Noah's Newborns

I realized some of you are not on Facebook and/or follow Dollface Photo blog, so here are Noah's newborns....

All Present and Accounted For

After an 11 hour, fairly uneventful labor (if you don't count his mothers getting to know eachother), Noah Tse yi nii made his appearance.  His big, fat 9 lb 8 oz appearance.

 He came complete with back fat.



And he aims to please so we're back at the hospital for an encore.

(intestinal infection)

Hypothetically Speaking

2  Fridays ago received a call from LDS Family Services.  This is the 2nd time they had a hypothetical situation for us to consider.  The other times they had a baby in their arms.  If LDS Family Services has a hypothetical situation for you it will more than likely be good (if you're in the business of increasing the amount of offspring in your home).  Jason asked the social worker to please burn our file following the finalization of Mae's baby brother. 

She was due in 2 weeks.  By the following Wednesday (when our birth mother officially asked if we'd be her baby's parents), she was due Tuesday.  When we met with her Friday it was her due date.  ? So here I sit, madly editing photos from my latest session so that tomorrow I can be a labor coach. 

This will be the first time I've been at the birth of one of my own children.  Irony's cool.

I've run 4 reference letters around town, 3 to friends, only one can go to a family member.  Luckily, our Bishop lives next door, so I just walked his over. 

Uncle Jeremy leaned toward Quadraivon or Scout.

Had 3 health evaluations filled out by our pediatrician, which left us 3 more to do at an instacare for a total of $252, about 2 hours, and a near accident when I had to run Liv back to pee in a cup.  Wetting, not car.

Text from Grandma Helen: Anything but Abner.

Filled out private health insurance forms online (federal law), and finally purchased a policy afer about 3 hours devoted to answering "no", "no", "no", "eczema", "no".  Searched for our marriage license (they must keep an original in our file), went to West Valley for a preliminary background check, and sent Jason to the Social Security Office to get a temporary card for our federal background check. 

Call from Grandpa Dan and Grandma Wendy: Ezekial.  Or Deuteronomy.  We can call him Dude.

Saturday entailed a 4 hour visit with our social worker for familial, marital, and individual interviews followed by a Home Study, but only after we answered online questions about our family of origin, finances, health, marriage, and 47 (I counted),  questions each about everything from our feelings regarding adoption to our house, neighborhood, and community. 

Begged my sis-in-law for names and she and Marcus sent Jase.



Now I've got to get another fire alarm and a carbon monoxide detector.

I wanted Charlie.

My blessed friend Sarah brought every baby item in the history of world with her from Seattle (she likes all the awesome names I like), and all of the outfits I'd ever need for the first 6 months of this child's life.  The ox in the mire, I washed them on Sunday and they sit in the laundry basket as I type, even though Isaac cleared out 3 of his drawers and scooted his clothes in the closet to make room for his little brother.

Isaac likes Elliott.

Uncle Isaac thinks I have to get names from outer space because we know someone with every name he liked.

 

I've been through every baby naming site on the internet to finish with Samson, Raleigh, or Elisha.  We'll see what the little bugger looks like.

the next morning...P.S.  I forgot to mention that Liv wants Harry Dial.  But you have to say both, Harry Dial.

Today before the induction I've got to get us an adoption loan.  Whether you call them or they call you, it's got to be paid for :)

8 is GREAT!

Miss Olivia is 8 today, HiP hIP HoOrAY!

For her Birthday she asked for a

day at the spa

with her best friend in the whole, whole,

WORLD, Penina.

You should have seen those little sweeties lying with white-towell turbans on their heads while the aesthetician cleansed and massaged.  Then it was toes and fingernails across the board.  Complete with polka-dots.

She also asked for ice cream cake, which is yet to come with Daddy tomorrow.  He's a spoiler.

Today she also asked for hamburgers, bowling and a birthday photo shoot.  

I obliged. Even added some rootbeer floats.

She even lost her sparkly tooth at the alley.  Natural causes, not a wild throw by Georgia.

I love you, love you, love you my sweet Liv!!!

The other kids got in on some photo action too

Adoption! Spread the Word!

To the Relative Who Doesn't Understand
by RevaBeth L. Russell
(my awesome neighbor)

When I was young I played with dolls and imagined.
Other interests replaced the dolls
But I would remember.
Marriage,
And as a couple we made plans
But we were to wait and wait
And wait.
After time
I kenw that I would never be a birth mother.

Well-meaning people had their suggestions.
Silent crying
We smiled and nodded.

