Baby Update

Since our announcement that we are expecting, we have found out that our future daughter will have an older brother.  His name is going to be Bennett Allen Wright.  We will call him Bennett.  The ultrasound visit was such a great experience.  It is so amazing to watch this little man grow from a white dot to a baby with hands, feet, fingers, and toes.  I am truly thankful that God blessed us with this miracle.

 

I am now approaching 23 weeks.  I cannot hind the belly any longer.  We have enjoyed starting to pick things out and get Bennett's room ready.  The first thing we did when we found out we were having a boy was buy the bedding.  Two weeks ago, we ordered the baby furniture. It will probably be mid May before it arrives.  Since then, I have registered at a number of places.  I did not know how much stuff there is to get for a baby.  Luckily, I have some great friends that provided lots of tips and advice to help me in this process.   Below are links to the sites to see the bedding and furniture.

 

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/boys-hayden-nursery-bedding/?pkey=bboys-nursery-bedding

http://www.creationsbaby.com/summers_evening.html

 

Last weekend, we started the cleaning process.  The room we have been using as an office will be Bennett's room.  My nephews did a great job packing up all my books.  Hopefully over the next two weekends we will have his room all ready for the furniture when it arrives. 

 

Thank you to our family and friends for all your love and support.  I really appreciate the gifts we have already received.  Please continue to pray for the pregnancy and a healthy Bennett.

Adoption Update

In January, we received information and paperwork related to our adoption.  Some of our documents have a 15 month life.  We are approaching where these documents are going to expire.  I cannot believe it has been over a year since we started this process. 

 

I completed the DHR Background check documents.  We have also received letters for both of us that we are again approved for adoption from DHR.  I still need to get another physical and prepare a new financial statements.  There are a few other documents that we must provide (dog vaccination, proof of insurance, etc).  I am hoping to get these items completed in April.  We will also have to have an updated home study which will probably be done in May or June.

 

We are Expecting

Yes, we are expecting. A positive pregnancy test was something I did not think I would ever see. We have had a long journey with many ups and downs. Although the wait and journey was not easy, God has taught us so much through this.

Our journey started over four years ago. We had been researching adoption and were really leaning that direction. I thought before we do that I would like to have one of my own first and then adopt. I never dreamed how difficult that process would be. Mid 2009, we decided if it happens it happens, but we were going to pursue adopting which is where this blog all started. I know the journey to have our own has taught us patience and trust in God which has prepared us for the wait which is involved in adopting from China.

After all the paperwork was filed with China, I started feeling guilty about our daughter to be may be an only child. Although I was fine with just one, I did not know if that was selfish of me. I began praying and left the second child up to God. I believe He could do one of a few things. (1) Help us financially and lead us to adopt a second child. (2) Allow us to adopt twins from China. (3) Help us get pregnant. If none of these things happened, I would trust that God's plan was for us to have one daughter.

If you ask me #1 was the most likely. God had already provided financially for us with the adoption expenses we had already incurred. We already have over half the money we will need when we travel to China. I cannot express how much money we are talking about within a little over a year. We have saved for cars and a house and it took years to come up with the money God has already given us in a year. We are truly blessed and thankful.

But God decided to completely amaze us with what I thought was the least likely of all the options...#3. I am currently 14 weeks pregnant. I am due July 18th. It has not been an easy 14 weeks. I have been sick at night mostly. Although I have not gained any weight yet, my body is changing shape. I am slowly getting use to it, but ready to look pregnant and not just fat.

I share this story in order for God to receive the glory. He is always faithful and good. I am so thankful for the baby He has blessed us with and the one we will meet a few years from now.

I am reminded of Eph 3:16-21.
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

11 week sonogram

New Years 2011

We had a great New Years with great friends in Jacksonville, FL. Our football group traveled to Jacksonville, FL New Year's Eve for the Gator Bowl. MSU had a New Year's Eve event planned at the river in downtown Jacksonville. I was too sick to go, but everyone else went. Apparently, there were mobs of MSU fans there. They also enjoyed fire works. I personally enjoyed sleeping and watching football in bed at the hotel.

New Year's Day, we went to the Gator Bowl. MSU played Michigan. There was probably 40,000 MSU fans and 25,000 Michigan fans. It was a great game for the MSU family. We beat Michigan 52-14. We also ran into a few old friends at the game. That night after the game, Kevin lined up reservations at Maggiano's. One of my favorite places. Sick or not, I was going and we had a great time. Everyone loved it.


