Sunny Days

Be Honest.....How many of you sang that title instead of reading it?! Sesame Street flashback!

So we decided to enjoy the sunny day by taking a nice long walk with the dogs around the neighborhood, ad then hang out front to soak up some sun. She very much enjoyed the walk as she was awake the entire time smiling and talking. Our time out front was nice but the dogs were being super annoying (nothing new there). They wanted to be under the shade of the umbrella, or in my lap, or right next to Natalie. They kept getting all  wrapped up in my feet and our stuff! Then Higgins decided to roll all over the grass just to see how much dead grass he could collect in his glorious fur! He did a great job but I am not sure these pictures do it justice. I mean he had A LOT of grass in his fur.

 Murphy is keeping her company...and also sitting in the shade!

Sorry these pictures are a little off center. This girl will not perform when she sees that camera come out. She shuts down, and it makes me crazy! I took at least 4 videos and deleted them because the minute I would start recording she would stop talking and stare blankly at me. Well, she is up from her nap and crying so I'm out!

Check this bow out!

I'm getting a little more adventurous in my bow making, and I LOVE this one. Ashley H........you should be impressed!

Random Things

Below is a picture of the Bible each baby received at the dedication Sunday. I thought it was so sweet that it was engraved with their names on it!

This is a picture of her new shelves in her room. I have seen these before and loved them! I originally wanted the 3x3 but Tar-get was out of the white when I was ready to buy! So, I tried these instead and think I like it better. That way she can reach it all for a few years, and when she gets older you can set it up to make it taller! Genius!

This is what my mom created for her bows! Precious.....

And THIS is my old rocking chair that my dad repainted for Natalie. He even painted her name!

Oh and my old cabbage patch, too!

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Baby Dedication

Today was Natalie's dedication at church. This is not to be confused with a baptism or christening. As Baptist, our dedication is simply a statement that Brian and I, as her parents, promise to raise her in the church, in a Christian home as the Lord would see fit. We give her to the Lord, and pray that one day she will give her heart to Him. We were so thankful and blessed to have both parents there. Aunts and uncles couldn't make it, but we understood. Precious memories.......

 There were 9 other babies being dedicated this morning with Natalie, and 2 others were adoptions, too! Of course, we asked them to mention that NJ was adopted, but they didn't. Not sure who forgot to do what, but oh well!

 Like 'Lion King,' the dads always hold up the babies for the congregation and choir to see! OOHS and AHHS always follow. Brian was disappointed NJ didn't get more than she did. So funny!

Our prayers for her to one day give her life to the Lord.

We are so thankful for family to support us, a church home to help us raise her, and a mighty God who saves us all! Thank you, Lord, for the precious gift in our family.

The good part of our trip!

 Natalie is being loved on by Aunt Ashley and her cousin Audrey. Audrey always says, "I wanna hold Natawie!" When she is feeding her she lasts about 3 minutes then says, "Ok, I done with Natawie." It is too cute!

 Not to be left out, her cousin, Evan, loves her too!

 Aunt Ashley is making me laugh

And finally mommy gets one good shot of her smiling! Head on even! How precious is that?! Gotta love those little rolls coming up on her legs.=)

We think that Natalie is in the midst of a growth spurt. She is very cranky, not sleeping well for her naps, and eating more than normal. For the past 3 days she has eaten a total of 24 ounces instead of 22. Except today when she jumped it up to 26! We have moved her up to the big bottles now because we need to give her 5 ounces each feeding instead of 4. Last night I think we should have given her one more bottle but I was paranoid to 'overfeed' her. My mistake, and I paid for it! She was constantly fidgeting and fighting during the night, and I'm sure it was because she was hungry.  Hopefully, tonight her tummy will be full and she will sleep like normal.

