Celebrating Christmas: Round One

Today we celebrated our first round of Christmas with Brandon, Jess and Jordyn! We had so much fun hanging out, eating pizza, opening gifts, decorating gingerbread men cookies and letting the kiddos play! Here are some pictures from our time together:

COURT DATE!!!

This morning we got a call from our agency saying that we have a court date of January 27th!!!!! We are thrilled with this news (along with a few other answered prayers) and hope you will mark your calendar and join us in praying for this day that our adoption might be finalized.

Another Family Formed

Take a peek here and see two beautiful children who officially became a part of their new family! Although we have never met the Seay's, we have been inspired by their journey and know you will be, too. We are using the same adoption agency as the Seay's, and their children live in the same orphanage as our daughter.

We are beyond thrilled for ya'll - Seay Family - and look forward to meeting your WHOLE family in the near future!

Knowing of Her

While we still have no news of a court date assignment, we did get a report today that our sweet Ellie T is growing, growing, growing! We had suspected that she hit a growth spurt after seeing 75+ pictures of her from our friends' trip to Africa in early November....but wow, she has grown!

She now weighs 18 pounds and is 27 1/2 inches long at 10 months of age. From what we can tell from the pictures, Ellie is also getting a bottom tooth, can sit up and looks as if she is learning the crawling stance (but no movement just yet)!

It's a little strange that I cannot track her exact growth or developmental milestones on a daily basis; with Garrett I had a great little calendar that we kept on the back of his closet door and each time something new or fun or big happened, we marked it. I pulled it out a few months ago and was amazed at how much I had forgotten about (sleepless nights do that to you).

And, I guess if I'm being honest, it really hasn't been awful or sad or anything of the like that I (we) am/are missing her "baby" stage. Sure, would we prefer to be with her from day one? Yes. Do we want her here now? Yes! But did we know going into this that we'd miss many "baby" milestones? Um, yes. Can I buy another calendar and track the second year of her life? Um, again, yes. There will be so many more "firsts" and "milestones" that we WILL get to witness and track and log onto a calendar.

I guess the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter what part of her life it is that we are missing....we just miss her. And want to close the gap between knowing of her and knowing her.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Happy Thanksgiving! I cannot believe that this holiday is already here....somehow this year has flown by! We are up, showered, breakfast eaten, parade being watched and so on before we are off to my dad's house to celebrate round 1 of 3 of Thanksgiving meals with family. But, before we go, I just wanted to post a little something on the thoughts/things rambling in my head and home today:

Garrett made this "Thankful Tree" over the past week or so. It started out with a brown tree base/branches and the leaves (hand prints) on top but as the week progressed he saw it fit that the leaves should fall down the tree just like they do in real life. Humph. Always wanting things just right. No idea where he gets that from. I digress. Some of the things Garrett has been most thankful for are (all in his words):

carrots
new pictures of Ellie
that God loves me
vitamins
chairs to sit on and eat our food
swings in our garage
that we have a trash can to put our trash in
that we have food to eat
a refrigerator to keep things cold

I have my own list of things I am especially grateful for this year and will list those in this book instead of blogging about them. At the top of my list, though, is my husband, son and future daughter. I am blessed beyond measure by the three of them even though not all of them are here today.

And speaking of the little cutie that's not here today but rather in Africa, I am hoping that she is feeling full of love, food and all things she needs! And, to help my heart feel a little bit closer to her on this day, we sent over a Thanksgiving care package (great idea from some friends) with some turkey pajamas, a small toy and a little fall sweater dress....take a look:

I am looking forward to celebrating today (and the next three days) with those I love and hope you are, too! Happy Thanksgiving!

Another Ellie Update

Hmm, seems I haven't been in the blogging mood lately (although I've been keeping up with reading others). But, as it has been more than two weeks since I last posted, let me see what I can come up with....oh, yes, we saw NEW pictures of our beautiful Ellie yesterday!

