Cody's 1st Birthday Pictures

9 months ago a we received a wonderful phone call. It was the agency saying that they would like to turn our profile into a birth mom out of San Antonio who had signed up with an agency out of Abilene. We were informed that the baby was a male and that he had some problems as birth. We prayed about it and decided that God knew what we could handle and gave her permission to show our profile.

A couple of weeks went by without any more information and we figured that God had other plans for us. On April 20 I got that phone call at work that the mom had accepted us as the parents for her son. We were so shocked that it came together as fast as it did after almost 3 years of waiting for a baby.

We left on May 1 to go and meet our new son...Cody James. We have loved having him apart of our family. Shaleigh is a wonderful big sister and we have had the pleasure of watching another precious child grow up in our household and watch all the new adventures that he has encountered in the 1st year of his life.

Happy birthday Cody we all love you and look forward to many more years together conquering all the challenges that God has in store for our family.

Valentine's Day

Well another Valentine's Day over and done with. This year was Cody's first experience at Valentine's Day. I took him and Shaleigh with me to the store so that we could pick out what to get the grandparents for the special day. I sat Cody on the floor with some toys and he proceeded to follow me around the store. He was very patient with me and just followed me around. While there I picked them up some balloons and two dinosaurs for them to have. He had so much fun playing with his dinosaur and chasing the balloon around the house.

We have definitely been blessed this year as with previous years with the most precious, beautiful children God created just for us. I look forward to many more years of this special day and watching them grow up.

Christmas Program (Shaleigh)

Shaleigh and Cimmarron

Shaleigh and Lillian

Shaleigh with her teacher Ms. Lopez

The girls singing

Cimmarron singing during the program

This was our first Christmas Program for Shaleigh to do in elementary school and I'm so proud of her. They sang about 5 songs and got to see Santa. Julia and I got to watch both our kids do the program and Cody got to watch. Julia is always so good to hold Cody while I either film the kids or take pictures of them. I'm so proud of all that they have done this first semester and how much fun it is to watch these two grow together. Shaleigh ended up sitting right beside Lillian her other friend from 1st grade so many of the pictures include her since they were together.

Veteran's Day Program (Shaleigh)

Shaleigh, Katilyn, and Cimmarron

Cimmarron, Gracie, and Shaleigh

Lillian during the program

Cimmarron during program

Shaleigh during the program

Shaleigh and Lindsey

I know I am a little behind and things will be posted out of order. Shaleigh participated in her first Veteran's Day Program and was so excited that she got to take her granddad with her since he served in the military. She was all dressed in patriotic colors and off we went for breakfast at her school. I went to that I could take videos and pictures of her program. Granddad was so proud of her and she sang so good and had a great time.

MDO Christmas Program Cody

Cody with his new bear from his teacher

Mom with Cody

Cody with his teacher Tarah

Love his smile and laugh

Cody has a few admirers: This is Presleigh she is in the 4 year old class

His other admirer and good friend Katilyn

This was just another MDO Christmas Party but with a little boy this time. This was Cody's first party of MDO. He had so much fun except he didn't sing of course, maybe next year. He loves his teacher Tarah and has fun in his class with his new friends. Kaitlyn is a friend of the families and see his quiet a lot. Presleigh is a friend of Shaleigh's from the class of 4 year olds. They both love to play with Cody which might explain why he doesn't eat at school very well he is too busy flirting with these two little girls. So once again we are set for the next 4 years of going to MDO parties with Cody. Look forward to many more years to come.

Polar Express @ Highland

Brooklyn, Shaleigh, Grinch, Trinity, Rali

Cody with the Grinch

The girls with Ms. Claus

Cody with Ms. Claus

The girls with Pecas

Cody with him

Shaleigh was coloring and Cody wanted to help

The girls with Cowgirl Candy CaneCody's turn with her

The girls in front of the Polar Express Train

Shaleigh and Cody with Mr McBroom the conductor

Shaleigh with Mr McBroom

The kids in front of the train

The Polar Express came to Highland and all the kids and their families were invited to come on the adventure. We took Shaleigh and Cody and after we got there Shaleigh met up with some of her friends and we followed behind. The kids were really nice to let me take their picture with each of the characters and then followed with Cody. The staff did a wonderful job and we enjoyed the fun and fellowship with her friends and the town.

Cody's Adoption Hearing

Our lawyer, Shaleigh, me, Dan, Cody, and the judge

Being sworn in by the judge

Shelly, CV, Grace, and Cody

Us with the judge

Margaret(agency representative) and Cody

All of us after the judge made the adoption of Cody final

Well the weekend of November 30 will always be special to our family. That is the day that Cody legally became our son. We along with Lee, Kristie and the kids traveled to Abilene and met up with Shelly and Grace to go to lunch and then over to the hearing. The judge was a very sweet lady and the lawyer was wonderful. The whole hearing Cody just sat there and ate puffs out of my hand. When she banged the gavel she said it was a 14 puff hearing. She couldn't wait to get her hand on on him and she just had to love on Shaleigh also.

Afterwards we left to go to Wichita Falls and then on to Weatherford. We had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed our time with family.