My blackberry pie...

...was oh so yummy!

Me and MINE!

As you can see, I have been a little MIA from blogging. To be honest, I haven't felt much like blogging. And on top of that, I have recently felt like I spend too much time on the computer. I decided to cut way down on my computer time (blogging and editing photos) and spend more time with my cute little family.

I occasionally read these blog called CJane and also NieNie they are sisters and LDS. After an amazing Saturday of making our sweet boy ours forever, I came home to read about the accident that Nie Nie and her husband were in. And I seriously can not get them out of my thoughts. I have just been so sad thinking about the many very hard months and years they will now have ahead of them. StephaNIE has been such an amazing example of a women, a wife and a mother. She loves her family to pieces and you can see that in every post on her blog. She serves them whole heartedly and gives her all to them day in and day out. Her husband and her four adorable children are the center of her world. And I admire how she shows that.

Since reading about Stephanie and her family, I have realized that I want to spend more time serving my little family. Loving every inch of them, and making sure they know how much I love them. So that is what I have been doing the last two weeks, totally concentrating on being a wife and mother and trying not to let too many distractions get int the way. And I have so enjoyed every second!

Also, I have been amazed at the love and support that this wonderful family is getting from the blogging community. You have to check it out here! It has reminded me so much of all the love and support Hubs's family got a few years ago when we lost Hubs's little sister B. It seriously brings tears to my eyes.

So if I am blogging less, that is where I am, LOVING MY FAMILY!

What we have been up to (for journaling purposes):

• Picking blackberries (and making a pie out them)
• Watching Mac scoot all over the house and getting into everything.
• Trying to get Mac's room put together.
• Going to Hubs's work picnic at Camp Wilani
• Spending time with family
• Putting Mac on a napping schedule (successful)
• Letting Mac cry it out so that he can learn to go to sleep with out a bottle (successful)
• Snuggling on the couch with my cute husband
• Waking up to a cute note from my husband this morning (see pic above)
• Putting together Mac's new crib
• Getting excited for Mac's blessing in a week and a half
• Hubs getting called into the Elders Quorum in the Spanish Branch
• Getting ready to make Cinnamon Banana Bread
• Enjoying the much cooler weather
• Taking a million pictures of Mac a day
• A promise to finish Mac's adoption story
• And much more!

The paperwork and process...(Mac's Adoption Story~Part 2)

I think every stage of adoption can be compared to a stage of pregnancy, and I would consider this part of our journey to be compared to the "morning sickness" that most pregnant women go through.

We started our paperwork in the Fall of 2006 and turned in all of our paperwork at the very beginning of January 2007. By the end of February 2007 we were approved to adopt and officially waiting for our baby.

Our process of applying to adopt had it's highs and lows, it was exciting, scary and really frustrating. But I am sure it is that way for most couples who are applying for the first time.

The very frustrating parts came from dealing with our caseworker. He was always telling us if we didn't do this or that, or check this box or that that we would never get a baby. Now that is really discouraging, thanks Mr. Caseworker for being so sensitive to our very fragile, childless-hearts. In all of his pushing and shoving and being very insensitive, we made sure we followed our hearts and followed the spirit with every step that was required of us. We were happy and at peace with what we felt was right for our little family. Well, with everything except the prospect of an open adoption.

When it came to learning about open adoption and considering it for our family, I think that our hearts were closed to that possibility being OK for our family. And I really think that it was Satan's way of creeping his way in to try and destroy one of the greatest blessings, forever families.

The scary part was to think that it was totally up to someone else to make us parents. It was scary to think about the possibilities of being chosen, then at the last minute having our baby snatched right out from under us. It was scary to think that if we had an open adoption that maybe we would never really feel like the baby was ours (this is not true, remember we didn't know much about open adoption). It was scary admitting to a lot of people that we struggled with infertility when we had kept it to ourselves for so long. There was a lot that was scary about adopting.

The excitement came when we would think about the possibility of being parents finally. We knew that it would take time, it could be months or even years before we were chosen. But that at times seemed much easier then the wait every month, followed by the usual disappointment that was so constant in our lives over that past five plus years.

To pass the time I would look up the online profiles for adoptive parents on LDSFS website. And more specifically, I would look up those with a child already hoping to read someones story of how they had adopted their baby. I wanted some idea of how it would feel for us when the time came. After we got our own online profile up, I would look at it everyday wondering what birth mother's would think looking at our picture and reading about us. And then my thoughts eventually would wonder if our birth mother would know us when she saw our profile.

At this time, we still did not tell many people. We definitely were not doing all we could do to find our baby. But we did feel a need to pray for all birth mothers. We prayed that they would find peace in their choice and that they may be lead to the right parents for their sweet baby.

After we had been approved and we had been on the waiting list for about a month, we believe Heavenly Father stepped in and was preparing us to find our baby and to answer a sweet young women's prayers.

