How I Feel About Our Life!

How I Feel about our life Can be summed Up in this One Photo! Our Life is Complete!

Cookie Day!

I know I missed something. On Saturday the 22nd, we ventured up to Shane's parent's house to make some family favorite cookies. All who was there, was Mom, Dad, Jason, Jen, Brayden,Nina, Brian, Kaitlyn, Charity, Willow, Charity's friend and neighbor Pepper, and of course Us! It was a full house. Well, the boys left to go to do some last minute shopping and left the baking to the girls!

We split up into teams to get all the baking done. Kaitlyn and I tackled the pecan balls, Charity pressed up some Pitzels, Nina and Pepper gooeyed up some chocolate chunk wonders, Jen and Willow finished the hawaiins, and we all pitched in for danish butter cookies. And topping it off Mom supervised us all.

The cookies turned out well, but what was even better is we got to meet Brayden for the first time. Shane and I had forgotten how small babies can be. We couldn't even imagine Aedyn as small as he was when he was born, because now everyone describes him as a Mack truck.Brayden is beautiful and he was so calm and slept quite well. He definitely is a Moore boy.He has a very prominent brow. So basically he is Jason from the nose up and Jen from the nose down, so lovable.

It was a great day,topped off with pizza and a movie, The Christmas Story!

Random December photos

Mr.Turbinhead
Shane's longtime best friend Adam meeting Aedyn
A perfect baby in a bubble! haha!
See, we still kiss!

Daddy napping with Aedyn
Kat and Jon Closeup
Aedyn entertaining Uncle Jon
Sean, Deb, and Doug at kat's caroling party!
Summer caroling!

More Pics (doggie style)

Tinkerbell and Candi
Buddy and Toby
Toby yawning! so funny!
Jon and Bella
Candi,my love!

More Christmas Pics!

Aedyn passed out on G-pa Young's lap
Grammy Bev with Daddy and Aedyn at Mission Inn
Uncle Jon and Daddy having a gay old time!
MEN!
Aedyn with Aunt Jen and her grandma!

Helen Cooking Breakfast
Mom's Classic Pooh painting for Aedyn's room
G-pa Justin and Kat
Aedyn Cuddling with Uncle Sean

Christmas Morning Breakfast
Summer with Aedyn
Congratualtions Steven and Rosie!
Sean Jr. and Daisy
Aedyn sitting up!

What felt like the 12 days of Christmas! A Long, but Great Holiday!

At the Mission Inn Christmas Eve

Aedyn with Cousins Jamie and Sean Christmas Eve

Christmas Morning Breakfast

Angela, Sean,Jr., and Jamie opening gifts on Christmas at Dad and Helen's

Uncle Steven with Aedyn

Christmas was wonderful this year! (Anything is better than last year with a trip to the emergency room for an ear ache that made me feel like I was dying, and dealing with a psycho birthmother!) This year we celebrated as a family of 3! Of course my first Christmas as a new mama sent me into crying episodes throughout the holiday! Good crying! Of course,Kat joined right in,Shane did too a couple of times!



Well, let's do the rundown. Monday, Christmas Eve day, we loaded up the car with luggage, gifts, baby, and dogs and set off to Kat's house. The drive was smooth we chilled at kat's for a while, then headed over to Mom's house for some yummy cookies and cider, then a quick spin around the Mission Inn for lights and carolers, and on to church for Christmas Eve service! (Which we were a might bit dissapointed in, which is hard to say, but the messge had no warmth and spirit of the season). Then off to Sean's house for some turkey and mashed potatoes(yum). The broccoli was great Jen!We hung out for a bit and then headed back to Kat's where we nestled down and Shane read the Night Before Christmas(from the computer because we can't seem to find the beautiful pop-up book I got Shane last year). Finally, we fell asleep.



Christmas morning approached. The winds gusted and whistled through the windows! We all must have been very good this year because not a drop of coal this year in our stockings.

It was beautiful waking up and seeing Aedyn's smiling face! The best Christmas gift! We opened stockings and then read a short script of the biblical Christmas story adapted by Kat. I cried of course,because Shane played Joseph and I played Mary, and Aedyn, baby Jesus. I don't remember what line I began to read,but it made me cry just to think as I held Aedyn in my arms what a blessing and gift We have been blessed with! We then did a little gift exchange, and Mom presented us with her gifts to us, (again I cried)! She had painted with watercolors 3 different Classic Pooh scapes (1 we asked for). They are breathtaking, she is so talented and put her talent to good use. After that we feasted on a beautiful breakfast with a casserole to die for, that my sissy made(with help from her Hubby). And as Summer said(she spent Christmas morning with us) it's wonderful that Kathy learned how to cook!(my feeling is she always knew how to,but is just beginning to apply her talent).



Well, the next phase of Christmas we headed up to Dad and Helen's for our gift exchange, some tamales, pasolli, and good old-fashioned fun. We visited with family, passed the baby, and watched the kids open their gifts. At the end of the evening we played a game with Steven and Rosie and couple of rounds of Scene-It Squabble with Kat, Jon,Dad and Helen. Off to lala land, and back up again (Aedyn didn't sleep very well). We woke up, had a nice hearty breakfast, got ready and moved and grooved to the high desert to Shane's parents.



