Cherished...

Last week Mike and I were on our way down to the San Diego Fair with Emsley to see our favorite band, Switchfoot, perform. While on the drive, I asked him if he thought he could love our daughter as much as he does and his response is absolutely beautiful. He said that he does love her so much but more than that, he cherished Emsley. I love that...that our love for her isn't just the typical "I love you" but it is deeper. It might be because she is such an absolute blessing to us. Cherish means to "hold dear"...I mean, we absolutely feel that way about her. Emsley didn't come to our family in the typical manner. After desiring to have a family for 3 years, we finally have her in our lives and could not be more grateful.

Sometimes I can't even remember what life was like before Emsley. As cliche as it sounds, she kinda completes our family. It's as if our family was missing a puzzle piece and we have been looking for it for years and finally the puzzle is complete. We no longer feel incomplete. This is why we cherish her. Now don't get me wrong, I know that all parents probably feel this way about their children but I kinda think that adoption makes loving your children unique and more deep. Maybe that is why God's love for us is more deep and unique...because we were adopted by Him and He feels so lucky and blessed to have us in His family. Because we were someone He desired to have in His family for a long time and finally when we do, His heart feels overjoyed and complete.

I have such a greater understanding of what our adoption means and how joyful it makes God to be our Father. Mike and I cherish our little girl and know that our family is now whole with her in it!!!

2 months old

Emsley is 2 months old today. She has been so much fun lately and we love seeing her cute personality come out more every day. She smiles at us all the time and I think she is just about to laugh. She is always "talking" to us and enjoys just looking around. She is so curious about her surroundings and definitely follows things with her eyes more now. I love getting to stay home every day with her and play, talk, read, and just be with her. She is absolutely a great baby and we both feel so blessed to call her ours.

Here are some stats as she turns 2 months:

-Weighs 14 lbs 3 oz and is in the 99th percentile
-Is 23 3/4 inches tall and is in the 97th percentile
-Is in size 1 diapers but can probably move into size 2 soon
-Wears 3 month clothes but they are getting a little short on her!
-Eats 4-6 oz every 3 hours during the day
-Sleeps pretty much through the night (bed by 9 and wakes by 5:30 or 6)
-Smiles everytime she gets her diaper changed
-Bath time is her favorite!
-Legs and neck are very strong now
-Is starting to grasp the things in her playmat...still working on the hand-eye coordination
-Follows us with her eyes when we walk around
-Had her first babysitters...she did great!!!
-Likes to babble and have conversations with us
-Makes more and more different noises everyday
-Loves being read to...might have to get her her own library card soon!

I can't say how much we love Emsley enough. She is such a joy and we love being her parents. I love watching Mike be her daddy...she just gets so happy when she sees him after work. I love watching that relationship already blossom. Looking forward to more amazing milestones with our precious daughter in the upcoming month!