You're a Trenholm!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Dear Max,
Today was another day that your daddy and I have waited and waited for. What a day! I don't think your daddy and I have stopped smiling this entire day. You are officially a Trenholm! We woke up early this morning and got all dressed up for our big day at court in front of the judge. We arrived right on time, Ruth was already there waiting for us. Which was so nice to have her there and know we were in the right place. The Marshal came out of the court room and said that the judge had 4 adoptions that day! It was so fun to wait in the hall way with 3 other families that were all just as excited to be there as we were. Our Attorney (who is also our Stake President) was actually the attorney on 3 of the 4 adoptions. As soon as he got there they called in the first family... Guess what, not all of their family had arrived yet... So we got to go first! Now, you know that I'm a firm believer in everything happening for a reason. While this may seem small that we got to go first... it was actually HUGE. You see, 9:00 am, our court time, is actually your nap time. As we drove down to the court house I kept praying you would fall asleep so you would get a little bit of a nap before we had to go into the court house. Well, you were just so excited about our big adventure that you just talked and talked and talked all the way to the court house, well, til we got about 1 block from the court house and then you fell asleep. So you got about a 2 minute nap before we had to go inside the court house. So your daddy and I were definitely on high alert for what we call "critical melt down." You are such a good baby - but every baby has their moment and yours we knew was just around the corner. So us getting called into the court room first was divine intervention. You were so happy and an absolute hit with the judge, marshal and the court clerk (she volunteered to baby sit anytime - hows that for a court visit, get your adoption finalized, find a babysitter). They swore your daddy and I in and asked us a few questions and then the judge said the sweetest words I've heard in a long time: "Max Charles Trenholm is legally the child of Anthony Joseph Trenholm and Danell Trenholm" You are ours! You've always been ours, but you are "legally" ours. The judge actually said we couldn't give you back and he was serious. We thought... "I don't think you've met Max?" We were lucky enough to share this day with Grammie and Grampie, Aunt Kathy and Auntie Andrea. They were all so thrilled to be there and support our family. We are so blessed to have such an amazing support team around us. Max we love you so much and feel honored to be your parents. We know that you are here for a reason. I want you to know that we know how hard you fought to be in this world and I want you to know that your daddy and I fought hard for you too. We were not always as patient as we could have been, but sharing moments like this build my faith and strength. By the way "critical melt down" hit about 15 minutes after we left the court room. Perfect Timing! We love you Max!

We are all in our seats... let's get started!

Signing the papers

Getting sworn in

Answering a few questions

Judge Pollock making it official

Todd (our attorney) congratulating you on your new status!



Our Family with Judge Pollock


Our Family with Todd (attorney) and Ruth (case worker)
These are the people that helped us - we are forever
grateful to both Todd and Ruth!


With Grammie, Grampie and Aunt Kathy



We have one happy judge and court clerk!


Auntie Andrea was our technical supervisor in the court room
so it wasn't until after the court room did we
get your official picture with Auntie Andrea
(by the way this is when "critical melt down started")



Three Generations
Grammie's grew in the heart of Grandma Grace and Grandpa Snow
Daddy grew in the heart Grandma Trenholm and Grandpa Charlie
And you grew in our hearts!

Happy Daddy Day!

Sunday, June 21, 2009
Dear Max,
Today your daddy celebrated his first fathers day. He started the day waking up to the gift that you and Cooper (with mommy's help) made for your daddy. We took your pictures to tell daddy how much you love him. He loved it!! You also made him a card (again with help from mommy).

And amazingly enough this weekend you said your first word. Well, your first babbling that had some sort of distinguishable word... and what was the word? That's right! DADDA! How appropriate. Your first word is Dadda on Father's Day weekend. This was better than any gift you could ever give your Daddy. He is so proud of you!! And loves you so much!