A nine-month pregnancy couldn't seem as long as my
two-year adoption pregnancy,
A doctor checking your weight, blood pressure
must be easier
Then the official lady
Checking
On your fitness
For parenthood.
No stranger questions a birth mother about her money,
marriage, home, and childhood.
No letters of reference are sought as to her character.

Well-meaning people discussed adoption,
Telling of "so-and-so" and "it only took them two months."
We smiled and nodded.

Listening to the heartbeat
Feeling the strength of a kick
The final minutes of labor
Sitting carfully on stitches
Could not bring more pain than
"It will be eight months to a year
Before we can process your papers."

Well-meaning people inquired how many children we had
Telling fo the joys we were missing.
We smiled and nodded.

When your boy was placed in our arms
And as a couple you realized this child was yours, forever,
Did you ever think that even when our child is placed in our arms
We would still haave to wait
For the adjustment period to be over
For the judge to say he was ours
Legally.

Well-meaning people say,
"Oh, you had your baby the easy way."
We smile and nod politely.

I want you to acknowledge that this child is mine.
I have cried the same tears as you.
I have said the same prayers as you.
Your child was born from under your hears,
And close to your heart you fed him.
My child was born from within my heart,
And close to my heart he was fed.

Now I plead that you will accept him and his differences.
He  may not look like us
As would one carrying our genes,
But he is ours:
Carrying our training, care, and love.  I watch him now at play...imagining...
And these words never rang more true:
"For unto us a child is born,
And unto us a son is given."

Had the pleasure of taking pictures of this wonderful, waiting to adopt couple. 

Dave and Michelle Mitchell

daveandshelladopt.blogspot.com

See other photos here.

Free Adoption Session

Adoption is so close to my heart. I would love to help any family associated in any way. Please contact me!

Blessed

Every post in November will focus on our blessings.

This a.m. I got a text from Sarah that I must visit a particular url. It brought back the sweetest memories.

To have been given 4 babies.

Our birth stories are different, but oh so special.

Liv: 4 years of marriage, 2.5 years of "trying", 5 months of paper work, 1 last interview, 2 days 'til birth, 2 more 'til "delivery"

8 months later...

Isaac: "come pick up your son!"

18 months later...

Georgia: 2 months of paperwork, 3 weeks of waiting, birthmother phone call, 2 weeks 'til birth, 18 hour drive, Christmas Eve introduction.

3.5 years later...

2 months of paperwork, 3 months of delays, 2 weeks of waiting, 1 phone call during class, 8 hours later in our arms.

It is so exciting and divine much like this...

She does such a wonderful job of capturing the intensity and exhiliration. Grandma's face is the face of all adoptive grandmas, I swear!

Shiny, Happy People

Here comes a blaring generalization, but people who shop at Sam's Club are happier than people who shop at Costco. OOOOhHH I can just hear the comments coming! I love starting something.

So. I generally shop at Costco for my industrial sized box of spanikopita, because, you know as my husband says, "cooler people shop at Costco," (and he could take back his tv up to 3 years after he bought it and say, "I don't want it" and they will take it back faster than you can say, "I really need the money right now"). I honestly don't care who shops where, but he pays the membership and I hitch a ride on the free spouse card express.

So, he got off his high horse and got one of those snazzy $10 for the rest of the year Sam's memberships. Today Mae and I ventured in (because I am in charge of the turkey for Olivia's class feast and never even strolled down that aisle?). Anywho, as we meandered along the enormous aisles I caught smiles and winks (just kidding), and the man who took my picture for the free spouse card was kind and efficient.

When I got to the end of my trip with only a gallon of 1% and a ready-made chicken (hey!? **just had a thought** can 1-3rd graders tell the difference between turkey and rotisserie chicken?), the couple in front of me (who looked like they were re-stocking their food storage), asked me to go first. When I fumbled for my Sam's card the Mrs. even placed my items on the belt. I totally caught the spirit of Christmas.

But before that came the Grandpa. You know, one of those grandpas who peaks at all the babes (the ones under 3)? He peaked over at Mae as we walked by. I almost sped up just to play hard to get, but he was too cute. She was wearing her super-cool knit cap, so I promptly removed it so he could see her curls. He looked at her and touched her hand and then, I'm sure noticing her almondy round, black eyes and carmel-colored skin, said, "She's very lucky." I said thank-you and proceeded to turn when he said, "...and you are too." He took the words right out of my mouth.

Sam's Club rocks the house! Take that you introverted, self-absorbed or just plain mean Costo shoppers. If you write a mean comment I'll just know you shop at Costco.