it's a boy!

As you may, or may not have noticed, it's been quite some time since I last blogged. This was partially due to being really, really, busy, and partially because we were waiting to announce that we've been selected for an adoption placement!

It's been 3 years since we started down this path, and I give all credit to Cathy who kept us on track to finish our application, home study, and all the various appointments and classes. She also created our family photo album - this is the book of photos that birth parents can look through to learn more about an adoptive family, our adoption video, and literally hundreds of other details. She's amazing!

Here's what we know about the baby...

It's a boy, and he's due on December 23rd, 2010. He's apparently quite active and likes to kick. :) Both birth parents are Caucasian and the father has dark curly hair.

We've decided to name him Nathaniel (meaning 'Gift from God') James, and we cannot wait to meet him!

We even have our first picture of the little dude.

Seeing our baby has finally made it sink in that this is real. Before, adoption has felt more like a concept than a reality. Something that might happen, but has not yet come to be.

Now we find ourselves preparing our hearts and home to receive this little person. We wonder what his personality will be, what's he going to look like, and how much our lives are about to change.

We're so ready for it, and I couldn't think of a better way to end our first year in California than this. Thank you, friends, for walking along with us on this journey. Your guidance, support, and prayers have helped us navigate the way.

Pre-parenthood preparation... Let the adventure continue!

welcome back

It's been a fair few months since our last post and in that time we have moved to California, settled in, and are getting back into familiar patterns.

It's so nice to be closer to family, have winter days in the 70's, and have a plethora of great Mexican restaurants to choose from!

It's also hard to realize that everyday the life we spent a decade building in Michigan is slipping away.

But we're here for a reason. We have a purpose and a calling to fulfill. We're here to grow as individuals, as a couple, and as a family. We're here to be a positive example to our nieces and nephews, a support system for our brothers and sisters, and a comfort to our parents.

We miss Michigan, but this is our home now. We must forge ahead while staying rooted in the lessons we learned and the friendships that shaped us.

Come visit us! You'll always be welcome.