sign up for a free mixer!

not that this has much to do with new babies, BUT....if you have a *lot* of babies at your house, a mixer is sure awonderful thing to own, especially when your hubby makes pizza from scratch regularly. the poor guy has been mixing enormous batches of dough by hand for some time now, since the kitchenaid gear stripped out!

so ~ if you go here you can enter their drawing several different ways. while you're at it, check out the helpful hints they offer regarding food/shopping/cooking.

and have a lovely day!

More details, and a baby-sized title.

The babe has been officially dubbed "Bibi" - it is Swedish for "alive" - which we would very much like it to be!

The Momma seems very happy with her decision, I spoke with the Grandmom & Granddad today, and they too are peaceful about the whole arrangement. I think adopting is more difficult than a physical pregnancy, and I have a newfound respect for women who go through this process. it is a HUGE waiting game, filled with uncertainties that extend beyond "will the baby have my eyes or his?", or, "will this angel be born a little hyperactive, or very, very quiet?". No, this is much different . It is "will I be there to witness the birth, will I be heartbroken if I miss it?", "will the momma cry at the sight of me, and the pain I am representing in her life?",  "will the journey of explaining how you came to join our family be a trying, emotional one filled with resentment, or gratitude?"

Lord, help me please, to love this little one just like I have loved our other children. Please have little Bibi know that they are such a treasure, and that a tremendous amount of thought and respect was poured into creating a life where Bibi is encouraged to be who God wants him/her to be, while heart and mind are shaped with tenderness. Thank you for the gift you've created, please give me the strength to do a very, very good job. Amen.

AND, the journey begins...

SO.....as of this week, we have agreed to adopt a precious baby from louisiana! we had not been actively pursuing adoption, but it was on our hearts to do if God ever provided a clear path for it. I just am not sure my faith was ever big enough to request of God that He provide the thousands of dollars an agency requires to finalize expanding a family. however - I DID have faith that God could to something creative, which he did. a college student whose family we know fairly well fell pregnant. In addition to wanting her precious child to grow up in a home with 2 parents and lots of loving siblings, she is not wanting to give up her college scholarship or her dreams of doing something great in the world, so she has given us the honor of becoming adoptive parents!

We've had nearly 10 years since the 27-week birth of Emmanuelle and a subsequent tubal ligation, waiting for it to FAIL. (I know - helLO? looong story.) The new babe is due 2 days before Emme turns 10. I've heard countless times that a 10 year window is pretty typical for a tubal to fail, so in my mind, I always guessed we'd add a child in about 10 years. I just didn't know it would happen *this* way!

I canNOT describe how absolutely amazed, humbled, grateful, and blessed I feel to be a part of this whole process! we do not yet know the gender of the babe, but i will be keeping everyone posted, and this blog will once again become an active one, bc I have something to talk about! love you all!