On October 2nd, 2012, Alora's adoption was officially finalized! 

Here's Garrett, Alora, and me posing with the Judge at the Juvenile Court.

 It felt so nice to have all legal loose ends tied up. I felt like a weight had been lifted off by having the adoption finalized. I guess waiting for things to be finalized was more stressful for me than I realized at the time!

We were all smiles! Alora was very well behaved in the court room, though she did "speak" out of turn a few times in the form of baby talk to the Judge. 

We got some photos taken on the Mesa Temple grounds for Alora's adoption announcement.  

It took Alora a while to stop being shy for the camera. She was pretty interested in the photographer and studied her very closely so she didn't smile all that much. 

 The weekend of celebration arrived! My best friend from Canada flew in on October 12th. 

She and Alora met for the first time. Alora loved her Auntie Lisa!

On Saturday, October 13th, Alora was sealed to Garrett and I in the Mesa Temple. 

We had lots of family come. It was good to get an updated family photo! 

My side 

Garrett's side ... though there were more people from his side there and I'm hoping that as pictures trickle in from other family members at the event that I'll get a more complete picture.

We had a luncheon after the sealing to celebrate Alora's adoption. My Aunt Susan made her famous Buttermilk Chocolate Cake (aka Trenchbull Cake) for the occasion. It was DELICIOUS! Alora got a taste of the icing. I think she'll end up with a sweet tooth like me! 

April, Amber, Grandma Nelson, and me 

Mary Jane with Alora, Jared, and Aunt Candy. I only saw Alora a couple of times during the luncheon...and each time I saw her she was in the arms of a different friend or relative! Considering all the stimulation she got and all the different people talking to her and holding her, she held up very well. 

Garrett chatting with Aunt Denise and Terri 

 When evening arrived, a few family members gathered at my parent's house for ice cream sundaes. Here's Papa and Mary Jane with Alora. Without them, we never would have adopted Alora. We're very grateful to them for connecting us with Alora's amazing birthmother!

Alora and some of her cousins.

It was a wonderful weekend! Thank you so much to our family and friends for coming and celebrating with us! Below is the video we showed at the luncheon about Alora.

Starting Solids and the Verde River

We fed Alora her first bowl of rice cereal on July 17th. Her reaction was pretty funny! 

 I have since learned to feed her when she is wearing only a diaper. Then all I wash is a baby and not a baby and an outfit (plus or minus a bib).

 Alora LOVES getting her picture taken. 

 She is such a miracle baby--we love her so much!

 She loves playing with her Dad.

 She also loves to put things over her eyes. If you look close you can see her smile.

 This past weekend we escaped the heat and went up to Chino Valley. 

The weather was perfect for going to the Verde River.

I thought this spot along the river was especially pretty with the reddish rocks.

 Kristy and the "favorite child". Haha...j/k!

 Grandad studied a football playbook. Alora just wiggled and "talked".

 Getting her feet dipped in the river water. Unlike the rivers in Canada this one was on the warm side.

 Garrett fished at the river. He didn't catch anything with the fishing pole but he did catch a minnow with a net.

Alora loves being outside. Even if I just take her with me to get the mail she gets a huge smile on her face and waves her arms around when we step out the door. 

The trip to the Verde River and staying outside for a few hours was heaven for her.

Happy Canada Day!
We had a fun time in Chino Valley celebrating Jared's 7th Birthday. Here are some pictures :)

 Alora with Aunt Denise. We met Aunt Denise and Grandma Nelson for lunch in Prescott.

 Alora has now met all her cousins--

from L to R: Jared, Hannah, Aunt Amber (holding Alora), and Becca

 At the Party

The birthday boy enjoying his pizza 

Hannah and Zach were so good with Alora! 

Becca kept saying (in her adorable way): "She's so cute!" (referring to Alora) 

Alora likes to chew on cloth at present 

Happy Canada Day!

Loving Life and Parenthood

Alora is 3.5 months old. She is babbling away, learning to roll-over, and holding up her head very well. Garrett and I find parenthood exhausting and enjoyable all at once. We've been married 4 years today! Here are some pictures.

We got her pictures taken at a photo studio. She was so happy on the way to the studio in the car and even while I was changing her into her nice dress. As soon as we put her in the little seat so the photographer could start taking pictures she started crying and wouldn't stop! I fed her, let her take a 15 minute cat nap, and then tried again. She was all smiles!!!

She loves chewing on her fingers and wrists. She doesn't seem to have a favorite so far. Whichever finger makes it into her mouth first gets chewed on.

Alora wearing her first head band (thanks to Aunt April)

Hanging out with cousins at Grandma's house

She met my dad for the first time when she was about 2 months old

Celebrating Daniel's 18th birthday