We are Praying for you Boo

Erin- if you are reading this- I just want you to know that I love you. You amaze me. You are such a wonderful mom and the greatest friend. I know that you are going through Hell right now. Just know that even though you are spending hours alone up at the hospital- and it feels like the whole entire world is moving on without your family...you have SO much support- and so much love coming your way. We love Charlotte so much. We are so grateful to have her in our lives. We are praying for her fast recovery- and for your peace of mind. Let me know if there is anything I can do.
And to anyone else reading this...take a minute and say a few extra prayers for Charlotte. She is fighting RSV in the ICU at Primary Childrens-and needs the extra help.

My little stud...

Here is my sweet little Elijah- what a stud!! He just makes me so happy when I look at him. He seriously has me wrapped around his little fingers- and my heart is his. I took these pictures a couple of days ago- and thought I would share. His birthmom is a HUGE basketball fan- so these were for her. Maybe a premonition of things to come?...or maybe just DANG CUTE!!!

I LOVE this picture. These three are the loves of my life. The three most important people in the world. The ones that I live and breathe for. It just makes me so happy when I look at it. Life is just good.

Boy oh BOY!!

Our baby is here!! YAY!!! But...Surprise! It's a boy!! Weight: 6lbs 13 oz Height: 18 3/4 inches. You seriously could have knocked me over with a spoon when our little Elijah made his grand entrance. We have been preparing for months for a girl... I had even gone so far as to put a pink and purple canopy over the crib. We showed up at the hospital for the delivery with bundles of pink blankets and sleepers. But- God had different things in mind for us and when Elijah popped out his little head and promptly peed on the doctor- they were like "Holy Crow- girls can't shoot like that!" And the whole room just squealed in surprise. We of course were completely thrilled. Anyhow- the moment we even heard our birthmom's name- I said to McCarrey- I don't even know the situation or if there are problems or anything- but that's the birthmom for us. She must have felt the same way because she picked us out of all of the profiles that she was given to choose from. She had had three different ultrasounds...and EVERY single one of them missed our little man! (And frankly I have NO IDEA how they could miss him! He is VERY obviously all boy!) But all of us went ahead thinking and preparing for a girl.Right after we got matched with her, I kept telling McCarrey- that I thought I would be content with just two beautiful girls- but that I just kept feeling like we had a boy coming. We had to find a way to be able to do it again- because all I could think about was a boy- and that he must be really jealous that this girl was going to be coming first. Little did I know that I was just being prepared for him to come then. All I can say - is that I truly know that this little guy was meant for our family. I know that this was God's way of telling me that HE is the one who will decide who goes where. And I know that it's not just any boy that was supposed to come- it was only Elijah. I wouldn't trade him for a million girls! We are just barely home from the hospital today. It had been an emotional roller coaster like none other. Our birthmom was so brave and courageous. I spent hours and hours with her- and she was able to tell me exactly how she was feeling as she placed him into my arms and hugged us goodbye. I know that it ripped her apart. I know that she loves Him- and I will forever be grateful to her. I am so glad that we were able to develop a relationship and that we will be able to keep up contact with her. God has given us so many awesome blessings! This adoption has once again reminded me of the fact that we are all here on the Earth as brothers and sisters...race, and status, and lifestyles and all of that other stuff isn't important. Just being good to each other is. I can never repay her for what she has given me. Now comes the hard part- no sleep and lots of diapers. And I can't wait.

What the?!

The other day I was in my bedroom folding laundry during the historic Presidential Inauguration. Kennedy was in her room playing with her toys- and she walks in my room with her arms completely full of "My Little Pony's" and the moment kind of went like this...

Kenna: "Hey Mom."

Me: "Hi."

Kenna: "That's Obama. He has pretty brown skin like me."

Me: (Completely stunned...what the?! How the heck does she know who Obama is at three?! I don't remember ever sitting her down and explaining who he is to her...and how amazing is my child that she is observant enough to know something so smart. :)- and how interesting that she was commenting on his pretty brown skin....)

Kenna: "First I thought he was Cinderella's Prince."

Me: (Huh?! What the?! I must admit he is a good looking guy- but where would she get Cinderella's Prince from?..then I remember that we just watched the "Brandy" version of Cinderella...ya...I guess if you put him in tights and had him singing opera and dancing at random moments... I guess I can see the resemblance...)

Kenna: "But he's not. He's just the President. He's just The Rock Obama.

Me: (Wow.......all the while chuckling that she called him The Rock Obama. My kid is amazing.)