Two of my favorite men.


Our football group


MSU victory

Christmas 2010

We had an amazing Christmas and it was the first white Christmas that I remember. Christmas Eve we went to the candlelight service and exchanged gifts with my family. Christmas day we went to a movie and drove to MS to have Christmas with Kevin's family. We also shared some exciting news with our family that we are expecting. I believe everyone was surprised. I know we were. I will share more details in a later post.

Although we are still waiting on our daughter from China, she is always on our mind, especially at the holidays. We had picked out a Dr. Seuss book and Beauty and the Beast movie for her for Christmas. Her dad, of course, had to have something specifically from him. He got her the Mary Poppins and Mulan movie. She also received other gifts from our family. Kevin's parents got her a Panda book, Snow White movie, and lullaby cd. Aunt Gigi (Beth and Howe family) got her Adoption Day book and some adorable shoes. See pictures below.

Where have we been?

The fall is a busy time for us. At work, it is year end and budget season. Socially, it is football season. I enjoy hanging out with friends and cheering on the MSU Bulldogs.

September has been full of weekends traveling to Starkville for the games. For the Georgia game, we stayed the weekend in Columbus at a cabin at Lake Lowndes with friends. We were able to take my nephews to the Alcorn State game. It was our first time to take Parker. The boys did great. Ethan had to get a MSU shirt which we were more than happy to get for him. Below is a picture of them with Bully.



October was more football games and vacation. We went to Gainesville, FL for the MSU vs. FL game. We had a great time walking around the campus, going to the book store, and watching the Bulldogs beat the Gators. It will probably be five years before we play Florida again at Gainesville. I hope our daughter will be here then, so we can make the trip again. We stayed the following week in Orlando for a much needed vacation. We went to Tampa for a day to visit with friends. The rest of the week we enjoyed the pool, shopping, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Downtown Disney. The Harry Potter ride had recently opened at Universal. Seeing a replica of Hogsmead and Hogwarts was so neat. We really enjoyed it.







November will conclude the 2010 football season. The Bulldogs will get to go to a bowl game this year. Although we are unsure at this time where we will be, we are sure that we will be attending.

Thanks

I have been meaning to make this post, but wanted to load pictures with it.

We went to MS a few weeks ago and had lunch with my grandparents. My Grandmother wanted to give me her squares for our 100 Wishes Quilt. These were the first we have received. I am so excited to start getting them.

She also gave me an early shower gift that she has been holding on to for many years (I am guessing around 8 years). It was a quilt she sewed for her future great-granddaughter.

To give a little background, my Grandmother only had granddaughters. She made each granddaughter a quilt from scrap fabrics of clothing she had made for us over the years. We received our quilts when we got married. My quilt is so special to me because I can remember back to the specific dress or outfit it was from and remember wearing it.

When the first great-grandson arrived, grandmother begin making quilts for the great-grandchildren. I believe at the time she made the first one for the first great-grandson, she made a great-granddaughter quilt. Six great-grandsons later, she has held onto this great-granddaughter quilt.

I am so thankful for this quilt and remember when she was working on it years ago. Selfishly, I remember back then wanting that quilt. I would never have dreamed it would be my daughter's. It reminds me of the blue dutch doll blanket I had when I was growing up.

Grandmother - Thank you so much for this special gift. I know every time I wrap my daughter in it, she is being held in your hands.



Last weekend, we went to MS to see family and go to the MSU game. We had a great time. In visiting with family, the topic came up about family names. Neither Kevin nor I could not remember our great-grandparent's names. I just know them as grandmother X and Papaw X. So we learned some family history while we were visiting.

Kevin's parent also gave us an early gift. It is a crocheted blanket. I learned that back when Kevin's mom worked at the nursing home in Tupelo, one of the elderly ladies made this blanket. I am not sure how many years ago it was made, but probably close to the same as my Grandmother's quilt. Thank you so much for thinking of us.

Below is a picture of the crocheted blanket with my teddy bear from when I was very young.



As I make this post, I am reminded of Jeremiah 29:11. God knows the plans He has for us. Before we or anyone else knew, God knew we would be adopting a daughter. Along the years, He has been providing for our daughter. Thanks to everyone. We are so blessed to have such a great family.