Tessa Rae Sondrup.

Tessa Rae Sondrup arrived February 9th, at 4:44 pm.  She was 6lbs, 2oz. and 16 1/2 inches. Nearly a week before the planned c-section, but such a fun surprise! Amy asked me to be in the OR during the c-section, and I was able to be there for Tessa's arrival in to this world. I feel so blessed that I was able to be at the births of both of my beautiful children. I am so grateful that our birth mothers invited me to be a part of such miraculous events. I stood outside the OR with Layne while they prepped her, so anxious, knowing in just minuets I would meet our little girl. The nurse finally gestured me to enter, and within minuets she was born, she was so beautiful, and it was love at first sight. I was so run over with emotions, they spilled over, and I couldn't believe this beauty was finally here, and was going to be a part of our family. She is now a month old, and has been so much fun, and Jamyn just can't get enough of her.
I am so grateful that everything has gone so smoothly, the relationships that have grown and developed between us, and Amy's family is something I will treasure forever. Tessa is so loved, by so many people, and I'm grateful that she'll have that love and support her entire life. I feel like my life has been waiting for this perfect little family, and the journey to get here was at times, a little rough, but I feel like I can somewhat see the bigger picture, that Heavenly Father knows who, and what trials we need in our lives to become the person we're supposed to be. I haven't stopped hugging my children without getting a little teary these last couple weeks. I have a friend who just lost a two month old baby girl, and going to the funeral brought back so many memories, and emotions, that reminded me just how blessed I am to have these two beautiful spirits in my home, and part of my eternal family.  Welcome little Tessa! We love you, and I can't wait till August, when you will be sealed to our little family.

A WEEK FROM TODAY.

      I have so many emotions this morning, so much so, that I can empathize with those who are bipolar. A week from today, we pray we will be holding our baby girl in our arms, and welcoming a new life into this world.
       I know most have heard the saying "A watched pot never boils".  Just in case you don't know, a pot of water will boil in exactly the same lenght of time, wether or not you watch it, but if you are so impatient that you need to keep watching in the hope it will boil more quickly, it will seem to take FOREVER!!!
I've always been told I'm a patient person, but I feel like that hasn't applied to this situation. I think the stress of it all, the "unkown" has been settleling in on me more so recently than before, knowing it's just around the corner now, but not being in control of it all is the hard part. Thats where faith comes in, and prayers. I know there has been so many of you who pray on our behalfs. I thank you for that.
         I know having to put all these little pink clothes back into boxes is a possibility, and I have to fight back the tears just thinking about it. I also know that  the grieving process these birth moms have to go through,  is one that also brings tears to my eyes. How hard. How painful. How sad. Know wonder most adoptions are open these days, and it always seems so obscure, and different to those observing these open relationships, they are always giving words of "advice" to not get so involved, ect. But I believe that these women were supposed to be a part of our families, and the relationships that we have with them now, I believe we are some how tied to each other in ways, only our Father in Heaven knows.
        I know some of you mothers might know what I'm talking about here, do you feel at times, when your setting the table, that someone's missing, or that when your loading the car your forgetting something, or you have random moments, where you get a slight revelation, that there's a spirit that's longing to join your family? Over this past year, I've had several moments, where I feel like I get a glimpse of this little girl, whether its when I'm day dreaming, or washing the dishes, she's never been far from my mind. Then when we met Amy Sept. 15th 2011, and she was already nearly 20 weeks along and, that she found out last May/June she was pregnant, I've realized that little spirit, was letting me know she was on her way to us, and that we needed the time in between to buil a relationship with Amy and her family. I am so grateful for adoption, it truely is a miracle, and it blesses, and strengthens the lives of so many who get to be a part of it. We love you little girl, and Jamyn can't wait to be your big brother, he prays for you daily,
your forever family,
Mommy, Daddy,
and Jamyn.

Little Girl.