Our friends, David and Amy and Ella (how fun is that to say now!!) just got home from Africa and took over care packages for us to our little girl. Yesterday, David e-mailed us a handful of pictures of our daughter laying on the blanket we sent monogrammed with her African name, in one of the outfits/romper/pj-thingy's we had sent, and playing with one of the toys. It was a little hand-held toy....a cloth palm tree/rattle with a place on the leaves to insert pictures. I cannot even begin to describe the weird yet comforting feeling of seeing your soon-to-be-child touching something that you have touched.

Ellie looked happy, healthy - looks like she's gaining weight and turning into a chunky-monkey....yay - and as if her needs being met. What more could a mother (and father) ask for? Oh, maybe that her nails are trimmed neatly? Seriously! In one of the pictures of her chubby little hand up close, I could see that her nails were trimmed perfectly. I was so excited about that! Strange, I know. But in my mind, it means that not only are her basic needs being taken are of - so many more are too!

I think that's all for now...until I can get inspired again (or organize all the pictures from the past two weeks to post of our family fun)! Oh, wait....NO, we still have not been assigned a court date. Praying for one soon!

Update from Africa

I've stated before that our friends are currently in Africa picking up their daughter and having the most amazing time - seriously, check out their blog! David is updating almost daily with the most amazing, heartfelt stories!

Well, today I got a message via Facebook (it was sent to multiple families adopting from the same agency) updating us on our sweet Ellie! Here is what it said:

Ellie is even prettier in real life. We held her and told her what an amazing family she has and how excited they are for her. Happy is definitely the word for her! She loves to lay on her back and flex those legs. She can roll over to her stomach, too. Her skin is darker than I imagined it to be...a bit darker than the photos. Her sweet little lips...wow! We have both hugged on her and will again!

Today marks Ellie's nine month birthday....nine months. I want time to stand still until we can get to her. I want time to fly by until we get to her. I just want to be with her.

All things pumpkin....

Today has been all things "pumpkin" at our house! Garrett and I have carved 3 pumpkins. And by saying "Garrett and I" that means that I was really the only one to get out the goop and carve. Garrett started too but decided the goop was just too much for his little hands to take on. So, he gladly gave me directions and I was just fine with that. Oh, and he rolled each pumpkin into the house (literally) so that I wouldn't have to carry them. Such a gentlemen!


I think the cutest thing I will remember about this Halloween season is the "car-vender". When we purchased our pumpkins Garrett saw a little package that had carving tools in them. One was a knife thingy and the other was what Garrett is holding in the above picture. He calls it his "carvender" and WE. LOVE. IT.

And because Garrett just couldn't stand the thought of not carving or giving attention to the little pumpkins and because I wasn't up for trying to carve them, too, we decided to paint them. G-man was thrilled!

Today has started off on a good foot....now if only I can get the mister to nap so we can enjoy some festivities tonight!

Trick or Treating at Daddy's Office

Kenny works for a consulting company so he is not technically at his company office each day but rather a "client" site. He has been at the same client site for the past 2 3/4 years and each year they host a Halloween trick-or-treating for the kids! Today was the day and Garrett was THRILLED to be able to wear his costume again! He and Daddy gathered lots of treats and had so much fun!

Gathering Treats

It all pertains to Africa.....

This will be a quick post....just wanted to share that we have still not received a court date but did hear from our social worker today. She stated that a bit more paperwork was needed by the government agency in Africa (and was submitted already) and that we should hopefully (but not to get too excited) hear something back from the orphanage director by the end of this week or early next week.

Again, people, that's not a promise of news....so peeps, I'll call or post when I know more and not a minute later!

Two other side notes:

1. Our friends leave TOMORROW to travel to Africa and meet their beautiful Ella!!! And, well, technically, they'll be meeting our future daughter, too, and delivering our love packages (clothes, jammies, toys, voice recorder of Kenny & Garrett singing to her and me reading to her and so much more). You will be in our prayers guys!!!