So if that wasn't enough for your Daddy to celebrate. During his father's day dinner he was helping you eat and guess what he found... your first tooth has broke skin and is coming through!!!! It is on the bottom front. You just kept giving your daddy all sorts of fun "gifts" this Father's Day weekend! I've tried to take a picture of your tooth - but you barely let us put our fingers in your mouth to feel it so trying to take photo documentation is pretty much impossible. You will just have to go with it as I'm sure by the time your reading this you'll have a full mouth of teeth! However, I will keep trying to get a picture.

Max, I'm sure you recognize this. Yup, it's your piggy bank. Your daddy and I got this piggy bank for you shortly after we brought you home. Your daddy was very insistent on you having your own piggy bank. So, we put it on your shelf and as far as I have been concerned this is where it has sat. The other day I was cleaning your room and dusting the shelves in your room and picked up your piggy bank. Guess what, it was heavy! I could hear and feel that their was a chunk of change in your piggy bank. I knew I hadn't put anything in there...and then I realized, your daddy has been filling your piggy bank! Each day when he comes home and goes up stairs to change into his comfy clothes he goes into your room and takes the change from his pocket and fills your piggy bank. Now - it's not about the money that is in the bank. It is the thoughtfulness of your daddy. He loves you so much and has so many hopes and dreams for you. The tender prayers he says each night on your behalf touch my heart. You are very blessed to have a daddy like him. He has waited so long to be a daddy and you have filled his heart in so many ways. I have seen a new side to your daddy since you arrived. He loves spending time with you, making you laugh and being his buddy. He is so proud. Everywhere we go people say how much you look like your daddy. It is so fun to see your daddy's face light up. Max, I look at you and your daddy together and I know with out a shadow of doubt that you are meant to be in our family, I know that our Heavenly Father knows our family and carefully prepared each individual in our story to create our Family. We love you Max!

Daddy and Max on Father's Day

Max on Father's Day

A Day with Daddy

Thursday, June 18, 2009
Dear Max,
Today you celebrated your 7 month birthday. I can't believe you are already 7 months old. You are growing so much and roll all over. We place you on one side of the family room and come back a few moments later and you have rolled to the other side. You love talking and have taken a sudden love to high pitch screaming. You are always so excited for bed time, bath time, dinner time, play time, nap time, story time. Really your just happy about any sort of time! Today you celebrated by spending a special day with daddy. You and daddy went up to St. George for the day to see your Aunt Kathy and your Grammies and Grampie. As soon as you got to St. George you picked up your Aunt Kathy and then went over to Grammie and Grampie's to say hello. After a little visit there (and a new teething toy - thanks Grammie) you went out to lunch. Daddy and Aunt Kathy took you to a Brazilian Steak House. The kind of place that they bring a bunch of meat and carve it at your table. You ate peas (sorry). After lunch you went to see your Grandma Trenholm. She was so excited to see you. Your daddy said that as soon as your daddy walked you in the room all the residents starting saying... "Emily, look it's your Grandson!" They all recognize you now and love to see you. They all think you are adorable (which you are!). After your visit with Grandma Trenholm you and daddy went to get big boy hair cuts. Now - your daddy is really good to take you on a little day trip, he remembered food, diapers, toys and treats. However he forgot your Bumbo chair, which is the best to use for hair cuts. So this time you sat in your daddy's lap while Auntie Julie cut your hair. It was so fun to see you after your hair cut! You look like a different little boy. I'm so glad you got to spend the day with your daddy. He loves you so much and takes such good care of you. Here are some pictures from your adventure! We love you Max!!

This is a great way to start a Road Trip with your Daddy!



Lunch at the Brazilian Steak House


I hope you enjoyed your steak dad... The peas were just all right

THIRD HAIR CUT

This is not how I remember this going?

Easy goes it Auntie Julie...


Sorry Auntie Julie... I know this is the third time we
have done this... but I still get so nervous!


Wow - Don't we look good?

Visiting with my Grandma Trenholm!
I sure do love her!!!
(sorry for the blurry picture... not sure what happened?)

Grandma's have the best hands! I remember as a little girl
always looking and feeling my Grandma Grace's hands and arms.
I loved the way the looked and felt. I would tell her they looked like
yummy loaves of home made bread!

