Does it get better than this?

2009-05-21T21:50:00.002-06:00

Our little guy is almost 2 years old! Where has the time gone? Thanks for continuing to check on us! Things are going well. Jayden is such a wonderful and happy child who loves to be very social, float in the pool, run, talk, swing, play at the park, pretend to read his books, take baths, eat and anything else there is to do in a day. He goes to a friends daycare 2-3 days a week and absolutely loves it! Did I mention that he is so social? We are all doing well. Steve has one more semester before he can apply to nursing school & I am doing the same old thing with regard to work. We hope everyone is good!

2009-04-01T21:11:00.004-06:00

Ok...sorry for the long delay in posting pictures! These are for you Jenn! Thanks for kicking my butt into gear-lol! Megan use to help me keep this site updated but she isn't able to do it anymore, so I will try to update more often. Jayden is growing by the day! He has turned into the the most curious toddler and he is into everything! He is talking and will say, "More Peeese" or "Help peeese!". If he is done he will say, "May be excused peeese?" He will tell us that he loves us and will tell the dogs, "bye, bye Bewa (bella) or Smy (Sammy)." He has lots of other two word phrases and they are all adorable! He loves food and eats anything but veggies! He also loves the girls and will flirt, flirt, flirt! He especially loves our friend Melissa's daughter, his daycare friend Valerie, his auntie Nena (Megan), his bubby and papa (my parents) and his uncle Jeff and his girlfriend, Arla. He also loves his new "foster cousins" that Megan is currently caring for. He is spending two days a week at daycare and he loves everything about it. Jayden is very, very, very social and loves to be around other kids. Steve and I are doing good and loving watching our baby grow into the most incredible little boy!

Happy Christmahanukkwanzaa from our family to yours!

2008-12-21T17:05:00.001-07:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

2008-11-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you Tina for such an adorable page. I love it!!!

2008-11-22T08:29:00.002-07:00

Jayden had a great Halloween! We went to the La Fam party first where he showed off his "famous" Lil Disco Man costume and hung out with Jenn (aka the Cat in the Hat). Then we were off to Auntie Nena's house where Papa and Uncle Owen made a haunted maze and spent the night with Gigi, Tonio, Auntie Missy, and Uncle Jeff (in the freaky white mask)! Daddy had to work . Jayden enjoyed Halloween and loved trick or treating!

Go "OMAMA"

2008-11-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

Today is election day and both Jayden and his mommy are holding out for an Obama (or as Jayden calls him) "Omama" Victory!!!!! Please go out and vote today and if you have ever been seriously ill or known anyone to have a serious health crisis...You will seriously consider Obama's health care plan to be far superior to McCain's lame plan that will just make health care even more expensive than it already is. There are so many other reasons to vote for Obama but this is always my first priority!!!!! GO OBAMA!!!

Jayden is amazing

2008-10-21T21:45:00.007-06:00

Jayden weighs 24lbs and is 34 inches tall. The pediatrician says he is in the 25th percentile for weight and 95th for height. He is going to be tall and thin! What a lucky guy! Jayden's favorite foods are macaroni and cheese, applesauce, yogurt, mashed potatoes, veggie sausages, goldfish crackers, honey nut cheerios, ice cream, Sunchips, Red Robin french fries, Chicken nuggets and anything from Popeyes ( according to Daddy and Auntie Nena). He is running, laughing hysterically and dancing to anything that has a beat. He especially loves Low and In the Air by Flo Rida and Crank that by Soulja Boy. He does not appear to enjoy country music of any sort. (Which is a good thing cause either do Mommy & Daddy). Jayden is now saying "up, all done, mama, dada, bella, kit kat, dog, bye, Nena, more please nen (more Cheetos Nena), and mimics almost anything else. Jayden spent 10 days with Mommy and Bubbe and Papa in Seattle visiting cousin Ryan and Uncle Mike and Aunt Kelli. He had so much fun playing with his cousin Ryan. Jayden loved to follow Ryan and copy anything he did. He loved playing with Auntie Erica and Uncle Arden and Auntie Shelby and Cousin Bailee. He loved eating Ethiopian food with Auntie Nena's mom and dad.He went to the Pumpkin Patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin but he still has no idea what is to come from Crazy Uncle Owen's Halloween Adventure....Jayden has two costumes for Halloween and is expecting a visit so more pictures are yet to come...