2. Today I had to do the dreaded, dum-dum-dum, blood work that I typically pass out from and let me just say, I was. not. thrilled. Then in walks one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen from our daughter's birthplace. I immediately burst into crocodile tears. Crazy. I know. But people, she was the closest resemblance I had to my sweet Ellie today. She bent down and hugged on me like crazy cakes. Kenny and I had a chance to show her our daughter's pictures and hear about her view birth land and oh my, we hugged again as we parted ways.

Anyway, off to bed and all for now!

Softball & Sneak Peak of Halloween

Today Garrett and I (finally) went to see my best buddy's little girl, Prestyn play softball!! She's a rock star in her hot pink helmet and with her pink bat! Great job today, Prestyn!!


And this evening the little man and I had our second date of the day at one of his best buddies (well, okay, his momma is one of my great buddies, too) Halloween Party! When we asked Garrett in September what he wanted to be for Halloween this year, he boldly told us "A PUMPKIN!". We tried to remind him that he'd already been a pumpkin as an infant and he might think about choosing something new. But NOOOO. Mister insisted on being a pumpkin! And, so, here is a sneak peak of the Halloween Hottie:

Look carefully at this picture (maybe click on it to enlarge)....Garrett is making such a funny face!

Pumpkin and Cowboy (aka: Anthony)

Yours, Not Mine and Letting Go of Control

Lately my mind drifts to what our sweet baby girl is up to in Africa...is she well, is she loved on, is she, is she, is she? Eventually I start to panic but the reality is her care is out of my control. Ah, control. I like to have it. God is teaching me it's not mine to have. It's His.

While driving the past two days I have heard this song which refreshed my memory with the fact that our sweet girl and my sweet boy are not "mine". They are God's and He has control over their lives. I can stop trying to "gain" control over there lives as a parent (I do not mean bossing them at all times, simply worrying about their care, their well-being). It was never mine and never will be. God has simply allowed me to parent them while here on Earth - not forever.

They Were a Swingin'....

This weekend Brandon, Jess and Jordyn came out to play! We shared some yummy cupcakes (decorated by the one and only cupcake connoisseur, Garrett) to celebrate Jess' birthday and then headed out to a neighborhood park. The weather was GORGEOUS and we had so much fun hanging out with family and watching the kids play!

Both Garrett and Jordyn are growing up SO FAST...it seems like just yesterday Garrett toddled into the hospital room and climbed up in the bed with Jess to meet his baby sister, Jordyn. Now they are runing around like little Indians squealing and hugging and chasing and having so much fun! Where have the past 3-4 years gone? Hmm, time flies!!

Diapers = Tears

Oh, friends. I am a mess. Wanna know HOW I know? I cried this morning while picking out diapers for our future daughter.

I know. It's pitiful. My hormones are all FINE and yet these weird moments of emotions sneak up on me ALL. OF. THE. TIME. now.

I had a great coupon for some diapers and thought, heck, it can't hurt to start stocking up slowly now. As I grabbed the diapers and bent down to put them in the buggy, I could smell that baby smell. And that's when it hit me: I am buying these for a baby. A specific baby. Named Ellie. Who lives in Africa. But will one day live here. In my house. And will need to be diapered.

Sometimes I just cannot believe it is really true. That I am going to be a momma to another little one. That after a year or so of infertility issues and about 3 years of deciding HOW to get to child #2, it's all coming together. I am really going to be a momma, again.

And so, yes, I got all teary over two packages of diapers. Hmm. Looks like I'll need to also start stocking up on Kleenex for the journey ahead!

Welcome Sweet Ella!

Some of our friends that we met through our adoption agency found out last night that they "passed court" after NUMEROUS attempts and are now the proud, proud parents to their little girl, Ella!! Head on over to their blog to see Ella's sweet, beautiful face and congratulate them!

D & A, we are beyond ecstatic for the three of you and cannot wait to meet Ella once you bring her home! Although we haven't known ya'll long, it is evident that ya'll will make AMAZING parents. Lookin' forward to lots of play dates with our two "E" girls!

