A day to remember

Yes. I have slacked off a little bit. Ok, a lot. Where HAS the time gone? Here are the pictures, thee ADORABLE pictures of thee most handsome boy EV-ER.
How do I even begin to describe this day?
Well, first of all, it was long ago on September 14, 2008. We had this planned for weeks for Jared, Amanda and Max to come down for Sunday dinner before Max had his surgery (Another post, coming soon to a blog near you ;) ). I was counting down, anticipating that night, super excited. It was a great night. It was a fabulous night. It was an uh-mazing night. Jared and Amanda came to my house first and then we drove to Teressa's for dinner. We sat in my living room for a minute to hold Max and have him to ourselves. I could not believe how much he had grown in the month that I saw him last. He was full of smiles and giggles.
I have never seen a happier baby!
Especially at that age, giggly and smiley as he is---it is way too cute!

I loved holding him. I loved feeding him. I loved kissing him. I loved watching him sleep. I loved looking at him and staring into his beautiful blue eyes.
I did share.....after awhile.

The babes, 3 months apart. She kept wanting to grab him, he just wanted to suck his fist.

This is what happens when you enter the Virchow's, baby boys get dressed up as girls. By the look on his face, I don't think he appreciated it much---neither did Jared. hee hee
When Drake was a baby, he was such a beautiful baby, Emily put a dress and headband on him and he looked just like a little girl! Sorry boys, that's what you get for being so beautiful.

He doesn't like to be held like if you can tell. When he's laying on the ground, he'll literally lift his head up off the ground...
talk about a strong boy!

I love him! He's such a cutie patootie!

I really love this picture.

Yeah, I know, my mom can't keep her eyes open in ANY picture...
it's still a cute picture.

Aww, they're so cute. I love them.

This was the funniest part of the night. Amanda layed Max down to change his diaper. When she was finished, me, Teressa and Aly went over and started playing with him. Emily was taking pictures of the whole event. Holy cow. Teressa had him giggling so hard, my cheeks hurt so bad afterwards from laughing and smiling!

Aly and Teressa...They shared sometimes too.

Hadley Mae and Max

Willow and Max. She was at girls came when he was born, so this was her first time seeing him--and her birthday!

I love this picture, it's so precious!!

Saying our goodbyes. Talan gave good kisses...
he was about to eat Max.

That was a great night. I am so grateful to have Jared and Amanda in my life. I have tried to explain it to them, and I don't know if it made sense at all to them, but I'll try to say it now. I am so grateful to be a member of The Church and know the truth. The Lord has truly blessed me and lifted the weight off my shoulders. The Lord has helped me so that when I see him, it's not hard, when I have to say goodbye, it's not hard. My love for Max is truly unconditional and he holds a special place in my heart and always will. I am so grateful that I have chosen an open adoption. When I was going through the adoption process, I was very hesitant on the openess. Now, I wouldn't have it any other way. Max is the best thing that has happen to me and I'm so very grateful he is with Jared and Amanda.

That's right.

9 more days.

Happy Birthday!

Last Saturday, August 23rd, my brother-in-law, Steve wanted to throw my sister a SURPRISE party for her 40th birthday!! But if you know JanaRae, that's a little hard.--Besides the fact they're in the process of closing on their home in Ohio, getting their kids started in school and purchasing a home in Colorado. All in all, I have to say, it worked out pretty darn good and Steve did a great job! It was so fun to get together with all my sisters and my brothers in a relaxed environment. My mom and Kris were asked to "roast" JanaRae....click here to read Kris' roast...very well done! :)

Weston and Carolyn brought Madelyn, she was such a good baby!

She even got her first taste of chocolate fondue!! Mmmm Thanks Uncle George!

What a crazy bunch......

We had a great night! After all of JanaRae and Steve's friends left for their hotel in Park City, it was just my brothers and sisters left talking the night away---The Virchow girls are known for that. When any of my sisters are in town, Teressa's husband, Ryan asks her "Are you going up to sit around the table?" We have fun when we're together, what can we say???

Sunday Family Fun

I can honestly say, yesterday was the best day I've had in awhile--Spiritually and emotionally. I am so grateful for everyone's prayers and love and support. Yesterday was fast Sunday, and I have not been able to fast for over 10 months now and to get back and going to church, It was a great feeling!

