Mr. M Goes to Califo

I’m really quite behind on posting about this, but our big adventure in California was noteworthy enough that it was worth some backtracking. 

Several weeks ago we packed our bags…

And boarded an airplane…

(Mr. M’s first plane ride!  He was a champ.  He pretty much slept most of the time.  Quick funny story: When we boarded the plane we sat across the aisle from a cute old lady who took one look at Mason and moved several rows up.  Well Mason didn’t make a peep the whole flight, but the toddler sitting across from the old lady screamed the WHOLE two hours.  The old lady removed her hearing aid and secretly wished she had stayed sitting by us.) 

And landed in California where we spent lots of time swimming and sipping smoothies and visiting with family!

Mr. M particularly had fun playing with his cute cousin Evelyn.  These pictures pretty much sum up what their relationship is like at this stage:

Miss Ev likes to wiggle and bounce and holler and swat M in the head.  M is pretty content to just sit back and watch his cousins crazy antics.  Sometimes he enviously watches her crawl around or play with her toys as though he is thinking, “someday I’ll do that too.” 

Ev was kind enough to share a few of her toys with Mr. M. 

They had lots of fun rolling around fatly on the floor. 

And splashing in the bath together. 

And bobbing around the pool in the starfish tube.  

Check out that smolder!  Better watch out ladies. 

AHHH!  He is just too cute for words. 

He also enjoyed lots of cuddle time with Grandpa (who had just rolled out of bed right before I snapped this picture, which is why his hair looks so amazing). 

Annnd lots of cuddle time with Grandma too.   

And Aunt Chelsey, of course, was not to be outdone. 

We even got to visit with Shari’s very best friend Heather Leather!

We had such a fun trip and are excited to go back again soon! 

Finally For Forever

Saturday was one of the most beautiful, emotional, amazing days of my entire life.  I have had a hard time finding the words to do our experience justice.  Our family was able to go to the temple to be sealed together for forever.  For those who are unfamiliar with LDS temples, here is a link explaining a bit about what we believe.  Spencer and I were married in the temple where we made sacred marriage covenants and were sealed for time and all eternity.  We believe that the relationship we treasure here on the earth as husband and wife is not just “‘til death do us part.”  And we also believe that children born into that relationship will be with their parents throughout the eternities.  Since our sweetheart was not born to us, we were able to take him to the temple and have him sealed to our family. 

Friday was a busy, fun, stressful, hard, crazy, hectic day all rolled into one.  We traveled out of town to be sealed in the Mount Timpanogos Temple in Utah for a variety of reasons, but largely because it was what worked best for several family members to attend.  It was somewhat adventuresome to organize a celebration that you are hosting out of state, but we were blessed to have so much help.  Our quick trip to Utah was a whirlwind one.  We arrived Thursday evening and all of Friday was spent in preparation for the festivities of the next day.  We literally were hopping all day!  But the craziness and business of the past few days melted away as we drove to the temple Saturday morning.  

While we were checking in and getting ready to take Mason to the youth center, our Natalie came running up to us and gave us a big hug exclaiming, “It’s your day you guys!”.  I was already in and out of tears and had been all morning, but just the sight of her brought tears to my eyes again.  Oh how we love that girl. 

The sealing itself is a very simple ordinance, but very special.  Spencer’s grandpa was the one to seal us.  He said a few words about the sealing ordinance and about eternal families.  It was special to us that he mentioned Natalie and what a lovely person she is.  After he spoke to us for a few minutes, Spencer’s mom brought Mason into the room.  As she walked in holding Mason in her arms, I totally lost it.  He was as calm and peaceful as I have ever seen him.  He looked around the room at the people there who loved him.  It was just like the day he was born; it was as though he knew what was going on.  He is a quiet little person, but you can just tell that he is such a strong spirit.

He was an angel and didn’t cry or fuss or even squirm around.  He seemed to be just taking it all in.  He put his little hand on ours and we became a forever family.  I don’t think that there was a dry eye in the room.  Mason brought such a special spirit to that moment.  I have never felt anything like it.  It isn’t everyday that you get to witness a perfect being’s presence in the temple.  After we were sealed, we got to give each of our guests a hug, and then our little family of three stood together and looked into the mirrors on the wall.  Seeing our family stretch into eternity was an amazing sight to see.

When we walked out of the temple, my eyes were already searching the crowd looking for Natalie. 

The three of us ran to our Natalie and we threw our arms around her. 

How do you express the love you feel for the person who made your forever family possible? There truly aren’t words.  The gratitude we feel is immeasurable.  I have said it before, but adoption has given me such a deeper understanding of the atonement.  I don’t make the comparison lightly, but it does strike me that Natalie did for us what we could not do for ourselves, bring a baby into the world.  We did for her what she could not do alone, provide an eternal family for the child she created.  And at the heart of our connection is this amazing, perfect, little baby who is the light of all our lives. 

I have always loved my Savior for his sacrifice for me.  I know that He does for me what I cannot do for myself.  Adoption has been a parable in my life of the atonements healing power.  My appreciation for His sacrifice for me has intensified as I ponder just what it feels to be completely reliant on another to do the thing you so desperately yearn for, hope for, pray for, and dream of.  For we know that feeling all too well -- the desperation that no matter how hard you try you cannot achieve the greatest desire of your heart.  That is, until someone enters your life who is an answer to your prayers.  It is very humbling experience to be the recipient of such a sacrifice.  I know it was made for Mason.  It was for Mason’s well being and happiness that Natalie decided to place him.  Yet, we also were blessed beyond measure from her choice.       

As were each of these people:

And many, many others who were not there at the temple with us.  Mason has been the answer to so many prayers. 

