One Step Closer

Yesterday, we had our first post-placement visit from our new caseworker, Julie. She came to our home to see how we're doing, see how Drew's doing, and to see how we're all adjusting. It went really well! I was hoping Drew would be awake, but he slept the whole time instead. :)

Our next step is to have one more visit with Julie - probably in Salem or Tigard. Then, she'll send all the paperwork to our attorney (who is great!) and he'll get things finished with the court. We'll meet with a judge from there and it will be finalized! Then we get to do the fun stuff. The thing I've been the very most excited about is taking Drew to the temple. It's what I've been picturing in my head throughout this whole process and I can't wait!

But that'll all take a little time. For now, though, we're one step closer!

Before & After

Remember this?

Well, it now looks like this!

Many thanks to Mama Stoddart for all of her help organizing this place!

My turn

Angie has done an amazing job with updating this blog and expressing our thoughts and feelings throughout this entire process. With all due respect, it's my turn. :)

What an incredible journey this has been for us! I'm so grateful that we were led to the decision to adopt and for all of the experiences we've had along the way. Drew is the greatest thing that has ever happened to us. He's the most beautiful baby boy I've ever seen. I can't get enough of being around him. I love when he's awake and seeing him looking around to explore the world and all it has to offer. I love when he's asleep and showing me how peaceful life can be. I love all of the sounds and faces he makes, always keeping us entertained. I even love it when he cries or needs a diaper change, for it gives me the chance to show him at an early age that he can depend on me as his father. He makes me want to be a better person and change the world around me. I want him to be a good influence on everyone he meets. I want him to acheive greatness in his life and make sure he has every opportunity to succeed.

I feel very blessed to have Johnny and Kaitlyn be a part of our lives and for their decision to place their baby boy for adoption with us. It is a very noble thing for them to do and I thank the Lord every day for them and pray that he grants them guidance and support throughout their lives. I can never thank them enough.

Hospital

Dan and I have been really careful about respecting the privacy of our wonderful birthparents (Johnny and Kaitlyn), but they've let us know that they're okay with us posting pictures of them (which I'm so excited about). So I decided to post a little bit about the hospital.

Kaitlyn sent Dan and I text messages at around 7:45 in the morning on Saturday to let us know she was at the hospital. This picture is of us on the way. We packed some things and headed up to meet them. Both sets of parents were there when we got there and Johnny and Kaitlyn were so great to let us hang out with all of them for awhile.

After many hours of labor, Johnny came out to ask if I wanted to be in the room for the delivery. I was so beyond excited. So I was able to be with Johnny and Kaitlyn for a little while before things started happening, which I really loved. Kaitlyn was such a trooper. I was so impressed with her. She was exhausted and still gave it her all. I couldn't believe it. And Johnny was so supportive of her. It was amazing to see the love between these two. This was the first birth I've ever seen and it was amazing. It was the most amazing thing to watch my son being born. I can't imagine anything sweeter. The first moment I held him in my arms, I wept. I felt it. The same feeling I felt all those months ago when this whole process started. All of those years of heartache and pain have been totally and completely worth it.

Kaitlyn holding Drew - isn't she beautiful? Keep in mind this is minutes after giving birth.

Johnny holding Drew. I absolutely love Johnny's hair.

Johnny's dad captured this sweet picture.

Andrew Jonathan

Our sweet little Drew decided to make his debut into this world last night, the 26th, at 10:54 pm and we are so in love with him! He is 8 lbs 4 oz and 20 inches long. The delivery went very, very well and both baby and Birthmom are doing great! I may be biased, but isn't he the cutest thing you've EVER seen??

Getting Ready

Dan and I have been working to get things ready for our little boy that's coming to us soon! We actually started getting ready around March or so, just getting small things here and there. But in the last couple months or so, we've been doing a lot more to get ready. Our big thing we're working on right now is turning our spare bedroom into a nursery. Here's how it's going so far:

As you can see, it's a complete mess. :) Which is driving me absolutely crazy. I love looking at all the fun stuff we have so far, but I'd love if it was a lot more organized. I think as soon as we can figure out what we're going to do with that bed and the TV that's in there, the rest should fall into place. I think I know what I'll be doing this weekend.... :)

Although, have I mentioned how EXCITED we are?!?! It's a lot of preparation, but worth every second of it!

Details

So since I posted the great news last time and some people have asked, I guess I should put some details on here. :) We met with J & K (our wonderful birthparents) last Wednesday for dinner and while we were waiting for our food, they handed us that card with their decision. I absolutely loved that they gave us something tangible that we can keep. After dinner, we played arcade games for awhile - it was so fun to hang out with them in a casual setting, much more comfortable.

Dan and I are both friends with J & K on Facebook so I get to talk to K (the birthmom) on there occasionally. She's doing well, feeling good - doesn't complain at all, she's amazing. She went to the doctor recently and everything looks great. J's working hard. It sounds like he's working all the time. Such great people!!

The little boy is due on December 29. (When we first heard about J & K, the due date was December 24, but I guess it's changed a few times.) We're of course so excited and have been buying a lot of fun things. We have great friends and family that have given us so much already - our spare bedroom looks like a bomb went off in there. :)

I feel so incredibly thankful for J & K. I don't think I'll ever be able to express my full gratitude. I'm grateful that we've gotten to know them and I'm grateful that they chose us and that we get to have them in our lives.

I know I write this all the time, but THANK YOU all for your love, support, and prayers. It's really overwhelming (in the best way possible) to learn and I know this has all happened because of all of you.