2008!!

I am excited for 2008!

I know that this next year is going to be full of many happy, fun and emotional memories for us, and I can't wait!!!

I am excited...

To watch our beautiful, sweet MAC learn and grow and to see what his personality will be like. I am excited to laugh with him, teach him sign language, and see him do all the many FIRSTS that he will experience! I am excited to spend the year as his Mommy!!!

To finalize Mac's adoption! And be able to take him to the Temple to be sealed to us and be able to see Hubs give our son a Name and a Blessing. And to have all of our family, friends and Mac's birthfamily there to share it all with us!

For the possibility to be moving somewhere. Hubs's job will be taking us somewhere and who knows where that will be, but I think it will be a fun adventure! Also hopefully it will be somewhere bigger than Helena, and maybe have a little bit warmer winter.

To work on my photography. Now that I have a beautiful subject, maybe I can work on taking better pictures, and learn my camera a little bit better and figure out how to use Photoshop CS2.

To spend another year with my amazing husband. To find a million more ways to show him how much I love him. To celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary! To watch him be a Daddy to Mac!

To spend my last year in my 20s with all these many blessings!

Mac at Two weeks...

Mac is such a good baby! I love to just look at him, and I love that I get to be his Mommy! He is starting to look around and respond by turning his head when he hears someone. We went to the doctor this week and had him circumcised and he was a trooper. He ended up sleeping the rest of the day because he was tuckered out from crying so much. We also found out that he gained 9 oz in 10 days, he really likes to eat! When I was getting him dressed today I was thinking about how slender he is and thought that he wasn't going to be that way much longer so I made sure I took a picture of him in just his diaper so I knew what his cute little body looked like before he gets all of his rolls! I can't wait for him to start smiling, I don't think that it is too far off! Bryce is such a good help and a good Daddy!

Mac's First Christmas!

Christmas Letter 2007

Christmas 2007


This has NOT been “just another year” for us. It has been an amazing year of adventures and blessing beyond what we could have ever dreamed. Wow, where do we start. ..I guess from the beginning would be good!


The very beginning of January we turned in our final paperwork to adopt. We were very excited to get that ball rolling. By the end of February we were officially approved to adopt. Also in February Hubs found out that he had passed his final CPA exam. He was able to pass all four exams the first time. He is now a Board Certified Oregon CPA. In March Hubs started looking for other jobs because he just wasn’t quite satisfied with how things were going working at the CPA firm. He then proceeded to interview back with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. And then was offered a position as a Senior Accountant in Helena, Montana. After a lot of praying we decided that this is where we were supposed to be. It was a huge deal for us to move out of Oregon and away from family. But Mama B was oddly excited and accepted this new adventure. In April we celebrated our 6th wedding Anniversary, we celebrated by flying to Helena to look for places to live (courtesy of Enterprise). The first of May the movers pulled up and loaded our belongings and we were off to Montana. Mama B’s parents caravanned there to help us out with unpacking, and were very helpful. They were able to stay long enough for Mother’s day so that Mama B and her mom could be able to spend that day together. We have really enjoyed our ward and quickly were asked to serve. Mama B was called into the Primary teaching the 5 and 6 year olds, and absolutely loves her kids. Hubs was called to the Elders Quorum Presidency and that was short lived after Hubs taught Sunday School and the Stake presidency happened to be there for Ward Conference. Not long after that he was asked to teach Seminary for the Juniors and was released from his other calling. Teaching seminary was a total shock to Hubs and it took him a few days to accept the idea. We have really enjoyed it here and Helena is such a friendly place. Everyone says HI when you are just walking down the street, we were really taken back by that. It is actually a really cute little town, but there isn’t really a lot to do. In July, Mama B got a job as a Dental Assistant which was a whole new thing for her. They were able to train her on the job and she learned very quickly. On July 24th we were very surprised when we got a call from our Adoption Case Worker with the news that we had been chosen by a birthmother and that she lived only an hour away from us and was due in December. We soon came to realize why we were to move to Montana. The news came just in time to tell Hubs’s parents, who were coming to visit at the end of that week. Hubs’s parents decided to take the three oldest grandkids on a road trip and we were their first stop. We were so excited to have visitors and we had so much fun with them here, and loved getting to see our nieces Hallie and McKenna and nephew Cole. They were especially excited about the news of our upcoming adoption. By September Mama B was getting very homesick and Hubs was more than willing to spend the $400 or so, on a plane ticket to fly home to Oregon to remedy her homesickness. And it worked! She was able to spend 10 days there, getting to take care of Mylisa, visiting as many friends and family as possible and had a baby shower thrown for her by our old Ward in Tigard. November brought us about 4-5 inches of our first snow and freezing temperatures, the week of Thanksgiving. Mama B was dreading this but embraced it and even ventured out in a lot. We spent Thanksgiving at home with a yummy steak dinner. December brought us the best Christmas present ever, the birth and adoption of our beautiful son Mac. He is truly loved by so many, including his amazing birth family. Mama B’s parents were able to come for Christmas and to see little Mac. And we have really enjoyed having them here.

