Chad and I have been so blessed these last few weeks. We completed two very successful garage sales and we have now turned our focus to getting a nursery together and selling raffle tickets (If you are still interested in purchasing raffle tickets, the drawing is May 31. We have some great prizes. To purchase tickets, you can either email me or use the Paypal link). After struggling for two years to start a family, we are having so much fun creating a room for our baby girl. The room we used to refer to as the "future nursery" has actually become one! We got to paint the walls, pick out her furniture, and decorate the walls. Shout out to Chad for being such an amazing husband and future daddy!! He has been putting some major love into getting ready for out little girl. We have also had several friends donate clothing and blankets to help us get ready for her arrival. It has been so much fun preparing our lives for her. Here are some pictures of her nursery:
A good friend of mine from college completed the painting that is hanging above her crib. Chad and I both love this Bible verse and wanted to incorporate it into her nursery in some way. I sent Casey some pictures, and she created this beautiful work of art on reclaimed wood. Without ever having stepped in her nursery, Casey created the most beautiful, perfect piece of art. It completes her nursery and we could not be more excited. Please check out her website: www.kidspiredcreations.com or "like" her on Facebook. She is so talented and takes custom orders!!!
On May 2, I had the privilege of attending a baby shower for some friends of ours that recently brought home their baby boy through adoption. Chad and I met Ashly and Paul at an adoption workshop at HPC, and we happen to share the same anniversary! While at the store on Friday buying a present for Ashly and Paul's little miracle, Chad agreed to let me pick out a few things for our baby should she come early. I was so emotional over the whole experience. I am so thankful to God for getting Chad and me to this point. We are just so excited to have opened our hearts to adoption and for Him to have put Leslie in our lives. The adoption process has been very smooth thus far. While an emotional process, and exhausting at times, I am just so thankful and excited to do something so simple as pick out pacifiers and wipes. I guess for me it makes it real. With this in mind, Chad and I have been trying to make the most of the last few weeks of our lives as a family of two (and three fur babies). We have been going to baseball games, visiting friends, fishing, and trying to sleep in as much as possible.
On Wednesday March 6, my coworkers threw our first baby shower complete with a pot luck lunch. It was so nice to be surrounded by so many people who care about Chad and me and love our baby so much already. It was so much fun to open all of the presents and come home to place them in her room. Here are some pictures from the shower!
On May 2, I had the privilege of attending a baby shower for some friends of ours that recently brought home their baby boy through adoption. Chad and I met Ashly and Paul at an adoption workshop at HPC, and we happen to share the same anniversary! While at the store on Friday buying a present for Ashly and Paul's little miracle, Chad agreed to let me pick out a few things for our baby should she come early. I was so emotional over the whole experience. I am so thankful to God for getting Chad and me to this point. We are just so excited to have opened our hearts to adoption and for Him to have put Leslie in our lives. The adoption process has been very smooth thus far. While an emotional process, and exhausting at times, I am just so thankful and excited to do something so simple as pick out pacifiers and wipes. I guess for me it makes it real. With this in mind, Chad and I have been trying to make the most of the last few weeks of our lives as a family of two (and three fur babies). We have been going to baseball games, visiting friends, fishing, and trying to sleep in as much as possible.
On Wednesday March 6, my coworkers threw our first baby shower complete with a pot luck lunch. It was so nice to be surrounded by so many people who care about Chad and me and love our baby so much already. It was so much fun to open all of the presents and come home to place them in her room. Here are some pictures from the shower!
On Thursday March 7, Chad and I made the trip to Lake Charles for Leslie's appointment. Chad got to see the baby during her ultrasound for the first time. She is gaining weight and measuring exactly where she should be for 33 weeks. We are so grateful to Leslie for caring for this baby so much. We were able to have lunch with Leslie and her husband along with their son. We are always so grateful for the time we get to spend getting to know them. We want to share as much information with Baby D as possible when she gets older and is able to understand. We have plans to create a book for her complete with pictures of her biological family and facts about them.
