A Forever Family

Last Saturday was a special day for our family. We were able to go to the temple and have Jared sealed to us for time and all eternity. It was a day Shalum and I have waited for all year. He is now our son forever. I can't even express the joy I felt that day, and have felt the past few days since. He has made our lives so much better and we are so thankful for him. He is such a special little boy. He's our miracle baby.

He was not happy the moment we put him down for this picture. He was just done. He'd been in his carseat much of the morning, and much of the day before traveling to Utah and driving around the city. He was so ready to be home. 

Jared turns one!

Jared turned one year old on November 24th. I can't believe it's already been a year. My how time flies! We went down to Mesquite for Thanksgiving (which was two days before his birthday) with my mom, stepdad, sisters, and their families (well my younger sister's family and my older sister's boyfriend). It was so fun! My Uncle Danny and Aunt Debbie also showed up, along with 3 of their grandkids. My cousin Kamber and her hubby would have been there but baby #4 came into the world Thanksgiving day. It was great having Jax and the twin cousins, Taylor and Trestan together for the 4 days we were all there. Jax actually got used to being around the twins. He's usually not too sure about other babies at first and will just sit there and watch them for a while. In fact a few days after coming home, we went over to Tamra's and Tyler's house and Jax immediately started playing and roaming around, and following the twins. We were all surprised by this. It's a good thing! The day after Thanksgiving we had a little party with Jared's birth family. And here are pictures.... 

 Jared liked the bubbles! He kept trying to touch them but could never get to them fast enough. His birthmommy, Kylia, is holding him and his Auntie Lacey is blowing the bubbles.

This little Elmo backpack from Kylia is so stinkin' cute!

Tamra and mom with the twins.

He loved all his new toys! Especially Thomas the Train and the musical bus ride thing.

His cute cake that Kylia bought him!

He loved the cake! Thought it was yummy!

Saturday, which was his birthday, we traveled back home (which is like a 7 hour drive) and that evening we had another birthday party with Shalum's family and my dad. He was not a happy guy cause he was so tired from traveling. Truth be told, Shalum and I were exhausted as well.

Opening presents, but he didn't care much to do so. :( Poor little tired guy.

He just wanted to be held by his mom.

His pirate cake. Ahoy mateys!

And his pirate beard. Arrrrrrr.

I love this little boy of mine! Such a cutie!

Blessing

The Sunday after the adoption was finalized, Shalum was able to give Jared a baby blessing. He looked so cute in his white tux.

Jared with Nanay Lola and Papa George

And here he is with Grandpa John

The 5th of November...

Remember, remember, the 5th of November....

Guy Fawkes's attempt to blow up Parliament in 1605 is not the reason our little family remembers the 5th of November. We have a MUCH better reason. November 5th, 2012, is the day that our adoption of Jared was finalized! It took a long time with many delays, but FINALLY, he is officially ours. Instead of going down to Vegas for the court date, we were able to stay in Elko and be on a conference call with the judge and our lawyer. And it was quick! The phone call lasted 6 minutes, and about a minute of that was us on hold. I am so happy it's over! No more monthly visits, no more having to get permission to travel out of state with him. 

I love this little man of ours and am so grateful for him! And so grateful for his birthparents, Kylia and Dakota. Without them I wouldn't have the wonderful privilege of being Jared's mom! And I love seeing Shalum and Jared together. Shalum is such an awesome dad!

 For some reason I couldn't get this picture to turn. Oh well.

This is our caseworker, Tracey

Crocheting!

I love crocheting. Granted I'm still a bit of a novice at it. My grandma first taught me to crochet when I was about 9 or 10, but I didn't keep with it and quickly lost it. In fact I quit crocheting before I even finished the pot holder I was making. Then I asked my grandma to teach me again when I was 16. This time I actually finished a pot holder before I stopped crocheting and lost the skill again. It wasn't the best looking pot holder, I messed up in a few spots, but I was proud of that pot holder because I made it. Then about 3 or so years ago, I asked a woman in my ward to teach me, and she was sweet enough to do so. This time however I have kept with it. But only occasionally, and it was always just a blanket of single crochet stitches. Then a couple weeks ago I felt like learning a new pattern, so I got online, did some research, and found a simple, yet beautiful, pattern. Simple it may be, but it took me about a week and a half to figure it out because I just kept messing up. I finally figured out why I was having such a hard time with it, my tension was waaaaay too tight, making it look wrong. Once I figured that out, I started crocheting with a looser tension, and I think the end result is quite beautiful! It was just last night that I finished it. LATE last night. I had a friend's baby shower I was going to today (in fact I was a little worried I wouldn't get the blanket finished in time) so I stayed up late last night working on it. However I wasn't able to make it to the shower because Jared is sick, but fortunately he's getting better. Anyway, the pattern is called Tiramisu Baby Blanket. And here is the finished result....

♥

Halloween!

I love Halloween! It's so much fun to dress up! Unfortunately Shalum had to work this year, so it was just Jared and I, but we hung out with Tamra, Tyler, and the twins. So we still had a fun time! Jared was Batman! And I was Robin. We looked pretty cool together!

 Have you ever seen a cooler Batman and Robin? I think not.

 Batman and Baby Mario

 Baby Peach

 Tamra and Tyler dressed up as Super Mario and Princess Peach, and the twins as their mini me's. So cute! We were all rockin' it.