Jefferson's Newborn Pictures

December 2014

This December has been a month of firsts for this little Dennis family. Jefferson was welcomed with smiles. cuddles, and lots of love by family and friends. He is a very scheduled baby which has made it easy to take him out and about on walks and visits. We have settled into a day to day routine: morning songs, tummy time, naps, our daily walk, music time, bath time, reading time, and bed time. On Christmas eve he slept 6 hours for the first time and on Dec. 27 he was so upset in tummy time he pushed himself over (at 6 weeks). He seems very attentive to all the faces around him and loves to coo and "talk" with whoever holds him. Brad speaks to Jefferson in Spanish as much as possible and Mary spends a few hours a day studying Spanish.  We are so grateful for all of the continual support and love given to our little family. So many people have been so generous. This new year we have the goal to express gratitude every chance we can get. Cheers to 2015.

 First time in Grandma Great's arms

Love my baby Uggs

Love my cuddly from Grandma Joyce

Tummy time - firsts

 So exhausted after tummy time, I just want to cuddle.

First time going to church

Love my teddy

Love my mobile- for a few minutes for now

Love my swing

First time seeing the lights at Temple Square

 And my first Christmas.

November 2014- the roller coaster of our life!

I don't even know where or how to begin. This past November was a roller coaster. Over the past two months we had been in an on again off again adoption process and were not sure how it might end. It ended off again. We were grief stricken especially because we were at the hospital for the birth. With broken hearts we carried on trying to have hope for the future and how we might grow our family. We tried our best to enjoy this season of our lives by attending the last Utah football game and tailgate, helping our friends move, and I got away with a lovely trip to Florida. While in Florida, just after I was walking on the beach "letting it all go" I got a call from Brad saying the birth mom called and asked if we were still interested in the baby. After a mad dash to the Fed Ex. with my steady cousin Amy I signed the papers and Jefferson Amal Dennis was placed with us. Under Utah law adoptions are not finalized for 6 months so the state can make sure the placement is a healthy one. So in 6 months he will be sealed to us and legally forever ours. The case workers at LDS family services were so wonderful and taught us both so many lessons about true charity and faith through this whole process. Our grief quickly turned into so much gratitude and immense joy. Brad brought our baby home (I was still in Florida) to anxiously awaiting grandparents at 1:00 am November 25, 2014. He was our Thanksgiving miracle. Words cannot express the reunion we had when I got home. It was a precious memory I will always hold in my heart. Our family came to our aide to put together a nursery and the basic baby necessities. Jefferson sleeps in a cradle that my uncle built for my aunt and all of her children spent their first days in it. It has held so much love and now holds our little man. Brad's parents gave us a rocking chair Brad's grandpa built that Brad was rocked to sleep in. I love that I get to rock to sleep my little man in the same rocking chair Brad was rocked in. Our family heritage of love for this sweet child surrounds him. The day after I got home I talked with my work and will be taking an extended maternity leave so I can spend every second I can with my little man while he grows. I don't go back until March 2, 2015. So in a matter of a week our life has completely changed, most people have 9 months to prepare for a child we barely had 2, and even that was on again off again. But our hearts were full of love for our little Jefferson the second we saw him and so some diapers, food, blankets, and a car seat are really all you need when you have a home and heart overflowing with love for this sweet miracle.

And then I came home to this:

God has been so good to us. My heart is full.

October 2014

We finally feel settled in our home! We even bottled 23 quarts of apple pie filling- yum! Life has been fun and exciting with the U of U football games and Halloween festivities. For our first Halloween in our new home we put out a huge bowl of candy out with a sign "Trick or Treaters Welcome, Please take 1, Happy Haunting"  and went to a party. When we got home the bowl was knocked over with just a few pieces of candy remaining. So hopefully it worked:)  The most exciting moment of October was at the U of U vs. USC game, when in the last 15 seconds the U pulled off an amazing win. The entire stadium erupted and stormed the field. It was exciting. We have had so much fun tailgating and watching football with friends- yes,we are becoming "those" people.  For Halloween Brad's work did a costume contest and he dressed up as a cowboy and surprise didn't win with that "creative" costume. I dressed up with the girls at work and led the Halloween parade, this year we were fairy princesses, and we waved our fairy dust(ribbon) all around- the kids and parents loved it. We spent a good 4 hours trimming the hedges and cutting back perrenials for winter. Thankfully we don't have too much gardening to manage, and we are learning as we go. Hopefully we will get some pansies and tulip bulbs planted before it gets too cold.  It's now getting dark earlier and we have prepped our home for winter and are ready to stay cozy and comfortable for the upcoming holidays.