Right now Natalie can hold her weight quite well on her legs. When she is lying down and we pull her up by her arms, she pulls her whole body up and stands! Her head control is good and she has a strong neck. I weighed her today and she is an even 12 pounds and growing. I think she may have grown a half inch too! But that is just my unofficial measurement. She won't go back to the pedi until the end of February for her 4 month check up/shots.

She is still just as beautiful as ever though!

story

So my sister, niece, Natalie and I were eating at Mazzios in AR. I decided to change NJ's diaper in the booth next to me because she was super wet. I tossed a blanket on the booth seat and proceeded to change her. I heard the woman sitting in the booth behind us making comments about how disgusting that was, and she couldn't believe I was doing that. So, I turned at glared at her then continued. She also continued running her mouth when she said, "I'm just curious to see what she is going to do with that when she is done (in her snotty tone)." By this point I was ticked so I whipped around and told her that I had a bag for it so she wouldn't have to worry about a thing because there was nothing to smell!  She then said, "I'm sure there is a place for you to do that in the bathroom." I told her that the bathroom was filthier than anything I wanted to place my daughter on, and this booth was working just fine. She continued AGAIN to say, "Well, I'm sure the people who will sit in that booth later won't appreciate that!" I was fuming at this point (and shaking too), and whipped around for the last time and told her there was a blanket there and not a single thing had touched the seat or the table so she really shouldn't worry about what I was doing! Then I finished by firmly saying, "sometimes you do what you gotta do!" I wished I had asked her if she had children because clearly she didn't. The husband that was with her seemed a bit embarrassed by her (as he should have been). Later my sister told me I should have tossed her the diaper and said, "think fast!" Ha!
If only!

My Mommy Claws Came out

Story to come....................stay tuned!

Laughter is the best medicine

Natalie is starting to get a little personality, I do believe. This morning Brian was telling her bye and talking to her and she LAUGHED for the 1st time. I couldn't believe we both heard it.  She had been playing in her play mat for 30 minutes or so just talking the entire time. Mornings are definitely her thing! A little bit ago I was putting her down for a nap (or trying to anyway) and she looked up at me and smiled like to say, "joke's on you, mommy. I'm not going to sleep!" Those sly little smiles have been coming out more and more. Stinker!

Exciting News!

We just received our paperwork from the adoption attorney that our Finalization court date has been set! Mark your calendars for Natalie's "Gotcha Day" as many call it! This day will be just as special as her birthday. The day the Lord legally made her ours (tears!).

Friday, May 13th at 8am! Friday the 13th! Special for two reasons now (my mom was born on Friday the 13th)......... I'm so excited!

Better Late Than Never

Here is Natalie's fancy Christmas outfit given to us by a dear friend, Connie and her daughter, Charley. As I was scanning through our Christmas photos we could not find ONE single photo of her in this. Out of all my family?! Can you believe it?! So, today I recreated the moment and got this picture!  I'm in love with this girl=)

Fun moments

Today Natalie figured out that her play mat was not just for sleeping. She finally discovered the toys that are on it and really enjoyed it! I had so much fun just watching and listening to her. She stayed there for a good 30 minutes. I couldn't believe it. After that, we went on a walk, and now she is sacked out!
Guess I'd better go figure dinner out since I'm supposed to have it all ready to go!

Play date!

Today was Natalie's first play date with a friend that is only 2 days older than she is. My friend, Jamie called us and asked if we wanted to come over and we jumped on it! The two of us have been through infertility together, and now have beautiful babies to show off. She went through IVF twice and has 2 beauties (not twins as you can see below). We had a good time visiting with each other as we never seem to have the time to just talk about what is going on. It was fun to compare the two, Jaxson and Natalie, even if they are boy and girl. Sweet times!
Tomorrow is breakfast with a friend and her 5 month old!

We decided to go on a walk after our play date so she needed to wear her shades! That lasted all of 3 seconds=)

I love the Elvis lip curl.

And finally, Natalie has to support her Hogs in the game against the Buckeyes so she was dressed and ready to say Whooo Pig Soooiiieeee!