At Granny and Popa's house we had my favorite holiday drink, Wassail, and chatted for a bit. We exchanged gifts with Mom,Dad,Charity and Willow, and then we enjoyed a beautiful meal of juicy steak, baked potatoes and steamed broccoli. We topped off the meal with a wonderful trifle and coffee, the perfect combo. It was nice and relaxed. We then headed home and arrived at 11 pm. We left Aedyn in his carseat,(in his crib), and we all headed off to bed to have visions of sugarplums dance in our heads.


The last five days have been nothing but down time. We meant to put the daycare room back together, but I got sick and in turn Aedyn is now sick with a slight tempertaure and congestion.

Not our ideal way to start the New Year, but the most important thing we are together! So, it will be a quiet night of movies, sausage, cheese, crackers, and cuddling for the Moore household as we bring in the new year.

2007 has been the epitomy of a rollercoaster ride for us, with thrills and chills, sobs and cries , cheers and laughter, smiles and grins, and lots and lots of LOVE! We welcome the New Year of 2008, and pray that Happiness and Love bless us and everyone everyday!

Aedyn is 3 months old today! (this is a gloating session,I can't help myself)

Woohoo! Aedyn is 3 months old today! I can't believe it! This little bundle of joy has graced and blessed our lives for 3 months! He is so incredible! I thought I would list a few of the developmental stages he has grasped.

Aedyn wakes up almost every morning now with a smile on his face. He giggles at his mobile and stares at it's motions constantly. He even has conversations of goos and gaas, and oohs and ahhs with Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet. It is the most adorable thing to hear him laugh out loud in pure glee, which of course in return make us laugh out loud. Aedyn recognizes Shane's and my voice and will turn towards our sounds when we speak.

He loves to dance with Mommy in the Kitchen, he just nestles his cheek next to mine and enjoys the ride. While in his swing, he loves to stare at himself in the mirror and have joyful conversations, where he smiles and laughs, at times, like the Pillsbury Dough Boy.

Aedyn loves to hear Daddy sing; his favorite song is Wheels of a Dream from Ragtime. I think he really loves the low notes and the vibrations. Aedyn has extremely strong(chubby) legs and he loves to stand, with support, on our legs and has learned to bend his knees and has begun to bounce. He loves bouncing, it works out his legs and Mommy's upper body, too!

The other day I put him in his bouncy seat which has moving part and music, and he started to stare intently at the moving monkey. His eye coordination is really coming along. He notices objects and people across the room. When having play/tummy time he can now hold himself up on his elbows for about 10-15 seconds. Also, he purposely is batting at the toys on his playmat, for when he does it turns on the music, which is set on motion sensor. (I am convinced that he has figured this cause and effect sequence out). He can hold rattles and small objects when placed in his hands.

He loves to be naked! When changing his clothes he becomes very relaxed when all his clothes are off! Silly boy. But, he also loves to snuggle with a blankie. Aedyn is learning to fall asleep on his own in his crib, and is a pretty good sleeper. For the last week he has slept every night at least 6-7 hours in a row! We have a quick bottle, then it's back to lala land for at least another 3 hours!

When eating we have discovered his very stubborn side. We always try to burp him after every two ounces,(which right now he takes 6 ounces per bottle), but of course he has other ideas. He gets so fussy and tries to push back,if we are leaning him forward, as if he will never eat again. He definitely has a stubborn streak when it comes to eating. He has an insatiable appetite and eats usually every 3 hours still like clockwork,except for at nighttime now. oh, and he drools non stop, his saliva glands are on overload! His next appointment is Jan. 21 so we will see how much he weighs then, my bet is at least 15 lbs. or more!

His cries are very distinctive now, there is definitely a difference between,tired,hungry, (and now a new cry) I'm bored so give me another activity to conquer! For the most part, Aedyn is patient and will behave while in his carseat and out on short errands. Of course, we have learned to feed him right before we leave so he goes into a milk comatose! On long car trips he is perfect, the vibration from the car makes him fall asleep the entire way!

Overall, Aedyn is a beautiful baby, full of joy, and all of his developments are on track. Our next big goal we are working on is sitting up. We are so proud of our cuddlebug!

trying to add caption to photos?!

I have been trying to figure out a way to add captions to our photos in a easy manner when I upload the photos but there is no option so I had to experiement a little. I hope this comes out the way it should.

Morning nap

Mom can I go for a drive?

Random Mommy thoughts(it gets sappy towards the end)

My latest and greatest eau de parfume scent is Enfamil GentleEase, mixed in with baby saliva! Oh so savory!

I am grateful to get a hot meal that has time to digest, because Aedyn always knows when dinner is hot n' ready!

Getting 4 or even 5 whopping hours of sleep at one time is a beautiful thing!(Even though I know I wake myself up secretly hoping to hear a cry so I can touch him or hold him).

Receiving smiles and giggles and coos from my son is the best gift I know I will receive this Christmas! (My heart glows just to think about it!)

