Florida

So while in Florida, waiting for all the paperwork to clear the courts so we could bring this sweet little boy home, we basically sat in the hotel room.  There were a couple of adventures.... pics below, but really we spent our time hanging out in the hotel and getting to know each other.  The best part about doing nothing, was doing nothing but holding this sweet little thing and taking some cute pictures of the faces he is learning to make.  He was such a relaxed and sweet little boy, which made living in a hotel for 2 weeks so much better! Enjoy the pics... I know I do!

This pic was taken at Xander's first doctors appointment.  We were so very lucky that the pediatrician in Florida was so helpful and understanding.  They made everything (pediatrician-wise) so smooth!  And just a note, from leaving the hospital to his first pediatrician appointment, Xander grew 3/4 of an inch and almost caught back up to his birth weight. 

One of the few adventures was to Downtown Disney.  My parents came all the way to Florida to help, but never saw more than the Walmart, so I took them to Downtown Disney so we could buy Xander a Disney outfit.  It seemed very appropriate since he was from Florida.  He just hung out in the Mobi Wrap and was as content as could be!

Another adventure that didnt take us any further than the kitchen sink in our little hotel room was Xander's first bath.  It was pretty entertaining to figure out how to bath him for the first time.  He was such a wiggle worm, but the water was warm and he enjoyed it.  So sweet!

Another adventure was to hang out with his birth family and to see his Grandma Bev (birth father's mom).  He also got to meet his older sister Stetson on this trip but unfortunately, the camera apparently wasnt working well, so I dont have a picture of it :(  Even so, we are very grateful for the support of his birth family and so glad for the time we got to spend with them while in Florida. 

Thanks for the fun times Florida!  We love you.  Muah!

Build a Bear Excursion

While we were in Florida, we had the amazing opportunity to hand out with Xander's birth family.  On one of the outings, we went to build a bear.  Xander's siblings got to build an animal and then they made one for Xander.  It was so cute for him to meet his brother and sister and everyone had a blast at Build a Bear.

This is Austin, I think they look alike.

Natalie putting stuffing in her Kitty

Austin putting the stuffing in his monkey

Carolyn adding stuffing to Xander's Alligator

Making a wish for their new friend

"We love you Xander" from his birth family

Austin picking out clothes for his monkey

Austin giving his new friend a bath

Natalie giving her kitty a bath

Natalie dressing her kitty (this kitty was dressed all sorts of snazzy!)

Natalie and Kitty Natalie

Chris and Carolyn dressing the Alligator for Xander.  I think they were really having some fun with it!

"Hi ya!!!"

This is Xanders Alligator to remind him of where he came from... Florida!

Nat and Austin with their new friends

Natalie was really excited to hold the baby

Austin was excited to hold the baby too

Awe, Sweet siblings!

Tender moments

Love these precious times

Xander and his birth father, Chris

Xander and his birth mother, Carolyn

We are so very grateful for these two!  They have given us the most precious gift.  We couldnt ask for more and will forever love and cherish these two for what they have done for us!

Xander and his Maternal birth family!  (we are missing Stetson and wish she could have been with us!)  Such a good looking group!

We are so grateful for his birth family.  The sacrifices they made for us have given us the sweetest, most precious gift, and we will never be able to say thank you enough!  We are also so very grateful for their support and continued interaction with us.  Xander will always know where he came and the miracle of his birth and his life with us.  He will be beyond loved and we are so grateful for that!  What a lucky little boy!

Introducing the sweetest little thing you have ever seen!!!

The long awaited arrival of Xander James Larson has finally come!!!  I am so proud to present our sweet little son and the newest member of the Larson Family.

He was born at 3:01pm on Feb 2, 2012.  He was 7 pounds 4 ounces and 19 1/4 inches long.  Just the most perfectly sweet little bundle of joy!  Enjoy the slide show and continue below if you would like to read the story of his birth from our perspective.

Our adoption story began long before this beautiful day, and most of it is recorded in previous posts.  But as a quick refresher, Our beautiful birth mother with the help of our birth father picked us to receive the most precious gift very early on in the pregnancy.  Throughout the months we became very close.  Each conversation strengthened our hope that we might one day be blessed to be parents.  About half way through the pregnancy, Carolyn decided to come to Arizona to have the baby.  We were so thrilled that Xander would be born in Arizona and that we might welcome him into the world surrounded by our family, friends and support group.  About 1 week before his expected arrival, the plan changed.  This change came as a result of legal aspects that were not resolved appropriately, and in order to ensure a legally sound placement, it was decided that it was better for us to go to Florida.  So plans and arrangements were made for us to travel to Florida.  About 2 days before our planned arrival, Carolyn notified us that she was going to be induced a day earlier than we originally expected.  So again, we changed our plans and quickly prepared to go to Florida.

We arrived in Florida at about 12:30am on Feb 2.  After a few quick hours of sleep (kind of), we headed off to the hospital to meet Carolyn and Chris again and to await the arrival of our son.  For a few hours we enjoyed each others company as we waited.  Carolyn was amazing.  She felt some pressure and contractions but never complained.  Once the epidural kicked in, she really didn't feel much of anything.  Finally the doctor came in to check her and said it was time!!!!  We kind of had that freak out moment for a sec like you see on tv with first time dads... it was like oh its time, now what do we do. lol.  The doctor brought in all the equipment and soon the room was full of nurses and assistants and machinery to check the baby.  I was blessed to be allowed to be in the room during the delivery.  After just about 3 quick pushes (but strong and amazing ;) ) pushes, Xander entered the world.   He was quickly placed on Carolyn's lap to be cleaned off.  Carolyn was so sweet and had wanted me to be the first to hold him, so she tried to get them to place him with me, but everything happened so fast.  Chris (the birth dad) was given the chance to cut the umbilical cord and then he was moved to the warmer to be cleaned up, measured, weighed and checked.  After what seemed like eternity, (probably only to me), Xander was wrapped up and handed to me.  He was so sweet and so precious and it was all I could do to not just bawl like a baby.

He was and is simply perfect.  He was 100% healthy!  We spent the next approximately 40 hours or so together.  5 people in one delivery room sharing the love that we had for this sweet little boy.  I am so grateful that Carolyn allowed us the chance to stay at the hospital and not to leave our son.  She was so caring and considerate of our feelings and wanted to ensure that we had the chance to bond with him.  Eldon and I traded off shifts of holding him all night and all day.  It was beautiful!  Chris and Carolyn were able to hold him as well.  We also had visitors from his birth family including Carolyn's brother and niece, sister and niece and Chris's mother.  Everyone was so very supportive of the adoption, and especially of this sweet little boy.  He truly came from an amazing group of people who wanted him to have a wonderful life and to know of their love for him.

Once he and Carolyn were ready for discharge, papers were signed to give us custody of this sweet little boy and allow us to begin the journey toward legal adoption. We asked Carolyn to pick out his going home outfit.  We dressed him and then took him with us to the hotel and begin life as a new little family.

We truly couldn't have asked for a better experience with Chris and with Carolyn. They were so loving, so caring and so thoughtful.  It was just an amazing opportunity to get to bond with our son, but also to bond with his birth parents and truly bring them and him into our family.  It was beyond beautiful and we are forever grateful for such a wonderful experience and such an sweet blessing for our family.  Our hearts are so full of love for his birth family and for the most precious gift we could receive.