Our Christmas

The best picture we could get (supposed to be a Christmas card pic)

This Christmas was a good Christmas, different, but good. Hudson's doctors told us he does not need to go out, travel, or be around other kids until his first shots since he has this viral lung bronchiolitis. It is getting better, just very slowly, I guess because he is so young and little. His breathing is better, but he has a really bad cough that shakes his little body. We pray this gets better really soon! And that he starts to eat better, too! So, instead of going to Brian's family on Christmas eve or my family this weekend as planned, we had a nice little at home Christmas at our house.

Lilly and I made cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve and we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. On Christmas morning we got up and got everyone fed (Brian made yummy pancakes for us!) and then we opened our presents. Lilly really enjoyed her Loving Family car to go with her doll house and the intrument box. She loves opening presents, unless it is something that really catches her eye and you have to pry her away to go on to something else. Hudson slept through most of the present opening, Lilly got to open most of his presents too.

Nina and Papa came over for the day, they had already been around Hudson over the weekend, so we felt that would be okay. They brought a yummy Christmas lunch and we opened presents again from them and Brian's brother and sister's families. We had a good day of playing.

Even though our Christmas was not with all of our families (who we did miss very much!), we are so thankful to have each other. We are thankful for our 2 kids - Lilly and Hudson - and to be able to enjoy spending time as a family in our own home.

Hudson turned 1 month old on Christmas day! Even though this month has been a sick one for him, he is such a trooper. He still has his beautiful blue eyes and dark hair right now. He enjoys being in the swing to rock out and continues about a 3 hour stretch between feedings. He loves his big sister I can tell. What fun sharing a month birthday with Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Sick Days

So our past week has been filled with many sick days and visits to the doctor. To start us off, Hudson began having not so wonderful poop diapers on Monday morning - let me say it was something that was definitely not supposed to be coming out of there. So after monitoring for a day like the doctor said, I proceeded to collect a days worth of yucky diapers and take them to the doctor on Tuesday. After taking the samples, they confirmed that he is allergic to milk proteins. He never cried about any pain or anything! Now Hudson is on a hypoallergenic formula and the diapers are now back to normal (much quicker than the 4-6 weeks they said it may take).

Now, I got a phone call on Tuesday morning after the visit to Hudson's doctor and Lilly had a fever at MDO - so I go pick her up. She had the yuckies for 2 days and was able to go to her Christmas party at school on Thursday. She still has a cough.

Silly hats on sick days

Hudson had been getting congested throughout the week, but by Friday, he was really struggling to breath - panting really. Saturday I took him to the doctor and he was diagnosed with bronchiolitis - inflammation of his lungs basically with mucous and yucky things making it really hard to breath. They prescribed an inhaler with a mask to give him. On Sunday the breathing gets worse and I take him to the ER. He had several chest xrays, blood work, breathing treatments, among other things. The xray came back clear, thank goodness! So basically he had a very yucky virus for a 3 week old and it is going to take some time to heal with the inhaler and nebulizer treatments. Please pray for our little guy to get better and be able to breath better really soon!

At the ER, I really saw a wonderful picture of servanthood that touched my life. A mom (I think a single mother) comes in with her little baby that is screaming and sick. She sits down and proceeds to try to calm him down, but had no success. A man, a complete stranger to her, asked her if he could take the baby to try to calm him down. This man, I have to say, he must be a man of God, took this little baby in his arms and immediately the child calmed down. This man walked with a complete strangers baby for 2 hours up and down the emergency room hallway. He did not know them or have to do this at all. I don't really even know why he was there. But for that mom, this man was her angel. After talking to her, the baby had been screaming all day at home, and what a relief to see her little boy calm down by this mans selfless act of kindness. Things have been tough this week, but this was a reminder that God is there for us, he shows himself in and through so many different ways.

Busy Times

So, we are settling into somewhat of a routine at home. Last week, Brian's mom came to help out Wed - Fri, which was so nice. Lilly's 2 year old party was Friday morning in the freezing cold weather at the park (we all looked so silly out there all bundled up in gloves, hats, but I think the kids had fun playing. Needless to say, we did not eat the ice cream - BRRRRR! Saturday we had our adoption picnic. It was so nice to see some people in our adoption group, some still waiting and to see the other babies that have been placed with families in our group. Hudson was the youngest one there, but he did really well and ate a bottle and slept most of the time.