This last week we have had the opportunity of having JanaRae, Steve and the kids here in Utah! It was a fun week being able to see them and spend time with them. They are moving to Colorado from Ohio, so they will definitely be closer and hopefully we can see them more often! Today they were driving back to Colorado, then driving back to Ohio next week. --can't say I'm jealous of that drive ;) Yesterday was the Sunday we all got together for dinner. We went to the Mapleton park, had a foot race, a three legged race, played baseball and even saw Polygamists!..oh and had the yummiest chicken and my mom's potato salad and much, much more!! You can see in the picture, everyone getting all ready for the foot race---As Teressa is getting everyone excited, flailing her arms around. ;) hee hee I just sat back, watched and laughed....There was no serious face on any spectator when the three legged race came around---except for the adults trying to beat the children. Aly and Teressa's strategy? "Center...Center....Center", trying to keep their feet sync with one another...it worked, they won as they jumped over the finish line---Aly thinks she pulled a muscle...I would say so, by the way they were hopping into first! This pic isn't the best, but it's the best my little camera phone could do! Did I mention everyone used DUCT TAPE to tie their legs together??

Aly gave Talan to JP while she went to participate in the three legged race, he sat on JP's lap in a daze, nice and comfy. My phone doesn't do it justice, but it was too cute to not capture! It was a fun night at the park, considering the sprinklers turning on while we were eating (I don't know why they bother watering now, their grass as you can tell from the pictures is already looking like hay! Maybe by watering at 6 pm they think it will revive it???) It sure was a fun filled Sunday evening, I'm glad we got to spend time with JanaRae, Steve and the kids!

The Four Seasons of Utah

There isn't much construction UDOT can do in the winter time because it's just too dang cold. When they do try to patch up holes in the road, they bounce right back out and it's just the same a week later. I came to conclusion, the four seasons of Utah are no longer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall--it is Winter, Road Construction, Road Construction, and Road Construction. No matter where you go, what city you go to, what interstate you take, there is going to be some kind of road construction. I know it's not just Utah, I believe it to be other states as well, but I have just lived in Utah my entire life, so it's the seasons I've grown up with :P Do you ever wonder what was going through their heads once they have finished the construction??? Sometimes the roads are completely retarded and you just wonder who the PM was on that job??? In Springville, as you exit onto the interstate off exit 261, they are always painting and repainting arrows, the roads are so confusing to one who has never been on that exit--I can see where road rage comes in to play. 

Yesterday (Saturday) was our yearly McKinnon reunion...YAY!!!! (if you could only hear the sarcasm in my typing.) We get to see cousins that we don't know, drive to a place that we don't know how to get to, and spend all day saturday there!! Surprisingly it turned out to be OK. My grandma is the only one left of all her sisters, so she was the bell of the ball :) I sat with my mom and her sister Geri and her husband Galyn and brother George and his wife Elaine and her cousins Mary Anne and Mary Lou--they have a great time when they're all together which made it fun. It was a challenge getting there, that's for sure. It was up in Providence, Utah at my mom's cousin, Mary Anne's . It was there about 4 years ago, but how are we suppose to remember how to get there from 4 years ago??? The address wasn't numbers, it was a number and Hillsboro Dr. with no map. My aunt Geri said Mapquest was no help at all, so I'm glad we didn't use that. But we did end up in Hyrum instead up Providence and were driving around for about 20 minutes then decided to call then drove around trying to find it after we got directions and ended up in Logan for another 20 minutes. Whew. It's quite an exiting drive up there also... I'll bring up the topic of road construction back up. (North Salt Lake) I don't think I've ever seen so many orange cones in my life...where do they store all of those???? 

My Little Peanut

From the day I found out that I was pregnant I knew the baby growing inside me deserved so much more than what I could offer it. It needed a future and mom and a dad. That is where Jared and Amanda came in. They stuck by me for almost 8 months of patiently waiting for their little guy to come. June 10, 2008, Max Milton was born via c-section weighing in at 8 lbs. 11 oz and 20 in. long. 

I am so very grateful to have been able to spend those four days in the hospital with Max and Jared and Amanda. That way, Amanda's family and friends were also able to come and meet the new addition to their family and I was able to meet the wonderful family and friends. 

My sister, Kris from Boise, Idaho also was able to drive down for a day, which meant so much to me. My grandma was staying with us at the time and was also able to meet Max! 

I am so grateful for everyone's love and support!!! I cannot say "Thank You" enough! I am so blessed with an amazing family of my own, with such caring brothers and sisters who I love so much and my family is blessed with our mother. My mom is the most selfless person I know. She would do anything for anyone. She has been by my side and has taken care of me when I needed her. I don't know what I would do without her in my life, I love my mom and I am grateful for her love and her support through everything this past year. 

Me and My Little Peanut just hours after he was born

  

He has the cutest and longest little toesies! He always has them curled :)

   

I absolutely love him

All ready to go home

  

The loving mommy and daddy :)

Adoption is not a breaking of trust but a keeping of faith...not the abandonment of a baby, but an abandonment of self for a baby's sake. 

