Sammy is 7 months! 1-21-08

Time flies! Sammy is now 7 months. He is a growing boy, currently weighing nearly 23 lbs! He currently enjoys rolling, eating solids, chewing on everything from tables to cables, sitting and playing, grabbing at Simba and of course our favorite giggle! Here are a couple collages of the pictures we have taken this last month of our sweet Sam.

If you want to see all of them, check out our picassa web album

Enjoy!

You're ALL Tagged!

Yeah, that's right. Tag, you're it! If you are reading this, and haven't been tagged yet, I hearby Tag you. Which means you will feel guilty if you chose not to play this little game on your own blog. Thanks to Michelle Millet, you get some random facts about me, and I have to admit, at first I had a hard time thinking of things, but after a few days of thinking about what makes me tick, its been kind of fun to put them all down in a list.

The rules of the game: (modified to fit this post)
• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, as we all want to know them.
• Tag someone else

1. I love to collect books, especially children's books, but I don't personally sit down and read that often. I like to say its because I'm so busy. I read aloud every day to my class, and I read my scriptures, but novels escape me. The best part of being a teacher is the book orders - they have the BEST deals! If ya'll need a children's book fix, I'm your girl.

2. I didn't think I had my own personality until I "discovered it" when I was 16. I'm a very observant person and I copy everyone. All growing up I wanted to be just like my best friend Jill. I even had to have the exact same red school bag as her! (Thanks for putting up with me Jill!) Even now I find myself "copying" the awesome things people do.

3. Dinner isn't over until dessert is served. I'm not sure where this one came from, but I always have to have something sweet after dinner.

4. I love to sing, but I really dislike ward choir. Funny. I was just called as the ward choir president....today. I think this one started because Dave and I are the only ones that attend other than the chorister and his family. I really enjoy listening to the choir, but I'd really rather not contribute to it.

5. I enjoy reading the pop culture magazines at the checkout lines at the grocery store. It's so fun finding out whats happening to this star or that and then saying "Oh Brother!" afterward. Like yesterday the headline was "Brittney's sister is GIVING UP her baby!" I thought, 'oooh, she's going to place her baby for adoption! Cool!' Well, of course she's not. She's giving up her baby to her MOM. That's not giving it up! That's letting your mom take the consequence of your action. Ooohh. Even now I feel my blood start to boil. I love it!

6. I'm not very crafty, but I like to do crafts. I'm actually really good at following a pattern or copying (hehe) a model. I see something cute done and I'll copy it, but trying to come up with my own stuff is nigh unto impossible.

7. I love reality TV. Sad, but true (however I am quite selective about it). My favorite shows are The Amazing Race and Big Brother (I'm a little embarrassed about this one, its really not that great of a show!).

Disclaimer: I have seen about 5 different versions of this "tag" game, so feel free to do it as you'd like.

Our Family is Forever

What an incredible experience, to take our precious son to the temple and be sealed together as an eternal family.

So many emotions culminated with this experience. To think that one year ago, Dave and I were apprehensively driving to our adoption classes with a little bit of wonder and fear in our hearts for what the entire process entailed. To think of the growth we've experienced through the trial of infertility and the countless prayers offered to heal our hearts and help us move on to what the LORD has in store for our family. To think of the humility required to receive such a precious gift from an angel birthmother. And to think of the joy of motherhood... fatherhood... parenthood... finally. It all brings tears to my eyes. What a wondrous blessing!

(Here's Sammy "on the way" to the temple.)

Samuel was so happy all day long. He got to stay in the children's room and his attendants said he was just an angel. When it was finally time for the ordinance, he came in to the sealing room full of smiles, giggles, and shrieks of happiness.

Children are definitely closer to the spirit. Christ said, "Suffer the children to come unto me..." in the New Testament and when he visited the Nephites in the Americas "he commanded the children to be brought upon the ground round about Him..." then later, "angels descended out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them. (3rd Nephi 17) It felt as if that circle of fire had been extended to our family as we knelt around the alter and became an eternal family.

As we walked out of the temple, we ran into Kris and Scott Leishman. Kris was one of my laurel advisors as a young woman and someone that I looked up to tremendously, especially as an example of an eternal family. What is the significance of this seemingly insignificant meeting...?

Flashback: September-October 2006

Dave and I were living with my parents in Bountiful while waiting for our home to be done. Dave signed us up for an early morning sealing session in the Bountiful temple, an act, I now KNOW was a direct answer to my prayers.

The sealer at the session was Lowell Leishman. Upon entering the sealing room, he asked, "Who's at home with the kids." To which we replied, "We don't have kids yet." Without skipping a beat, he said, "Well, adoption is great too." He then shared with us the blessings of the sealing ordinance that would be extended to us if we were to choose to adopt. I was in awe of the tender mercies of the Lord. Brother Leishman didn't know us, or our situations, but the Lord knew. I had been thinking about adoption vs. expensive medical procedures and now I knew what we needed to do.

We shared our experience with Kris and Scott and asked them to pass the news on to Brother Lowell. It felt like the Lord had written the perfect ending to the perfect beginning of our adoption story.