The thought that he is now a part of our forever family brings me such joy.  I have this favorite quote by Elder Holland that I have thought of often the past few days.

“I don’t know how to speak of heaven in the traditional, lovely, paradisiacal beauty that we speak of heaven…I wouldn’t know how to speak of heaven without my wife, or my children.  It would not be heaven for me.  Now, you can say that’s wishful thinking, you can say, ‘ Well that’s just because you love each other and you’ve gotten cozy here on earth and you like each other’s company.’ It’s a lot more than that.  There is something eternal in the statement that neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord.  That isn’t just good sociology it’s good theology, it’s eternal” (Holland, Between Heaven and Earth).

I simply cannot imagine heaven without my sweethearts by my side.  I cannot imagine life without my Mason.  He fits into our family as though he has always been.  As though we were always meant to be.  

After taking pictures, we all congregated at Mom’s house to bless our baby boy.  It was wonderful see my husband take our son in his arms and give him a name and a blessing.  A moment I had dreamed of for years. 

We then gathered for lunch and enjoyed visiting with our many honored guests.  My dearest friend Lynley was so kind to take all of the photos at the temple for us and she kindly snapped some photos of our little luncheon as well.  I was so grateful she did, because I tried to put a lot of special little details into the day.

I made little guest books (for both Natalie and Mason) for all of the guests to write a little note to each of them.  I have loved reading through the letters written to Mason.  I know it will be a treasure for him someday to look back and read how excited we all were for him to join our family.  He is, without a doubt, the most loved baby in the world. 

That sweet little willow tree figure was given to us from my family in celebration of the day.  It is appropriately named, “The Gift.”  I love that figurine and all that it now represents. 

We had a light lunch, and were very excited about the little treat table that we had set up.  We served a variety of snacks and candy in MASON jars (get it?) of various sizes.  And we served all of our guests lemonade in mason jars as well.  Not just any mason jars, but self SEALING mason jars (now how’s that for a happy coincidence?).  It was such a wonderful day spent with the people we love most. 

Finalization

Last Thursday we were able to take Mason to court for finalization! 

It was such an exciting day for our family.  We had been looking forward to it since the day our cutie pie was placed in our arms.  And even though it took much longer than we expected for our day at court to FINALLY be scheduled, everything went smoothly so it all worked out in the end. 

It was interesting to be in an empty courtroom with just our family, our caseworker, and our attorney seated before the judge.  I think Spencer described it well when he said that the proceedings felt like mostly a formality.  We were not in court longer that just a few minutes.  And when all was said and done, of course Baby Boy didn’t really feel any more “ours” than he had been before.  But it was a day to be celebrated, nevertheless.  Mostly because now we can be sealed together as a forever family.  THAT is what we have really been longing for and dreaming of.  I can’t imagine not being with my sweethearts for forever.  They are my whole world. 

We are so excited to go to the temple in just a few days!  I just feel so grateful.  We are very blessed.  

Four Months

We have SO busy round these parts and I have lots of blogging to catch up on.  So many exciting things to write about.  Baby’s first plane ride!  Califo!  FINALIZATION!  Since we returned from our little trip to Grandma and Grandpa White’s house we have been running around like crazy trying to keep up with our insane schedule and I haven’t had a few minutes to write what we’ve been up to. 

But for now, I’ll just try to jot down a few of Mr. M’s. latest tricks and adventures so I can remember what he was like at four months old. 

Our baby is getting to be such a big boy!  Spence didn’t get to come with us when we went to Califo and we were gone over a week.  When we came home Spencer was amazed at how much older our little guy seemed. 

The little stinker started being ticklish, made strides in the rolling over department, AND started sprouting a tooth all while we were gone.  Aunt Chelsey discovered his tickle spot (it’s under his chins) and he giggled for her like I have never seen him giggle before.  His laugh is the most precious sound in the world. 

Teething has already been quite the adventure.  So far, we can just see one tooth coming in on the bottom left.  Poor baby has been pretty uncomfortable, but baby Tylenol and his little chew toy have helped a lot. 

At his four month appointment, Mr. M weighed sixteen and a half pounds (eighty-fifth percentile) and was twenty five and a half inches long (seventy-fifth percentile).  He is quite the little chunk!  Often when people meet him for the first time they comment on how “healthy” or “well fed” he looks.  We always laugh and tell them that it’s okay, he’s a little chubster and we love it!  He does love to eat, that boy of mine. 

Speaking of eating, M Bug is learning how to hold his own bottle!  He usually can only hold it for a little bit before he gets too excited and flips the bottle out of his mouth.  But he loves to hold it with us, putting his little hands over ours.  He pretty much HAS to hold his bottle while he is eating these days.  It’s pretty darn cute. 

Mr. M is sleeping pretty much through the night.  He doesn’t take long naps during the day, but he loves a good nights rest.  He usually goes down for the night around six or seven and sleeps until six or seven.  

He loves car rides and if he is crying he will often calm down when we strap him in his carseat because he knows that it means that he is going for a ride.  He happily looks out the window and merrily talks to himself until he usually falls asleep.

I am discovering that Mr. M is maybe a little bit shy.  He loves people and people watching.  He is very intent on observing what everyone else in the room is doing.  But he is most smiley for people he knows well.  And he is actually a pretty quiet little person.  People often ask me if he is “always this mellow.”  For the most part (until he started teething that is), he really is a laid back easy going little dude.   He doesn’t usually make a lot of noise, but he does have a very loud cry when he wants to.  He has got a healthy set of lungs, that’s for sure. 

My little sweetheart.  I’m so smitten.