Love you guys,

Kenny, Jill and Garrett

And the Thunder Rolled

Last night, just as Kenny had finished tucking Garrett in bed, it began to thunder.And rain. And the rule at our home is that if it is raining, lightening or thundering, the little punkin' can sleep in our bed. So, after hearing the thunder, Garrett immediately got his pillow and made his way into our bed.

For some odd reason that I cannot even remember now, Garrett and I had the giggles. And the sweet talks going on. At one point while sandwiched in between us, Garrett began saying the sweetest things that made me, as a parent, want to freeze him immediately. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this little boy and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the rare moments when all is calm and he speaks right from his heart. I hope this type of openness in our relationship never goes away. I want him to always want to "snuggle buggle" (that's the term he coined at two for snuggling) with me. But, I know, the day will come sooner than later that it's either not cool or not appropriate. See why I want to freeze him?

Oh, yes. The pictures. That was the whole point of posting....we got so tickled that Kenny ran to grab the camera and capture our sweet, unexpected night in pictures. Which brought a whole new round of laughter as we pretended to sleep!

As things settled down and the boys drifted off to sweet dreams, I began to miss someone I've never even met and began to wonder what spot would be hers in the bed on nights like this one. I began to wonder what we will look like as a family of four. I began to wonder if Ellie will like to "snuggle buggle" or if she prefers her space. I began to wonder so many things....

G-A-R-R-E-T-T

WOOO-HOOO! I am SO proud of the sweet little G-man! He has been working for a few months on how to write letters. His OT prompted me to buy this workbook and other supplies to teach him back in the Spring. We tried to do it prior to getting his glasses but he was NOT interested .... and we eventually realized it was because he was frustrated. But now, each and every day, 7 days a week, Garrett BEGS us to "do handwriting". Today he completed enough letters of the alphabet to be able to write his whole name (they learn them in a certain order). Garrett was SO proud of himself and told me to get my camera (really!) to take a picture of his fabulouso work.

YAY Garrett! Can't you just see his pride oozing in the first picture!!

Take That Andre Agassi

Garrett got a tennis racquet (or racket - however you choose to spell it!) and tennis balls from his Pop and GG for his birthday! Since then he has been practicing his swing often! We are amazed that he can track the ball, get his timing right and then HIT it far....just six months ago this would not have been.....YAY GLASSES!!!

Boomer Sooner!

Sickies and Halle Berry Baby

Well, this week has gone downhill, kinda. Both boys (hubs and child) are sick. Kenny is NEVER sick but apparently has been hit by something. Garrett came down with the sniffles, watery eyes and fever right around lunch time. Luckily, he is now napping and hopefully will feel better soon. Kenny has gone to the doctor and hopefully he'll feel better soon, too! I, on the other hand, am ingesting as much echinacea and vitamin C as humanly possible!!

While all is quiet in the house, I am NOT being productive but instead gawking at some new pictures of Ellie. Our sweet friends who just arrived back home from Africa last week with their son, sent us some pictures yesterday. And, OH. MY. WORD. She's gorgeous. Beautiful. And looks so happy.

I cannot tell you how incredible it is to see your child, who is growing up and being cared for half way around the world, smiling. In some of the new pictures our friend, Luke, is holding her and she is just-a laughing and grinning and grabbing at him! For me to be able to see joy in her eyes is the best gift right now. Thank you guys for loving on our little girl even before you knew she was ours.

It was also really great to see that Ellie has gained weight in the new pictures. We currently have pictures of her at 5 1/2 months (and there she is itty-bitty), 6 1/2 months and now 7 1/2 months! In each set of pictures she has grown and put on some weight. Her little cheeks are even looking round (although I wouldn't call them chubby)!

I had the chance to show two of my friends Ellie's pictures (in person) this morning. The first one teared up and the second, well, she cried. I am not sure if that is because she is expecting her own little girl (preggers) or what, but it was so awesome to see their reactions to the newest member of our family. It is so comforting to know that the people who are part of our lives now already love our newest little peanut, too. Thanks, girls! Your excitement was so sweet!

