Need advice transitioning from opening to middle game...

Play moves with the intention of bettering your position and furthering your goals. Before responding to your opponent's move, consider the alternatives, and the resulting positions after each choice. Example: 4. ...a6 did not achieve much. If white wanted to capture the knight, white could have played it regardless to your next move. Instead, I would suggest further developing minors, such as with Nf6, Bd7 or Be6.

Secondly, don't arbitrarily make pawn moves, as they are semi-permanent structures that shape your position. For instance, 6. ...c5 suddenly created a mass of light-square weaknesses, which would have been bothersome had white pushed d5, with the idea of eventually planting a knight on either c6 or e6. Instead, exd4 avoids these complications, and begins breaking up the center, which particularly benefits the side with the bishop pair. A reasonable follow-up would be Nf6 followed by a d5 push.

You don't need to worry about "forcing" anything when your opponent is just randomly pushing pawns and dropping them. Think about it, the whole idea behind forcing is that he has to make certain moves to avoid losing pieces or getting a worse position/getting mated.

I think you definitely got a little too involved in the pawn-pushing action yourself. If you play a solid opening the transition to middlegame will take care of itself -- just play a few pawns out as needed to control the centre and develop your pieces economically, and get castled quickly in most cases. Take free material if it's offered but don't get too greedy, and be wary of any compensation they might get for it.

It seems like you reacted to his pawn moves with many pawn moves from yourself, which is not so good, because you are creating weakness in your own camp.

I would respect the power of my pieces more and get them developped asap. With development comes threats which your opponent has to parry and you'll gain the initiative.

All of the advice is helpful. Thanks. I really just need to stick to my own strategy, especially in a game like this. I know how important it is to develop and work from there, it can just be frustrating to have to fight through a lot of pawns. Also, does anyone have a good book recommendations? maybe some you have read and been helped a lot from. I am looking at Fine's "The Ideas Behind Chess Openings" and maybe "The Art of Attack in Chess".

I have heard good things about Pachman's Complete Chess Strategy books, but any middlegame book would probably help. Chess Fundamentals by Capablanca (as the name suggests) covers some helpful basics, too. The Winning Way by Pandolfini is a very quick read that demonstrates the tactical basics of the opening, which will be more than enough to get you to a playable middlegame.

Paulgottlieb, Thank you. This is exactly what I wanted to hear someone say to me. Couldn't have asked for a better constructive criticism. Advice like this really helps you understand what you need to work on. I only see the game from my own view, so having someone else (who is probably better) come in and give me their view is awesome. If I wasn't such a broke college guy, I would pay you for saying that haha

NachtWulf, Thanks again. I will definately be looking into the suggested books. I have been playing chess since I was a kid, but just recently I started looking at it in a different light. Not as much a game, but more a mind challenge of tactics, strategy and foresight. I developed a whole new appreciation for chess. 

This is a great constructive conversation all. Thanks.