We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas reflecting on the birth of our Savior and that the coming year brings you many blessings and happy memories!

Love,

Hubs, Mama B & Mac

All I want for Christmas is...

Every Christmas when Hubs would ask me what I wanted, my reply was always the same..."A BABY!"

This year I got my wish...

Our gift and blessing...Mac!

Our week...

Mac had his first doctor visit Monday afternoon. We will be going back this next week to get his circumcision done (OUCH!).

My parents drove all the way from Oregon and got here Monday night. They were very excited to see their 17th grandchild. My mom is all excited because she has just had 3 new grandsons in just 6 months.

We have been eating out alot, which has been nice because less dishes. But my mom has been a super dishwasher and baby bottle washer. I don't know what I am going to do about that when she is gone.

We have done some Christmas shopping in the only 3 stores that Helena has. It has been fun to buy some presents for Mac for his stocking, from Santa and from Mommy and Daddy.

"C" and her mom and sister stopped by on their way home for Christmas. It was really great to see them. I was really missing her. It was so great to get to see her with Mac again too. Before they left they sang Mac a Christmas carol. And they have such beautiful voices. I sure hope that Mac inherits that talent.

Mac's belly button fell of at 6 days old. So he got his first real bath and he did not like it. He hates being naked, hates getting his clothes and diaper changed.

My old work invited me to their Christmas party at a really nice steak house. So my boss (who loves babies) got to see him. It was fun to see everyone again.

Hubs flew to Cincinnati, Ohio to interview for a promotion. So he was gone for a day and a half. Thankfully my parents were here to help. He will find out about the job on Thursday.

I woke up this morning with my ear plugged. I have always had a bad ear wax problem (sorry that's gross!) And it couldn't have happened at a better time, because my dad is here. He has always been the one to be able flush my ears out. It scares Hubs to do it! So after alot of squirting in the ear with really warm water it is all cleaned out. This makes me sick because it messes with the inner ear, and the room was spinning and I felt nauseous for a few hours. But doing much better now and I can hear!

Mac went to church for the first time. We just stayed for Sacrament meeting. I was going nuts over hearing everyone coughing! He looked so cute in his little Christmas outfit. I didn't get a picture of him in it, but I will try to next time he wears it.

"Handsome"

Just cute...

I think he looks like a thug!

I love it when his eyes are open!

The morning shift...

 Daddy had taken the early morning shift in feeding Mac. And this is what I found when I got up, two sleeping boys! I love how both of their arms are up by their heads, so cute!

I love these boys!!!

Mac is an awesome sleeper, except when he has a tummy ache. Last night he slept from 11:30 pm until 6 am, he got up had 3 oz and slept until 9 am.

Just the last few days...with Mac!

Check out that double chin!

I love his eyes


Hangin' with grandpa M!

An adoring grandmother!

Our Amazing Experience...

Our experience this last weekend welcoming our sweet, beautiful Mac into the world was more amazing then we could have ever imagined it. I am not going to share in great detail our experience because it is too personal and precious to share. It was an amazingly spiritual experience that brings me to tears every time I think about it.

