More Milestones!

We mailed off all of our acceptance papers this week for David's referral. We've filled out a LOT of papers and forms during this process, so it was great to do some paperwork that was actually enjoyable! :) Funny, what a difference that little guy's face makes in our outlook!

All of our paperwork should arrive with our agency on Monday, 1/28/08. In a slightly eerie coincidence, we mailed off our preliminary application to start our adoption process last year on 1/28/07. What a year it's been! It's fun to imagine what 1/28/09 might have to offer for us - hopefully, a totally normal, run-of-the-mill day at home with our two sons. Something to look forward to!

David's four-month birthday was also this weekend. I bet he is really starting to smile now. I hope so - I hope he is happy and content during this waiting time. Will's birthday is on Dec. 3, so when he was a baby, we celebrated Third Day every month. Nothing fancy, but some little treat just to mark the day - maybe an ice cream cone or a new pair of tiny shoes or a picnic in the park. So, I guess maybe we'll revive the tradition. David's birthday is the 26th, so Twenty-Sixth Day may become a regular occurrence in our house! This weekend, we all celebrated by sharing a big chocolate cupcake at one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants - Will's choice. I imagine 26th Day will be popular with both of the boys!

Introducing Our Son!

Introducing Our Son!

We are so pleased to introduce you to our new son, David! He is 3-1/2 months old, and is located in Vinh Long, Vietnam right now. He was born a healthy 6.6 lbs and 19-1/2 inches long. We expect to travel to Vietnam to bring him home with us some time this summer.

How do you describe what it is like to see your child for the first time? Somehow words just don't really seem to really do it justice. Excited? Elated? Thrilled? Thankful? Yes, and yet so much more. I didn't know that it was actually physically possible to both laugh and cry at the same time, and yet, when we first heard about David, that is exactly what I did! We were so relieved to know that our hopes for this adoption would be fulfilled. We were so glad to be able to tell Will about his new brother. We are so thankful to God, from Whom all real blessings flow. Most of all, we are so exicted to have this little boy as our son!

The picture above was taken about a week after David was born. I'm sure that he has already grown and changed in the past few months. I can only imagine how he might look today. I wonder if he is starting to smile a bit. I dream about the sounds of his little coo first thing in the morning as he lies in bed. I think about his sweet little hands and feet, the smell of his hair. I wonder if he likes his bath or if he wails all the way through it.

Yet, I am at peace knowing that my God, who provided this amazing son for us, will count every hair on his head the next few months. My God, who has cared for me throughout my life, will tenderly care for David too. I thank God for blessing me with a peace that passes understanding on this one. I struggled the last few months wondering if our desire for another child would ever be filled. Now, I just thank the One who has filled that desire.

Play Day with Kiley & Kenna!

My friend Shelly's girls came to our house this week for some play time! For you non-adoption folks out there, Shelly, David, and two of their daughters have been in Vietnam since Dec. 21. They hope to come home next week with their new son, Kaden. You can follow their trip at http://www.bringinghomebrother.blogspot.com/.

I figured that when we are half-way around the world, I will probably be dying for a glimpse of Will's face. I figured that Shelly & David are ready to see their biddies, even if it's just some quick snapshots. So, the pictures below are for you! :)

The kids had a great day! We did a craft project, ate PB&J, and played a lot of toys. Kenna and Will built with Legos for about an hour and a half in the afternoon - I even got to sit down and read a chapter in my new book! :) Both Kenna & Kiley played "flying to Vietnam" with the airplane and airport - and both of them acted out hugging their new little brother at the OKC airport. Too cute! Seriously, they are doing so great - Shelly's Mom is just a rockstar in my book for keeping all the balls in the air the last few weeks.

Can't wait to see you guys home safely in Oklahoma! Will says it's time for Kaden to get a Redhawks t-shirt!

Snapshots for Shelly!