketball, to how to shoot a gun, to how to put family first every step of the way. I will have succeeded if I am half the man that my father is. Thank you and I love you, Dad. In addition to my dad, I have learned a ton from both of my grandfathers and now Courtney’s dad. I could not have asked for a better support system throughout my entire life than these 4 men.

Easter 2010 - Connor, me, my dad, and my grandpa (my mom's dad)

I am incredibly thankful that I learned so much from all of these men because WOW, I was excited for Connor to come in September 2009. We were your typical relative newlyweds and first time parents and were nervous but also incredibly excited. We’ve learned as we’ve gone and are still learning every day but I am proud to say that Connor is closer to 3 than 2 and is the smartest, most handsome, and sweetest boy ever. (I’m sure that I’m the only father that thinks this.)

September 14, 2009 - Connor, one day old.

After we had Connor, we absolutely knew that we wanted at least one more child and so set out trying to make that happen. When we found out that we were pregnant again we were incredibly excited, as you could imagine. When we found out that it was a girl I was over-the-moon excited as I knew that I at least had a chance to convince Courtney that this was a perfect little family that could still fit in a full size sedan if necessary. College is not cheap, you know!

Fast forward to December 19, 2011 and I’m bee-bopping over to Indianapolis for work, only thinking about what I’m going to do that day and how excited I was for Christmas and the New Year to be here so that we could celebrate our daughter’s birth. When Courtney called and told me that “it was time,” my heart was racing for the next several hours until I could be there. I was a little nervous about the earliness of the birth but overall knew that everything would be fine.

Brenna was born later that afternoon and at first everything did not appear to be ‘fine’, as any reader here knows. We have had our share of trying times these last 6 months, but I am more obsessed with my little baby than any dad should be. Brenna continues to get better every day and she shows her love to me every day by giving me her sweet, toothless smile and I must admit that it melts my heart every single time!

December 31, 2011 - first time holding Brenna at 2 weeks

It is safe to say that I am more proud of my little family of Courtney, Connor, and Brenna than I am of anything in my life and wouldn’t trade our little crew for anything in the world. I want to thank all of the dads out there, especially the four that I mentioned earlier, and wish you all a Happy Fathers Day!!!!