Jayden's 1 year old pictures...a bit late....

2008-08-17T08:32:00.005-06:00

We got some cute pictures despite the fact that Jayden was not in the mood to sit still, smile, & be good. He was more interested in playing with everything in the studio! Our little guy has way toooo much energy!

Auntie Nena's b-day...there were actually lots of people here but you wouldn't know it by these pictures!

2008-08-14T21:57:00.010-06:00

Lizelle can't wait get some of the Key Lime Pie!!!

I'm cute!!!

Peek-a-boo
Yuck...girls!

2008-08-12T19:31:00.003-06:00

tHaNk YoU AuNtiE TInA FOR MaKInG Me ThE CUtESt PAgE EvER!!!!! i LUV IT!!!

Hi Dad...here are a few more pictures for you! We miss you!!!

2008-08-11T21:33:00.002-06:00

Birthday lunch

A pre-birthday celebration

2008-08-08T22:31:00.003-06:00

Fun Summer

2008-08-05T11:59:00.015-06:00

Bella and Sammy also enjoying the summer!

The Cutest baby ever!

The cutest baby in Daddy's hat

Hi World!!!

Look at all those teeth!

Upside down Jaydo!!

Happy Birthday Jayden!!

2008-07-07T20:42:00.004-06:00

Jayden celebrated his birthday with family, friends, 3 cakes, presents and lots of love and laughter.

Jayden hits the West Coast

2008-07-07T10:26:00.000-06:00

Jayden traveled to Los Angeles to attend Ian's wedding and Jenna's Bar Mitzvah. He saw the Pacific Ocean, played at the park in Malibu, danced his heart out and met a bunch of new family and friends.

What a difference a year makes...

2008-07-04T11:25:00.007-06:00

Jayden loves Cookies!

2008-07-04T10:47:00.002-06:00

Jayden has figured out how to run! He walked independently for about 24 hours and then took off at a sprint! He hasn't slowed down since. He had a wonderful birthday party with friends and family and really enjoyed opening his piles of presents. We will post pictures of his party as soon as Papa Jerry has a chance to get them to us. He's the family photographer!

Yesterday, Auntie Nena took Jayden to the grocery store and Jayden got a cookie from the bakery lady. As you can see he thoroughly enjoyed it while riding in his big boy carseat. He was not happy when the cookie was gone though. Have a wonderful 4th of July!

Jayden enjoyed his Memorial Day

2008-05-26T20:50:00.002-06:00

Jayden and Mommy playing in the pool at Auntie Nena's house

Jayden basking in the sun after his dip in the pool
Look Auntie...give me the Artichoke Hummus now and no one gets hurt!!!

2008-05-18T21:58:00.004-06:00

Jayden had a great time playing in the garden at Auntie Nena's today. He was all smiles, giggles and "dada's" until he noticed that Mama was eating cheezits without sharing any with him...

Jayden's 10 month pictures

2008-04-28T20:20:00.002-06:00

Jayden LOVES chips!

2008-04-25T21:36:00.004-06:00

Jayden had his first taste of SunChips today....He loved them...but

Jayden does not love his sombrero

Jayden LOVES the zoo, friends, swings...everything!

2008-04-22T21:08:00.005-06:00

Jayden absolutely loves swings... Jayden and his friend, Hailey Mei

Jayden and his friend Lizelle

Jayden had a great day at the zoo with his friends, Lizelle and Levi. Apologies in advance for the quality of the pictures-- they are from Mommy's cell phone. Both Mommy and Auntie Nena's cameras have keeled over (I'm sure due to recent overuse-- probably since oh, about June 23rd of last year) and haven't been replaced yet. Jayden also took his first New Mexico roadtrip with Mommy and Auntie Nena (formerly known as Auntie Mei Mei--Mommy found out from Auntie's Mom that when she was a toddler she called herself "Nena Yalsh" and Mommy decided to change her name) to Las Cruces so that Auntie could do a training. Jayden had a great time meeting his new friends, Hannah, Hailey Mei (pictured above) and Tommy Kao.

