Officially Waiting
It is Official we are on the waiting list for 1-2 children... either gender... 0-3 years old.  Gavin is still hoping for a big sister.  He clarified big in size not age. We are to the moon excited! Its about a 6 month wait give or take a few.  Which I am fine with 6 months. In the next 4 months we are moving, celebrating 2 birthdays, an anniversary, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I don't think this will feel at all like waiting more like prepping.

Today I opened a fortune cookie and it said "you will be traveling and coming into a fortune"....that is going into someones baby book! :)

Due Dates 

 

With pregnancy there is a clear start and a clear finish.  The due dates stands as the end point. The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.  You know that even if you go past that day (for instance by 10 days like Gavin did) that it won't be too long.  You know!  When you walk around people can see you growing and they know your time will come.  Friends, family and even perfect strangers can share in your joy and your excitement. They can all take notice and make comments on your progress, however inappropriate those comments might be.  Like the time I was told I must be due any day and I was only 7 months pregnant.  The point is there is a clear finish line.  With an adoption there just isn't. You can't say for your sure whether you will be holding that baby in your arms in January or June. You can't make plans for taking the baby to this thing or that thing because you just don't know when you will have the baby in your arms.  No one else can tell you either. No one knows you are "expecting," unless you tell them and everyone wants to know when. They can't mark your progress by the changes in your body or the changing of the season.  No one but God knows.  So you wait. You fill out your papers, meet with a social worker, notarize things, meet with a social worker, mail things and wait. 

We got an email from our agency the other day saying that our wait will be longer.  Things in Uganda have slowed down for a great many reasons.  I don't do well with processes. I like starts and I LOVE finishes. I don't like the middle. The ups the downs the not knowing. It isn't that I want to take a baby home tomorrow. Oh NO! I mean Owen is still 1 for goodness sake.  I just hate not knowing. I hate not being able to plan things.  Right down to how we spend our money. Will we need that soon to spend on the adoption. Can we go on a vacation? Will we need to save Mike's time off?  I don't know!

The intense excitement and love I feel is building for this child whose face I won't recognize, whose name I don't know and whose world I have never seen. Those are days I want a due date. A light at the end of our tunnel. I can't imagine how the orphans feel. Does God have a family somewhere across the world waiting? Many of them don't. Of the 2.3 Million Orphans in Uganda only 69 of them went to forever families last year.  My heart breaks for the orphans. 

Please remember to pray for the Orphans! 

EASTER IN PICTURES


We started the weekend with Valley Real Life's Easter Egg hunt and Carnival. Which to be honest I didn't want to do...but turned out to be a great time! Then Sunday our sweet friends Paul and Heather asked us to join there family for a wonderful Easter dinner. Thank you to you and all your family for a great time with great food! Oh and a special thanks to Jesus who has a rock song in our house written and sung by Gavin called "Jesus Dies." You make my life beautiful and I am so glad I can tell Gavin you came back to life!
 

Our sweet friend Linda doing face painting on the boys.

Owen looking so big in his chair.

Daddy Love!

He just wanted to use the egg as a shaker music maker...not quite getting the concept.

Big brother showing him how it's done.

Same response to the Easter bunny as last year.

Owen didn't mind.

Gavin and his sweet friend Morgan holding hands at the starting line.

A boys view.

The parents weren't allowed on the field. I saw  the soccer Mom in me coming out.

Sweet Hannah helping the kiddos.

Showing Daddy his loot.

One of my favorite pics.

Do you think he knows she wants his candy?

Eating during the hunt isn't wise but he doesn't care.

It's a Farm Party! 

After running a 5K in the morning. I came home and got busy setting up baby Owen's first birthday party! Oh the fun we had!

 

With a look like that you would think he ripped that hat right off....but he didn't. He ended up wearing it for the entire party!

I was a crazy Mama and took on making his cake. I am very proud of how it turned out but must say it took a long time!  Worth it for my sweet baby!

Every Farmer must have his own vegetable garden!

Grandma helped us deck our birthday boy with this adorable bib, onsie and the crown!

Hey, whose party is this?  Gavin kept saying "It's my birthday party... I mean baby Owen's Birthday party!"

Both brothers were here.

 

My Aunt Kathie and Uncle Frank came as well and we were so grateful to have everyone! 

Thank you everyone who came and made this a very special day for my baby!  

I can't believe it's been a whole year! 

Here go right into another!

Happy Birthday Owen!

One year ago on April 16, 2010 Owen joined the world.

 Then 3 months later...

3 months after that...

 3 months more pass us by...

And here we are! One year later celebrating your first birthday!  

Mommy, Daddy and Big Brother sure do love you! 

You are one goofy guy who makes us all laugh!  

Hitchin' a Ride!

 My two little rascals are just starting to really play together and with that comes fighting....laughing...pushing...not sharing....sharing....hugs....kisses....apologies....quiet moments that cause Mom to search the house for the naughty children who have surly found trouble.  These new found friends have also found creative ways to play too. Like this one...

Owen turns 1 in a few weeks! I can't believe it. I also can't believe that he can chow a whole bowl of easy mac by himself. I would never have imagined giving him easy mac but when he was screaming at his brothers bowl I clued in and decided to give it a shot.  Low and behold the boy loves him some Mac 'n Cheese. Can't blame the kid! Between walkers and bunny hops (Owens form of crawling) I am a busy woman. I am truly loving MOST moments with these adorable boys. Gavin starts soccer again soon and is now officially enrolled in Preschool!  I can't believe it!

The days are just flying or should I say driving or maybe hopping by in the James House! Choose any of those the days are just plain going by too fast!