You're Joking, Right?

Did you just not want to get pregnant?

REALLY!?! Believe it or not, this is an actual question word for word that I have been asked more than once.  From the sound of it, pregnancy does do weird things to your body and I've heard can be very uncomfortable and at times miserable, but this question is appalling in more than one way.

First-Maybe I come off as a selfish person, but my body is not perfect to begin with.  I'm not the type of person that feels the need to dodge the adventures of pregnancy just to maintain my, not so great to begin with, figure.

Second-They're suggesting I took the "easy way" out.  um...REALLY!?!...puuuleease.  They weren't there for the surgeries, nine months of missing a very important hormone, crying till I was dry, pleading in prayers for this trial to be over, watching people have one, two, three kids while my home was still empty, more dr.'s appts, church lessons of how being a mother is the most important role we can have, more crying, other dumb questions from ignorant people, paper work, paper work, paper work, waiting, more waiting, and more waiting, classes, house checks, interviews, background checks, more waiting... Man, I could go on all day. 

Third-How is it fair to a birth mother that I just decide pregnancy is not for me so could they please hand over their baby?  I mean come on...REALLY!?!  

Hopefully you're getting my point.  I'm sure there are cases that people do choose to adopt over pregnancy, but I'm guessing 99% of people try to conceive before they realize adoption is the path they are meant to take.  I'm getting fired up just thinking about it again.  I am very happy with the way Emme came to us.  If I knew the ending from the beginning, I'm sure there would have been a few less tears.  That's not how it works though.  Gregg and I have been through some tough times that have made us stronger and I KNOW better parents.  Adoption was our answer after years of questions, but to just assume we've been through nothing and think we just thought one day "hey, don't you think we should just skip pregnancy and add a year or two to having a baby?"  "um yeah, that's sounds fantastic!"  REALLY!?!  Let's think these things through, before we ask idiotic questions.  That goes with most things.  Let's all make an effort to put ourselves in others shoes before we open our mouths.  I will also do this.  !REALLY!

Open Adoption

One of the first questions I get when people find out Emme was adopted is "Is it an open adoption?"  I'm proud to say "YES."  Gregg and I always wanted an open adoption.  From the beginning of our decision to adopt, we decided we wanted our children to know their birth families.  We have always had a good feeling about it.  It's very confusing to a lot of people why we would choose that, but we wouldn't have it any other way.  I think the biggest misunderstanding would be that we would only made that decision based on what a birth mother wants.  WE chose it.  I'm so glad Emme will never question where she came from.  She will always know the full TRUE story of how her birth mom made the most unselfish choice she could.  Not only that, she will get to see it first hand. 

Open does not mean Emme will have two sets of parents.  Open means Emme gets to enjoy the love {M} has for her and know she was placed because of that LOVE.  We truly believe the more people rooting Emme on, the better. 

I love this post  from the r house.  Please take a second to read it.

Halloween, Bug Style

We had a great Halloween this year.  I loved showing the little one off in her ladybug costume.  Emme hit a growth spurt during the Halloween season and we were a little scared she wouldn't fit in her costume by the actual holiday.  I added a few pics of her in her costume at different times in the middle of the post so you could see the difference between just a few weeks.  I want to squeeze her just looking at the photos.  With the added pounds she's been smiling up a storm and actually giggled a couple times. 

Oct 16th

Blake and Kelsey were good sports to go to the party last minute with us. 

Oct 19th

Oct 30th  Seriously!?  Love this chunky face!

Oct 30th

Oct 19th

This was a mom, no makeup day.  I didn't think I would be in any pictures, but here I am showing the world.

Gregg's, mine, Emme's

Sad to say, but this was probably my best pumpkin in years....maybe ever.

It's That Time Again

November is National Adoption Month

The the r house  challenges advocates of adoption to help educate others by posting daily about adoption this month.  I'm up for the challenge, but I don't promise I can do every day.  I will try my best!  There are so many myths when it comes to adoption and I want to help clear those up.  I've been surprised by how clueless people are.  Plus, I would be ungrateful if I didn't give thanks for the wonderful gift we have received. Well, I hear that little gift crying in her bed, so I better run!

First Day

 I realized I haven't shared our story of how Emme came to us.  Like almost all adoption stories ours was a miracle.  Our story really started years ago, but I will start with the day we found out. 

Our case worker called on Sept. 1st and asked if she could bring some papers to sign because they were getting audited.  We had just barely moved to a different location so we thought nothing of it.  Adoption papers are never ending.  She asked how things were going and I said it was hard.  Waiting is hard.  She agreed, but said she believed in adoption karma and if you do all you can you will be blessed.  She then gave us the papers to sign.  We both quickly read through and initialed each line, but started to get a little confused towards the end.  See below....

We both looked up in shock and as I saw the tears in our case worker's eyes I knew it was true.  We were getting a baby girl.  I kept saying "I'm in shock!  I'm in shock!"  Could this really be true?!  Was our trial of 5 years really coming to an end?  and fast....

We were able to call Emme's aunt {J} and make arrangements for a few days later to meet her and {M}(our birth mom) in Idaho.  Yep, that's right!  Idaho!!  How cool is that?  

At Olive Garden a few days later Gregg and I arrived first.  I've never been so close to throwing up from nerves before.  We were so scared {M} would meet us and not like us.  The minute they came around the corner and we met, all nerves went away and all we felt was the comfort of the spirit.  We loved {M} from the second we met her.  Her and I have so much in common, and I could see how the Lord prepared us for each other.  We made plans to meet again so Gregg and I could meet the whole family.  It was nice to get to know Emme's birth family.  We felt very lucky.  {M} let us know that she had thought about it and wanted Gregg and I to be the first to hold the baby.  How amazing is she?  How did we get so lucky to have {M}?

We then had a week to prepare for baby and work out arrangements at work.  We both had butterflies all week.  Then back to Idaho we went.  Emme was born c-section bright and early.  Gregg and I waited in the recovery room and could hear Emme screaming.  It was so exciting.

Me waiting in the recovery room.

 

 

They wheeled her out and she was all scrunched up and mad as heck.  Her cry was as cute as can be.

My first time holding her.

Gregg's first time holding her.

Mad at the doctor while he was doing his tests.

Showing {M} Emme for the first time.  

{M} was pretty sick from the c-section, poor thing. 

Feeding Emme later that day.

{M} taking a picture of Emme.  

Gregg and I have truly been blessed.  {M} has such an awesome family.  We felt so comfortable with them.  We're thankful we live in a time that adoptions are open and Emme will know her birth mom and the amazing person she is. 

Little Ru

A lot of Emme's wake times are spent with me putting something on her head and then us having a mini photo shoot. She's not always a fan, but with I think she's starting to get use to the flashing and clicking.  I love my newest little model.  Herc's pretty glad there's a new kid in town to take his place.

Busy Mode

I'm in complete busy mode and I love it.  I wouldn't want it any other way.  I look forward to holding this girl, deciding on outfits, choosing bows, trying my hardest to make her smile, and giving mounds of kisses.  Yep, I wouldn't have it any other way.  She took some time to get here, but I can say she was definitely worth the wait.