My mom flew in on Monday to help us for a week - how wonderful! I had finals on Tuesday and needed help watching the kiddos while I graded. She helped us clean and took some of the late night feeds. Thanks a bunch to both moms for helping us with little Hudson.

Hudson really is doing well, he is eating great and sleeping pretty good. Some nights he will do 4-4 1/2 stretches, others he is back to 3 hours on the dot. He was pretty funny the other day - he was having tummy time and all of the sudden started rocking and turned from his stomach to his back! Pretty cool!

Lilly is doing well with him as well - she does have her moments - but all in all, is very diligent about making sure where the baby is. She is quite the helper too! I can't believe my little girl is two! She has grown up so fast! She talks so much and loves to play. She especially loves her babies and now likes to do with them what we do with Hudson - changes them, puts them sleep, rocks them in the swing. Lilly loves to read and will sit in her chair while I get ready in the morning and read to herself. She also loves to dance and sing!

We're Home!

We are so excited to welcome our newest addition to our family. I thought I would write a little bit about our story this week. We got a call on Monday that the birthmom was in labor and that we should head on to the hospital. We took Lilly to Brian's brother's and then went to the hospital. I was so nervous to meet her, but the meeting went well. She was very open and honest with us and wanted us to be a part of the labor/delivery. We got there about 5 and they started patossin to start her contractions and she got an epidural. Then about midnight we went to IHOP to get some food and came back - the doctor had stopped the medication to induce labor and decided to wait until the next day. We went home from about 1-5 am and went back to the hospital. At about 8 am, they started the medication again and at 10:00 she was ready to push. She allowed Brian and I to be with her the whole delivery, which was so neat. With our first I had a c-section and did not get to experience any of natural delivery.

Then Hudson came out at 10:20 am, and Brian got to cut the cord! That was really cool! Then we spent about an hour in the room with the birthmom and the baby and they gave me an arm band to be able to go to the nursery with Hudson. Brian and I were allowed to go in the nursery and watch them do all the vitals and give him his shots and first bath and I gave him his first bottle.

The rest of the week we spent alot of time with the birthmom in her room, getting to know her and spending time with Hudson. Thanksgiving was funny - our family waited and we had turkey dinner at night and then went back to the hospital to give him his last feed before bed. Friday we got the good news he would be released. AIM - our agency received the baby from the hospital and then gave him to us to take home. We were official! All the signing went really smooth as well.

We are just so thankful for this precious gift. So many little details worked out so perfectly, God really moved and worked in our life and so many others. A big thank you to everyone who has been praying for us during our whole adoption journey. I can't believe when I look in his little face that he is ours - that we have a son. Lilly got to come to the hospital twice before we brought Hudson home, she loved saying baby! and got to push his basinet back to the nursery and was such a big helper. She likes to look at his toes and helped me feed him a bottle today. Such a good big sister!

Today was Lilly's family 2nd birthday party! She had a great time and loved all her presents and the cake and ice cream! We have so much to be thankful for!

tomorrow

We got a call today that the birthmom wants us to be in the delivery room tomorrow! We are so excited, I had been praying for the birthmom to be open to meeting us, but this is even greater! Please, please pray for the baby to be healthy. Stay tuned.....

News

So, after a tough few weeks, we got some news today. Our social worker called today to let us know about a situation where the mom wanted the agency to pick out the family. They thought of us and we definitely were interested and excited! The baby is being induced on Tuesday and then they will call us to let us know when and where to pick him up! Yes, it is a boy! What a God thing! We would probably get him on Thursday - a Thanksgiving miracle baby.

We are asking for lots of prayers in the next week, that this door will be opened and for prayer for the birthmom and baby.

A New Chapter

So this last month has been a roller coaster of emotions - are we getting a baby or not? So we found out today that we are not. Something happened with the communication between the birthmom and we assume she has decided to parent.

We are beginning the journey again. I was thinking that this is a little bit like when we lost our baby through miscarriage. Some of the same emotions are surfacing again - facing infertility and adoption are both so hard! Even though I was not physically carrying the child, we do carry adoptive babies in our heart, so my heart hurts for this loss. For the promise of a child that is now not ours.

I know that something good will come out of this and that God will reveal this good in His perfect timing. I know in my heart that there is another baby out there that will be a perfect fit for our family - that we just have to wait for that. Again, as I have said before, and I have to remind myself daily, it is not my timing, it is HIS. I take comfort that God is our mighty refuge and we can run to Him in our times of trouble.

