Welcome to my new blog. I updated the page and I love how it turned out. It's about the growth in our family and the little girl that will soon be home with us. So instead of this blog being about the journey, it's about the life we live as a family. A family of THREE!
I also added a baby countdown to my page...I wish I would have added it earlier. Now it says that we are 10 days away from the baby's due date. Mike and I keep saying it feels like just yesterday we said we have 50 days, then 30 days and so on. Tomorrow we are in single digits. Kinda feels like that day was never gonna come. Ok...enough about that!
Little update...baby is doing good. Birthmom is having one contractions every day now so she is progressing. The baby is growing and our next appointment is next Wednesday. We found out that our homestudy is no longer valid. So 11 days before our daughter is born, we have had to get physicals, paperwork from the DMV, CPR class for Mike, and meet one more time with our social worker. No big deal, right!?! Well, we have been jamming through it and working hard to get it all done. So be praying that we work hard and diligently to get things done. And also that our paperwork is processed quickly so that it doesn't hold things up. We do know that not having it done (in case our little one decides to enter this world early!) will not hold us up from bringing our daughter home after she is born. Praise the Lord!!!
Well, I always think that each post will be the last one that I will have before we bring the baby home. So you never know...
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Our vacation recap!
Well we have been home a couple weeks now from Hawaii and are trying to hold onto our bronze glow that we got! Our trip was fun and completely memorable. Between ziplining, snorkeling, going to a luau, and a tsunami warning in the middle of the night...this will be a trip we will NEVER forget! Our time together was so sweet and conversation about this next chapter in our lives was amazing. We are so in sync with our thoughts and feelings about becoming parents it is wonderful. The picture to the right is the view we enjoyed for 8 glorious days. Here are some highlight pictures of what we did.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Almost there
This Sunday marks week 37...we are just a mere few weeks away from meeting our daughter. We are starting to get our bags for the baby packed and the car seat in the car. We now sleep with a phone in our bedroom and know that anytime we could get a call saying that Amy is going into labor. I went to a Dr's appointment with Amy today and the baby is doing well. She let me feel her move but I only could feel her tiny little booty pushing up the side. Still...precious.
The real purpose of this post...how are we feeling as we near full term and the soon-to-be arrival of our daughter? We are trying to enjoy our time together and soak up these last few weeks (or days!). We know that this arrival will completely change our lives and relationship and for a while it was making me nervous but something happened last night that changed my heart. I was imagining our family and friends coming over to see our daughter and introducing them to her. How excited they will be to see her and how happy we will be (even if we are extremely tired). It was these little daydreams that got me absolutely giddy for the birth to finally get here. I just wish it would happen right now...I know that might sound crazy but seriously I just can't wait!
I truly think that she is going to make our relationship so much better. She is going to be a huge part of our love and life. She will be a reminder of how much we love each other and also of the time we should still take to have dates and alone time. I want her to know that we are still madly in love and that our marriage is a top priority (right after our relationship with God). That way she will grow up to have this same love for someone one day.
Well, coming soon will be letters written from both of us to our daughter. I asked Mike to write one of these and I am going to as well. We want to write her to let her know the way we are feeling and about how we have prayed for her and loved her for so long. Something for you all to look forward to!
The real purpose of this post...how are we feeling as we near full term and the soon-to-be arrival of our daughter? We are trying to enjoy our time together and soak up these last few weeks (or days!). We know that this arrival will completely change our lives and relationship and for a while it was making me nervous but something happened last night that changed my heart. I was imagining our family and friends coming over to see our daughter and introducing them to her. How excited they will be to see her and how happy we will be (even if we are extremely tired). It was these little daydreams that got me absolutely giddy for the birth to finally get here. I just wish it would happen right now...I know that might sound crazy but seriously I just can't wait!
I truly think that she is going to make our relationship so much better. She is going to be a huge part of our love and life. She will be a reminder of how much we love each other and also of the time we should still take to have dates and alone time. I want her to know that we are still madly in love and that our marriage is a top priority (right after our relationship with God). That way she will grow up to have this same love for someone one day.
Well, coming soon will be letters written from both of us to our daughter. I asked Mike to write one of these and I am going to as well. We want to write her to let her know the way we are feeling and about how we have prayed for her and loved her for so long. Something for you all to look forward to!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Ugh...
