"And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is." Ephesians 3:18 (NLT)

Since my first Mother's Day, every Mother's Day is even more special for me.  After so many Mother's Days of praying for a child to call me Mama...He heard my cry and answered my prayers.  Immeasurably more than I asked actually.  This Mother's Day was a special day for our little family.  We dedicated our sweet Smith to the Lord - promising to raise him in the church, teaching him the ways of the Lord, and guiding him toward our Father all the days of his life.  The church also made vows to help guide him as a church family.

We dedicated Smith in our hometown church where my dad is the pastor.  He has been there for nearly 30 years.  My sister and brother were dedicated in this church by my dad, my dad presented us all with kindergarten diplomas in this church, he baptized us all in this church, he presented us as high school graduates on Baccalaureate Sunday in this church, he married us and my sister and her husband in this church, and he presented all his grandchildren with their Bibles from the church family in this church.  It is a special thing to come home for baby dedication.  It is my family.  This church is my family as I grew up here, and they served and an extension of my family.

A special time indeed.

Baby dedication is also a time for us to share the life verse we have chosen for our children.  We chose Ephesians 3:18 as Smith's life verse.  The day we picked up Smith from the hospital, we had to wait a while with the birthmother counselor while some medical things were taken care of.  While we waited, she received a text from Smith's birthmother.  She had just gotten home herself after leaving her hospital room with empty arms.  She stated how she knows God loves her because of how He showed himself throughout Smith's adoption.  I pray that for Smith.  That he know that love and understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep our Father's love is for him.  Our Father who knew about his life before he was even conceived.  Our Father who has a perfectly planned life for this precious gift I hold in my arms.

Oh, how deep our Father's love is for Smith!

And how great our love is for him too!  What an honor it is to love him.

I am so thankful that Russ and I were both raised in the church.  We were guided by strong Christian parents with grace and truth.  One of us needed much more grace than the other. I won't tell you which one of us!  Ha!  Thank you, Lord, that I know how to parent and raise a child to love the Lord because I've seen it lived out in my life.

Three years - three baby dedications!  Someone better hurry up if we are going for FOUR in a row!  Haha!  What an amazing opportunity we have to hold these precious hands and lead them to the cross.  It is absolutely the greatest responsibility...helping them learn and grow so that one day they will receive the gift of eternal life.  Oh, Lord, give us mercy and lots of wisdom as we learn day to day how to parent!

All presented their Bible by Pawpaw...

I didn't even realize how happy and smiley Smith was until I saw pictures later.  It gives me such joy to see my children joyful and excited about church.  I pray both my babies always feel the joy and comfort of our church family...our sisters and brothers.  May they be encouraged there, challenged there, and loved there.

This Mother's Day - Smith's first Mother's Day - was a special one.  Thanks be to God for the good things He has done!

Playdays Inside

With all the cold, we waited quite a while for all the snow to melt around town.  The snow plows up here clear the roads very quickly, but there were some icy days...and it was just plain freezing outside.  Which made for lots and lots of inside play days.

And maybe some cabin fever.

I know I will cherish these days I spent playing with my littles in our pajamas for days on end.  There was coloring, singing, movies, baby doll strolling, giggles, and more.  Inside our little townhouse.

And there may have been some cabin fever.

Did I mention we may have had some cabin fever?  Haha!

More Snow and Girl Time

We had a second snow in February...bigger than the first one.  I was determined to play!  Thankfully, the snow lasted through the weekend when Russ was home to help with Smith so I could take Millie Janalee outside.  We bundled up in our snow bibs, coats, gloves, headgear, and scarf.  That's the most traumatic part for a two-year old!  Ha!  Smith went down for a great nap, so Russ was able to spend some time outside too and snap some pictures.

I didn't measure the snow, but it was so fun to play in!  I can't remember the last time I saw this much snow.  Mississippi - Tupelo in particular - still had more!  Ha!  But ours lasted longer.  The snow covered the ground forever after the snow it seemed.  It was fun to snuggle inside and look out at all the white covering the ground.

Millie Janalee and I made a tiny Chinese looking snowman.  Actually...Russ built the snowman.  I was no good at it!  And Millie Janalee and I helped pick his decorations.

We made snow angels and crawled all around the snow.

And Millie Janalee's favorite part - we threw snowballs.  Lots and lots and lots of snowballs.  We ended with a game of throw snowballs at the tree.  Things are so simple and fun with a toddler!

Thankful for the snowy memories with my firstborn.  And a genuine fun SNOW DAY!