-Curtis Young

Family Pic Finally Here!!

The family pic is finally perfected--many thanks to my sister Emily :) We have not had the whole entire family together since 2005, and even then we were missing two of my brothers in law and photoshopped them into the picture--which actually turned out really well, thanks again to Emily! (She works at a professional photolab) It was so good to have everyone here Easter weekend, having all my brothers and sisters together and all my nieces and nephews together--which probably won't happen again for a couple more years. 

Nada...

Nope. He is still in ma belly. The countdown clocks have come to a close and this little guy just is too comfy in his little hot tub. At 38 weeks, going into the doctor, I thought maybe I would have dropped or maybe be dilated just a little--nada. 39 weeks came crawling up and--zilch. Soooo, I go in 40 weeks pregnant, thinking--OK, he HAS to have dropped, I FEEL him a LITTLE lower and I HAVE to have dilated to SOMETHING!!--nothing. That previous weekend I hadn't really felt him moving a whole lot and being that I was 40 weeks, my doctor wanted me to get a non-stress test. So, this last Tuesday, I went in and my precious passed with flying colors :) They made me another appointment for this morning--which I was hoping that I wouldn't make it and would hopefully have him by today, but I made it haha I have an appointment on Monday with my doctor, so let us hope he can get things going :) 

I am so grateful for Jared and Amanda, for their patience, love and support throughout this whole process! On Sunday they were able to come down and meet my family--all but two of my sisters. The sisters they were able to meet, afterwards were telling me how they felt like they were family! I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father that He answered my prayers and led Jared and Amanda to me.

Diet Coke... Does a Baby Good!

So, kids are never satisfied with water, milk, you know the stuff that's good for em'....

They know the good stuff when they see it...and taste it ;) hahaha This is my one year old nephew Talan last Sunday... He wanted every last drop of that Diet Coke left, and oh did he try!!! He had us all laughing hysterically! 

*Note: No children were harmed with the digestion of Diet Coke during the taking of this picture. hee hee

Oh WOW...

The days are coming. There are only 35 days left. I can't watch A Baby Story anymore...way too freaky. I look at the women on there after they get the epidural and they are still screaming their guts out!!! UMM, excuse me.. I thought the epidural was to help so you're NOT screaming. My caseworker at LDSFS was telling me that sometimes it works and sometimes it takes awhile---well, mine better work...quick...or no one is going to want to be standing next to me. I feel the Braxton Hicks, but to be honest.. I don't know if I have felt a real contraction? Last night I woke up and was doubled over in a pain for about under a minute. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't comfortable. I guess I will know in a few weeks what a contraction feels like and can say or not if that was a true contraction.

My mom is gone once again. She is off to Ohio for my niece, Bella's baptism for one week. At least this time we can keep in touch and she isn't on the other side of the world. :) This morning as I was leaving for work and saying goodbye to her, she patted my tummy and said "You stay in there kiddo until I get back!" I don't think she has anything to worry about, but that would be awful to go into labor without my mom by my side. She has been my #1! If you don't know my mom, you should. She is the sweetest woman you'll ever meet...she's so bubbly and friendly and would do anything for anyone. She works at an IHC Instacare so she knows a lot of people, so when I say my last name, people ask if i'm her daughter and just go on about her how wonderful she is.. Yep, that's my mom :) haha I have to brag because she is my best friend has been nothing but supportive throughout my pregnancy.

She is a wonderful mother of 6 daughters and 2 sons and a loving grandma of 24 grandkids who love her so much!! That was so fun to get together with all the family on Easter, if you want to see more pictures you can visit my sister JanaRae's blog. It includes pictures of when they all went down to Zion's! (which sadly I wasn't able to go--I wasn't up to the hiking at 7 1/2 mo pregnant ;) ) But they are fun pictures to see of the fam all together!!

What the Hail?

I listened to the weather, but I didn't think we it would come our way....

Within 5 minutes this is what was in front of our doors at work. It started as little rain drops, then tiny hard pieces of hail smacking the windows. Thunder---where was the lightning I do so love?? I guess I'll take the thunder ;) I'm so happy I could be inside to enjoy this....looking from my desk to see my freshly cleaned car be covered in hail :) Afterall, April showers bring May flowers!!!