We leave for Hawaii on Monday...and we cannot be more excited. 9 days away, just the two of us to connect and be together in a beautiful place as we prepare for our daughter to be born. It will be an amazing time. But...
Mike has been working 6 days a week and also is working late every night too. He even has to go in on Sunday for a few hours...the day before vacation. I am so mad at his boss. On one hand, I am grateful for him having a job and the overtime money that we get but that poor man is so stressed and overworked that it is RI.DIC.U.LOUS. He comes home, drinks a beer and we watch TV. He looks so tired and I feel completely helpless. Here I am with a job that I only work 4 hours a day at and then come home to relax all afternoon and sometimes I just feel so guilty. At least when our baby is here, when I am home with her everyday, my job is being her mommy and taking care of Mike full time.
I hope that when we are gone he can put all the crap of his job and how hard he is working aside and just relax and be present. I know that right now he is constantly thinking about the projects he is working on and it keeps him from getting a great night of sleep...so hopefully after being away from it for a day or two, he will forget he even has a job.
So ugh...my ugh is for Mike. But the huge grin that I have had on my face since 1:30 when I got off work won't go away...I am so excited for this vacation. This is the first time we have gotten away to a relaxing vacation since our honeymoon.
Aloha for now everyone!!! See you in a couple weeks!
Mike has been working 6 days a week and also is working late every night too. He even has to go in on Sunday for a few hours...the day before vacation. I am so mad at his boss. On one hand, I am grateful for him having a job and the overtime money that we get but that poor man is so stressed and overworked that it is RI.DIC.U.LOUS. He comes home, drinks a beer and we watch TV. He looks so tired and I feel completely helpless. Here I am with a job that I only work 4 hours a day at and then come home to relax all afternoon and sometimes I just feel so guilty. At least when our baby is here, when I am home with her everyday, my job is being her mommy and taking care of Mike full time.
I hope that when we are gone he can put all the crap of his job and how hard he is working aside and just relax and be present. I know that right now he is constantly thinking about the projects he is working on and it keeps him from getting a great night of sleep...so hopefully after being away from it for a day or two, he will forget he even has a job.
So ugh...my ugh is for Mike. But the huge grin that I have had on my face since 1:30 when I got off work won't go away...I am so excited for this vacation. This is the first time we have gotten away to a relaxing vacation since our honeymoon.
Aloha for now everyone!!! See you in a couple weeks!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Think Pink!!!
That's right...we are having a girl! Mike and I could not be more happy knowing that our daughter will be born in less than 2 months. Here is the latest ultrasound pictures of her. She is absolutely beautiful. Right now she is just about 4 1/2 pounds and is doing well. Birthmom is about 32 weeks and 5 days so it might be a little earlier than April 17th. We go back to the doctor with her on Monday and get to hear how our little one is doing.
Last night at our girls group, they asked me how I am feeling now that Baby Girl Wise is on her way...and soon. A few weeks ago, before the gender reveal, I felt nervous. Nervous about being a mom and about what to expect and especially nervous about all the change that will be coming. But now that we are closer and to know that we will have a daughter, I just have a sense of peace about me. In our years of waiting for this little one, I have never felt so happy ever before. I still don't know what to expect and what the next couple months will look like but I cannot wait to find out.
This little girl will be so loved....oh my gosh! I already love her so much and daydream constantly about what it will be like to hold her and know that I don't have to give her back and that she is ours. I know that this is still an adoption and the birthmom can change her mind but I am trusting God. He has led us this far and I think He is working this all out for our good and of course, for His glory!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Already in love...
It's so strange to feel such love with something so quick. But yet I am. This little baby has already stolen our hearts. God has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams with this little one and I am in awe of His work.
This past Monday was Valentine's Day. This is the day of love and the day we first saw our baby. It will be the day that we will tell our child we first saw that gorgeous face. We were able to be with the birthmom at her doctor's appointment. Although the appointment started out pretty awkward (being that it was her appointment and all!) but it turned out to be wonderful. The doctor ended up doing an ultrasound and we got to find out what we are having. After the dramatic reveal (which will be another post!) the birthmom looked at us and said congratulations. It was so kind of her and we are so lucky to have her in our lives.
