First Bath and Reflections

The water was warm, but that little blue foot just kept wanting to stick up out of the water!

"I think I like this..."

He loves to have his hands by his mouth.  Even in the ultrasounds before he was born, his hands were always by his mouth!

I love the "just peeking" face!  We wrapped up in a towel before washing hair.

Oh my heart!  I just love everything about this little guy.  I think, perhaps, he is going to be terribly spoiled...but I just don't care.  I might have guessed that the tender feelings that come with a new baby would decrease with each one, but I have found the opposite to be true.  I can remember in my mind how terribly miserable the pregnancy was, but in my heart the pain seems so small and insignificant...a vague and distant memory.  Is it the pain of the past that is making the joy of these moments so much fuller and more meaningful? I am not sure.  I am just grateful that we did not rationalize away the feeling that he was meant to come to our family...even though it came at a busy and difficult time.  If life comes with a series of credits and debits, it seems to me that so much more is gained with the birth of each child than taken away.  I absolutely do not advocate irresponsible pregnancy or the idea that it is the duty of ANY woman to have children.  I also do not believe that God expects this of me.  I do, however, believe that some of God's most priceless gifts and blessings come into the homes and hearts of those who invite His precious children into their families with an enduring commitment to protect and prepare them to serve Him and share the message of His love and His gospel.

Gingerbread houses and Christmas cookies

My mom came shortly after Alexander was born. True to my childhood tradition, we made gingerbread houses. Family traditions really bring out the joy and magic of Christmas.

LaMonte and Jacob

Keith and his Taj Mahal!

Oh yeah, Ben!

A sweet house and a sweet girl.  I love you, Sarah!

While the kids were at school, Jacob, Kevin, and Sam made sugar cookies.  It was an exciting, messy, and somewhat unsanitary production that left me feeling overcome with the joy of family...and the knowledge that we had better not share these cookies with our neighbors!

Decorating cookies for family home evening.

Jason's creation

Ben's Birthday and Backyard Fun

 

 

 Happy birthday, Benjamin.  You always give me a reason to smile!

 Swiss Army Knife!!!

 

 Sarah and Sam roasting hot dogs in our new fire pit.

 Who is in charge of this operation???  Kevin, of course.  That why the roasting is taking place over the wall of the pit.

 Make a wish!

Henry with his frosting goatee:-)

 For Ben's birthday, the family pitched in to clear a campsite in the woods behind our house.

 More presents!

 As our first "home improvement" we added some fun playground equipment.  This "dream harbor" was built by two brothers who were raised Amish.  The kids have had so much fun outside!

 They also built a fort in the woods with a zip line coming down the hill.  We lined the path with white Christmas lights for more fun at night.

Here is the fire pit and zip line from our back patio.  We are so blessed to have found this home.  It is perfect for our family.  We had a really enjoyable evening being together, celebrating with Ben, and feeling the joy of family and this holiday season.  How grateful I am for the  blessings God has poured out over us, making it possible to meet the needs of our large family!

Welcome Home Alexander--Happy Thanksgiving

 All buckled up and ready to go home Wednesday night...a day early so we wouldn't have to go home on Thanksgiving Day.

 Here I am trying to hide my belly behind the car seat.  I still look like I am about 6 months pregnant:-)

 Henry and Lucy were excited to meet baby Alexander.  Truthfully, Henry seemed more excited to snuggle up with me and let everyone else fuss over the baby.  That was great with me!  I am obviously a sucker for a good Mama's boy.  I missed these two!!!

 This has to be my favorite "sibling" picture so far.  Sam is going to be such a good big brother for little Alexander.  I could already see his protective instincts coming out.  I think these two will be good buddies!

 This afternoon LaMonte's family came together to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with us.  Truly, I have rarely felt so happy and thankful in my life.  It was a wonderful blessed day with many, many things to be grateful for.  The excellent food was the icing on the cake!

 I have quickly gone from abhorring to loving the wallpaper in our new home.  It is so nice to let the kids be kids and not panic about them leaving fingerprints on walls.  Nothing shows up on this wallpaper!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Wonderful Day!

What an enjoyable day it has been with our little Alexander!  I can't help but think back on all of the pain and struggle of pregnancy. At times it can be so hard to bear! Then...it is over. It is gone! And you are left with a miracle! A gift from God so divine it is hard to comprehend. The pain and sacrifice is a distant memory. It seems such a small price to pay.

 

Jacob was so excited to see Alexander!  He was the first of his siblings to hold him.  He kept saying, "I love him!!!"  Some people have chuckled about the number of boys we have.  I just love my boys!  They melt my heart and make life seem a little lighter with all of their energy, antics, and personalities!

I am a sucker for my girls as well!  It is more fun to enjoy the frills of life when we can lavish over our 3 sweet angels!  Lucy didn't make it today as she and a couple others are at home with a sitter.  We'll get some special time with them tonight when we get back home.  The rest of the kids will come home from their grandparents tomorrow.

Ben always has a great expression for the camera.  He was so excited about the baby!  I hope Alexander likes to be smothered...because some of us are just like that!

How fun to watch teenage boys light up over a baby.  This little guy is lucky to have such good role models.

What can I say...Alexander would be a lucky little guy if he turned out like big brother, David!

Like I said...pure heaven!  Got to be on guard, though, with this little one.  I am sure Kevin believes he can take care of Alexander all by himself.

FINALLY--the greatest blessing of all in our family.  I love you, LaMonte!!!!  Thank you for loving me, spoiling me, and making all of this possible.

I can't wait until tomorrow when I can enjoy the full fruits of a Thanksgiving with so much to be thankful for!!!!

Meet Alexander--Our New Yorke

 The newest Yorke made his entrance into the world and our family this morning at 10:39 AM.  It was love at first sight!  I knew instantly that I would shamelessly love and spoil this precious little one.  He is destined to become a "Mama's boy." 

 He weighed 8 pounds.  Everything about him was absolutely perfect!

 Awwww!  How can someone so tiny and new already have me entirely wrapped around his little fingers.

 Dr. Rost helped bring our little miracle into this world.  He also delivered Ben, Sarah, and Jacob.

First visitors!  Grandma and Grandpa Yorke came bearing love, hugs, and gifts for little Alexander.  Grandma Yorke made two beautiful blankets.  More pictures will follow, but it is midnight and we are all ready for bed.

Finally Ours...Forever

 

How can you measure the joy of this moment?  All that we have worked for, longed for, and prayed for has finally come as this chapter of our life peaks in the celebration of our adoption finalizing and our precious new children being sealed to our family in God's holy temple.  Can I begin to describe the overpowering joy I felt as my entire family, dressed in white, joined together in the temple in welcoming Henry, Lucy, and Sam into our eternal family?  We were blessed to experience to joy of heaven on earth.  The pain, sacrifice, and struggle of the past several months seemed to be a distant memory that only heightened and highlighted the miracle and blessing of this moment. 

 The adoption was legally finalized only a few weeks earlier.  After watching the judge sign the official paperwork, Sam "signed" his own name to the adoption decree.  Lucy and Henry were also able to "sign."

What a great opportunity for our family to celebrate this time together!  We have all grown closer together and closer to God.  In reality, this "end" only opens the beginning of the next stage of our family's adventure together.