Baby Shower

I wanted to write on the feelings and emotions that come with adoption. That is part of my reason for this blog. (and to brag like crazy about Jadon and my hubby) So in all the whirlwind of activity that accompanied our selection as adoptive parents and getting ready to bring a little one home, and make the perfect nursery, and so on.....there was a moment that touched me deeply. My close friends Carrie and Sarah threw me a baby shower. That might not seem big to many people. All women who have babies have a baby shower. But that isn't so.

As an adoptive parent, you want so badly to experience everything that a pregnant woman would experience, and yet, when you don't have a belly hanging two feet past your toes, it is amazing how much you think you will miss, because no one knows to ask. And there is something about bringing up the topic. How do you ask your friends or family to throw you a baby shower? I really wanted to experience that, but would never have asked.

Luckily I didn't have to, my fabulous friends leaped into action. The moment we got the call that we had been selected, they were off and running. They put on the most elegant, perfect baby shower in less than 3 weeks, and I felt so blessed. I wanted to cry the whole day, because it was really happening. I was getting a baby shower, because I was getting a baby. It was surreal and weird, and wonderful all at the same time. (granted the weird part may have been because I stuffed a pillow in my shirt and pretended to be prego for the shower).

The secondary blessing that came from having a baby shower thrown for me, was that Jadon arrived almost two weeks early, and I would have been lost without the thoughtful gifts I received from my friends.

Now I should mention that my family threw an awesome shower after Jadon came home, and filled the gap by purchasing just about everything else I was still lacking.

So let me take a moment to say thank you to Carrie and Sarah for providing something every adoptive mom secretly hopes someone will remember, and for making it amazing and special. And for all you out there who are friends of adoptive parents or soon to be parents....please throw them a baby shower, complete with cheesy games. I guarantee its something they would love.

Welcome to McChesney Mania!

The beginning:

Dan and I met in the summer of 1998 and our courtship centered on swing dancing and bible study. What a great combo! In August of 1999, Dan proposed, and on December 4th, 1999, we married and began what has been ten years of marital bliss. Yes there have been ups and downs, and highs and lows, but overall, the marriage gets better and better every year. Our first couple years we lived in duplex in Roseville. Dan finished school and I worked. Then we both were in the corporate world, and in 2004 we bought our first home. Our five year anniversary we ventured to Ohau, Hawaii, and experience snorkling in Hanama Bay, hiked Diamond Head (pic), visited Pearl Harbor, and boogey boarded on Waikkikki Beach. What an amazing trip. We planned to go back again in 2009 for our ten year anniversary but instead we embarked on the trip of a lifetime.

After seven years of marriage Dan and I started down the road to children, only to find out we weren't on the freeway to pregnancy, but rather the frontage road of adoption. After finding we couldn't get pregnant, we attended a seminar with Bethany Adoption Services in July 2009, and by August we had signed up! It took another seven months of paperwork, and background checks, and profile creation to finalize all our requirements, and we were happily placed on a wait list for a baby in February 2010. We expected to wait for about a year before we got the call, so imagine our suprise when a little over a month later, on March 18th, 2010, we got the call that we had been selected by a birthmom, for her baby, due in May! Wow....it was a rush, and it was scary all at the same time.

Would we like the birthmom? Would she like us and still pick us after we met her? What were the circumstances and why did she want to place her child up for adoption. The birthmom lived 7hrs from us, and our first visit to her on March 29th, 2010 was a long, long, drive, with lots of conversation. Were we ready? She was due in May!!! That wasn't long to get ready and have the nursery I wanted, and to be prepared mentally for the single biggest change in our lives.

We met Shelby that morning, and it was amazing. We liked her immediatley and my heart went out to her and her situation. She was so brave and caring, and so amazing for making this decision for her child. It was in this meeting we found out it was a boy (our secret wish). We loved Shelby, we loved the situation, we loved that it was a boy. We were on cloud nine.

We had another visit with her, and began texting quite a bit. The relationship between Shelby and I was growing. I couldn't wait to see this little life growing inside her to come into the world and see the two sets of family that already loved him so much!

April 29th, 2010 I woke to a text from Shelby that she was in labor, and thus began the whirlwind day of travel down to the hospital (6hrs away) in desperation to make it to the birth. Shelby graciously allowed me to be in the room, and when our beautiful baby boy emerged not only were we there, but I got to cut the cord!

Jadon Ethan Cole McChesney was born at 5:23pm, at 6lbs. 13oz, 17in long. He was beautiful and perfect and amazing. He is now pushing three months old, and I thought it was time to start a blog about our experience with adoption, and our world with Jadon.

Shelby and I stay in touch through text messaging and e-mail. We have selected an open adoption plan, and so Jadon will always know Shelby and have visits with her, and he will be loved by family in both Northern and Southern California.

Welcome to our blog, we hope you follow our path and see how our family grows! God Bless you all.