We (truly) are a happy fam-i-ly!

After the sealing we headed to my parents church to give Sammy a name and a blessing.

(Sammy, all tuckered out from the spiritual experiences at the temple.)

Sammy, having missed his afternoon nap while in the temple, was asleep when we arrived at the church. When Dave picked him up for the blessing, he woke up slightly, but the gentle rock of the priesthood hands holding him gently lulled him back to sleep. Sitting, near the circle, I could hear Sammy's soft inhale, exhale as the blessing was given. The blessing ended with a sincere and confident 'Amen' which startled Sammy awake like an electric shock (he startles at Dave coughing...he's quite the jumpy little fellow). He looked around at everyone grinning at him and broke into the sweetest smile. What a special spirit we have been blessed with.

The blessing Dave gave Samuel was so heartfelt and obviously God given. Sammy is our gift from God.

Thanks everyone for coming and sharing in our special day!

It's Final! 1-2-08

Happy New Year! Samuel is finally legally ours. We had our adoption finalization court date on January 2nd. It was kind of intimidating. We met with Judge Memmott and our lawyer pled our case, while our LDSFS case worker testified that it would be in Samuel's best interest to be awarded into our legal custody. (Okay, that sounds scary, it really wasn't that bad. This is just what families have to do as part of the adoption process. In fact, it was kind of fun to go and tell the judge how profoundly Samuel has impacted our lives.)

Our new, "legal" family. Samuel was darling during the testimonies. He just sat on the table facing the judge and smiling. Occasionally he would give a little happy shriek or gurggle, at which the judge would grin. He definitley melted the hearts of everyone in the courtroom.

After the official proceedings, we were given a VHS tape of it all. It's been fun to sit down and watch what happened and now we have legal proof of how much we love Samuel. Upon giving us the tape, the judge said it would be a fantastic reminder for us during Sammy's teenage years!
Before we could go home, we had to go to the records office and get some adoption decrees and order birth certificates. My sister, Heather, stayed outside in the foyer with Sammy. He just looked so cute staring through the window. We love our little "jail bird!"

Sammy's First Hair Cut

Yes, its true. My 6 month old has a full head of hair that is growing as fast as he is! I actually have trimmed Sammy's sideburns before because his hair was curling up around his ears...giving the effect of wings.

Sammy's whispy hair, 4 months old.

But...I've never given a haircut with scissors before, so I was kind of nervous. However, the refusal of his hair to be tamed, was driving me CRAZY and the risk of a horrid hair cut was worth it.

Sammy was SO good during the procedure. Daddy only had to hold his head still when I pulled out the clippers to even out the sides.


It turned out darling! My only regret is that it makes him look more like a little boy than a baby boy. I've always heard they grow up so fast, but it really is true.

Happy Holidays

Sammy's First Christmas Eve

Every year on Christmas Eve we head down to my aunt and uncles house for dinner and a ping pong tournament. Before the night was over, we gave Sammy his first present...new Christmas pajamas! This little dear is the cutest of them all.

This year, we've had several new additions to the family. This is Blake and Sammy. Guess who's older. If you said, 'Blake' you're right. He's 7 weeks older than Sammy. Blake isn't 'small' for his age either. He's above average for his age on all the charts. Obviously, Sammy isn't about to be out done. He never misses a meal. In fact, he sometimes forgets he's just eaten.

And behold...there was a marvelous ping pong tournament throughout the land. Dave and I went head to head for the 3rd time in 5 years. I lost...Again. My cousin, Andrew, Won...Again. We thought for sure his 4-year-reign as Ping Pong king was going to come to an end this year...but alas. It was not to be. Perhaps we'll get you next year, Andrew!

Christmas Morning

Having a child has made Christmas so much MORE fun. Even though he doesn't understand any of the hoop-la, I'm sure he understands better than any of us, the REASON behind the celebration.

Here is Sammy on Christmas morning before opening any of his presents. He was so excited. He just wanted to chew on everything.

Looks like we've got another golfer on our hands. Thanks Daddy!

How did Santa know I wanted this! It's the best toy ever!

Christmas Brunch

After giving our presents and opening the ones from Santa, we headed down to the Ponds for the annual Christmas brunch. The best part about Christmas is seeing all the people we love. Other things we loved about this Christmas include:

Guitar Hero, (if my dad is involved, its GOT to be good fun)

Pete's pirate ship, (spread all over the piano room with the coolest authentic looking pieces)

Piano Trios (how do you get 6 hands on one keyboard and not begin a cat fight?)

Grandparents (I now understand the 'Grand' because they ARE!)

The Seattle DaBells! (Thanks for coming...we haven't had everyone together like this since the 90's!)

Michelle: Okay Sammy smile!

Sammy: Um, mommy...I just woke up and I'm EXTRA hungry. I'm confused because you aren't feeding me yet.

Michelle's After Christmas Soup Kitchen

It's was nearly impossible to get the Droge family together for Christmas this year. So, we invited everyone up for the first annual After Christmas Soup Kitchen. By the time I thought about taking pictures of it, the food was gone. It sure was yummy.