But I will share a few things with you...

"C" and her parents welcomed us with open arms. We sat with them for a few hours before Mac was born. And we loved every second we had with them. Her labor went pretty quickly. And soon after he was born they came and got us from the waiting room. As soon as I got in there the nurse handed him to me, and soon after that Hubs got to give him his first feeding. We then got to go with him to the nursery to get measured and put in the isolete to warm up. Late that evening "C" and I went to the nursery to watch him get his first bath and foot prints. After that we went back to our hotel and tried to sleep. The next morning we went back to the hospital to check on everyone. And then we got to spend more time with "C" and her family. Later that day after he got all of his tests they discharged everyone. We all signed some paperwork so that we were able to take Mac with us. We then said our goodbyes in tears. And we all walked down to our car together. And then we took him back to our hotel, and then drove home the next morning with him.

My love for "C" grew even more after this experience. I can't even begin to tell you the deep love I have for her (and her family). It has taken a couple of days to not break down in tears every time I think about her.

Holding our sweet boy...

The first time Hubs got to hold him!

Kisses from Mommy!

Some of my favorites...

I promise I will post more when I get a chance.

HERE HE IS...!

Mac C. W.

Born:

Friday, December 14, 2007

at 2:33pm

7 lbs 10 oz and 20 in long

a little bit about him...

~of course he is beautiful!

~He is such a good baby. He didn't cry last night at all, I had to wake him up to feed him (mothers, don't be jealous!)

~He sleeps alot, and hardly ever cries.

~He may have a broken collarbone.

~He doesn't have much hair on the top of his head but he has a little mullet of strawberry blond hair.

~He has big hands and feet.

~He is a really good eater.

~He was discharged from the hospital 25 hours after he was born.

~His birth family is absolutely AMAZING! (His birthmother "C" made the blanket and hat he is sporting in the picture. Our most prized possession besides little Mac himself.)

We are so truly blessed!

More pictures will come soon. We need to get settled in a little. Thankyou everyone for your love and support, we really appreciate it.

See ya in a few...

We should be back on Monday...

I won't be able to post any pictures until then, but I will be able to post the news about the baby.

Thinking about her...

As we are preparing tonight to leave in the morning, I can't help but think about "C".

I wonder what she is thinking, if she is scared. I am hoping her Mom is with her. I have an overwhelming urge of wanting to comfort her, and be there for her. I just have so much love for her, it's incredible. And I hope that she know the great love we have for her and will always have for her. I am hoping that I will be able to handle the intense feelings that all will be feeling tomorrow and through out the weekend.

I probably wont sleep much tonight, because obviously I have alot to think about.

Please pray for "C", that she may find peace and comfort.

...FINALLY!!

I just talked to "C"...she is going to be induced tomorrow...TOMORROW!! Aaahhggggggggggggg!

(Amy Stapleton...you were totally right on for the date, along with Shannon, Diane and Sarina!)

Today is his due date...

NO BABY YET!!!

When I grow up...

Ever since I could remember all I wanted to be when I grew up was a Mother. I remember thinking at one point in my adulthood (before I met Hubs) that I wanted to be a Mother so badly but that it might not happen so easily for me. I don't know why I thought this, but I don't ever remember thinking it again, in fact I had totally forgotten that I had this thought until after many years of Hubs and I trying to have children of our own. This road of infertility was very painful. But at Christmas it seemed to hurt the most, almost unbearable. Even thinking about that pain right now brings me to tears, because it is still so close to the surface.

And here we are this Christmas season waiting for the most wonderful gift that we could ever receive. And the best part of waiting for our little one during this season and getting to celebrate Christmas with him, is being able to reflect on our Saviors birth also. It brings a whole new light on that most wonderful day more than 2000 years ago. It all feels so overwhelming, the miracle of it all, of our Savior being born to Mary and the gift of his life. And also to be thinking about our baby boy being born to our beautiful, selfless birthmother, who will be giving him life, not once but TWICE.

