Day 2

I really wanted to buy L a Halloween costume this year, but I knew it would be a waste of money since he is only 9 weeks old. Instead, I decided to use the money to buy food for the food pantry.  We will be dropping it off today!

Day One

One of the blessings we hold near and dear to us is our son.  The experience of his birth was one of the most beautiful experiences we will ever have.  From that day on, we have wanted to express gratitude to the hospital staff who was so amazing to us.  Everyday we would say, "we really need to write that letter..." and yet never did.  Until today.

Day One of Gratitude:

30 Days of Good Deeds

I reading a blog that I love (http://tinyurl.com/8e368eo), and was inspired to try my own version of this challenge.  Many of you who know me know that I have a love hate relationship with 30 days.  In adoption, 30 days is significant in many ways, but that is an entirely different post!

I have decided that for the next 30 days, I will do some small kind deed or act of gratitude.  With the end of the 30 days happening right around Thanksgiving, I thought this is the perfect time for this.  I came across this quote in a different blog, and I felt compelled to act. 

"From Those Who Have Received Much, Much Is Expected."

Dave and I are blessed beyond words, and I want to pass those blessings along.  I initially was going to keep this a secret as Katie wanted to, but I was so inspired by her that I thought I would put the challenge out there. Go and do!

Hurricane Sandy

As a temporary stay at home mom, I have been extra dedicated to tracking this storm.  I must admit that any significant weather gets me excited, but I usually prefer blizzards.  I wasn't sure that I would feel the same excitement since I will be home either way, but I was pretty interested anyhow.

Here in upstate NY, we probably won't have much rain.  The experts predict that high winds and subsequent power outages will be the worst parts of the storm for us.  I am concerned about all of the old and feeble trees that border our property.  I hope they don't crash onto the house!  At this time (7pm, 10/29), we still have power.  You may not know this about us, but we ALWAYS lose power.  It is a matter of when, not if.  Luckily, we have plenty of candles and flashlights.

I hope you all make it out of the storm unscathed.  And hey, maybe you can stay home from work tomorrow!

Two Months Old!

I realized that I never posted L's one month picture, so here is Month 1 and 2!  It is hard to believe how quickly he is growing and changing.  He looks friendlier at 2 months old :-)

Out with the old

Friday was a sad day for me as my CR-V was deemed in need of expensive repairs.  The brakes were going and the car would need some other major repairs once it hit 110,000 miles.  Since the car has 101,000 miles, we knew it would be a large amount of money into an older and high mileage care.  When Dave suggested I look at new cars, I was aghast. I love my CR-V.  I didn't want a new car; I love my car.

But then, reality set in.  I had to admit that his financial argument made a lot of sense.  I won't bore you with the research process (I had it all typed out and the internet ate it!), but we ended up with a 2012 Honda Fit Sport!

The BIG Day!

As we proceeded with our match, we learned that the baby was due the first week in September.  I was so excited, a fall baby.  So imagine our surprise when my phone rang at 4 am on August 22!!!!

It was our case worker.  She said, "S's water broke, and you should come now."

AHHH! We were running around like mad trying to pack. What? He was early?!?! I had just packed my own bag the night before, but Dave's wasn't packed.  Some of our gear was gathered, but not all.  We were half ready, but it didn't matter because he was coming!  I don't think I have ever moved so quickly.  An hour later, we were on our way.

The 3 1/2 hour drive felt so long.  We were on our way to meet our son.  It was surreal. S wanted us to be in the delivery room with her.  I didn't even eat breakfast because I was so anxious to get there.

When we were about 15 minutes away, our case worker called again.  S was 8 inches dilated.  Our son was coming and soon!  I ran about 3 red lights, and we ran through the hospital.  We walked in the room at 8 am.

S was read to push.  Dave and I took turns holding her legs.  I remember hiding behind Dave at one point, so afraid to look.  He said, "here comes our son, look!"  At 8:55 am, our son was born.  Seeing our son come into the world was an experience that I never thought I would have, but I am so glad I did.  It was a miracle.

The three of us had already decided on his name, so we had an answer when the nurse asked.  He was a healthy baby boy.  Our boy.

The Meeting

We were set to meet with S just days after we learned about her.  We drove 2 1/2 hours to our case workers office in Vermont, and I was a nervous wreck.  On paper, we already liked S.  Would she like us?  Would we have a match?

I remember the case worker telling me to relax, that S already liked us and that was why we were there.  We watched out the window for when her car pulled up.  I want to respect her privacy so I will be vague, but the meeting went extremely well.  She came prepared with tons of great questions for us, and we were so pleased with her.

Before we left, our case worker asked if we all felt like it was a good match, and we all said YES!  We waited a few days (pending medical records) to make it official, but we walked away that night knowing that S was our gal.

Getting THE Call

On July 5, our fourth wedding anniversary, we received THE call.  We were over to our friends' house for the day. Dave was helping John build a bench for their deck, and Jenn and I were swimming.  We were just getting ready to order lunch from an Italian place when the phone rang.

The caller ID was from our agency.

Our hearts stopped.  Dave was in the pool and I ran over saying "Oh my God!!!"  He was worried that something was wrong, but then I told him who it was. With my heart pounding out of my chest, I answered the phone.

There was a young woman named S who had picked us.  She wanted to meet us...in 3 days!  She wasn't due until September, but she was anxious to meet us.  Of course, we said YES!

The rest of the call was a blur of note-taking about this young woman and about her baby.  I remember sitting there at the table saying "Did they really just call?  Is this really real???"  It was.

We had toyed with the idea of keeping the baby's gender a surprise.  Part of it was to keep from getting too attached, but also for the fun and excitement.  S asked us to consider incorporating a certain name into the baby's name so we had to find out what the gender was.  We were sitting at the ATM when the email came through.

It is a boy.

We went out to dinner that evening to celebrate our anniversary and this new possibility.  It was hard to reign in our excitement so for that night, we abandoned doubt.  We talked about what we would name him, what he would be like, what our new lives would be like.  It was a giddiness that is beyond words.

It was magical.