Happy Halloween

Halloween was fun this year! We got to eat lunch with Brian at work. We also went trick-or-treating for the first time. Lilly enjoyed it I think. We just took her to the houses on street and she enjoyed knocking on the door. Everyone seemed to love her cutey pumpkin fairy costume! After that we watched a Winnie the Poo Halloween movie and she had a sucker and a twix. All in all, a good Halloween!

This past month

It has been a while since I last posted! In this last month, we had a garage sale - it went well! A big thanks to both of our parents who came to help out and to all our extended families for donating to our garage sale! What a blessing our family is!

We did meet our birthmom this month as well. Please be in prayer about our adoption. Pray that everything will work out in the Lord's timing and that we will not feel anxious and rest in HIM!

Lilly is a pumpkin fairy for Halloween this year! She went to a Halloween party and we have taken her to our church's Fall Festival. She enjoyed a few things - the train ride (we went twice), the suckers, and the music. She also got a temporary tattoo that she enjoyed showing off! We tried Fried Oreos at the festival and let me tell you.....they were wonderful! If you ever get the chance to try them out - do! They are so yummy! (Lilly enjoyed the powdered sugar!)

Lilly with her yummy sucker!

We also went to an old church friend's little boy's birthday party - Tate turned 3! For favors, they gave away these instruments (clarinet, I think) and Lilly loves to blow on it and march around (here she is after the fall festival in tights, bloomers, my shoes, and her horn!)

It's Fall!

Well, what have we been up to lately? This last weekend, Nina and Papa kept Lilly. Brian and I went out to eat and saw Fireproof. This is a great movie and I recommend all married couples to go check it out, well, really anyone! It challenges you to examine your marriage and make sure you are on God's track and not our own track! There is a Love Dare challenge book that Brian and I want to do sometime. What a great time to reconnect with my Brian! Lilly is now 22 months old! She continually amazes us with new things she can say and do. She is playing so much more independently now - loves her baby dolls and stuffed animals (she loves to put her diapers on them and feed them and put them night night). She can say please (peaz), thank you, and bless you when you sneeze (bess you). I can't believe soon she will be 2!

We got Lilly a little table and chairs to do her coloring and play dough, instead of always sitting at our eating table to do crafts. I think she likes it, she is saying PINK! I think she likes that color.

Brian took Lilly to Chuck E Cheese's for the first time last night while I was teaching. I think they had a good time!

We are getting ready for our neighborhood garage sale this weekend. My parents are coming to help out too, which will be great!

This week we are going to meet our birthmom. Keep us in your prayers that everything goes smoothly!

We're Back!

So - we did survive. Our power came back on Saturday afternoon. I was in Tyler baking cookies and thought I would try our home number for the thousandth time to see if it was ringing. And oh my goodness - it rang! I called Brian back in Houston (he stayed for work) and told him the good news, I also confirmed with a neighbor. I high-tailed it back home on Sunday morning - how good it is to be home! Brian was so great and cleaned out our fridge, bathrooms, and floors, and all the debris outside! He is the best husband! Today the trash people finally came and took it all away! The only thing now is our fence. We don't have a back fence, so we have to either take Dakota out on a leash, tie her to our back porch, or take her for a walk. I will definitely take this small inconvenience compared to no power!

Interesting fact - we were supposed to have gone to Galveston the 18-21st (last Thursday-Sunday for a long weekend with my parents and Brian's parents). This obviously did not happen. Our condo is a wreck and Galveston in uninhabitable at the moment! Bummer!

Things to remember for next hurricane:
1. Buy trash sacks for yard clean up before it happens (we had none and had to stand in a 30 minute line at Home Depot and be escorted one by one into the store for supplies) :)

Thanks so much to Brandon, Katy, Lexie, and Emily for letting us stay for a week. We had fun hanging out with you guys - ya'll are so generous! Thanks mom and dad for a fun weekend - Lilly enjoyed the fair!

Hurricane Ike

Hello from Houston! We survived the hurricane with minimal damage, but still no POWER!! We lost power Friday night when the storm was starting around 11 pm. It was crazy to hear the power behing the storm and the wind. Lilly slept right throught it all! In the morning, we found we had lost our fence and had a little water in Lilly's room from the window. Other than that, just a lot of limbs and trees down and of course power. It is day 6 without electricity and boy, that is so something we have always taken for granted! We have been spending the night at Brian's brother's house since Saturday. They are so gracious to give us a room to sleep in, food to eat, hot showers, washing our clothes, and letting Dakota stay too. Pray we get power soon! More to come....