The beginning of FOREVER!...(Mac's Adoption story~Part 1)

***When I sat down to write about having Mac sealed to us, my mind kept on wandering to the very beginning of our story and how we got to this day. It seemed that it would only make sense to tell you this way, so that you may all understand the great significance this day truly had for us. So as to not bore everyone all at once, this story will have to be told in parts.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This is VERY significant in my life, because not only does the church I belong to have many beliefs, but I truly have faith in and know for myself that these beliefs are true. One of these beliefs is that families can be forever, we do not have to part at death. As worthy members of the Church, we are able to receive permission to enter the House of the Lord, the Temple, and receive the blessings of eternal families. Hubs and I were able to be sealed together for time and eternity on April 14, 2001 in the Portland, Oregon Temple. I am so grateful to Hubs for being the man he is, that he loved (loves) me enough to want to be worthy enough to take me to the Temple so that I can have my own eternal family. So that we can be together forever.

Another wonderful blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ, is the strength it has given Hubs and I to get through our trials. In the seven plus years we have been married we have gone through many, very difficult, life altering trials. Our knowledge and beliefs has helped us to take the very real pain and heartache that we felt through those trials and turn it into something that would help us, refine us, strengthen us, and make us better disciples of Christ.

One of our great trials is the struggle we have had bringing children into our eternal family. As with most trials, no one understands the great pain and heartache that goes with infertility unless you have traveled that road, and I do not wish that road on anyone. And even though at times the pain and heartache seemed unbearable, I never felt my Heavenly Father's comfort and love for me more. I learned so much about myself, my husband, our relationship with each other and my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I knew that my Heavenly Father had a plan for me, for us. In waiting for that plan to unfold, we learned to rely on the Lord, rely on each other, be grateful for what we have, and to have patience.

After five years of struggling with infertility, we felt like we should try growing our family through adoption. Choosing adoption is not something to take lightly by anyone. And even though we tried other ways first to grow our family, and they were unsuccessful, we would never say that adoption was our "last resort". We know that there was much to be learned to prepare ourselves to bring Mac into our family in this special way, and that adopting our son was Heavenly Father's plan for us all along. When we look back at our journey from the moment we turned in our paperwork for adoption, we can see now how Heavenly Father was leading us to C and Mac.

Dressed in White!

Check out the pictures Shonda took of us!

They turned out beautiful and perfect, exactly what I had wanted! I really can't wait to get them hung on my wall!

Thank You Shonda!

please Mac...

Stop growing up so fast!

When I saw that I had taken the third picture yesterday at our BBQ, I remembered these other two pics I had taken and just had to share how much McCoy has changed and how he has grown. I love that I have these three pics and hope to remember to capture this pose with my mom every few months.

1 week old

2 months, 1 week old

8 months

Overwhelming and Amazing!

Can you believe that we didn't get one picture today of just Hubs, Mac and I.? Well, we had our pictures taken with just us three the night before so that we didn't have to worry about it today. As soon as we get those pictures I will be sure to share them with all of you. I think every picture we did take today at the temple has C and her family in it, so I won't be sharing those on this blog, sorry.

Anyway...

Today was so wonderful and as soon as I can get it all into words I will share about our day with you. But I do want to take the time to thank everyone who shared in our day with us. It was so overwhelming to know that so many love and support us.

And Thank Yous...

I also want to thank all those that helped us get ready for our big day...to my Mom, who means the world to me and actually put everything together for our BBQ so that I didn't have to worry about it, she did amazing! To my Aunt Elaine who first of all made Mac the most beautiful white sweater vest for Mac to wear today, I am so excited he will be wearing it again in a couple of weeks when we have Mac blessed, and also for hemming Hubs's new Temple pants at the last minute. My Aunt Elaine along with my mother who ironed and re-ironed all of our temple and dress clothes for all three of us. For my Aunt and Uncle who let us crash their house with a really fun BBQ. For C and her family traveling so far and taking the time to be with us and share with us this wonderful day.

8 Months...

Mac is growing up fast, a little too fast. It seems like he is always doing new things everyday. His smile and laugh brighten our day and fill our hearts with more joy than imaginable. He has a very strong personality. He laughing all the time, and he gets so excited over seeing people and people paying attention to him. He LOVES looking in the mirror and I am pretty sure that he knows that it is him in the mirror and not another baby. He is always rolling around the floor and is getting to where he wants to be that way. He sits up so well and loves to play with his toys that way. He is learning to pick up food with his thumb and pointer finger and putting it to his mouth. He LOVES to be outside and his mood gets really sour if we have been stuck in the house too long. He really like books, and he even knows how to turn the pages. He has 5 teeth that are all the way in and his sixth just punched through. He will not sleep through the night for us anymore and wants to wake up to eat every 2 to 3 hours, he is making up for being so good as an infant. His hair is starting to actually come in and I think by the time he is one he will have enough to comb. His hair is definitely red and his eyes are big and blue. He can not sit still for anything, he always has to be moving and doing something. He does not do well at church and it makes it rough for us to sit through any class. He is wearing mostly 12 month clothes right now, and maybe a few things that are 9 month. He is a big boy! He gets so excited when Hubs gets home from work and turns his head to follow Hubs around the house where ever he goes, too cute! When you put your arms out to pick him up he does the same. When you are holding him he likes to lunge forward or out of your arms towards what ever is there. I can not believe that we are only 4 months away from him turning ONE, crazy! We love him and his sweet spirit!