We are on our way home...
Thanks for a fun day daddy!

Look who I share an office with now...

Sunday, June 14, 2009
Dear Max,
Hi Max! It's been a busy week. Monday we found out that your court date is being pushed back a week. At first we were so upset, we are so anxious to have your adoption finalized. But then we understand that all things happen for a reason. And the finalization date will now be Tuesday, June 23rd. Just one more week and a couple of days! We have also spent the week getting ready for your sealing day. On Wednesday night your daddy was typing up address label's on the computer. You have such a love for technology of all sorts. You are fascinated by cell phones, remote controls and especially the computer. So daddy hooked you up and brought out your lap top and set up an office right next to his. You two are a great team. You would make great office mates some day!

You are loving being able to sit up on your own and this week has marked your inaugural trip in the shopping cart. It is a lot more fun than sitting in the car seat! And your first shopping cart adventure was to... THE DOLLAR STORE. I love that place!

Another milestone this week was getting your big boy car seat installed. This too has opened up a whole new world. You love looking out the window and have lot's to say to all the car's that pass by. It's so fun being your parents. We love you so much and are so glad that you are in our family.

K-Dad I'm trying to keep up... 75 words per minute!

It's a good thing I'm here to help! This would
have taken my daddy all night!




Sitting in the shopping cart



I'm not so sure about this...


Wait... I like this!

Dear Max -
On Tuesday Grampie got some great news, as you know, Grampie has been sick with the big C. But on Tuesday we found out that his counts have gone down and the radiation treatment has been working like a charm. YEAH! That is great news. Grampie will continue to go in for check up's every 6 months. But so glad we will have a healthy Grampie!  I love you Max!


Love,

Mom

It's a Beautiful Day!

Sunday, June 7, 2009
Dear Max,
Today is such a beautiful day. Beyond the fact that it truly is gorgeous outside (it's been in the low eighty's / high seventies all weekend), it has been a wonderful fast Sunday and we enjoyed going to church today... Beyond all that we have a lot to celebrate. We have our court date! Tuesday, June 16th at 9:00 am we get to go in front of the family court judge and make your adoption final. This day can not arrive soon enough. Your daddy and I are so excited. Later that week we will go to the St. George Temple and be sealed as a family for all eternity. Max I can not tell you how grateful I am that we have the gospel in our lives that allows us the opportunity to be an eternal family. This is so great. So you can see why we are having a beautiful day. Oh - but their is more... you are sitting up on your own! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! This is great news for your daddy and mommy's backs. You were getting a bit heavy to carry in your car seat and with out you sitting up on your own we were forced to keep you in your car seat when going out to restaurants, grocery shopping, running errands of any sort. If their is two of us going on an adventure with you then we could put you in your stroller and one could push the cart and the other you. But if your daddy and I were lone soldiers then it was tough! Your not 100% stable but getting there. Definitely stable enough to go in the grocery cart!!! Great things are happening little man and we are so glad that you are in our family. We love you Max!

Handsome little boy sitting on your own!

We just love you to pieces!


So happy and proud of yourself!


Lookin' Good Max!

You are such a sweet little man

I guess your done with the smiles for now?

So What do you get when Max starts sitting?

A Proud Pappa

An Estatic Momma!

and one thrilled little man!

Mom and Dad's 10 Year Wedding Anniversary

Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Dear Max,
Yesterday your daddy and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary. It is crazy to think how quickly 10 years has gone by! In so many ways it still feels like we were just married, yet in the same breath it feels like we have always been married. Much the same way that it feels like you have been here forever, yet it feels like you just arrived. Your daddy and I were very brave and took a trip to San Diego for a long weekend and you stayed home with Grammie. Daddy and I left on Friday after work, I did have a bit of a cry on the drive down to San Diego, I called and talked to you and heard how happy you were hanging with Grammie and knew that you were fine, it was me having the hard time.