Our little one is already so loved. And in 60 days, we will get to meet Baby Wise!!! Amazing!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
A Hawaiian Vacation
Yes, that is right...Mike and I are going to Hawaii on vacation! We booked our plane tickets on Friday night and are so happy! I have never been to Hawaii...so when we started talking about going on a little "babymoon" we both agreed that we just wanted to relax and do nothing else. No touristy stuff like we usually do. And I'm not gonna lie, that is a hard concept for me. My family was more of a "let's see everything while we are here" kind of people. So that is typically how I like to get away. We have been to New York, Disney World, San Francisco...and each time we come back so tired from walking around or sightseeing. We wanted NONE of that this time!
So from March 7th till the 15th we will be vacating our lives for 8 glorious nights in Kauai! It's almost like a second honeymoon. Ahh...cannot wait...here is a little picture of the view from where I plan on plopping myself down at!
So from March 7th till the 15th we will be vacating our lives for 8 glorious nights in Kauai! It's almost like a second honeymoon. Ahh...cannot wait...here is a little picture of the view from where I plan on plopping myself down at!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Walking by faith
I thought this time after being matched would be easier. That we would feel joy and peace. That all the worry, doubt, fear, and anxiousness would fall away because of those beautiful three words: we are matched. But God is showing me and Mike that it is in this new waiting time that we have to trust Him even more.
I think in the last month we have taken this matched news for granted. We praise God for what He has given us, but neglected to get on our knees before Him asking for Him to guide us and continue to draw us closer to Him. It's like we have said, "Hey God, thanks for all you've done and for getting us a baby, but we've got it from here." And just thinking about that terrible attitude makes me feel so ashamed. I need my Father in all aspects of my life, not just through the obviously hard things.
This all came out because we wrote our coordinator, Michelle and didn't hear from her in almost two weeks. We wrote just to see how the birthmom was. When she wrote us, she said that she hasn't been able to get a hold of her and has left here a couple messages. In my eyes, this is not a good sign. Our fear started...is she changing her mind?? And after talking this through, I was reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." What struck me was the "lean not on your own understanding" part. I mean, that is what we have been doing. We weren't acknowledging God and trusting His way. We thought we knew what was going on with the birthmom and let it get to us. We should have given that email to the Lord and trust that whatever is going on with the birthmom and our child is totally in His hands and is already planned out perfectly in His will for our lives.
Needless to say, we gave it to God and are going to continue trusting Him. We WILL wait for our baby to be born in April. We WILL go on a vacation to spend time together in March. I WILL quit my job in March in anticipation of being a stay at home mom shortly after. Not doing any of these things is not trusting God. We want to make every decision, attitude, and feeling a leap of faith. Faith in our perfect, all-knowing, amazing God, who loves us and only does what is good and perfect according to HIS will.
I think in the last month we have taken this matched news for granted. We praise God for what He has given us, but neglected to get on our knees before Him asking for Him to guide us and continue to draw us closer to Him. It's like we have said, "Hey God, thanks for all you've done and for getting us a baby, but we've got it from here." And just thinking about that terrible attitude makes me feel so ashamed. I need my Father in all aspects of my life, not just through the obviously hard things.
This all came out because we wrote our coordinator, Michelle and didn't hear from her in almost two weeks. We wrote just to see how the birthmom was. When she wrote us, she said that she hasn't been able to get a hold of her and has left here a couple messages. In my eyes, this is not a good sign. Our fear started...is she changing her mind?? And after talking this through, I was reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." What struck me was the "lean not on your own understanding" part. I mean, that is what we have been doing. We weren't acknowledging God and trusting His way. We thought we knew what was going on with the birthmom and let it get to us. We should have given that email to the Lord and trust that whatever is going on with the birthmom and our child is totally in His hands and is already planned out perfectly in His will for our lives.
Needless to say, we gave it to God and are going to continue trusting Him. We WILL wait for our baby to be born in April. We WILL go on a vacation to spend time together in March. I WILL quit my job in March in anticipation of being a stay at home mom shortly after. Not doing any of these things is not trusting God. We want to make every decision, attitude, and feeling a leap of faith. Faith in our perfect, all-knowing, amazing God, who loves us and only does what is good and perfect according to HIS will.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Preparing for change
I know that in the past I have written about change and how I am not a fan. Yet change is what I have been preparing for for the last 3 years or so. Mike and I have been either trying to get pregnant or start our family through adoption for over 3 years now, we have been actively trying to create change. So now that we are officially going to be parents in April, we are preparing for this impending change. And sometimes I am totally freaked out about it or I am so excited that April seems forever away.