Obama might not have been my first choice. But I have to say- all political opinions aside. It was a neat moment for me to watch the Inauguration as the first black President was sworn in. I love how most of the country seems to feel on fire. Whether or not they like Obama- the magnitude of the situation is awesome. I loved in His speech when he was talking about how 60 years ago his father might have been refused at the local restaurants because of his skin color- and now his son was being sworn in as the President of the United States. It was powerful to me having it fall so close to Martin Luther King Day- and focusing on just how far we have come as a nation in breaking the walls of racial prejudice and misunderstanding. It was awesome to have my beautiful black daughter come in and sit on my lap and see the President of US and say-"He has pretty brown skin like me." and know that as she grows up she will have many more opportunities to see people that look like her in prominent positions and with higher educations. So much more than even when I was younger. That makes me happy for her. And proud of how far we have come. Very cool.

Just a short Update...

I'm a rotten mom. I haven't posted any pictures of Kenna's birthday. We had a great time though! On her actual birthday we had a little party with Grandma and Grandpa Hancock-(Mac's mom and step-dad) It was great- and Kenna loved the balloons and the princess cake. I was so grateful that Grandma pulled a party together- because I hadn't gotten my act together yet and didn't really know what I was going to do that day. But! We had a great night with good food and awesome company and Kenna loved it. On Friday- we got together with my family and celebrated Kenna and Josh's birthday. (Josh is my nephew and he and Kenna's birthday's are one day apart.) We had an awesome time, complete with a wild silly string fight that filled my family room with 9 cans of multi-colored chaos from floor to ceiling. It was great. I did happen to get it all on video- including my dad's wild triumph at the end when he faked us out that his can was empty and completely trashed us all at the end. However- it's a crazy long video and trying to post it- would take me forever. So you'll all have to use your wild imaginations. :)
We went out to dinner with our birthmom on Thursday and met her for the first time. I can't even really describe how that was. We met Kennedy's mom in the hospital and spent a little bit of time with her- but Kennedy was already born and the papers were signed and it felt like a done deal in a lot of ways. This felt completely different. It was wild. I was a basketcase before we left. I had talked to her on the phone several times- so it wasn't as if I didn't know anything about her- but I guess there was just this hidden fear of what if she realized that I looked better in the pictures than in person and maybe she should have chosen someone better. Believe me- I've seen other profiles- I know that there are hundreds of families that she could choose from. At any rate- we went out- and it was great. She is just a ball of fire, courage and determination. We were able to talk about anything and everything and it was so crazy to sit and talk to her and think about the fact that if all goes well- the baby inside of her will be my daughter. It was incredible. Adoption is just such a miracle thing! It's so amazing to me to be on the receiving end of such an incredible gift. I am so happy that she is comfortable enough to have contact with us. I am a HUGE supporter of open adoption and I am excited that we will be able to keep up some kind of a relationship. I think in the long run it is going to be so much better for my girls. We have only a week and a half to go. I am so excited that I can hardly see straight. Scared out of my mind....but so excited.

Nothing New-

Nothing new to report. Kennedy's Birthday is tomorrow though- YAY! She will be three years old- so hard to believe! She has been the biggest joy in our lives- and even though I have enjoyed every second and she gets funner by the day- I am kind of sad that she is growing up so fast and becoming more independent.
I don't have any new pictures or funny stories to tell- oh! except when we took Kennedy to Build a Bear and she got a "Hello Kitty" doll. It came with a little black cat for a "friend" for Kitty, and we asked Kennedy what she wanted to name it. She said,"I want to name it Popter." and McCarrey and I were like..."ok...Popter?!" and she says, "Ya! Hello Popter...(helicoptor) Hello Kitty- and Hello Popter!" Too funny- we got a good chuckle out of that one. We are just anxiously counting down the days until our newest family member makes her grand entrance. We have been enjoying getting to know her birthmom a little bit better and I am excited to be able to meet her this next Thursday. We are going out to dinner and it will be neat to get to see her. I already love her and just have a great time talking to her. She is so warm and open and we seemed to really hit it off. I am excited because from the way things are going it seems like this adoption will be much more open than the relationship with Kennedy's Birthmom. I am so grateful for any contact that we can have because I think that in the long run it will be so nice for my girls to know their story, and where they come from.
That's not to say that I haven't been feeling nervous or stressed though. Adoption is such a LONG scary process in a lot of ways and we have gone through every emotion under the sun on a wild roller coaster ride. I wouldn't want to go through it with anybody other than my McCarrey though. He is a constant calming presence to me. Such a great man...mmm! He sent me to my favorite Spa yesterday with my mom, and we had a girls day with Japanese hot stone massages and getting painted from head to toe with volcanic ash and clay. MMM! I'll get painted with mud any day of the world! Holy Cow! Good stuff. He is so good to me, and it definitely helps ease my worries and stresses.
Well- that's all that's been going on for now. I'll post some pictures of Kennedy's birthday later.

