The Big Day!!!

First of all, if the frequency of my blog posts tells you anything, I hope it shouts "I've had better things to do!!!!!"    Because yes, I've been a little preoccupied this year.  But for all the right reasons, I assure you!  

Although it seems like just yesterday, Miss Mia has now been with us for nine months.   Nine.  Wonderful.  Months.   And from the moment we laid eyes on her, we knew she belonged to us.  She was ours, and we were hers.  The paperwork didn't matter.  The looming Court dates didn't matter.    On February 18th, we became a forever family, and our life since has been nothing short of amazing.   But as I'm sure you understand, those steps in the process are reality, and they take some time. 

Well,,, our time is almost up!  The long road is FINALLY coming to end!  Tomorrow, we will visit a Courtroom to stand before the Judge, who will identify us as Mia's parents in the eyes of the law.  It's the final step of the adoption process.  To say this is an exciting time for us would be an understatement.  It's like we'll become a family all over again - it will be another reason to celebrate!!! 

To add to the excitement, National Adoption Day celebrations will be taking place across the Nation.  We get to be a part of this very special day, and will be sharing it with thousands of other families just like us.  I want to close this with a bit of adoption awareness - something for you to think about.  Adoption is a process.  It's how we became a family.   Mia isn't our adopted child, she WAS adopted. 

Now she is just our daughter :)

Worth the Wait!

For most of you, this news doesn't come as a surprise.  I'm a little behind the game as far as keeping up our blog goes!  But we are excited, nonetheless, to FINALLY introduce the newest member of our family!!!

Mia Claire, born February 16th, 2012.

6 lbs, 5 oz.  18 inches long

As far as we knew, Thursday, Februay 16th was just a regular day.  Mike and I both went about our days at work, came home and made dinner together, enjoyed our nightly ping-pong game, and settled in for some trashy tv before we went to bed.  Little did we know, our lives would be forever touched by the miracle that entered the world that morning.  The next day, while at work, I received a phone call from a very important woman at our adoption agency.  No joke, after a polite hello, the first thing she said was "Would you and Mike be able to pick up your baby girl tomorrow?"

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

[Enter tears of joy here!]



Needless to say, I was beside myself.   Literally!  My heart jumped out of my chest.  My brain was off in left field.  My body had to function for a couple more hours at work while I absent-mindedly tried to wrap up a few things up, since I knew I would not be returning on Monday!!!   It's one thing when you get linked with a birthmother before the baby is born - when you have some time to prepare.  But it's a whole different story when the baby is HERE!!!!!    Anyway, somehow, both Mike and I made it through the next 24 hours, before we picked our little girl up from the hospital. 

There are no words to describe that experience.  You mothers out there can relate, I'm sure.  And if you've waited almost 8 years, through the torture of infertility, the loss of a child through a failed adoption, and the ups and downs of not-knowing what your future holds, then you truly understand how I felt the moment they placed her in my arms.  It all made sense.  She belonged with us. 

Of course, there would be a 28-day waiting period, through which we prayed, held our breath, and prayed some more.  But something told me we didn't have to worry.  Her birthmother knew what she was doing.  She called her Mi'Angel...  Funny thing is, that's exactly what her birthmother is to us - our Angel.  She has blessed us beyond words with life's greatest gift... 







Christmas Blessings...

Well, it's Christmas evening and our holiday festivities are almost all wrapped up, at least for this weekend!  We've spent the last three days with our families...  enjoying good food, good company, sharing both laughter and tears.  We are blessed beyond words to be surrounded by such warm, welcoming, and loving people.  What a perfect opportunity to reflect on the past year and all that it has brought us.  Although it's been a roller coaster ride full of ups and downs, we still have our health, our family and friends, and most importantly, each other.  If nothing else, this year has brought us closer together, and forced us to become stronger - both together and as individuals.  But I won't lie - these last few months have been difficult.  It's almost as if our life were put on hold - we're just waiting for that next big moment.  We've been challenged by our emotions and the different ways we handle them.  I realize how easy it might have been for us to slip away from one another - each heading down our own dark path.  But we are a team, and [thankfully] chose to head down the road together.  We aren't sure how much longer this adoption journey will last - we just know our baby is out there somewhere and God will bring us together when the time is right. 

For now, we will keep traveling this road we are on, enjoying all that we can along the way.  With the New Year right around the corner, we've set some goals, made some plans, and of course, said our prayers!  I'm sure 2012 will bring more ups and downs, but we'll manage.

Tonight, I'm trying really hard to enjoy the peace and quiet that surrounds me.  I know there are parents out there, right now, just wishing their kids would go to bed!   But the excitement of the day - new toys, candy in their stockings, and family gatherings, probably have them running full speed ahead.  I just hope those parents realize how lucky they are.  I would give anything at this moment to hear the sound of my child's laughter, to read them a story, or to tuck them into bed.  If you are reading this and you have children, PLEASE, hold them a little tighter, hug them a little longer, and love them as much as you possibly can.  Be thankful for each and every moment, because you are incredibly blessed.

Merry Christmas, and to all a good night :)

Opening our hearts...

I know this post has been a long time coming... but honestly, I just haven't had anything to say until now.  I do wish I had more exciting news at this point, but I don't, and that's ok!   Deep down, I know Mike and I are exactly where we are supposed to be at this point in our lives.  This summer hasn't exactly been what we planned, but it's been exactly what we needed.  I think we are finally ready to fully accept the plan God has for us.  We stll don't know what that is, but we are opening our hearts to it!  We feel good things headed our way...  

Right now, our plans for the next couple of months include camping, kayaking, golfing, a trip to Chicago and another to Cedar Point.  If we get all this in, great!   But if our plans get interrupted by, say, a baby?!?!  Well, that would be great, too.  We are ready, whenever he or she decides to find their way into our life. :)