What's New!

It has been too many years since my last posting here. Most friends are keeping up with me via Facebook these days. But I have decided to try to write me here, since I have more space to write here than on Facebook. Facebook is awesome for short conversations or just to keep friends and family updated. But a blog, well, you can go in depth. So doing both does make sense.

So I named this blog "What's New" because things have changed quite a bit for Nathan and I since my last posting. The most important one is that we have finally made our dream come true! About a year ago we submitted our profile and paperwork to an agency called "Heart and Soul". The calls came rolling in about once every other week for babies that would soon be born. These were all girls, and we had specified boys. However, we had faith that the right child would be provided for us by the Lord, so even the girls we said yes to adopting if the birth mother chose us. This went on for about two months. Then we get a call about a boy that would be born in April -- which would be a great month for a birthday in both families. Later that week though, they informed us that another family had been chosen by his birth mom. So with continued faith in God, we plodded onward.

It was on a Sunday morning that our lives were changed for eternity. We were getting ready for church (which was at 9 Am) when Nathan's cell phone rang. As he was occupied in the bathroom, I ran to pick it up. I barely missed the call, but checked the caller ID. It was Taanya. I asked Nathan who Taanya was, and he said she was one of the agency workers. Since I worked during usual business hours, Nathan was taking care of all of the issues at the agency. I did not even know the names of the ladies that worked there. So Nathan called her right back. While he was on the phone he asked if we were still interested in the little boy. Of course we were! Apparently the other family had backed out of the adoption and we were second in line. I could not believe what I was hearing! So we were about to become parents! Nathan could not contain his excitement -- he was literally jumping around the room! Me, well, I guess the best determination of my reaction was that of shock. I sat on the couch frozen. The only words I could utter was,"Oh my gosh!" over and over again. All I was thinking about was the financial impact that this was going to have for the rest of our lives.

We did not have anything ready. Nathan's parents offered to take us to Wal-Mart to pick up clothes, car seat and crib. They then took us out to West Valley City to pick up our son. He was so beautiful! I just could not wait to get him in my arms! They placed him into my eagerly waiting arms and was surprised at how light he was. This was mainly because he was ten pounds at birth. I honestly thought he would be heavier. We each got a turn to hold him. Then we took him to Nathan's parents house, where we fed him his first bottle. The hospital staff sent us away with formula but no bottle, and this little guy got hungry about halfway there. Boy could this child scream! His lungs definitely did not worry us. Family started to show up soon after. The rest of the day was spent showing our son off to the Teasdale side of the family. We were also grateful to Erin Davidson -- a former Foster Parent and member of our prior ward in West Point -- for providing numerous bags of clothes for our newborn. We had a good time sorting through them that day with our family. We ended up with so much, that this little guy hardly wore an outfit more than once! When we did arrive back home we were glad to see that Charly and Chuck had had the crib all put together and his dresser as well. Our son had a place to sleep his first night. We then invited our really good friends, the Ewell family, over to meet the little guy. They were so generous in helping us out. Without them, I do not know if this would have been possible for several years. They were truly a godsend. I know we were meant to be in this area, and more specifically in this ward. Our ward family here is exactly that, a family. 

What a day that had been! And the last ten months, well have been wonderful! They have gone by far too fast. In October the adoption was official and Daniel Isaac Teasdale was ours. I wish we had been able to  give earlier notice to our extended family for this great event, but at least Nathan's parents were there. It was interesting so see a court in action. Daniel started babbling during the proceedings, almost as if he wanted to give the court his opinion. It was so cute! The following Saturday was even more special: we got to make him a part of our eternal family! We went to the Bountiful Temple and little Daniel sat on the altar as Nathan and I held each others hands. He seemed to instinctually know what to do! The family was all around us -- physically as well as spiritually, I am sure. I am sure our ancestors were allowed 'time-off' from their labors on the other side to witness the sweet event.

Since then our 'little monkey' has grown so much. He just turned 10 months old a week ago. He is crawling all over the place and is so chatty! He walks while holding onto furniture or us. He still is quite a screamer when upset or hungry. He now weighs twice what he did when we brought him home nearly a year ago. We are so grateful for this addition to our family!

Daniel after a bath in January 2012.