I have often thought why can we not have the blessing of children in our home, and now all I can think about is why are we so blessed to have the gift of adoption in our home, and to be blessed with a beautiful baby boy during the most wonderful time of year.

As I was reading this talk on someone else's blog, all I could think about was our birthmother. I seriously don't know how to express what I feel for her. And it is really hard for me to think that there will never be a way that I could adequately thank her for the gift she is giving to us and more importantly her beautiful son.

"Christmas doesn't come from a store"

Jeffrey R. Holland

Again, I’ve thought of Luke’s careful phrasing about that holy night in Bethlehem:

“The days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

"“And (she) brought forth her firstborn son, and [she] wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and [she] laid him in a manger” (Luke 2:6–7; emphasis added).

Those brief pronouns trumpet in our ears that, second only to the child himself, Mary is the chiefest figure, the regal queen, mother of mothers—holding center stage in this grandest of all dramatic moments. And those same pronouns also trumpet that, save for her beloved husband, she was very much alone.

I have wondered if this young woman, something of a child herself, here bearing her first baby, might have wished her mother, or an aunt, or her sister, or a friend, to be near her through the labor. Surely the birth of such a son as this should command the aid and attention of every midwife in Judea! We all might wish that someone could have held her hand, cooled her brow, and when the ordeal was over, given her rest in crisp, cool linen.

But it was not to be so. With only Joseph’s inexperienced assistance, she herself brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in the little clothes she had knowingly brought on her journey, and perhaps laid him on a pillow of hay.

Then on both sides of the veil a heavenly host broke into song. “Glory to God in the highest,” they sang, “and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). But except for heavenly witnesses, these three were alone: Joseph, Mary, and the baby to be named Jesus.

At this focal point of all human history, a point illuminated by a new star in the heavens revealed for just such a purpose, probably no other mortal watched—none but a poor young carpenter, a beautiful virgin mother, and silent stabled animals who had not the power to utter the sacredness they had seen.

Shepherds would soon arrive and, later, wise men would follow from the East. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby—that’s how Christmas began.

just venting...

Well, it looks like it could still be another week before the little guy decides to come. I talked to "C" tonight and she said that she isn't really having any contractions. She isn't due until the 13th and the doctor wont think about inducing her until the 20th. Are you kidding me!?! Hubs and I seriously are going crazy! I can't keep my mind on a single task for more than a few minutes, and I feel like I can't get anything done, but yet I am bored out of my mind! I hate feeling this out of control!!

On top of all of this, I am stressed out about Christmas cards and presents. And I hate that I have to worry about those things because it really takes away from what Christmas is all about.

***

On the more fun side...we have finally agreed on a name! And it isn't one that was on our previous list. It isn't really set in stone because we want to wait to see if it fits him when we see him. But we both have a pretty good feeling about it. You will just have to wait!!!

Also...my parents are coming next week. We are so excited to get to spend Christmas with family and get to share our little guy with them. They are also going to cut down an Oregon grown tree for us and bring it with them. I can't wait to smell that yummy noble fir in my house! Mmmmmm!

the baby...

This is a video of the baby's ultrasound at 20 weeks. My favorite part is at the begining when he is sucking his thumb. Further in it you can also hear the heartbeat.

He is due in one week, but I am really hoping that he comes sooner. I can hardly stand it!

new camera and christmas decor...

Well we got a new video camera, it is one of those digital hard drive ones. We figured that we would need one to make sure we catch all the fun times ahead of us with our new baby.

To try the thing out, I decided to show you my christmas decorations. I sound like a total dope on it and I am not very good at handling it and so it is bad filming, but I hope you enjoy anyway.

Hopefully the next time I post a video will be of the baby.

P.S. Sorry the quality isnt very good for this. We had to compress the video file because it was too huge to upload to the blog. So basically we had to make the good quality video into awful quality just so you can view it, dumb.

P.S.S And sorry that the video is so long and boring, you don't really have to watch the whole thing. It was more for me to figure out how to do all of this before the baby comes home.