Our Holiday through pictures

Well, I believe it's about time to bring you up to speed on our Holiday. We really had a great season and we had a lot of fun but I do have to admit it's nice to finally take a breath and not have to worry about anything I need to get done. Although, Christmas this year was the best I've had in longer then I can remember. It's amazing how having children can do that. I also want to mention that there are hardly any pics of Scott. Poor guy, when you're the photographer you kinda get left out. He's been there for everything, just on the other end of the camera. Thanks babe for taking the pics! Here we go:

Here's my little man sportn' his winter gear!

Chillin with dad before bedtime.
Thanksgiving was spent at my parents house with both Grandma Sanderson and Ewell. It was a small party but very nice. Of course a lot of good food and Awesome loved the sweet potatoes and turkey.

Thanksgiving wouldn't be Thanksgiving if Scott didn't have a diet coke in his hands!

Our first official family picture. (For some reason the picture looks a little grainy, it really doesn't look like that) Turned out better then we thought it would. Awesome was awesome and you wouldn't even know it was snowing a little when the picture was taken.

Thanks to mom and dad for helping us out with the picture! Love you guys!

One night I mentioned to Scott how nice it would be to have a mantle I could hang my Christmas stockings from. Wal-ah! Scott took the initiative and within less then a month my mere mention became a reality! Thanks Lance for helping Scott....in making a mess of my house.

Before

After

Christmas Eve at the Harmon's. Grandma Harmon reading a Christmas story.

Awesome sportn' his stylin Christmas getup.

Awesome's first Christmas gift.

From cousins Jonas and Max

Yea! We love it. Thanks guys.

Christmas pj's

Christmas morning was so fun! We all just watched Awesome enjoy what Santa brought this year. He loves his awesome dump truck....

and his even cooler and personalized table and chairs from Grandma and Grandpa Sanderson.

We made a trip to Midway to check out the ice castles. They were pretty cool.

Kelly (visiting from Alabama) with dad

Awesome celebrated his first birthday at the end of December. We had such a wonderful turn out for his birthday. Singing Happy Birthday was a shock to Awesome. He wasn't quite sure why everyone was singing to him. Then, he had a candle shoved in his face. I'm sure by the look on his face he was thinking, "what the heck, first they sing and now a candle, what do I do with this?"

so to deal with all the pressure he just cried...

Until mom let him eat some cake. I'm sure he was thinking, "oh sure, now I'm allowed to eat a whole load of sugar...I don't know what to do!"

Awesome loves his water and it went along great with all that cake.

What you see above is all he really ate. No prob. We'll go clean you up for presents and games. (wow, I look a little too excited)

He liked the Pumpkin cake though...

and loved all his cool birthday gifts...

and playing with the all balloons

Awesome went to bed that night around 9:00. He was doing well, just getting over a cold. At 11:30 we heard him cough pretty hard. We ran into his room and there he was sitting in a ton of mucas and barely breathing. We were scared to death. This was the first time ever Awesome had been sick. It was a shock to have this come on so suddenly. I blamed the Birthday cake. After a blessing from Scott and some bundling up we made our way to the ER where we spent the next 4-5 hours. I had a feeling it might be croup and while we were there it was confirmed. Poor guy. He was a trooper though. What a way to end your first Birthday.

Awesome did so well. He never cried, he growled a lot at the nurses (he likes to growl) and said "ah oh" alot after throwing his plug (pacifier)

Awesome is finally getting over his nasty cold. He still belts out a brutle cough here and there but he's still as happy and spunky as ever. We enjoyed New Years eve with friends and enjoyed spending time off with friends and family. We hope you all enjoyed your holiday's and hope 2010 brings you joy and happiness!

First Steps....

Adoption Month

November is national adoption month. In honor of it I thought I would share some personal journal entries from last year. These are entries during the time we were communicating with our birth mom. I decided to share them with you because adoption is so tender to my heart.


March 2008 -
...We’ve finally been approved. Now we just pray and wait!

Aug. 26, 2008-
...Scott called me twice at work and then text me. I was in the restroom and didn’t realize he had called until I got the text. I immediately called him back. He told me we had been contacted by a birth mom. He wanted me to be the one to respond to her email.


Sep. 18, 2008 -
...Right now, at this moment, there are some major changes taking place in our lives. We are making and encouraging some life changing decisions. I lay awake at night trying to fight the fire that is licking its way up my esophagus (heart burn) and trying to keep myself busy as to not die out of anticipation or wonderment. I’ll keep you posted!


Sep. 22, 2008-
Dear Scott and Shawna,
I hope you find this e-mail rather exciting. I have thought and prayed much about this. I have talked to my case worker and my family about it also. I feel very comfortable with you and have loved talking to and getting to know you two. I can tell that you guys have the light and truth and love for each other and everyone around you. I have thought very deeply about my decision. I have decided that I want you two to raise my baby. You would be perfect parents for this baby and I know that you would love him with all your hearts and you would raise him in truth and righteousness. This is very important to me…
… Once again, I would like you to be the adoptive parents of this baby boy. I know that you guys will be amazing parents. I am so glad that I had this opportunity to find the right couple and to get to know you!