Oh, and I cannot forget, the two friends mentioned above said the best description of our sweet Ellie's looks could be categorized as "Halle Berry Baby". Um, yes, yes. I would agree. Ellie *is* that beautiful. Am I a proud momma or what? Enough for today!

Look What the "No Nap" Fairy Brought Today.....

Okay, guess I need to tell some kind of story to go with this picture! Garrett was on his 9th day without a nap yesterday. He rested quietly in his room for the first half and then during the second half he is allowed to get up and play quietly in his room or playroom. Towards the end of "quiet play time" he shouted at me, "Mommy, come look what I have in my toes!". I was so scared to even look. As Garrett rounded the corner of the hallway, I saw him waddling with these little marble/pebble things between his toes. I don't know WHY, but I thought it was funny. I couldn't stop giggling at the Peanut. So, I took a picture to remember what happens when Garrett does not take a nap - there is no telling what he'll come up with to entertain himself!

Her Name & Where We Go From Here

Well, after much deliberation, we have decided to name our daughter Ellie T**** Wade. The "T" name is the name given to her by her birth mother. It is beautiful and sweet and we just love how it sounded with Ellie; we'll be able to reveal that name on the web after we pass court.

We've had a few other names on the short list but Ellie has been the one name we always go back to....and maybe it's because her big brother is insistent that is what her name should be! We had a difficult time convincing Garrett that we would be keeping her given T name because he had something different in mind. But, after reminding him that his middle name is his special name from his birth mother, he quickly thought it was special and fun to "let" her keep her T name, too!

Ellie. Ms. Ellie. Our Baby E. Bitty Baby Ellie. LOVE IT!!

Now, on to what's next....I wish I could say we knew a time frame but in all honesty, we don't. We are only the 5th family in our adoption agency's Africa program to be matched with a child, so there are not too many examples on how long it takes once you are matched. We anticipate it will be 3-6 months (per the social worker's best guess) to get through the following steps:

*Adoption agency turns in our legal documents and Ellie's legal documents to the country's department for women's and children's affairs. All of these papers are completed, in the hands of our representatives in Africa and ready to go!

*Department reviews all documents, makes sure the match is a good one, makes sure nothing is missing, etc. It could take 1-3 months (or who knows, we pray not longer) to get through this stage.

*Department requests a court date (in Africa) on our behalf.

*Court date(s) will be held. Right now, most infant adoptions are taking 2+ dates.

*Once we "pass" court and our adoption is finalized, we begin to make travel arrangements for about 3 weeks later (when our Embassy appointments will take place - we must be there in person for those).

SO....please join us in praying for God's perfect timing in this whole process. Right now we are strangely peaceful about the wait that is ahead of us. Obviously, we would prefer to get to our sweet Ellie sooner than later but understand that we are on an "international adoption journey" and things go slower or take longer than what we are used to in the states.

Baby Girl

We are overjoyed to share with those of you on this journey with us that today we received a referral of a seven month old little girl. While I cannot share too much identifying information with you on the web (hence, no pictures until after we pass court), I can say that she is beyond beautiful, appears to be perfectly healthy and maybe even a little sassy! She is an itty-bitty (and hence I've already nicknamed her "Bitty Baby") thing with large brown eyes that totally grab your heart right out of your chest. Her tiny little lips make me just want to eat her up with a spoon! So many of her expressions in her pictures remind me of Garrett as a baby - totally spunky and totally full of life! I shared this with the social worker (who was with our baby girl in August) and she replied with, "Yes, she has the potential to be a drama queen some day!".

We feel beyond blessed to be on this journey and quite honestly, cannot even begin to put words to the range of emotions we are experiencing as we take it all in. I'm sure there will be more to come in the days ahead!

PS: Her name will be unveiled soon - Daddy Wade is still making sure we have it perfected!!