Update

This week we found out the due date for the baby has been pushed back to November 12th. We have not met the mom and expect to meet her some time in October. Please pray for all the details to work out and for the birthmom and baby to stay healthy.

So, nothing too much to report. For now, I have to Rest in Him. I need to be still, and reflect on the greater purpose of our lives and yield to our Creator. I am so not in control, and that is okay.

First Day of Mother's Day Out

Yesterday was Lilly's first day of Mother's Day Out! I have to say I was so nervous for her - she obviously did not know what was coming - so I was the one with the nerves. I packed her little lunch the night before and got all her things together. I tried to take a first day of school picture before we left, but she was not into that as you can see, she is constantly on the move and so hard to take a picture of! I did get one of her back and her lunch box. She also has a cute backpack and princess nap mat. Yes, they eat lunch there and take a nap. Her MDO is from 9:15 to 2:15, which is a very long time when you are not used to it.

She did cry when I left her and I did get teary walking to the car without her. I spent my time going to the bank, grocery store, and working on my school lessons. When I went to pick her up, I peeked in and she was not being held or crying - which I was so glad! She was actually playing and when she saw me, she was so excited! We got a little report card and she ate all her lunch, liked the playground, and took a 40 minute nap! All in all, I think a good first day!

I know this is going to be so good for her and me. She will get to play with other kids her age and learn, too! She is at a church, so I know they will pray there and teach her something about Jesus as well! My little Lilly is growing up and gaining some independence. She is very special!

Just some highlights

This week was a week of celebration and new beginnings. My wonderful husband passed a big test for certification for his job! Yeah! We are so excited! My niece, Lexie, accepted Jesus into her heart! How wonderful! I started back to school teaching with 34 students and 30 chairs (first come first serve) and we met Lilly's teacher for MDO which starts this Tuesday. Brian also got to go to Waco to Baylor's first at home football game (we did not win, but he enjoyed the crazy adventure with the guys). Fun stuff!

Working on the nursery and Lilly 20 months

This weekend we put it in high gear getting ready for our soon coming new little boy. We hung new blinds and curtains and put the bedding on the crib. We have a primary color theme - the bedding is Alphabet Soup with lots of animals and letters. Lilly was our little helper and loved being in the middle of things! We also washed a few things my sister has given me from Drew (her son). How different is all the blue, yellow and red from pink, pink, and pink. Some days it does not seem real that we are going to be having a baby boy in two months. Brian commented on our walk the other night how we should treasure our last few months as a family of three, before welcoming our newest to make four!

Lilly is 20 months old now. She has quite a personality and such a treasure. We love it when she smiles and starts laughing. I love it when she runs a full speed saying mommy and then gives a big hug! She loves to be a helper in whatever we are doing. She likes to color and play play dough and still enjoys the library for story time and her tumbling class. She will be starting a mother's day out in September and I just can't believe it. We have a meet the teacher on August 28th!

Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We are getting a.....

So, we got THE call yesterday. Our adoption social worker told us she would never call us unless we got a baby - and we have! Yeah! We are getting a baby BOY!!! We do not know a lot of details yet, but we do know he is due October 23rd. We will get to meet the birthmom the first week of September.

We have been busy making lists of things that have to be done - with all the pink in the house, we definitely have to get this new one some blue. Lilly does not really understand yet what is going on, but I think she could sense the excitement yesterday, because she did not take a nap! I know she will be a wonderful big sister!

We have been praying about this so much, and God's timing is just so perfect. Knowing the due date, and it being a couple of months away, is great to coordinate Brian's work schedule and get all the little details in place. I think Priscilla Shirer really says it great that "events are designed to bring Him glory and also the seasons in which those events occur. We mustn't attempt to rush God. To rush spoils the very reason God initially desired the event for us and cheats us of the joy that comes when we experience God's will." I know through out infertility and now adoption, sometimes we just want to rush ahead and know the end or the outcome, but God slows us down, sets our sights on Him (and not on us) and we just wait to see what a majestic God He is.

Thank you Jesus for our blessing. We continue to pray for the birthmom and the baby - that they will remain safe and healthy.

