Abigail's First Day at School

So since we cannot get home to attend school, we thought we'd see what school might be like for Abigail

Trapped In Utah

Dont get me wrong, we love Utah, but this is ridiculous. We flew in two weeks ago and every thing that could get stretched did get stretched out.

• Amanda didnt go into labor on Thursday (Feb 7) but on Sunday (Feb 10)
• The C-section required Amanda stay in the hospital three instead of two days, so placement got pushed back from 48 hours after birth (Feb 12) to 76 hours (Feb 13)
• A missing photocopy pushed paperwork completion back from Wednesday (Feb 13) afternoon to Wednesday evening (too late to overnight the package to Salt Lake City)
• The Salt Lake City interstate official received the paperwork on Friday and overnighted it to Phoenix, however, Monday (Feb 18) was a holiday so nobody touched the paperwork until Tuesday (Feb 19)
• On Wednesday (Feb 20) the Phoenix interstate official decided to be extra "thorough" and required additional paperwork, but didnt tell anybody until too late in the day to finish it
• On Wednesday the Ogden agency supervisor scheduled a Thursday meeting with Amanda to get additional papers signed, but that meeting was not until noon

So, hopefully, the papers will get signed and faxed to Phoenix in the early afternoon and we'll get the okay to leave Utah this afternoon. There is a 5:10pm and an 8:15pm flight that we can catch home if we get enough notice. Keep your fingers crossed!

Abigail Update

Today Abigail lost her umbilical cord. That fell off pretty early so we'll wait a while before immersing her in water. Thats all I've got for today.

Abigail's First Week

New Abby Photos

So I've got some ideas for new movies I'll make in the next few days (hopefully), but for now I'll just slap up a few photos to keep you checking the blog.


The other day several old friends and family came by so we have a few pictures of Abby with them.

Uncle Brent (Jen's youngest brother) and Aunt Nicole (his wife) drove up from Provo to say hello (and to join the family for the annual President's Day ski trip.
Uncle Kevin (Jen's older little brother) flew in to see little Abby and join the ski trip

Mandy (Jen's cousin) and Russell (her husband) drove up from Provo to say hello

Heather came to visit and brought her boyfriend, Brandon. They drove from LA to check out LDS Business College, see Abby, and of course, to introduce Brandon (Heather really like him). Jen's freshman college friend Virginia also came to visit. She lives close by and brought Abby TONS of stuff. I think she is trying to compete with Jen's sister to see who can donate the most clothes and baby gear. Thanks to Virginia we have dozens of new clothes and bottles.
My old bath buddy came to visit as well. Jenny Park (formerly Jenny Maricle) grew up together and we're buddies from the beginning. She has since married Dennis and had two beautiful girls, Emmie and Ava. They brought Abby an outfit, blanket, and burp cloths. Arnt our friends great?
And last, here is a photo Jen took of Abby and I this morning. During the night she will only sleep if we hold her, and if I snuggle up to her she'll go 4-5 hours!

Abby is "Glamorous"

Here are some photos from yesterday. Jen's parents came into town (Ogden) for thier annual President's Day ski trip. Lucky for them Abigail is still here waiting for them. We are hoping paperwork will be completed and we can return home to Arizona sometime next week.

Grandma Karen with Abigail

Grandpa Mark with Abigail

Abigail's first bath out of the hospital

And as I submit this post Jen and her cousin, Crystal, are prepping Abby for glamour shots.

A few photos from placement (it was a happy and sad time for Amanda and her family):

Abby is Ours!

At about 2pm Amanda signed relinquishment papers and turned custody over to LDS Services. At about 2:30 we singed placement papers with LDS Services, then picked up Abby from Amanda and family, and by 3:15 we were alone with her in our own hospital room. Right now we're just waiting for some duplicate papers to get notarized and then Amanda can leave. After she leaves we will leave the hospital. We're so excited!

Photographs and video will be forthcoming.

Placement is Scheduled

Placement will occur at noon on Wednesday, February 13. Amanda will sign the papers and Abigail will be under the legal custody of LDS Family Services, who will immediately give us physical possession. In six months we can finalize the adoption in a court of law where LDS Services will surrender legal custody to Jen and I. We are so excited!

More Abigail Photos...

Day 2 with Abby

Today is our second day with Abigail. Her birth mother, Amanda, is a saint. She has been so kind and willing to share her with us at an early point. We spent a couple hours with Amanda and Abigail last night and then a few more today. We'll take off this evening as Amanda's parents arrive so that they'll have their time too. We are so grateful for Amanda.

So here are a few more pictures to keep you coming back for more.

Abigail Amanda Garrett

Abigail Amanda Garrett
born: 10:28 AM, February 10, 2008
weight: 4 lbs, 4 ounces
length: 16.5 inches

Enjoy the photos:

Baby Garrett Born

Baby Garrett was born at 10:28 this morning in Ogden Utah. Her name remains undetermined. Photographs will be forthcoming. For now you'll have to settle for my poor description. Baby Garrett weighs in at 4 pounds 4 ounces and is 16.5 inches long. She has brown hair and long fingers. She is a bit early but a perfectly healthy little girl. We dont have a name yet because we're waiting until we can see her, and as of yet we've only had a couple minutes with her. We're trying to patiently wait for Amanda, the birth mother, and her family to have their time with her first. Amanda's mother is really having a tough time letting go of this little girl, but she and her family know it is the right decision. It is obvious to us that Amanda is acting out of love for the child more than anything else. Baby Garrett is so fortunate to have two families that love her so much. It has almost been six hours since she was born and we're very anxious to see her, but we understand that Amanda and her family need their time first. Once we get to spend time with her we'll decide her name and take some photographs and videos. You can be sure I'll have them up on the blog as soon as possible. Check back for updates.

As requested, by Amanda, the final nursery photos are now online. The nursery is complete except for the soft fluffy chair that will go next to the crib. We already ordered it and it should arrive in three weeks. The chair is a white antique wood with big green pillows that perfectly match the green in the crib. So without further delay,... the photos:

Here Jen tapes the wall in preparation for the painting (but dont let the photo fool you, Matt spent plenty of time in there).

The crib with bedding and the painted wall. I think we'll get a chocolate brown bed sheet to go over the currently white mattress.

Here is a close up of one corner. Note the sharp tight brown paint. Yup, that is my work. I'm very proud. I cant believe how clean the lines are. The secret is to tape off the area you want to paint, paint a base coat that is the same as the color underneath (to seal off the tape), and then paint with the color you want to see.

And finally, here is the bookshelf turned storage unit and the former desk turned changing table. We'll put a cloth over the plastic table that matches the room, and an elevated changing pad so I dont have to hunch over too far.