On another note, this weekend was conference weekend! Unfortunately I wasn't able to watch all sessions. I did watch Saturday morning session, that afternoon I watched my niece and nephews while Aly and Nick got moving the rest of their stuff over to their new house! When the kids are home--Noggin rules the TV. Sunday morning we headed up to Ogden to my uncles house for a bbq birthday party for Grandma Burleigh--she turns 88 on Wednesday, April 9!!! So we listened to the morning session of conference on the way up-- I can't tell you how much I love President Uchdorft! He is a great speaker! I am sad I didn't get to hear President Monson's talk, but the wonderful thing about Comcast---On Demand!! :D I always look forward to the Ensign coming out also to actually read through the talks.

Grandma Burleigh's birthday party was really fun! It was a houseful! Not all my cousins were there but more than not. It's funny, you ask my grandma how she's doing and she says "I'm 88". She sure is feelin it! After the party it was nice to come home and just relax. It was weird to come home to an empty house. I mean an empty house because Aly and Nick have completely moved out. My kiddies are gone. They bought a home in the Lehi/Highland area. I am going to miss those kids! It's so weird to not wake up in the night when I go to the restroom and not hear Talan crying. Or when I make my lunch in the morning, hear him gooing. It's weird to not see Bryton's baseballs and footballs in the living room and Hadley's dolls and princess stuff out. When they first moved in with us, Talan was just a newborn, we've seen him grow up and move from stage to stage. We have gotten attached to these kids! I'm going to miss them!!

Bryton, future pro!!! He loves his footballs...especially if their red...Go UTES!

Pink, Pink, Pink!!! She loves Pink!

He loved Had's pink hat! Such an innocent boy.. for now ;) haha

I'm gonna miss these kids! Having them live with us for the last year has been so fun and entertaining! Everyday when I would come home from work, Talan would crawl over to me and I would pick him up and take him downstairs with me. If there were ever days I would get home and walk past him, oh would he get upset!! I'm going to miss that!

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday was a great day! My whole family was here! Jana Rae and Steve came from Ohio with their 5 kids and Kris and Bill came from Idaho with their 4 four kids...along with everyone that lives here. ---All in all, there was a total of 23 grandkids and 16 adults! That was the first time we have all been together in years!!! We took a family picture (just in our backyard) that i'll post once my sister emails them to me. :)

The talks are always great in Sacrament meeting, but there is always a sweet Spirit you feel on Easter and Christmas. The talks yesterday seemed to fill the room and inspire everyone. Between the talks, a lady got up and performed a piano solo that, to me was the highlight of sacrament meeting. She played I Know That My Redeemer Lives. That is one of my many favorite hymns and she played it beautifully! You couldn't help but have tears flowing... you didn't want her to stop...What is a long song, you wish could be longer!!

Precious!

Here is a picture of Madelyn! Such a cutie and so much hair!

Madelyn Mae Virchow

My mom came into my room this morning at 2:30 a.m. telling me she was headed over to my brothers house because my sister-in-law's water had just broke. Well, this morning around 10:30 a.m. Carolyn had their precious little girl (after 3 boys), Madelyn Mae Virchow. She weighed 7 lbs 13 oz... my mom was in too much of a hurry to tell me how long she was ;) But Im very excited for them--especially for Carolyn, as she did look like she was going to pop at any moment!!! I can't wait to go see my new niece :)

It's A Sunshine Daaayyy! (sung from the Brady Bunch)

It is a sunshiney day today :) My desk faces Far West Bank and I get to see the beautiful weather all day long...Including the Time, Date and Temperature :) So far it has reached 64 degrees today! I don't know what it is, but I just feel very happy today. Maybe it's that I got my tax return direct deposited in my accout? I LOVE this time of year for that reason :) I'm not a money freak, but that extra sense of security is nice to know that that extra lump some is there for extra cusion.
Maybe I'm happy because my mom was, well my mom and bought me some new spring pants and shirt on Saturday. Have I mentioned I have the greatest mom? She is the best friend and the best mom out there, no offense to everyone else ;) But she's pretty awesome and has been there for me through everything and would do anything for anyone!
Maybe I'm happy because I finally got rid of my piece of crap phone Razr? Yeah, that could be it ;) After two years of suffering with a Razr, my contract was finally up March 5 to get a new phone! So, not only did I get one but I was able to talk my mom into getting one too...a red one! Ooohh Sexy Mama!
I love Daylight Savings.. I heard on the radio this morning some disgruntled guy arguing about it being in March this year. Personally, I absolutely love it not getting dark until 8:30 or 9:00 at night! Getting out of work and having a few more hours of daylight left! It's a sign of Spring :)
I look back on my blog and I read "Maybe I'm happy because.." Well, I am a happy person, and I always try to be. But today feels different. You know how some days are better than others. I guess for a Monday I feel great:)