High School Reunion

This weekend we were in Tyler for my high school reunion. On Saturday, my group of girlfriends and significant others (we called ourselves the L7 in high school) met out at Abbe's parents beautiful lakehouse. They had a great covered dock to play and Lilly even got to splash around a little bit. It was so nice to relax out there. That evening was the dinner at Holleytree. It was so funny to see everyone from high school - see who had changed and who had not, who had married who, and hear the latest news. Our group was glad to meet my newly engaged friend Kim's fiance, Jim. We all squished around the same table so we could visit and discuss the high school news.

I think I am one of the few who can say I had 7 very close Christian friends in high school that I still keep in touch with. We are all very different, but that is what makes our group fun. I loved catching up with you girls and feel blessed to have you in my life! Too funny - we all wore black and white!

Some days in Tyler

So, Lilly and I took a road trip to Tyler on Sunday - Wednesday. We got there in time to go to my niece, Kaylee, 7th birthday party at Little Gym. That was fun and boy did those kids have tons of energy!

Monday, mom took off, and we did a few errands (got some things together for the adoption garage sale). In the afternoon, all the cousins were together to play. Lilly and Drew played in the dirt/mud and got covered from head to toe and we ended up hosing them down to get clean - they thought that was too funny!!

Tuesday, Steph, my sis and I got to hang out. I babysat Drew with Lilly for a bit and then we went swimming at Tyler Tennis. They had a blast - I did not bring my camera, but my sis and dad have pics I can post later. In the afternoon all the cousins hung out again - they all played so well together and really wore each other out playing chase.

It was so good to spend quality time with the family and have 2 family dinners. We missed Brian, though! We will be back in a week and a 1/2 for my 10 year high school reunion.

In my bible study, we have been focusing on being still. With a toddler, housework, and just life - this is so hard! I am such a doer and want to get everything done in my time, when I was hit hard with the realization, it is not my time, it is HIS! I need to be still and listen to His voice and to truly appreciate where I am right at this moment. With the adoption I have been so caught up in getting a baby that sometimes I forget to just enjoy my family of 3 right where we are. Watching Lilly over the past week, I realize she is growing up so fast, that I don't need to wish time to move faster, but continue to take mental pictures of each little moment, savor the point in time we are in right now, and BE STILL. We will get a baby in the future, I have no idea when, only God knows that. So, I need to rest in that and enjoy. "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth."

July 4th and more!

This has been a busy holiday weekend. Brian and I went out on Thursday for our 6 year anniversary (which was on Sunday!) We went out to eat and then saw Get Smart with Steve Carrell. It was sooo funny! We had a great laugh! I love my husband and have had a wonderful 6 years with him!

Friday - July 4th - our neighborhood has a big celebration. They had a neighborhood band playing patriot songs and a parade with the boy/girl scouts, the fire truck and police cars, old timey cars, and lots of kids on decorated bikes, trikes, and strollers. They also had free hot dogs and chips/water and we said the pledge and sang the national anthem. Very Americana and we were so glad we went!

Satruday was the Burk family reunion in Centerville. It was fun seeing all of the family and Lilly had a blast playing and being outside most of the day. She looked very patriotic in her American flag outfit.

Monday was our home study for the adoption. It went really well - thanks for all your prayers and thoughts of us - I know we felt them. Jan, our social worker, was there from around 9:30-2. She saw Lilly with us for a little while, then Lilly went to Aunt Katy's to play. We talked alot about our marriage, communication, discipline styles, infertility and what to expect out of the adoption. We fed her lunch and dessert and then she took the tour around our house and was able to see where the new baby's nursery will be. We are so glad this part is over and now all that is left is praying and waiting for the right mom and baby to come along and pick our family. Please continue to pray for the mom and for her heart to be opened to us.

Lilly's first fingerpainting - what a masterpiece!

Father's Day

I know I am a little late posting Father's day pics. For Father's Day weekend, that Saturday we went to the Houston downtown aquarium. Lilly loves fish and we thought it would be a fun, mostly indoor activity. There were lots of different fish, Lilly especially liked the rooms with floor to ceiling tanks that she could see really well. Some of the fish were much bigger than she is! Brian liked the eels the best. We got to ride a train under a large shark tank, which was pretty cool! We also ate at the restaurant there and got to see all the neat fish swimming around in the tank that is in the middle of the restaurant. That afternoon we went to visit Nina and Papa. Nina, (Brian's mom), had just had neck surgery, so we wanted to make sure she was doing okay. On Sunday we just hung around our house and cooked out burgers. Brian is a wonderful dad to Lilly - he always makes her laugh and they have the best time together. Lilly loves her daddy very much!