Well we survived the Holidays and had a wonderful time!! Right before Christmas Santa Claus paid us all a visit and the kids loved it -while the parents were excited about the picture opportunities! We had my brother's family there and our close friends Erin and Zar with their two girls. It was so funny to see the different kids reactions! Kennedy was just open-mouthed and could hardly stop staring. Josh was all excited and hyper, Charlotte was scared to death and wanted nothing to do with it, and Zachary wanted to pull the beard off. Good times!!


I love this picture of Boo looking at Santa with these huge eye's that scream- "Stay the heck away from me!" After awhile though- all of the kids warmed up and we all had a great time! When Santa came he sang some songs with the kids and we got this picture of Zachary when we were singing Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. I love it. The little nose blinked bright red and Zachary thought he was quite the stuff.

On Christmas Eve McCarrey and I had the family over to our house. We had a big Turkey dinner and then we all sang songs and read the Christmas story out of the New Testament. It was fun because it was the first time that we had hosted the party at our house. We seriously missed Neil and Annie and the boys though! With as much fun as we had- it just wasn't the same without them! We did English Christmas crackers where two people pull an end and it bursts open and there is a party hat and a toy of some sort inside. Everyone loved that- then we mangled a few songs with Bell Chimes and that was pretty fun too. Christmas morning was AWESOME!! Before we even had Kennedy up to see the tree and open presents we got a phone call from our Birthmom and got to talk to her for a little while! I LOVED it- and was so touched that she wanted to talk to us on Christmas morning. I am ultra sensitive I guess because every time we talk we both end up teary. She is just such a wonderful person and she is going through one of the hardest things, that I can't even comprehend. We visited for awhile and it was seriously the best present I got for Christmas- that little reminder of the package that she is holding for us. Such an amazing thing! After that- we took Kennedy downstairs to the tree where it was just magic! My parents came over and we opened presents. It was so fun! I was so wrapped up in the moment that I kept forgetting to take pictures! AHH!! But I did get a few so I guess it's ok.

This is one of the few pictures that I got of Kennedy- but I think it is so great! She had just started to open one of her presents and she saw what it was on the box and it was that prefect moment when she looked up at me to say "Oh my goodness it's a ....!!!" I think it is just priceless! Kenna got the things on her list...a teddy bear and a variety of Little Einsteins toys. Plus- crazy amounts of other spoils from Mom and Dad and Grandparents. Mac and I had such a great day!

After we finished opening presents we went over to my folks house for Christmas breakfast. Then we went over to McCarrey's grandparents house to visit them. Kennedy was so cute playing with their Nativity set and "putting them all down for a nap" even the cows and the sheep. We are so lucky that Mac's grandparents are still here for Kennedy to get to know. Family is so important- and we love them! After that we went to Mac's Dad's house to visit with the family on that side. We had a great time and the kid's just loved playing together. This is a picture of all of them- except for Aaron and Holly's family- who are in Kentucky and Aunt Sage who lives in London. We missed them lots and lots! So in this picture we have Kennedy, Morgan, Nyaangatr and Anyango- (Omat and Gizma's kids- they are our adopted brother and sister from Sudan) Kayla and Ryan. After we played at Grandpa Dub's house we went to visit Mac's mom's side of the family. We went to her house and played with all of the cousin's on Grandpa Don's side. Kennedy had so much fun with everyone. I feel so bad that I don't have pictures to show! All of the girls were making necklaces and bracelets with beads and that was fun- and Kenna has always adored playing with her cousin Jeremy who is about 12 and is very sweet to let Kennedy follow him all over the place. We feel so lucky and so blessed to have so much family close to us! It makes everyday life so much better to be surrounded by people that we love. The only thing that would have made this Christmas better is if everyone who was out of town could have been there. Anyway- hope everyone else had a wonderful Christmas!! Now that the holidays are over- we are just getting ready for our new little one. They are inducing our birthmom on January 30th! The countdown has begun! YAY!