2 month shots

Natalie had her 2 month check up with shots today! She handled them pretty well. Screamed when she got them, but calmed down minutes afterwards. They must have made her tired because she sacked out on our way home, woke up to eat, then has been out cold for 2 hours and counting.  She now weighs 11.2lbs and is 23 1/2 inches long. She wrote on her chart that she is a 'leggy girl.' She was surprised to hear that her birth parents were not very tall. I told her she was just meant for our family! God has it under control=)
Her height is in the 90th percentile with her weight being more average in the 55 percentile range.
Everything looks healthy, and she is developing nicely. Thank you, Lord!
Now time for tummy time boot camp!

Cutie

Just had to show you her new boots!

Reflections of 2010

One of my favorite blogs to read had a reflection of 2010 in pictures, and another one I read reflected by month. I thought that was such a cool thing to read.  So,  I wanted to do one myself! Mine will be a reflection without pictures, but maybe next year I will have it together enough for pictures=)

(December 2009)- Took a leap of faith and turned in paperwork to our agency starting the adoption process
January- 1st orientation with director of agency (meet & greet if you will) at the beginning of the month;
              attended 6 hour required orientation at the end of the month (this was a last minute thing*read
              below in July)

February-

March- ski trip to Colorado with friends/family; completed all paperwork for agency and turned it in

April- 1st home study; Brian celebrated his 30th birthday!

May- completed scrapbook to be shown to potential birth mothers at the end of the month (the agency
         called us and frantically asked us to get it done and turn it in within a week because birth moms  
         were asking about us!)

June- First birthmother chose another couple to parent her child. We were at peace with that, and knew
         God had a plan!  Brian and I took a vacation just the two of us to St. Augustine, Florida for a week
         at the end of the month! We had the best time!  On our trip we received news that a birth mother
         had chosen us, and was having a girl! We were in shock=)

July- This was the month we were supposed to have gone to the 6 hour orientation, but last minute
         cancellations from 2 other couples opened up a spot for us in January.......you think God was
         working?!!?  We went camping (worst trip ever because of the torrential, torrential downpour the
         whole time we were there), and surprised my family with the news!
         12th- celebrated our 7th anniversary
         13th- met our birth mother for the first time
         16th- Shared the news with Brian's family

August- Brian and I took a trip out to LA to see a long lost friend! Best trip!
              Started school; went with birth mother to an ultrasound appt and got to see my baby girl!

September- Football games begin! Met NJ's half sisters for the first time

October- celebrated my 30th birthday on the 16th and my daughter was born on the 27th! Joy!

November- NJ took her first trip to AR to celebrate Thanksgiving with my side of the family

December- Met birth mother and sisters for an afternoon of lunch and play
                   NJ celebrated her first Christmas with so much family!
January 2011-April 2011- Maternity leave for mommy!!!

OH my goodness, what a crazy year!?! We took 3 trips, saved/raised $17, 500 for the adoption, both of us turned 30, and got to see the beautiful face of our daughter for the very first time. The one we waited 3 long years to see........
The Lord's timing is perfect and incredible. Natalie was well worth the wait, and I am so blessed to say my family was created through adoption. I leave you with a song.

'Morning by morning new merices I see.

All I have needed thy hand hath provided

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto Thee.'

Christmas

Wow, it has been so busy. I literally feel like we have been in a whirlwind. Out of two weeks time, I don't feel like I have spent much time with Brian and Natalie at all. She of course was passed around by family the entire time we were away, so now we are in detox mode. I am so grateful for a family who loves her, and friends that love her, but my goodness we are glad to have today as just the three of us. Back in a routine, back on a schedule..........(sigh).
So now I will just let you enjoy some pictures of her first Christmas.

First family Christmas!

Audrey loves her Natawie!

For his office....trying to cheer him up to go back to work

getting ready for the next few months

Cousins!

boots with the fur....love it!

Murphy loves her and wants to be close=)

Happy New year!