The Phone Rang! Kind-of!

This afternoon Garrett, my brother, Kyle (who's in town since Ike hit his town) and I went to the airport to welcome home another adoptive family and their new son. It was so exciting to see the new family of five walk through the airport doors, grins from ear-to-ear!

Our social worker and agency director both came to the airport as well. In the midst of all of the excitement, our social worker invited us to come in tomorrow for our match meeting!

TOMORROW!! Tomorrow we will see our future daughter's face through pictures and video, learn about her life story and so on. I cannot believe tomorrow is the day I will "meet" her. Tomorrow.

Ring, Phone, Ring!

We communicated with our social worker yesterday....she is waiting for *one* last piece of paper/document from Africa. She is/was anticipating giving us a call today or tomorrow asking us to come into the agency on Friday for our big match meeting. Since the country we are adopting from is eight hours ahead of us, I am assuming we won't get a call today (business hours there are over and hence no faxing to the US). Maybe tomorrow. Maybe.

Ring, phone, ring!!!!!

Why Africa?

As we are getting closer and closer to the referral of a child, I am obviously getting more and more excited and anxious and giddy and oh, my, the list goes on. As I am anticipating this happening, I am also talking to people more and more about our adoption. And, when I do, it opens the floodgates for curious (and often opinionated) people to ask questions....which I dread but SO WELCOME! I love answering questions and putting to sleep myths about adoption. I love sharing the reality of the process. I love putting the spotlight on needs of children.

Anyway, as the list of questions roll in, I am most frequently asked: "Why Africa?" I could give you a million reasons why, but for now, I am going to share with you the one little paragraph that sent me over the edge, shaking with conviction that my desire to adopt a child from another country with different colored skin was actually a call from God. And it was really simple. I was spending WAY too much time and effort trying to reason why it couldn't, wouldn't or shouldn't work. This little paragraph totally put to rest my doubts and fears and answers the question "Why Africa?".......

(from Shaun Grove's Shlog...regarding a recent trip to an African country, visiting orphanages...click on over to read the whole thing!)


"Later, as Brian and I processed what we’d experienced together in the orphanage I became convinced of something Brian tried to teach me long ago. We really do make God’s will too complicated. I do. I wring my hands and analyze and worry, discuss and think, think, think. I pray and beg God to speak. “What is your will for my life? What do you want from me?” I ask. And he’s silent. Or is he? As Brian says, maybe God’s will is found wherever my ability and someone else’s need intersect. Does apathy sometimes come from good intentions - from waiting and praying for instructions we don’t really need after all? Is God speaking already and constantly to us through our ability and excess and the world’s pain?"

At church this morning, the worship team led us in a song that spoke of how God calls us to reach all nations....every tongue, every tribe.....the song was a great reminder to me. God called us to a specific country in Africa for a very specific reason, a reason not yet made known to me. It isn't about rescuing His child, isn't about doing some noble deed, isn't about anything worth being complimented about. No, God has called my family to Africa for something. All I know is that His call, His will for us to a physical nation involves a little girl and how, by some beautiful, undeserving gift, we are to be her family. I will probably never know WHY we have faced infertility, WHY we were called to one domestic adoption and one international adoption, WHY, WHY, WHY. I just don't know.


I do remember the day, the "why not" day for us that led us to this place....what pushed us over the edge, so to speak, to make a bold decision to link our lives with a strangers, half way across the world. It was that paragraph. It was God speaking through a man's written words, on his blog no less. And, come to find out, that "Brian" guy he was referring to, is ALSO adopting from "Africa"....and using the same adoption agency as us! His two future children are living with our future daughter right now. In a baby home. In Africa. I just made that connection today. Wild.

So, why Africa .... why not?!?!