Last week, I was reading a book (which turned out to be the saddest, most deressing book ever). While reading it at 11:30 at night, I started balling my eyes out. The book was at a point where the the mom and dad had their first child and their relationship got terrible. My tears came from a fear of the change that is about to happen in our marriage. Not a bad change, and actually a change that I have been waiting for for such a long time! So in the midst of my tears, Mike woke up and comforted me and we talked about how we both desire for our marriage to always come first (after our relationship with God!). We want regular date night (with the help of our wonderful friends and family as babysitters!!), and we want to have conversations with each other and other people that don't revolve around our children or parenting. These are things we long for when we become parents.
The change that is coming for the Wise household is now totally and completely welcome. It is going to be a beautiful and precious thing. And I cannot wait to be a mommy...just had to throw that in too!
Last week, I was reading a book (which turned out to be the saddest, most deressing book ever). While reading it at 11:30 at night, I started balling my eyes out. The book was at a point where the the mom and dad had their first child and their relationship got terrible. My tears came from a fear of the change that is about to happen in our marriage. Not a bad change, and actually a change that I have been waiting for for such a long time! So in the midst of my tears, Mike woke up and comforted me and we talked about how we both desire for our marriage to always come first (after our relationship with God!). We want regular date night (with the help of our wonderful friends and family as babysitters!!), and we want to have conversations with each other and other people that don't revolve around our children or parenting. These are things we long for when we become parents.
The change that is coming for the Wise household is now totally and completely welcome. It is going to be a beautiful and precious thing. And I cannot wait to be a mommy...just had to throw that in too!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Here's to 2011!
Well another year is started and I am so excited. We celebrated with a few friends last night and spent time reflecting on some great moments of 2010 and also what we are looking forward to this year...
In 2010, actually just a month ago or so, we got a call from our coordinator Michelle and said that a birth couple would like to meet us. They liked another couple but really wanted to meet soon. So that next Wednesday, Mike and I drove to a Starbucks in Corona and met with them. The meeting was very nice and comfortable. We left feeling good about our time and that we were truly ourselves. It was the next Monday that Michelle called and said that we are GOING TO BE PARENTS!!! We were offically matched and could not be more excited. Baby Wise is expected to arrive April of 2011!
So yes, 2010 pretty much rocked for us. We had many ups and downs but we can look back on those fondly because it brought us to where we are today...right on the cusp of parenthood.
2011 is looking good so far. We hopefully will get to find out if we are going to have a little girl or boy soon and can go crazy buying clothes! We cannot wait to be parents and know that the next few months will zoom by...We are hoping we can get a little babymoon vacation in and to really spend time with friends who live out of the area and really enjoy these last few months as a family of 2. Our lives will be so different this time next year. I don't know what it will look like but I probably won't have 15 minutes to myself at 10AM to write a post. I will have a beautiful child in my arms and no matter what it is doing...crying, screaming, cooing, or just sleeping, I will be so in love with that moment and that little bundle of ours.
Ours...wow. Here's to a great 2011!
In 2010, actually just a month ago or so, we got a call from our coordinator Michelle and said that a birth couple would like to meet us. They liked another couple but really wanted to meet soon. So that next Wednesday, Mike and I drove to a Starbucks in Corona and met with them. The meeting was very nice and comfortable. We left feeling good about our time and that we were truly ourselves. It was the next Monday that Michelle called and said that we are GOING TO BE PARENTS!!! We were offically matched and could not be more excited. Baby Wise is expected to arrive April of 2011!
So yes, 2010 pretty much rocked for us. We had many ups and downs but we can look back on those fondly because it brought us to where we are today...right on the cusp of parenthood.
2011 is looking good so far. We hopefully will get to find out if we are going to have a little girl or boy soon and can go crazy buying clothes! We cannot wait to be parents and know that the next few months will zoom by...We are hoping we can get a little babymoon vacation in and to really spend time with friends who live out of the area and really enjoy these last few months as a family of 2. Our lives will be so different this time next year. I don't know what it will look like but I probably won't have 15 minutes to myself at 10AM to write a post. I will have a beautiful child in my arms and no matter what it is doing...crying, screaming, cooing, or just sleeping, I will be so in love with that moment and that little bundle of ours.
Ours...wow. Here's to a great 2011!
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