So, it's been a while.

I know it's been a while since I posted but I have a very good reason why. I've been pretty sick for the past three months. It all started October 2nd, when I got the phone call I'd been hoping to receive. I was picking E up from preschool when my dr called to tell me that the tests did show a positive.

Positive what you ask? Well, E is going to be a big sister. The baby is due June 10, 2009. I feel comfortable enough to announce this because we're finally at the 13 week mark and my doctor feels that we are as out of the "clear" of anything bad happening as we will be throughout the rest of the pregnancy. I know anything can happen, but the chances are small and don't change from now until 40 weeks.

We are over the moon happy and all E wants to talk about is a baby brother or baby sister! We know it'll be a challenge with a 3 year old and an infant, but we can't wait. We know how blessed we are and are appreciating every moment of this precious gift that has been given to us.

For those wondering, yes we are still in line to adopt from China. The wait is so long that we don't anticipate this child affecting our adoption at all. We do, however, anticipate stopping at three children. Well, J does...I'm not so sure - but shhh, don't tell him!

Anyway, this news has filled our house with joy, but it's been tempered by the knowledge that so many of my friends are still waiting for their child from China. My heart aches for everyone out there waiting to see their beautiful little one. Hugs to you all.

Two years ago today...

Two years ago today we left our house knowing that the next time we were home our lives would be completely changed.

Armed with two very packed suitcases, we were nervous, excited and very ready to leave for our trip to China. We had half a dozen pictures of the one person who had become the focus of our lives for months and months. We were about to become parents. It was a very long hard journey, so much so that it seemed like a little 27 hour trip wouldn't be that big of a deal at all.

I have such a hard time believing it's been two years and at the same time it feels like she's been a part of our family for a lifetime. She is the most special little girl in the world and I know how blessed I am to be her mama.

It's beginning to look a lot like...fall???

We spent the morning at a Pumpkin Patch even though it got close to 90 degrees outside today. E loved every second of it!

I played with the pictures so I'll post the straight out of the camera shots and the photoshopped result.

And another...

I have lots more, but I'll stick with these for now!

Hats, hats and more hats!

I'm noticing a trend in a lot of the pictures I've been taking lately.

The Big Girl Bed

Need I say more?

I hope we're raising our daughter this well...

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2008/08/30/the_point_of_return/?page=1

I hope and pray that one day our daughter will want to give back as well. She doesn't have to volunteer in an orphanage, but I do want her to give back to the community. Her Daddy and I try to do our part and I hope we're teaching her to do the same.

Their parents must be so proud. I know I would be.

An anniversary and a beginning...

Two years ago today, J and I sat in our living room awaiting the most important phone call of our lives. Every time the phone rang we'd jump. Finally, after lunch, the call came.

We were parents. To a daughter.

I'll never forget the anxiousness I felt awaiting that phone call. Horrible thoughts were running through my head. Maybe something was wrong and China didn't send our referral. Maybe we were wrong about our LID date. Maybe this, maybe that. I think somewhere in the back of my mind I was convinced we'd never be parents.

But the call came and we were/are parents. Parents to an amazing little girl.

An amazing little girl who started school today.

She started 2 year old preschool and did a great job. She already loves her teacher and talks about her a lot. There were tears this morning, but not from our baby, just her baby of a momma. I couldn't help it - she's growing up way too fast. It hit me on the way that this is just the first step of many.