Preparing Our Hearts and Home

Over the past two weeks some of my emotions have surprised me. I started last Monday by recovering from G's birthday party and ended it at a doctor's check-up for myself. While I was there, I decided to get the first of many immunizations I will need to travel to Africa. I am opting to get one every 3-4 weeks since I am so sensitive to toxins, live virus', etc. Monday I got the lovely Tetanus booster in my right arm. Since I pass out at most blood draws, I had warned the nurse that I would be looking the other direction and that she needed to make conversation with me to keep me distracted. Well, the nurse did not talk to me so I proceeded to talking to myself in my mind. I kept thinking, "This pain is for my little girl. This is for my little girl. I can do this so I can travel to meet and bring home my little girl." Apparently at some point I began talking OUT LOUD and only realized it when the nurse asked me who I was talking to - how embarrassing!! The nurse had no idea how a shot pertained to a little girl. I felt quite silly! (And yes, I realize. I AM a big wimp. God knew that I would never survive through child birth.)

A few days later Garrett and I were shopping at Gymboree, and as we were checking out I happened to notice the girly side of the store. I have refrained from clothes shopping or even browsing for our Baby E since I won't know her size for a while. So, I was shocked when my eyes welled up with tears as I was handing over my debit card. It hit me...I will soon be able to buy clothes for not just any little girl....OUR little girl.

My dreams of growing our family are becoming a reality. I spoke with our social worker about two weeks ago and she said she would be calling us "in a few weeks" to hopefully set up a match meeting. AHHH!!

And hence, this weekend we got the ball really rolling in Baby E's nursery.....her room is now painted, curtains hung, twin bed repainted and repaired (it's a cute old spindle bed handed down by my step mom and refurbished by my mom and step dad - thanks guys!), all crib and twin bedding sewn and on (thanks again to my talented mom), chandelier installed - and ooo, it's so pretty - and tonight I picked up the upholstery fabric for her rocker/ottoman and plan to drop it off to be upholstered tomorrow! We have a few little accessories up on the walls but my goal over the next 7 days is to purchase everything else and get this sweet girl's room fully decorated so that after her referral comes, I can begin tackling the other umpteen to-do lists in her honor!

I just can't believe it. Things are happening. Our baby girl is alive and on African soil. She is being loved on by women I've never met. She is about 8 hours ahead of us. I am now, without putting forth effort, remembering her as we progress through our day. As I go to bed, I wonder if she is waking up for a night feeding and if the woman caring for her is groggy and grumpy or is joyfully soothing her? As I wake up, I wonder what the afternoon is holding for her....is she playing in a crib with some of the toys we sent back in April (not just for her, but all the babies) or is she getting her daily check up with the nurse? Is she crawling because she's a bit older or laying down and cooing?

Garrett even chimes in with, "I wonder what Baby E is doing now?".....we are all beginning to fall in love with a little perfect person we've never even seen or even heard about. God is connecting us to her story already. I am beyond fascinated to see how it all unfolds. Until then, we'll continue to prepare mentally and physically and cover our sweet girl in prayer...

Mission: Celebrate Birthday #4

Since March Garrett has insisted that we have a "puppy dog" themed party for his birthday this year. I racked my brain for months trying to think of an appropriate, fun and cute idea. None came to mind. Garrett suggested all his friends bring their dogs to our house. Nope. Not gonna happen. Then Garrett suggested we all meet at a park with our dogs. Except that his birthday is in the scorching month of August and we'd all sweat to pieces. Finally, we agreed on going to Build-a-Bear where each child could "build" their very own puppy dog to take home.

First, all of the guests met in the food court area for specially requested "puppy dog cupcakes" (because the birthday boy would only have cupcakes) and ice cream followed by gifts. Oh, and Ms. Neighbor was so kind that she painted the kiddos faces like puppies (if they wanted - Garrett did not want it although he had originally liked the idea).

Then, once the eating and opening and painting was complete, we all walked down to Build-a-Bear.....

It was such a fun day and we knew it was a hit with Garrett when on the way back to the car he looked up at me and said, "Oh, Mommy. I had so much fun IN my party!" And that was the goal - mission "Celebrate Birthday #4" accomplished!