April 29

Today marks one year since we found out about Adeline's special heart.  I feel like we've come full circle.  This time last year we were in a complete stage of uncertainty, and now we are fully enjoying life with an almost eight month old and loving every minute of it.  A year ago I wanted to freeze time because I knew Adeline was safe inside of me, and now I want to freeze time because she is growing up so quickly!  No matter how many times you hear the phrase "the days are long but the years fly by," you can't prepare yourself for the true meaning of it until you are actually living it.

Smiling at Cooper

 April 29 will always be a special day for us.  It's a day that I both like to look back on and yet also not think about. When I stopped to think about it this morning, every detail of that day is so vivid to me...the outfit I wore (and never wore again), my OB walking into the ultrasound room and putting her hand on my leg (never a good sign), Andrew calling school saying I wasn't coming back in, trying to eat a late lunch at Andy's, coming home to sit in her room praying we'd actually bring her home to it...

Enjoying the breeze and modeling her hat - she's ready for summer!

 That night I rocked and rocked in her unfinished room pleading to God that He would heal her heart so we would be able to one day bring her home.  By the end of the night I did feel confident that we would bring her home but that fear was always there.  Being one that likes to be in control, I had to give over all control.  Having the faith and trusting wasn't always easy that's for sure.  And in such an amazing way did God heal her heart.

Blueberries!!  A definite new favorite :)  

If I could have known that April 29 what our life would look like in a year, I'm not sure I would have believed it.  Adeline is so full of joy, and even though her heart isn't "normal," I do know that it's one of the biggest ones out there for such a petite little thing.  It seems that everywhere we go people stop to comment about her and she smiles so big back at them (I think it might be a baby thing too).  I'm listening to her now as she wakes up from a nap, and she's squealing and talking away.  What about, I'm not quite sure, but what I do know is that she's happy, and we couldn't be any happier.  I'm so thankful that God gave us a special heart baby and chose Adeline for us.    

I've got lots to update on and promise to do so later this week!  She's up, and we have one more ceiling fan to hang.  The new house is slowly coming together but only so much can be accomplished during nap time!

We've Moved!

Every sane person thinks it's a smart idea to move with a seven month old, right??

The past few weeks have been just slightly chaotic...I refer to our moving process as speed moving.  We went from having no boxes packed to all boxes packed and ready to move in a matter of a few days.  I'm not one to usually procrastinate so don't ask me why I waited so long to pack boxes but somehow we managed to make it all work.  It has helped that our old house doesn't close for a few more weeks so we've had plenty of little trips back and forth to pick up piddly stuff.  Not to mention that Andrew has had to travel several times for work.

Don't pack me in this box too!

The best part of all of this move has been Adeline.  She has been a little trooper!  She's found a new toy in packing paper and has been happy and babbling away while there's been chaos all around her.  Thankfully we've had the arsenal of grandparents who have come in to help - thank you so much!  She's had quality time with all of them, and they've been the reinforcements we've needed when as Andrew says we start spinning in circles and don't know what to do next.

Hanging out with  Pops

We love our new house, but we do miss our old house!  It was our first home and where we brought Adeline home (after a long 8 weeks in Charleston).  We especially miss our neighbors, but we're not far and Adeline will always be a true Woman of Etiwan!

Cooper spent some time with her grandparents during the move, where she was spoiled of course.  She's doing pretty well adjusting but is still a little neurotic at times.  She does love being able to look out the french doors into the backyard.

We think they missed each other!

Playing with new toys and sun hats found while unpacking!

Kitchen before (and this was halfway through unpacking)

Kitchen after

We're at the point now where everything necessary is put away and we're functioning.  Now it's time to decorate which to me is by far the hardest part.  I tend to end up staring at walls and built-ins, not knowing what to do.  Yesterday I started walking around hanging pictures on hooks that are already there.  It's a start, right?  As everyone has told me, I'll never feel finished.

Taking a break

On that note, I better get back to unpacking and attempting to decorate!  More pictures to come later :) Oh and if anyone needs to borrow a pitcher, I discovered in the move that I have 8, all colors and sizes!