That evening I got the most amazing email from our friends Ashton and Jason. I met Ashton after she won the IVF at the Baby Steps 5k, and we have kept in touch ever since. Ashton is such an amazing person. After winning the IVF, she started a Go Fund Me page in an attempt to raise $1,000 to assist another couple with the high costs associated with an IVF. Ashton was successful at raising $575. She informed me that she had prayed for God to help her in determining who the money should benefit, and our story kept coming back to her. She was emailing me to let me know that she was donating the money to us. We were so excited!! Just when I have no idea how we are going to finish raising the money to help us reach our goal, God provides for us and gives us the extra push we need to get there. Thank you again to Ashton and Jason for your selfless efforts to help another couple and for choosing us. Thank you to all who contributed to Ashton's fund. Your names will appear on the balloon collage with all the other names of friends and family that have helped us bring home our baby.
Fast forward to this past Saturday, my family (mom, aunts, cousins, and grandmother) threw a shower to help us welcome Baby D. The shower was so special, beautiful, and fun. My family went all out on the precious decorations and thoughtful touches. I will never forget it, and I meam so thankful to everyone who was a part of the celebration. I am a lucky girl to have such an awesome support system of kind, loving women.
That evening I got the most amazing email from our friends Ashton and Jason. I met Ashton after she won the IVF at the Baby Steps 5k, and we have kept in touch ever since. Ashton is such an amazing person. After winning the IVF, she started a Go Fund Me page in an attempt to raise $1,000 to assist another couple with the high costs associated with an IVF. Ashton was successful at raising $575. She informed me that she had prayed for God to help her in determining who the money should benefit, and our story kept coming back to her. She was emailing me to let me know that she was donating the money to us. We were so excited!! Just when I have no idea how we are going to finish raising the money to help us reach our goal, God provides for us and gives us the extra push we need to get there. Thank you again to Ashton and Jason for your selfless efforts to help another couple and for choosing us. Thank you to all who contributed to Ashton's fund. Your names will appear on the balloon collage with all the other names of friends and family that have helped us bring home our baby.
Fast forward to this past Saturday, my family (mom, aunts, cousins, and grandmother) threw a shower to help us welcome Baby D. The shower was so special, beautiful, and fun. My family went all out on the precious decorations and thoughtful touches. I will never forget it, and I meam so thankful to everyone who was a part of the celebration. I am a lucky girl to have such an awesome support system of kind, loving women.
Here's how you can pray for us this week:
Please continue to pray for Chad and me; there's still so much that has to fall into place before baby girl can join our family. We are praying that we could continue to trust in God as we walk through it all. As the time for baby girl draws near, we know that emotions will be heightened, and things can get complicated as we work out the remaining details. We are asking for peace with every decision we have to make. We want to follow God's path for us through this journey.
Please continue to pray for our birthmother and birth family. This is such a tough decision for her, and we pray that God continues to give her peace in her decision. We know that while this process is mostly exciting for us, it is most difficult for her. So much love, sacrifice, and selflessness goes into this decision. It's not an easy choice to make.
Please pray also for all those families still waiting- waiting to conceive, waiting to hear a diagnosis, waiting to be matched, or waiting for God's timing. Waiting is always tough, so please pray for them to have patience and pray that He lead them down the right path.
Thank you for checking in and for your continued love and support...we are almost there!!
Please continue to pray for Chad and me; there's still so much that has to fall into place before baby girl can join our family. We are praying that we could continue to trust in God as we walk through it all. As the time for baby girl draws near, we know that emotions will be heightened, and things can get complicated as we work out the remaining details. We are asking for peace with every decision we have to make. We want to follow God's path for us through this journey.
Please continue to pray for our birthmother and birth family. This is such a tough decision for her, and we pray that God continues to give her peace in her decision. We know that while this process is mostly exciting for us, it is most difficult for her. So much love, sacrifice, and selflessness goes into this decision. It's not an easy choice to make.
Please pray also for all those families still waiting- waiting to conceive, waiting to hear a diagnosis, waiting to be matched, or waiting for God's timing. Waiting is always tough, so please pray for them to have patience and pray that He lead them down the right path.
Thank you for checking in and for your continued love and support...we are almost there!!