Daddy and I enjoyed a ghost hunting tour of the Whaley House on Friday night. Supposedly it is the most haunted house in America. My question is, if it is so haunted why do we have to do the tour from 10:30 pm - midnight? Why can't we hunt for ghosts at high noon, in the light of day? We had fun and yup we did have a couple of ghosts visit us! It was crazy, but the dogie ghost kept licking my feet and Mr. Whaley the owner of the house talked with us (do you think your daddy and I are crazy yet? - cause for the record, this was all your Dad's idea!).

Ghost Hunters Using a Frequency Device so we can "talk" to the Ghosts

Meanwhile you and Grammie took a walk up to the Chinese restaurant down the street and picked up some dinner for Grammie. It was such a nice evening outside. You love to go for walks! Grammie left Cooper home, she didn't think she could manage you both on a walk. Your Daddy teased that Grammie could make it up to Cooper and take him on a walk Saturday night and leave you home! He wasn't serious!

Exhausted after a long walk

Saturday we spent the morning at the spa having a massage, facial, manicure and pedicure... yup your daddy had all the same treatments as me. Don't let him fool you... he loves a spa day! That afternoon we had a lot of fun at Babies R' Us purchasing your next phase of car seats. I know it doesn't sound that romantic, but it was a lot of fun for us. It still feels weird that we are buying things for our baby and we felt like it was a great thing to do on our anniversary weekend. And since neither of us had bought the other a gift we decided to get two car seats and that would be our gift to each other. Our very own car seats for our own cars! Now that's love!!!

That's a very relaxed Mommy and Daddy after the spa!

The spa brings pretty toes!

Meanwhile, you and Grammie got to hang out with the Rogers clan. Your Auntie Julie came down to Vegas with her mom and dad and Jaden. You and Grammie went to lunch with the gang at Mon Ami Gabi, which is a really cool restaurant right on the strip down town. It has a great patio and the best macaroni and cheese! After lunch you all walked over to the conservatory at the Bellagio. They all kept telling your daddy and I how much fun it was to have you with them. They said that everyone would stop and say how cute you are! Your daddy and I know exactly how that feels, whenever we take you anywhere people always comment on how cute you are, so it was fun for Grammie and the gang to get to experience that first hand!

Grammie, Jaden and Max at the Bellagio Conservatory

Me and My Auntie Julie... Yup T-shirt says
"Lock up your daughters"

She's the only lady for you!

Max and Jaden

Hey Ladies!

Sunday morning their was a marathon that ran in front of our hotel. Because of this event we were trapped at the resort. Not a bad place to be trapped at all! Our Hotel was right on the ocean and our room had a patio that walked right out to the ocean. So we could open up the sliding glass door and hear the crash of the waves! So relaxing!!! We relaxed all morning and then left in the afternoon and drove up Pacific Coast Highway to our favorite restaurant on Sunset Beach. It is a place called Captain Jacks and it has the BEST crab leg's in the world!

I think your daddy is sitting in an onion...
This is suppose to be comfortable?

This is more like it! A nap in the Cabana by the pool

Dinner at Captain Jacks!

Daddy's Favorites:
Cherry Coke - Check
Crab Leg's - Check
Fillet - Check
Mommy - Check

Meanwhile you had a quiet day at home with Grammie, you did go for a drive in the afternoon with Grammie and Auntie Andrea to see Auntie Andrea's new place. We are so excited for her to be moving into her house. The big perk is that the community has a swimming pool! We know how you love to swim!

Monday is your daddy and my wedding anniversary. We had a quiet morning of breakfast by the ocean and then lounging by the pool before getting in the car and driving home.

Max, I want you to know how much I love your daddy. I'm so grateful for him and grateful to watch him be such an amazing daddy to you. He is always concerned for you and handles your needs with such care and caution. Your daddy and I have been very lucky to have experienced some wonderful things since we have been married. Being able to spend your life with your best friend is amazing! I hope that when the day comes you too will find your best friend and take her to the temple to be sealed for eternity. Having a spouse that enriches your life is a true life saver. I truly do not know what I would do with out your daddy. Here's to another amazing 10 years! I love you Max and I love your Daddy too!