Did I mention...

• how much I love my boys!
• Mac will be made ours FOREVER on Saturday.
• Mac will be 8 months old tomorrow, holy cow!
• C and her parents are coming, YAY!!!
• this awesome lady is taking family pictures of us dressed in white, Friday night.
• my sister C and her two adorable kids are coming for a visit and for Mac's blessing.
• that I really wish Mac would sleep through the night.
• I am really excited for the Autumn/Fall.
• we went to the Scandinavian Festival (pictures to come).
• Mac has SIX teeth, that's a lot!
• we survived our talks on Sunday.
• Hubs is taking Friday off of work, yay!
• I got my eyebrows waxed yesterday, it was much needed!
• I LOVE being Mac's Mom!

his smile...

Mac's personality is really starting to come out, and it is so cute to see. He interacts way more with us and other people. Where ever we go, he attracts people like a magnet. People are always stopping and talking to him and smiling and because he flashes his super cute smile at everyone that will look. Also everyone is attracted to his big, beautiful, blue eyes and red hair.

Sitting up so good and loving the grass.

Could he get any cuter? Don't think so!

He unintentionally waves with his right hand often. I have been working with him to understand that he can say hi to people like that. So every time he does it, we do it back and say "Hi!" a million times. He probably thinks we are crazy or something, because he always gets a huge smile when we play this game.

This is how he smiles really big now. Isn't it so cute. I get this smile probably a hundred times a day. This is the first time I have actually been able to get a good picture of it. He makes cute little sounds like he is so excited when we get this smile. He is just so cute!

This is also another cute look we get, the scrunched up nose look. It cracks us up, we love it!

His, oh-so-kissable cheeks, yummy!

grass...

I don't think Mac is scared of anything, well at least not yet (and of course the tape gun we used when we were packing). Most babies his age are scared of the grass. He is very intrigued by it and will pull some and look at it in is hands. He has only tried to put it in his mouth once. If it isn't too hot and there is some shade in our front yard we will just go outside and hang out, or take pictures in this case. He loves to be outside, and if he is in a grumpy mood, all we have to do is take him outside or go on a walk and he calms down immediately.

Did I mention...

that we were asked (this last Sunday) to give talks this Sunday in our new (Spanish) Branch. And I need mine emailed to the Branch President by today so that it can get translated into Spanish. I don't think that is enough time to write a talk, when you have an almost 8 month old baby, who has all of a sudden has become really clingy and won't let me put him down. So thank heavens I type all of my talks out and have them saved on the computer and that we can pick our own topics. So all I am doing is picking one of my old talks and making sure that it makes sense to be able to read on Sunday.

P.S. I won't be reading my talk in Spanish, there is no way I can do that. But I guess I will be reading a couple of sentences at a time and then some will read what I just said in Spanish.

TO DO for the week!

• Get our vehicle and renters insurance transferred from Montana to Oregon.
• Go to the Social Security office to get Mac a SSN.
• Go pay car payment and give the CU a letter stating that we have moved our vehicles back to Oregon.
• Go to Costco to buy: baby wipe, cleaning wipes, steak seasoning.
• Go grocery shopping.
• Get the rest of my pictures and shelfs hung on the wall.
• Buy an area rug for our family room.
• Get my migrain prescription transferred from Montana and filled. I am all out, not good!
• Return a pair of pants to The Children's Place
• I am sure there is more, but can't think of it at the moment.

***The items that are gray are completed!

he's a sittin' and other stuff...

Well, last Thursday, Mac all of a sudden decided that it was ok to sit up all by himself. He will sit for more than 5 minutes sometimes, before falling. He has actually become quite good and falling gracefully too.

He is also working on his 6th tooth. And he isn't taken it very well. Since we have moved to Oregon it seems like it is one thing or another with him. Staph infection, antibiotics, 5th tooth, runny nose and cough, throwing up, and now his 6th tooth. Oh and not eating or sleeping very good. It has been a rough month and a half here in Oregon trying to take care of my cranky-not-so-happy baby. He just hasn't been himself and it makes me really sad. I really hope that he is feeling better the day that we have him sealed to us. I am getting a bit worried about that.

We also found out that we will not be able to have him blessed the day after the sealing. Which I am not too happy with, but I am working on getting over it. We want to bless him in Hubs's parents Ward because we don't really have a home Ward. And the Bishop told us that we have to wait for the first Sunday in September, fast Sunday. I guess it is church policy, which we want to follow of course. But our good friends are having their baby blessed that same Sunday in Portland. So now we won't be able to be there for their baby's blessing and they won't be able to be there for Mac's blessing. It is just something else I think I am going to have to get over along with everything else.

Now that Mac is sitting up, I am so enjoying taking pictures of him more. It is a lot easier and I just have a ton I want to share. But that will have to wait.

THE END

Fun & Yum!