Jayden is the "picture of health"

2008-04-03T12:31:00.002-06:00

Jayden had his nine month check up today. His pediatrician described him as "the picture of health". He is 20 lbs, 3.5 oz (50th %) and is 29 1/4 inches tall (75-90%). He is crawling like a champ and pulls himself up to standing on anything he sees.

Happy Birthday Grandpa Wynn

2008-03-28T19:36:00.000-06:00

I know this is belated but I just wanted to acknowledge the birthday of Jayden's wonderful Grandpa Wynn. He was an amazing, intelligent, kind man who loved his family more than anything. He gave Jeff and Steve their strong work ethic, their sense of humor (I'm not sure I should be thankful for this one) and their kind hearts. Grandpa Wynn passed away before Jayden's birth but I like to think that he had a big part in God sending Jayden to us. Jayden would be his grandpa's delight. He spent many hours talking about his desire to be a grandfather and I would like to say, Happy Birthday Grandpa Wynn! We miss you. We promise to do our very best to teach Jayden about you.

2008-03-18T19:33:00.006-06:00

Happy Purim & St. Patrick's Day & Easter

The Todes have had a wonderful March so far! A move into a beautiful, new home, a first tooth and an adorable attempt at crawling (video to follow). Steve is working hard at a difficult school schedule and Erika is working on a telecommuting proposal for her employer. Papa Jerry plays with Jayden during the week while Bubbe Cheryl helps Erika and Auntie Nei Nei (formerly Mei Mei AKA Webmaster Mei Mei) at work. Hope you all have a wonderful month!

Purim is the most festive of Jewish holidays, a time of prizes, noisemakers, costumes and treats. The Festival of Purim commemorates a major victory over oppression and is recounted in the Megillah, the scroll of the story of Esther. Purim takes place on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish calendar. This year (2008) Purim begins at sundown on the 19th of March.

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by Irish people and increasingly by non-Irish people (usually in Australia and North America). Celebrations are generally themed around all things Irish and, by association, the colour green. The holiday is celebrated by wearing green or orange, eating Irish food and/or green foods, imbibing Irish drink (such as Guinness or Baileys Irish Cream) and attending parades.

Jayden's toys are taking over....

2008-02-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

Daddy and Jayden meeting one of the characters at Disneyworld. Jayden meets Mickey...
I think Uncle Jeff enjoyed DisneyWorld more than Jayden...

Jayden loved Disney World! He is about to cut two teeth and is starting to crawl (when he doesn't immediately flip over and roll across the room!). He loves to eat and so far hasn't found a food he doesn't like. Mommy is busy juggling work and mommyhood, Daddy is now a full time student, part time employee and full time Daddy. Jayden gets to spend a couple days each week with Mommy and his fanclub of Aunties and Bubbie at work and spends the rest of the week with Papa Jerry or Daddy. He loves being around people and is starting to develop language to communicate. We stumbled upon our dream house recently and we close on it on Valentine's Day. We really need a little more room for all of Jayden's toys and kiddo equipment!

Jayden gets what he wants...

2008-01-24T08:06:00.001-07:00

"Hey Mom and Dad...look at that! It's almost as cute as me!" "Really for me?!"
"Yeah, I know how to work it!"

Oy...so many holiday events! Hanukkah Party, cookie party, Hanakwanzamas party, and La Fam holiday party! We have sure been busy!

2007-12-17T20:52:00.000-07:00

Me and my Godson, Isaiah

Jayden and Auntie Mei Mei dancing at the Hanukkah Festival

Tanta Tara and Jayden at our cookie party

Jayden and Gabe decorating the tree

Daddy and Jayden putting the star on the tree

Uncle Jeff working hard...

Friends and family having fun!

Mommy and Jayden making cookies

Bubbie and Jayden making cookies

Megan and Geana making hand wreaths at our 1st annual

"Hanakwanzamas" Party

Jayden and girlfriend Valerie "flirting"!

Jayden watching the "Big Kids" play

Jayden, Mommy and "Santa"
Having fun at the La Fam holiday party with Auntie Melissa

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2007-11-28T07:07:00.001-07:00

Sleeping Thru the Night!!!

2007-11-15T07:48:00.000-07:00

Just one more thing to be thankful for!! Jayden now weighs about 15 pounds and is starting to teethe.