We had Lilly's 18 month appointment last Thursday. She is doing great - 80% percentile for height and 45% for weight. Long and lean is what the pedi said. She is doing all the things she should be doing - so we are very pleased.

18 months and other things

Lilly is 18 months! Yeah! She is doing so much now - I just thought I would share a few things about our big girl.

Lilly is an early riser. She is normally up at 6:30, but we don't get her out of her crib until 7 to give us a chance to shower. She usually will stay in there and talk or say momma! She loves breakfast (cereal, oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, poptarts).

Lilly is a vegetarian, not by my choosing. She will not touch meat at all. This week she miraculously ate 2 fish sticks, but this is definitely a first. She will not eat chicken, chicken nuggets, beef, or hot dogs. She peels off the breading of corndogs. So - pretty much, she eats all fruits, drinks milk and eats cheese and yogurt, and all bread products, and a few veggies. Her main courses are PBJ, grill cheese, pasta of any kind with red sauce/no meat (loves manicotti!), cheese pizza and quesidillas (and black beans). I know it is a phase and one day she will become more adventurous.

Lilly still loves to be outside. She will just dig in any dirt she can find (main reason we got the sand box). She likes to swing and go for walks and help dad water the yard.

She is communicating more now - some words she says often are shoes (very big obsession with any shoes!), outside, drink, eat, dada, momma, papa, nana (banana), all the animal sounds (including a big snort for pigs), kitty, daka (dakota), bubble, fish, duck (quack), light, Elmo, Ernie, Dora, go, toe, eye, oh no!, uh oh!, whoa!, no!, hello, night night.... I can't think of the others right now!

She loves music and singing and dancing. She twirls around and around and makes her so dizzy sometimes she falls down! Lilly also loves books - we read alot during the day - her favorites are the ones where you look for the objects on the page. Sometimes she will just sit in her chair and look at the books, which is very cute.

She gives great hugs and kisses now (kinda selective). She blows kisses and makes smoochy sounds and will kiss us on the lips occasionally - too cute! She loves to hug Dakota!

What a joy! Happy 18 months our little girl!

We went to an adoption picnic this Saturday - it was neat to see all the families who have adopted and imagining what our little one will look like. They had a petting zoo, which Lilly loved! We also had individual interviews this week with our adoption director/social worker. We spent around 2 hours each with her - for them to better get to know us. Only one more step - the home study! This will be in July!

I have to tell on myself, mainly because it is pretty funny and Brian found it pretty humorous. I was watering the plants and feeding the dog for Brian's brother's family who is out of town. I did not really know how to work their alarm and set it off upon entering their house. I finally turned it off after calling Brian and set about watering the plants. All of a sudden I hear Sherriff department being called out and they enter the house (I had left it unlocked while I was there). I rounded the corner with the watering can and the Sheriff rounded the corner with the gun drawn! I don't know who scared each other more! Anyways - all was well! I only had to show him my ID to prove I was who I said I was (not that a robber would be watering the plants!:)) I learned my lesson!

Outside Fun

This past weekend Mimi and Papa came from Tyler for a visit. We went to the zoo on Saturday (we went really early so it would not be too crowded or hot). It was not crowded - a lot of the animals were still sleepy - but we had a good time. I think the highlight was the giraffe's (we saw them up close and personal), the lion, and the monkey's (Lilly liked the baboon).

Mimi and Lilly were pretending to be elephants!

That afternoon we got a sandbox and blew up the baby pool for the back yard. Lilly had so much fun going back and forth between the sand box and the pool to dance and splash around. Lilly always loves to dig in the dirt, so we figured this was a good place to do that - and yes, we have pink sand! Very girly! What a good weekend!

This weekend we have an adoption picnic with our adoption agency. It is for anyone who has adopted or been adopted through AIM, birth moms, and waiting families.

Adoption Web Profile

Our adoption agency now has a place on their website for waiting families - so we are on there! I hope you all can visit the site - www.aimadoptions.org and look under the waiting families tab on the right side of the home page to see our profile. This is a great and innovative way for birth moms and others to have another avenue to find out about families waiting to adopt. Feel free to share it with friends and family!

