Gotcha Day!

Adventures within the Menge family is always happening! Whether it's a trip to a National Park, a drive to the store, or the finalization of our adoption.

Jeff and I have been playing the waiting game for some time to begin our family. Last November, we got the call. We were going to be parents!

Hunter was born December 7th. As one can imagine, we couldn't be more excited!

But there was a catch: we couldn't share him with the world. No photos could be on social media and we had to be extremely careful with whom we emailed pictures to. Thus, we had to wait again. For six months. We had to wait to show our little man to the world! Wait to show his smile, his personality, our family at last completed!



July finally came along and we had our court date. Gotcha Day or finalization was here! The excitement filled the room along with all our loved ones. We were the first item on the docket and had the entire courtroom to ourselves. 





The officer of the court, court recorder, and the judge were in very high spirits as proceedings began. Judge Murphy Begen went over what finalization means, the parameters of our adoption, and then congratulated us on us being a family! YAY! Judge Murphy Begen even invited us up to her chair to sit for pictures. How cool is that!? 

With that, we would like to introduce Hunter Jackson Menge! He loves to move, laugh, animals, the outdoors, and music. Hunter is truly an amazing addition to our life and will certainly add more adventures in the future!

Thank you to everyone who have helped our family grow and supported us through this process. Jeff and I couldn't be happier or more in love!

Now on to our next adventure!

Wanting to see more? Check out our video!

Tikes, Trikes, and Hikes- A Family Update

Our last post was how a baby changes everything....this is still true. However, being the travelers and adventure types we are, Jeff and I are still out there seeing the word. Just with a tike in tow!

Our first tike adventure was to Calaveras Big Trees in Arnold, California.  We wanted to see the snow to go on a day trip to see how we as a family of, now three, could handle it all!

Mini NG (our web name for our "tike") was less than a month old for this trip and couldn't be more comfortable! He loves riding in the car and thanks to a Baby Bjorn, he could go everywhere safe and happy! Due to the California drought and lack of rain, we found very little snow! But that didn't keep us from an adventure! We went for a hike, saw big trees (duh!), and simply enjoyed seeing the world from Mini NG's eyes. It also proved that Jeff and I could handle an infant traveling!


Our next "tike" adventure took us to Sonora, California. Jeff's parents wanted to treat us to a family getaway, one that was close enough to home and hospitals, but far enough to feel like we are on vacation. 

This mini vacation was a wonderful getaway! Staying in Sonora allowed us to travel to other areas easily and quickly. We visited Strawberry for a hike, Murphy's for wine and shopping, and even a little cider in Sonora at Indigeny Reserve. It was great to have a little rest with help from the family, but also to know that Mini NG enjoys the outdoors as much as Jeff and I do!

And we were about to test Mini NG's love for the outdoors....with a day trip to Yosemite National Park. 

Yosemite National Park is very special to Jeff and me for a variety of reasons. We had both been before, but neither with someone we truly cared about. Jeff was even intending to propose to me there! So, heading up the hill with Mini NG in tow filled us with excitement and love. 

It was warmer than usual and many were there for the Fire Falls, but nearly as crowded as it can get in the summer. When we arrived we ate, prepped ourselves with sunblock, and adorned the Baby Bjorn. We wanted to start small, but not too small. We walked to Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. It was flowing, thankfully, and beautiful. Took some pictures then discovered a hike to Upper Yosemite Falls. Okay, we didn't do the entire hike....we stopped at the overlook of Half Dome. Going up, was great! It was difficult with ten extra pounds attached, but Mini NG loved it! We stopped to feed him on the trail and everyone who looked upon us were so kind! I got lots of encouragement about hiking with Mini NG...it made me feel like I could go to the top!

But then we had to hike back down. This is where Mini NG had his tantrum. And what do parents do with a tantrum....try not to panic. He had been changed, fed, napped on the way up, held, removed some clothes, but them back on, tried to feed again.....Good think Jeff was there! He took Mini NG and held him close ALL the way down the mountain. Mini NG sure does love his daddy! 


After that, it was time for much needed refreshment at the famed Ahwahnee Hotel. Love the view, decor, and calm that the Ahwahnee can bring. One day we will participate in the Bracebridge Dinner!! But a couple drinks and some rejuvenation was good enough for the end of the day.

So, that is where we are for now. Coming up we have a stay in Paso Robles, our rescheduled Seattle trip, and a bike ride with our new kid trailer for our bikes!

The adventure continues!

A Baby Changes Everything

I know everyone says it "A baby changes everything." I knew it would, but I wasn't prepared for the amount of love I would feel. So what to the sleepless nights, the crying, and uncertainty. Those moments are fleeting. What I am filled with day in and day out is complete love. Love for Mini NG, for Jeff when he is with Mini NG, and how my love grows for both daily. 

Yes. A child changes everything.


Mini NG entered our world November 4, 2014, my dad's birthday. I was at a teacher workshop, Jeff at work. I got the call. We were selected! A baby was on the way! The baby was coming in December.

WOW! The perfect Christmas gift!

After the shock of becoming parents settled, the panic crept in. We were going to be parents, of a baby, and we had nothing! NOTHING! We didn't set up our child's room before as we didn't know the age of the child God was sending us. That left us six weeks (original due date was December 19th) to prepare. Where do you start?

Well, needless to say, we did figure it out. And slowly got to tell friends and family that we were finally growing our family! Jeff and I told my dad on his birthday. We wrote "Happy birthday, Grandpa" in his card. It took a few moments....but once my dad realized he was becoming a grandpa, he was floored!

Then we told Jeff's parents at dinner. I had purchased a "Grandma" coffee cup and a grandparents Christmas ornament. They, too, didn't believe us at first. It was a great surprise for all!

Then came our baby shower. December 7th, 2014. We had just had breakfast with my cousin and her family and were about to pick up my dad to head to the baby shower when we got a call.

The baby was coming and we needed to get to the hospital.

Yep, Jeff and I got the ultimate gift at our baby shower. Mini NG!

Mini NG arrived at 4:27PM on December 7th. We were there for his first bath, feeding, changing....the rest is history. 

And now we begin our real adventure. Parenthood! And we love every magical (and non-magical) moment. 

Baby Bound!

Our baby shower

The view when we got home

Mini NG's crib

Our first ourting as a family