I LOVE the fact the when Shane sings to Aedyn it comforts them both!

Peace overwhelms me when I am holding Aedyn and he looks past me and over my shoulder and begins to smile and giggle, because I know his guardian angel is watching over him!

Poopie, spit-up, sleep habits, weight and age almost encompass all new conversations with people we know and strangers, too!

Just today, Aedyn has his first visit to Daddy's office, people kept commenting on how Aedyn looks so much like Shane and I!(Everyone knows at Shane's office that we are adopting Aedyn!) Never do we solicit this observation, but it happens everwhere I go! I was in the grocery store the other day and a lady was doting over Aedyn in the soda and ship aisle, asking his weight, age, etc. and said he looked like me. My answer was oh, really! She then asked if I was breastfeeding? My answer was "I wish I could have, but he's adopted!" A weird expression came over her face, and tears filled her eyes;I did not know what to say or think at this point! But then I saw her smile and say I gave her chills, because he looked so much like me, and it made her think that adoption is such a miracle and joy! I agreed with her and moved onto the frozen veggies aisle.

Aedyn brings joy to all where ever he goes. We went on a short errand to pick up somepictures we took at JCPENNEY's and decided to walk around in the mall for a bit. I didn't have the stroller(it was in Shane's car) but I did have the baby Bjourn carrier and he justs loved being in it. I face him out so he could look at his surroundings. He never made one peep, he just stared at all the new things and watched the lights hanging from the ceiling. It was amazing watching him explore the new environment and soak up the atmosphere with his eyes. But, what's even more amazing is how everyone we passed would stare at him and smile and beam with joy! I was proud, not only because I'm his Mama and he is a handsome boy, but the fact that he is God's gift, and it seems that everyone he meets feels his beautiful energy and sense of wellbeing, and We, Shane and I, as his parents get the opportunity to share the world with him, and share him with the world!

that's all for now.wow i can't believe i wrote that much. Aedyn is taking a deep sleep nap and is content,probably because of the lulling sound of the rain outside!

Aedyn laughing at himself!

Christmas Trains

Amber and Hugh groovin'!

Relief, Frustration, Nerves, Joy, Fun!

Last week was a kind of a nerver-wracking week. We spent the entire week fretting about the impending court date we had on Friday the 7th for Amber and Hugh to sign the relinquishments. Our worries did not lie in whether or not Amber and Hugh would sign, but if the Tribe would try to refuse letting them sign. I know Amber and Hugh were in knots,too.

They arrived on Thursday at 2pm and we had a quiet evening at home just reconnecting and chillin', oh and laughing. Amber and Hugh bestowed gifts on all 3 of us. They got us each a Disney mug (Mickey and Pooh) and got Aedyn a cute wintery stuffed Pooh bear. Amber's parents,Kelli and Larry, were kind of enough to extend the love of caffeine with a Starbucks card and got Aedyn the cutest little blankie called a Taggie with his name embroidered on it!Amber got to hold Aedyn, and visit with him, as Hugh made "Wookie"sounds and helped Shane fix the trains around the Christmas tree! It was nice having them here. My mom came to watch Aedyn because our lawyer said it was not a good idea to have him in the courtroom. We all tried to get some sleep,but it was hard to rest easy.

The next morning we all made it to the court in Ventura where Amber and Hugh signed the Indian Reliquishments in front of the judge. They had to be sworn in and everything. (the consents were signed as a precautionary and strategic move in anticipation that the tribe would make Hugh or Aedyn a member). Our lawyer actually asked some pertinent questions from them about whether or not they think Aedyn is an Indian child, and whether or not Hugh leads an Indian lifestyle. This was good because if the tribe continues to pursue the matter then when we go back to court for an actual hearing, and their testimony will be valid because it was recorded by the court reporter. Oh by the way, as of now Aedyn is not an Indian child, but if the tribe decides to make Hugh or Aedyn a member, (they can do this at any time before finalization), then we will have to battle this in court because he will then be considered an indian child. It's complicated, and as the judge said, "this is an unprecendented case."

Amber and Hugh were wonderful! I was so proud of both of them. My hands were sweating and all Shane and I had to do was sit there! They are strong young people, and we are glad to have them a part of our lives!Their visit was short because they had to fly home Friday night to be back for a wedding the next day in Reno!

Saturday morning we had a wonderful cuddle and playtime in our bed, where Aedyn just cooed, and smiled. He always wakes up in the best moods! After my Mom left to go home Saturday afternoon, Charity and Willow came to visit and stayed until Sunday afternoon. Willow is such an attentive cousin. She has such a loving nature and she actually helped us give Aedyn a bath. (Word to the wise, Never go to Denny's on a Saturday night!) Inside joke. It was nice to have our house full of people we love.

After Charity and Willow left we went home, ate, took a short unexpected nap, then headed out to Zender's Christmas store, one of our favorite places to visit during Christmas time. The whole store becomes a winter wonderland, they have complimentary cider and cookies, and they have an awesome train and mountain town display, which of course Shane loves!

All in all, a great weekend!