       For the past year, there has been allot on my mind. Wondering whether or not if another baby would be coming into our lives, and whenever I thought about a baby, I always pictured a little girl, even though we would be happy with another boy. Jamyn must have know something we didn't. Last Fall, almost exactly a year ago, we were at a park, Jamyn came and sat down by Layne and I, and said, "Lets talk about my baby sister." We were both shocked. We hadn't talked with him about a little girl, or that we would be adopting again.
       On 9-29-11 We received a phone call from Amy, letting us know that she had chosen us. I had such a good conversation with her, and felt such an instant connection with her and her family. I was so happy to know that she felt the same way. She told me that when she first met us, she felt she had known me from somewhere. I also felt that as well, she looked familiar to me, and I wondered where I had seen her before. Maybe we knew each other before this life. I know that I also felt an instant connection with Cali, (Jamyn's birth Mom). I like to think that we all knew each other before this life, and these wonderful women knew that without them, our family would be impossible. The sacrifice that they go through is something that they can only understand, and that we can only imagine, but I know that we are tied together with love. 
       On 10-11-11 We were invited to go to the 20 week ultrasound appointment to find out the gender of the baby. We were so excited, and decided to bring Jamyn along, since he was so excited too. Jamyn was such a good boy, he loved watching the monitor as we pointed out the baby. When they announced it was a girl. We both were teary eyed, and just thrilled. Jamyn just kept saying, "I want her out right now". We left there all smiles, and I still haven't stopped smiling. I went that night to the store, and bought a few little pink items. We now have a crib, half her room decorations, and the clothes pile is just getting started. I can't wait to meet this beautiful little princess.  I'm also grateful that Jamyn and her with have so many similarities, her birth father is from the Caribbean Islands, and her birth mom is from Utah, so she will be darling! I am such a lucky mama, to have the two most beautiful children in this world! 
WE LOVE YOU LITTLE GIRL!
Mommy, Daddy, and big brother Jamyn.

A New Begining.

      Jamyn has been asking for nearly a year now,  "When are we getting a little baby?"  We hope that little opportunity is arriving in February. We just met a wonderful woman yesterday, Sept. 15th, who is considering us for adoption. She is due February 21st, and finds out if it's a boy or girl, in a couple weeks.
We have known about her for a few weeks, and we were so excited when she asked to meet with us. We felt like everything went really well, and that she's someone who would mesh into our family really well. We are the first family she's met with, (she is meeting another next week), but we are the only one's with another child- and who doesn't fall in love with Jamyn at first sight? We know the hard decisions she has to make in the near future, and we know we are just one of the possibilities, but whatever she decides, we know it is in the best interest of her child, and we will be content with those choices. We are so grateful for the friends that mentioned us to her, and can't thank Rachel, Stephanie, and Ali  enough for putting this together! The miracle of adoption is amazing, it brings new families close, and the new friendships that build, are ones that last a lifetime. These little children that leave a mothers loving embrace to another loving mothers arms, have so much love and adoration in there lives, they will grow up knowing what a wonderful and selfless gift there birth-mothers gave them. For those that choose adoption for there children, we know it's not an easy choice, and I feel I understand on a small scale the heartache you must go through. We know what the loss of a child feels like, and I know that our Father in heaven has a special love for little children, and he loves enough to have the wonderful plan of salvation, where families can be together forever.
With all our love,
The Sondrup Forever Family.

Growing Our Family Tree!

We are anxiously waiting for an opportunity to add another branch to our growing family tree.
Jamyn is now three years old, and talks often about wanting a baby brother or sister. He has fourteen cousins under the age of ten, so he has seen how exciting a new baby is, and can't wait till Heavenly Father sends one our way.
Layne and I (Rachelle) have been married nearly eight years, and have been blessed with two beautiful children, Ashton, and Jamyn. We began the adoption journey almost three years after Ashton passed away from a genetic disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Ashton was with us for six wonderful months, then returned to live with our Heavenly Father.
We have been blessed with such wonderful and supportive families, that gathered around us through the hard times. Because of family we were able to find out about Jamy on Fathers Day of 2007. We have been blessed with the most selfless, amazing birthmother. She truely is part of our lives, and family, and we have so much love and respect for her. Jamyn will always know what a wonderful and loving birthmom she is. She will always have a place in our hearts, without her, we wouldn't have the source of joy in our lives, that brings smiles to our faces everyday. We love you Cali.
We are all excited for the opportunity to hold a little one in our arms once again, and we know that it's only possible through the love of a birthmother, and the guidance from our Father in Heaven. We are so grateful for our little family, and for the opportunity to add to our growing family tree. With all our love, Layne, Rachelle, and Jamyn.