Tots' wedding

2007-11-13T19:38:00.000-07:00

Daddy's birthday

2007-11-07T21:07:00.000-07:00

The Tode Boys

Jayden & Mommy

Halloween Night...Trick or treating around the mall with J and Isaiah

2007-11-01T21:51:00.000-06:00

Trick or Treat

2007-10-31T19:06:00.000-06:00

Resting up for the big day!
In full Puppy mode

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze

2007-10-29T21:30:00.001-06:00

I am just so amazed by Jayden's intelligence. He seems much more observant than most people. :)

Today's photo shoot...

2007-10-19T22:14:00.000-06:00

Jayden being cute this morning

2007-10-15T19:42:00.000-06:00

Jayden's first Pumpkin from Auntie Mei Mei's garden

2007-10-13T22:29:00.000-06:00

The little chile pepper has outgrown his Halloween costume so stay tuned for new costume pictures as we get closer to Halloween.

Cutest little pumpkin

2007-10-11T19:54:00.000-06:00

I Don't know about this, Mom!

Happy Finalization Day

2007-09-24T19:18:00.000-06:00

Jayden sitting in his big boy chair listening to the judge.
The happy family Smiling for pictures all day can be tiring!

Jayden's adoption was finalized today! The reality that we have all known for the last three months is now recognized by the courts. Jayden is officially a Tode.

My future's so bright...

2007-09-18T20:59:00.001-06:00

Our beautiful baby boy!

2007-09-03T20:53:00.000-06:00

Look at this face...so cute!

Jayden watching Sunday night's episode of Big Brother!

2007-09-03T07:49:00.001-06:00

Jayden playing the zerbert game...

2007-09-02T15:23:00.000-06:00

More cabin pics...

2007-08-27T07:43:00.000-06:00

Jayden's first trip to the Cabin

2007-08-26T14:17:00.001-06:00

Jayden had a great time at the cabin this weekend. He went for walks, did a lot of swinging and watched Auntie Mei Mei ride the 4wheeler. He wasn't big on his bath time but that is true at home too!

Jayden is officially 2 months old today

2007-08-23T12:25:00.000-06:00

He had an appointment with his pediatrician today and his new stats are: 10 lbs 9oz and 23 inches long. So in the last month, he has gained two pounds and grown 2 inches! The doctor was very impressed.

Another busy day playing and sleeping

2007-08-19T19:19:00.001-06:00

Looking at model homes today...

2007-08-18T21:51:00.001-06:00

What a cute room!!!

Jayden put in a full day at the office today

2007-08-17T21:49:00.001-06:00

Sweet Baby

2007-08-13T06:54:00.000-06:00

Jayden is doing great and growing like a weed. He is such an adorable little guy!

Jayden's new favorite activity

2007-08-05T09:15:00.000-06:00

Garage Saleing! He made quite a haul yesterday. A jumper dealy, tons of books, a bouncy seat.... These pictures show you what he did during the whole trip.

2007-07-28T18:28:00.000-06:00

Happy 1 month Jayden!!!

2007-07-24T20:47:00.000-06:00

Jayden was one month old yesterday! He had an appointment with his pediatrician today and he gained exactly 2 lbs in the three weeks since his last visit. He also grew an inch.

Baby Shower

2007-07-20T13:22:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone,
Thank you for making Jayden's baby shower so much fun! I am in the process of getting all of my thank you cards out, so bear with me! We had about 30 people show up for the shower and the gifts continue to come in! So, needless to say, it will take me some time to get these out. I just wanted to thank everyone for all the great gifts and to let everyone know that we love everything. Jayden has been well taken care of since his homecoming and has been showered with tons of gifts and plenty of love! Also, I wanted to thank my Mom and Megan for putting on such a great shower (and you can also thank Megan, or as we call her web master Mei Mei, for this web site) and my favorite cousin, Michelle for traveling from California to be with us! It is so nice when family can be with you for such special moments!!! Anyway, thank you so much for thinking about us and welcoming our precious Jayden into the family.