Summertime

Well, Lilly started swimming lessons last week. It is a mommy and me (or daddy) where they blow bubbles, kick, float, and sing songs. Lilly is not too thrilled about this, but has at least tried to do all of the things. I think she just likes to sing the songs and kick the best.

Right now at home, Lilly loves to wear our shoes and will say "shoe" until you help her put one on. Also, if she does not like something now, she can definitely say "no!" I think she just likes to say that word. Nina and papa bill came over for hamburgers on Memorial Day. Lilly enjoyed playing with them, and is so glad Nina can hold her again. We also went to a birthday party for Mark Mahlmann who turned one on Sunday. Lilly loved playing with the kids, looking at the turtles, and playing on the playground which was just the right size!

We turned in our adoption scrapbook yesterday - so glad to have that done! We are praying for some little details to work out!

Adoption Seminar

This Thursday we attended an adoption seminar at AIM. The 10 couples that are in our adoption group were there and it was nice to get to know them a little better. We heard from 3 birthmoms that had placed a baby in the past - which was so interesting to hear their stories, their circumstances, and where they are now. Most have contact with their adopted families and child. What a wonderful ministry AIM is to these moms. We heard from one adopted teenage boy who definitely has a passion for adoption. We also heard from 3 adoptive couples who have previously adopted a child through AIM and are going through it the second time. All 3 of their stories were different and made us realize even more the importance of being open and flexible throughout this process.

Mother's Day weekend

This was a fun weekend for us. Brian and Lilly went out on Saturday morning and got donuts and kolaches for my mother's day breakfast (Sunday's are way too crazy!) We got nursery furniture (I will show pics later when it is all in place). We probably will not have the new baby for another 9 months or so, but we found a great deal! Lilly got her first haircut on Saturday. I definitely recommend cool cuts - they had her sit/stand in this little car and she watched Sesame Street. We just got a little trim, but we were so proud - she did not even cry! She just stood there very serious and watched her movie and rang the bell on the car. They even put the hair they cut in an envelope with a picture of Lilly as well.

Mother's day we spent at the Burk's after church. (Lilly made a really cute hand print for me in the nursery.) We had Olive Garden and played kick ball. Papa has two horses, but now he also has a pony for the grandkids to ride on named Buster! What a surprise! Lilly did not want to ride yet, but did say her version of horse all day. I had a great day!

Definitions and Dancing

Throughout the adoption process, I feel like we are really looking inside ourselves and finding out more of who we are individually, as a couple, and as a family. Our autobiographies require much thought and really give an inside view of our thoughts and lives.

In the Dear Birthmother book, they presented a definition of adoption I had not considered, but totally agree with. "Adoption is the process of accepting the responsibility of raising an individual who has two sets of parents." We are the parents to nuture and help the child grow, while the birthparents gave the child their genes - their eye color and genetic traits. Both of us have love and will love the child forever.

Lilly dressed up in her 1 year pictures outfit today - she looked so cute, so I had to post a few of my favorites. She is saying a few new words - bubble, fish, shoe.

weekend fun

This weekend we spent in Tyler to celebrate 3 birthdays. This is definitely birthday month in the Burk/England/Lake family. On Saturday morning we went to Allie and Kaylee's soccer game (they are my sister's girls). Lilly had a great time running around and eating snacks during the game. We had a break for nap time and then had Drew's birthday party (my sister's son). They had it at the Sonic in Bullard and it was really fun. The kids loved playing in the sand and on the slides - Lilly and Drew had sand everywhere!:) We went back to my parents house and celebrated my dad's and Jody's (sister's husband) birthday. Whew! A very full day!

Lilly discovered a love for dress up in mine and Stephanie's old costumes. She loved how the sequins shined and how the fringe shaked and she loves wearing old jewelry.

Things new with Lilly:

1. She is feeding herself yogurt and applesauce (very messy, but she loves it)

2. She still loves to be outside (in the dirt or playing bubbles or picking up flowers and leaves)

3. She can bob up and down to music and clap her hands - she's got rythmn!

4. New words: Shoes, cheese, all right, momma very loud all the time, dado/dada, hi, bye, signs - all done, more, ball, eat, drink

A - is for eating messy applesause, gibbering the alphabet, accepting Brian and I no matter what, and our complete adoration