It's a Boy!!

January 30th, 2009 - 4 months old This is the picture from the website... so cute!!!

We are "having" a baby! Joshua Jamison was born Sept. 23, 2008 in Brooklyn NY. (Joshua is what his birth mom named him, we decided to keep it. Jamison is my mom's maiden name) I saw his picture on the Spence-Chapin website (the same agency that placed Hailey with us). We found out on Friday 2/20 that his birth mom chose us and she signed all the papers!! Now, with all of the "red tape" involved with going out to New York to pick him up, we should be heading out there the 2nd or 3rd week of March.

We have felt for a while that we were missing someone in our family and we knew that it was a boy so we are very excited to have found him and bring him home. For those of you that are shocked by this turn of events, join the club :) As I said, we knew that we were probably going to have 1 more child but until I saw this baby I didn't admit my very strong feelings about it to Cody. We had "joked" about it but when I sent this little one's picture to Cody at work, he said "I always KNEW that we would have one more and it would be a boy". When we started comparing notes with each other, we had all felt this way we were just too nervous to bring up the subject. After all, we do have 6 kids! :) Even Cody Joe has felt that someone was missing and was relieved and excited that we found him. It is funny, This has been the most peaceful that we have ever felt about an adoption. Usually we are running around like crazy and nervous that something will go wrong and that we won't "get the baby". This time we felt an amazing peace and calm about the whole situation, knew for a fact that he was ours, and didn't worry at all about the birth mom making her decision or signing papers. It has been a very strong testament to the gift of the Spirit and that when something is right, it is right and that's it! (even if it means child #7 :) I will try very hard to keep an update here about when we are leaving and such.

6 year old girl!

January 7th was Tia's 6th birthday...

I made her a big bow to wear to school,

she liked it because it "crinkles" We had a party for her in the evening, she pretty much screamed throughout the entire event.

It is a good thing that she is (ordinarily) so cute and lovable! Oh No!! Birthday Party!!

(turning 6 is apparently very stressful :)

Oh No!! Not CAKE!!! :)We finally gave Tia a bath, put her to bed

then let the other kids open her gifts. They were more than happy to help :0)

Snow!

The front yard The pile from just half of the driveway! You can see the dark line at the bottom of the snow... that would be the lawn. It's under there somewhere. The snow has been insane! We got about 1 1/2 - 2 feet in 2 or 3 days. I have shoveled more snow than I ever thought possible. I have to keep the whole street in front of our house clear for Tia's bus (so the wheelchair lift can come down). It has been crazy!

Hailey's Sealing

Hailey sleeping on Claire's lap... so cute!

Trying to get everyone to stay still for a picture is very difficult! OK, I was checking my blog for the first time in forever and noticed that for some reason I skipped over Hailey's sealing day. It's official, I have lost my mind... Hailey was sealed to us in the Provo Temple on November 15, 2008. We had her blessing at the church then a lunch afterward. It was a sweet and special day (except for the fact that I was sick as a dog with strep throat). For those of you that wondered where I was most of the luncheon, Tia HATES the church building, we have no idea why. Our friend Thomas was playing the piano for her in the Relief Society room and she stayed happy for a very long time. Hailey then fell asleep in Claire's arms (so sweet!). So, I just kind of parked myself there with Tia and Hailey. (I really felt like crudola from the strep). We are very relieved that Hailey's adoption and sealing are finally done, it took forever. It was a wonderful experience, having all of our children there in the Temple with us, I had a great feeling that my sweet mom was there with us also. (oh crap, I'm crying again!). The feeling and the knowledge that families are eternal and that our loved ones that are no longer on this earth are not as far away from us as it feels. That feeling is such a comfort to me. It was really cool for us to have Andrew standing in the circle as Cody gave Hailey her blessing. This event was bittersweet, knowing that Hailey is our last child. It is a weird, yet comfortable, feeling.

Zachary the Vampire

Zach performed in his class opera on Thursday (Nov. 20th). It was written by the class and so funny! The ghosts, werewolves, bats, witches and vampires are trying to combine their efforts to have a scary party. The highlight of the evening (for me anyway) was when Zach noticed that the little girl next to him was "hiding" (because Zach is so tall). He very tenderly placed his hand on her back and encouraged her in front of him so that her Mommy could see her too. He did it again at the end of the play when a little boy that is disabled was stuck behind the line of kids and is not bold enough to push his way through. Zachy looked around, noticed this little guy and very sweetly helped him up to the front. It was so cute, I love this boy!! He does these things without even thinking about it, it is just his innate personality. Zach has the sweetest, most tender heart!