Candlelight Ceremony

2007-07-17T18:15:00.000-06:00

Candlelight Ceremony

honoring Jayden Wynn Tode

Just as many streams, known and unknown, small and large, contribute to a river's strength and course, so too the course of Jayden's life will be shaped, in part, by it's many tributaries. Jayden is a birth child; he is an adopted child. He is African-American, Italian and Swedish, Christian and Jewish. He is the son of Theresa and of Erika and Steve. Perhaps he will have Theresa's intelligence, her ability to paint or her love of dancing. Maybe he will have Steve's optimism and strength or Erika's determination and creativity. We hope he will be blessed with all of these things and more.

This first candle signifies Jayden's birth parents and their extended families. Theresa is the person who gave Jayden the gift of life. She gave him his beautiful brown eyes and skin, his genetic destiny, his ancestors and his cultural heritage. She also gave him the gift of a stable, loving family.

This second candle represents Jayden's adoptive parents, Erika and Steve and their extended families. They are the people who rock Jayden to sleep at night and feed him when he's hungry. They are the people who will teach him right from wrong, who will kiss his booboos and provide for his spiritual, physical and emotional needs.

This third candle signifies Jayden's future. A life filled with the love of his birth family, his adoptive family and all of you here. It represents the light Jayden will be to the world and the promise in his young life.

Please join me in a Jewish prayer, the Shehekiyanu, a prayer to commemorate a new beginning.

"Praised are you, O Lord God of us all, King of the Universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us and for enabling us to reach this season".

Baby Shower

2007-07-15T15:16:00.000-06:00

A shower was held at Grammy's house on Saturday. Great food, wonderful friends and family and the gift opening took 2 hours!

Sleepy Days...Wide awake nights...

2007-07-08T16:05:00.001-06:00

I didn't let Mom and Dad sleep much last night so I'm pretty sleepy today.

2007-07-06T17:45:00.000-06:00

I see trees of green........ red roses too. I see em bloom..... for me and for you. And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world. I see skies of blue..... clouds of white Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world. The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do Theyre really sayin......i love you. I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow Theyll learn much more.....than Ill never know And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world. The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky. Are there on the faces.....of people ..going by I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do Theyre really sayin...I ....love....you. I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow... you know their gonna learn A whole lot more than Ill never know. And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world. Yes I think to myself .......what a wonderful world.

Happy 4th of July

2007-07-04T16:33:00.001-06:00

Jayden got more visits from Family and Friends

Jayden Wynn is home at last!

2007-07-02T20:57:00.000-06:00

Jayden with Uncle Davie

Grampa and Jayden
Auntie Mei Mei and Cristian making welcome home Jayden signs

Cristian and Bella getting ready to meet Jayden

Auntie Tara and Isaiah

Tina and Grammy with Mommy and Jayden

Jayden and family arrived in Albuquerque at 1pm and were greeted by friends and family.

Back to ABQ on Monday!!!

2007-06-30T18:27:00.000-06:00

Daddy playing "Where's the Binky"....he thinks he's really funny
Jayden is eating like a champ and growing quickly. His umbilical cord is about to fall off and he hates to have his diaper changed. We went to the beach today but it started to rain (alot). We are back at the hotel now and are going to spend tomorrow packing up and getting ready to go home on Monday morning!!!

Now we're in Fort Lauderdale

2007-06-28T16:30:00.001-06:00

The Tode Family

2007-06-26T13:16:00.001-06:00

Jayden

Wynn

Tode

6lbs 9oz

6/23/07

_____________________________________________________________

Once there were two expectant mothers.

One carried and cared for you beneath her beating heart. She became your Birthmother.

The other carried the hope of you within her. She became your Mom.

As the days passed and you grew bigger and stronger, Your Birthmother knew that she could not give you all you needed after your birth.

Meanwhile, your Mom was ready and waiting for you.
One day your Birthmom and your Mom found each other.
They looked into each other’s eyes and saw a friend.

Your Birthmom saw the life your Mom could give you.

Your Mom saw how much your Birthmom loved and cared for you.
They decided that what you needed was both kinds of love in your life.
So now you have two families, One by birth, the other by adoption.
And you have a home where you can get: your questions answered,your boo boos bandaged,your heartaches soothed and much needed hugs.
And a place where you can find: answers to your questions, your image in the mirror,

a part of yourself and much needed hugs.
Two different kinds of families. Two different kinds of love. Both a part of you.