Love, C


Oct. 8, 2008-
...Yesterday, after work Scott went over to the agency and picked up the Ultra sound pictures that C sent. At first I didn’t know how to take it. It just seems all like a dream and that any minute I’ll wake up and cry because none of it is real. But it is. It’s real. And As I kept looking at the picture of our future baby I finally was able to feel the reality. I cried. I hope I’m not guarding my heart too heavily so as to not allow this to become the beautiful thing that it truly is. I realize this. I think it will all change when my family finally knows...



Oct. 17, 2008-
...Our families all know our good news. They are so happy for us...
...I feel like hugging C forever! It’s almost like I want to make her apart of my family because of what she’s giving to us. She’s in a way like family. She’s giving us our family! May the Lord bless this selfless soul. We love her!



Dec. 5, 2008-
…We are all about the adoption this year and next year it will be all about our one year old! Very exciting. I remember thinking last year (2007), “what will next year hold and does it include a baby?” YES, YES It does! Words cannot express our joy. I feel like this year is all about us. I hope I can be aware of those around me who are in need so I can somehow repay the Lord for all of my blessings he’s given me. And what do you know, I keep asking for more!!!

Dec. 15, 2008-
… We asked Bishop Oldroyd during our tithing settlement if he would help us find a place to stay while we are in Illinois waiting for our baby to be delivered. During our communication we were able to make arrangements through C’s Bishop, Bishop Call, for a family there to allow us to stay in their home while they are on Holiday to Florida…
… Scott and I cried tears of joy when we found out from Bishop Oldroyd that we have a place to stay when we go pick up our son. We have no idea what we’ll do for this sweet Warner family to show our appreciation. I’m now looking rather forward to our upcoming adventure. With things working out where we need them to we just feel even more blessed. We pray that as we prepare for this trip that no further glitches will take place. I know we need to expect a few more, but nothing that will discourage our spirits...

Dec. 22, 2008-
Dear C,
… As we sit down to write you our last email before we meet you, we are overcome with emotion. Today we have been thinking about you a lot. What you must be feeling right now. The emotions and probably heartache you must be experiencing during these last days leading up to your delivery. Our prayers and heart go out to you. We love you so much! We will never be able to put into words how thankful we are to you for what you are doing for us. Awesome is the luckiest baby ever. Not only is he going to be loved by us, but he will also know how much love you have for him as well.
… As the days lead up to Christmas we also hope you can enjoy this sacred holiday with your parents. You deserve comfort and peace and we pray that you may have angels round about you during Christmas and during your delivery. We are anxious to meet you, hug you, and shed tears with you. This is a life changing moment for all of us. More then anything we just hope and pray you know how much you mean to us!

May the Lord be with you forever, especially during this time.

Love to you always,
Scott & Shawna

Dec. 30, 2008-
…We were all down in the lobby of the hospital. C got up from the wheelchair and placed Awesome in my arms as we all wept. This was the most heart wrenching thing I’ve been through; a birth mother placing her child in his adoptive mother’s arms. I still couldn’t believe I was the adoptive mother. What a privilege. We placed Awesome in the car seat and went for another round of hugs and sobbing. Scott went out to pull the car up as we waited inside. Once the car had pulled up this is where we parted. C watched as we placed Awesome in the car. She said, “Please take good care of him” I vividly remember C turning to her parents and stoically asking, “Where are we going for dinner tonight?” As we drove away with our new son I cried harder then I ever have; out of great pain and immense joy…

Adoption is a Miracle!

I also liked this video about adoption. Enjoy.

Pumpkins, Superman and Halloween

"Now, the first thing you need to know about choosing the right pumpkin for your Halloween Jack-o-lantern is how it tastes on the outside. SLURP......" "....Yup, this is the one!!"

"Now I just need to look the most adorable I can for the camera...."

"...That's not a problem!"

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Well, as you all know, Scott loves Superman so it was a given that Awesome was Superman this year for Halloween. He loved his costume. Every time he put it on he immediately took flight. No wonder he loved putting it on so much!

Look at how much fun this costume is. Endless amounts of flight time!

"I decided to take some time to strike a pose for the camera. Flying can really take it outta ya. Sometimes so much you need your mom to help keep you steady. Being back on Earth can throw off your balance."

"Here, I'm showing off for Great Granddad Schwartz."

"To tell ya the truth (in a whisper) I couldn't really fly if it weren't for my cool dad!"

"Come on Grandma, I've got some major flying to do. Now snap the picture and let me go!
"

"K, if you hang on I might be able to take you up with me...what do you say?"

"Heeerrreeee weeeee gooooooo!"

"Gotta stop and say hi to Bishop Oldroyd. I mean he doesn't call me 'Superman' for nothing."

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Halloween this year was the best it's been for a long time. Awesome obviously had a lot to do with that! We stopped and visited with family and friends. We didn't get as many pics as we wanted because we were so busy. Awesome made out like a bandit with all the candy he got...all that him and his dad got. You all know who is really eating all that candy. Hope you all had a great Halloween!