The Randy & Stephanie Dirks Family Est~ 2000
~If you think our hands are full, you should see our hearts!~

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Real Life

Friday night vs. Saturday morning.  

Neither was posed; I didn't even know he was taking them.  But both make me feel incredibly beautiful.  Because, at both moments, I was my Grandson's safe space.

I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Beeker Beauty

 Tyson: "Mom, there is a website where they post pictures from sporting events.  Look at what I found today!"

Hands me the phone with a picture zoomed in to capture this...

I laughed and laughed.  And LAUGHED!  Because this is all I could see...
"The sun was in my eyes, Astrid!"

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Uncle Caden's meet-cute

We finally got to get Hudson dressed in my PJs (purchased the morning after we found out he was a Boy!) and take him to properly meet Uncle Caden!!

Monday, May 5, 2025

Matched


Matched his PR of 10'!!

Sunday, May 4, 2025

Kissable

 Keilie sent me pictures of Hudson's kissable cheeks and sweet baby thighs.

It still blows my mind that he's smaller now, all these weeks later, than Keilie was at birth.

Saturday, May 3, 2025

Prom 2025

I'm a stage-4 crier; everyone knows it.  Hence, Randy's capturing a picture while I'm trying to get myself in check.  Punk.

The best I can do, honestly.
And then Brennon walks out and I'm a mess trying to keep the tears in check.
My goodness, I love these two!

Once Randy's taken all with/for me, I take over and capture this stunner without tears and a flaming red nose.  I think he looks this good on purpose!  Punk.

Shelby, attending Kamiakin's Prom with her friends from Tri-Tech:
Shelby, Janelle, Amber
Addi, Shelby, Janelle, Amber, and a girl we don't really know.

Brennon, attending Richland's Prom with Kayliann Haws:










I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have such gorgeous, kind, generous kids, and that they, in turn, have such amazing, kind, generous friends.

Friday, May 2, 2025

Scheduled Snuggles

 To help with my PTSD, I take a medical marijuana gummy each night before bed that helps calm my body down for sleep.  The two nights that I decided not to take them so I could be up with Hudson proved to be a hard decision.  It seems that my body is still quite scared about death in the night, so I find myself checking his breathing and listening intently to all of his sounds to the point of mania, and then I struggle for a few days after to calm myself to functioning.  My mind catches on "What if he died tonight," and my body feels it as a foregone conclusion.  It's agony.

So, Randy and I have set up a schedule that works well for both of us, and allows us one-on-one time with Hudson each Friday night.  Randy goes to bed earlier than we normally go to bed, while I stay up with Hudson till about 1:00am.

Then, after he is fed and changed, I put him down, take my gummy, and it's Papa-on-duty for the rest of the night.

Saturday mornings are my time while Randy gets a few hours.  But as soon as Randy hears him stir, he becomes his new nickname, "Baby Hog," and takes him back for more snuggles.


It is the most amazing thing in the world to be Grandparents.  We are SO LUCKY that Keilie lives close, and that she allows us Grandparent time every single week.  It may not be that way forever, nor for all of our Grandkids, but for now, it is THE BEST FEELING IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Pity Laugh?

 Uncle Brennon tells the weirdest jokes...
Should I give him a pity laugh?...