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.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
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!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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."
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."
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
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!
Monday, June 23, 2008
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.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
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!
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!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
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).
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.
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.
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