An Early Celebration...LET HIM EAT CAKE!!!

Cousin Aisy couldn't wait to see what the little man would do with a slice of birthday cake!

Love it! Can't believe it's been a year already! Wow! It flew by so quickly!

This was taken after his 2nd(yes, you read correctly!) piece of cake. He was just too neat with the first one, so we gave him another piece and this is what happened!

It was great fun! Thanks, Marlo for taking all the pics of the event!

"Wishin and hopin and prayin and dreamin...."

Off and running, I mean crawling!

Our little Christmas elf taking a break from his busy agenda.

It's beginning to look A LOT like CHRISTMAS!!!

An early visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus at Marlo's. Fun! Fun! Fun!
Don't ya just love the hat, bowtie, vest....everything about this kid!?!?!?
WE DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a difference a year makes!

Well, I can hardly believe that I am posting this today! Exactly one year ago, my dad and I were in The Sunshine state! We had our vehicle loaded to the top. We had a rocking chair, baby bedding, clothes, a carseat, gifts, christmas lights, bikes....you name it, we probably had it with us! I even ended up riding in the back resting on some suitcase when we picked up birthmom because we had no more room for seats. Aaron would arrive 9 days later. In the meantime, I was setting up my "temporary home" for the new little arrival. Even adoptive mothers have their moments of nesting.

Now, we are preparing for Baby Mac's first birthday! I can hardly believe it!!! Several people have asked me these past few months if it(being a parent) was everything I thought it would be. I honestly blurt out without even hesitating, "YES! and then more!!!" I am just so amazed at how quickly it goes by. Sure, at times, when I was in the middle of what seemed like mundane daily tasks, I wondered if the spit up would ever stop....it did. (especially after we found out our little man had a slight dairy intolerance. Some adjustments to his formula were made and the spit up was history!) And then there are the moments of putting your baby to sleep and his waking up a boy rather than a baby......wow, it takes my breath away!

So the sentimental mother that I am, looked at the calendar on my computer this morning as I was checking email, and saw the date. All of this has come to me in the seconds since reflecting back on the begining of a journey that changed my life FOREVER! Truly, what a difference a year makes!

Fall Fun & Fhotos too!

Aaron and Mac on a hike with cousin Alayna, Auntie Marlo and Uncle Paul.
At a little pumpkin cart by our house. We walk past this almost everyday and admire the pumkins.

Aaron tried to get Mac's attention for this quick shot of both of them, but Mace wanted to look at the pumkins that they bought.

Mac's 2nd wedding. Kim's cousin Danny and new bride, Leah. Awesome wedding. Lakside. Even the rain that evening didn't damper the celebrations!

Great uncle Jerry (father of the groom) and Mac. He was dressed to impress, don't you think?!?!? The only one in a "tux"at the wedding.

It's all about timing, isn't it? Well, I had my camera in my hands when he got up on all fours for the first time ever! Glad to have caught the moment.

Now this is a pumpkin patch!!! One of our favorite places where we live!

This goat was maybe 1 1/2 to 2 weeks old. He liked it until the goat started chewing on his knee.

These little goats were only 3 days old! Aisy and Ali thought these were sooo cute!

Labor Day hog roast and fireworks! Fun...fun...fun!

We stopped at a rest area on the way home from my other cousin's wedding in Michigan. He loved "driving".

Me, my uncle Bob, Mac and Aunt Jody(mother of the bride). We went to 4 weddings in 7 weeks. It's hard to keep them all straight. All were so unique and wonderful. This was baby Mac's first one!

End of Summer Update...

Family picture from our vacation in August!
Sunset picture.....he loved playing in the sand!

L-R: Julian, Casie, Ali, Aisy, Eva, Zane



Playing with his good friend, Teagan

Grandpa and Dad were going fishing in Canada. You wanted to go so badly, but there was no room for you and ALL your gear in their bags . Dad missed you sooo much. He made video clips for you to watch everyday so you wouldn't forget him.

The popeye face. Everytime he would eat something, this face would appear as he worked on chewing his morsel.....everytime for a month. It was hilarious.

An oldie but a goodie. This is Zane rolling over. He did this when Aaron was in Canada.

It is officially Fall!

Hard to believe that it is fall time! The leaves are starting to change and there is a crispness to the air and of course football! Mac has been changing too! He is 9 months old now! He loves to sing, play, squeal, army crawl, and so many other things that amaze us every day! He went to the doctor yesterday for a check up. He now weighs 19 pouns 13 ounces and is 28.5 inches long. He has been on the 50th percentile mark since he was born. He continues to thrive and bring joy to us all!

Don't you LOVE rice cereal too?!?!?!
I pledge allegiance to the....?

Havin fun with the fam!

Left to Right: Papa, Zane, Keele, and Pop Pop
I am a happy kid!

You love me, you really do!

It's Final!

Well, it's been awhile since we updated the blog, so here are the highlights from the last month and a half. More pictures will follow soon...we promise!!!

The picture below was taken minutes after our son's adoption was finalized!!! Our attorney encouraged us to have as many family and friends at our home to witness the finalization! And that is just what we did. We were sworn in by a notary (our good friend Rachelle) and then our attorney and the judge asked us about 10-15 questions......our families were able to hear everything with us because we had the phone on speaker. It was so awesome that we could have them with us to help us complete this process. Tears of joy, lots of laughter and hugs all around were in order!!! The judge invited us to make an appointment with her the next time we are in the south to get a picture taken with her. We are going to do this in the late summer.

Offical family photo!

Baby Mac fell asleep in Papa's lap throughout the entire proceedings...He woke up about a minute before the judge signed the last paper she needed to make him officially ours!

enough said!

Grandma Jayne on Easter afternoon got caught! She wanted to have her own "Spish" moment since she saw the other ones in earlier posts! It made her day!!!

We call him our "baby buddah"

Love the look in his eyes. Is it surprise or fear or fun?!?!

1st SWIM!!! He loved it!!!

Moments after he was put in a pool for the first time! He loved swimming with Casie and Cara!

I love this picture of Cara and Zane! She was such a good helper to me!

Thanks Cara! U da queen!!! LOL!!!

This is the first picture of Keele and Zane together! Keele is 5 weeks older than Zane! They are sitting on Pop Pop's lap (Keele's grandpa and Zane's Great uncle). We keep saying that Keele it teaching Zane everything! He started babbling after this weekend when he heard Keele! It was hilarious.....she was talking and zane just looked at her.....we got home and he hasn't stopped since!!!