Princess and her Princes

Here's the thing.  For a while...almost two years to be exact...Millie Janalee was "the" princess.  She's still the only princess, but she is not "the" one any longer.  There are two bitty boys who have joined the ranks.  Hughes and Smith have endured their fair share of sleeping in pink crib bedding, drying off with pink towels, and swinging in pink swings.  Smith more than Hughes since the pink also covered our home as well.  And I'm afraid Smith has lots more girly girl things to power through.

Like tiaras and jewelry...

It brings back memories of my sister and me dressing my brother up in a lacy dress with a hair bow.  And for the record, he was way too old to be allowing us to dress him up like that!  Haha!  Such a good sport.  That's what little brothers do.  Appease their big sisters.

The thing is...Millie Janalee is still "the" princess in our home.  Surrounded by two handsome princes.  They both adore her and hang on her every word.  They both love to wear tiaras and jewelry just because it makes her happy.  And I love that she is surrounded by these sweet guys.  Her "Prince Charmy" and "Hans."

Oh - and don't worry about me!  Being the mother of "the" princess just makes me THE QUEEN! And I'm pretty good at that!  Just ask my family.

May she always live happily ever after...

Six Months

Now, I can bring it back to current news.  Smith turned SIX MONTHS old on Monday.  Half a year, y'all!  And he was pretty excited about it.

At six months, Smith is wearing 6-9 month clothes and size 3 diapers.  He can still wear size 2, but I just bit the bullet and bought a big box of 3s.  He is sitting up all alone for periods of time.  He still gets pretty excited and gets off balance a good bit, but he is doing so well!  He really showed out at his six month pictures by sitting up the entire hour we were outside taking pictures.  Show-off.  Just like his sister.  And, by the way, Millie Janalee is still his favorite source of entertainment.

I am still making eight ounce bottles every four hours, but he fights those bottles like nobody's business.  It is the funniest thing.  Well…not really.  But kinda.   One day I'm sure we will laugh as we tell him about me standing on my head or whatever I have to do to make him eat.  His ears are perfect, and his mouth is too.  He had his first  dermatology appointment this month too.  And he is perfectly fine…nothing major.  Our pediatrician is trying Zantac to see if his skin issue may cause some reflux.  It's just a shot in the dark.  He doesn't spit up a lot or fuss after.  Just eating is a chore right now.  But we power through it - Smith and I.  Ha!

Smith also had his first virus this month.  We woke up one night to a crying baby, and I knew that was pretty abnormal for him to not be easily soothed back to sleep.  I felt his head, and we grabbed a thermometer.  102.5.  We gave Tylenol and watched him through the night.  I called the pediatrician the next morning and took him in.  She checked ears, swabbed his nose for RSV or flu, and even cathed him since he was so fussy during our visit.  Nothing.  Virus is all she could guess.  So we tried to keep his temperature down and after a few days, it just went away.  It was a sad few days, because Smith just didn't fell well at all.  Poor thing!

We went Friday for his six month well visit and shots.  It dawned on me that this was (hopefully) our last trip to our St. Louis pediatrician before we move!  Dr. McBride has been amazing, and we are so thankful for her kind spirit, calm and soft voice, and her genuine interest in our family - and our babies. Millie Janalee almost always gets to help out.  Pushing buttons on the scale or walking with Dr. McBride to help her bring me some free formula.  Always fun to get free samples!  We are so grateful to be blessed with a fabulous pediatrician during Smith's first months of life and our year in St. Louis.  OH - and one of my favorite parts is there are two separate waiting rooms.  Like divided with a wall.  You enter through different doors.  A sick office and a well office.  LOVE. IT!  Everyone should have that!

At Smith's six month visit, he weighed 16 pounds 13 ounces (33%).  He is 27.5" long (83%).  Tall and skinny like his sister!  He took his shots so well and only cried for a few seconds.  He really is growing up so sweet.

Smith,

You will never know the joy and smiles you bring into our home.  After I fed you your bottle last night, you nuzzled your face against the side of my chin and held your sweet hand on the other side of my chin.  I was nestled between your face and your tiny hand.  I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving in that moment.  For that moment and for you.  I am so thankful for your sweet squealing self.  I am thankful for two loving people who entrusted you to us.  I am thankful that God chose us for you.  And I am grateful that He planned your life from before you were conceived.  He knew the number of little blonde hairs on your head and he has already written the pages of your book. I can't wait to read it!

Love you, Mama

Five Months

Well, you see.  Five months simply came and went without documentation.  Of course, I snapped our five month photo with Mr. Bear.  But I completely failed documenting it on the blog!  I don't even know where it went.  I know we let him try rice cereal and he hated it.  Like cried big tears and scrunched up his little face.  I know his little personality blossomed even more full of squeals and giggles.  And cooing too.  I know he was wearing 6 months clothes and size 2 diapers.  Except this outfit is actually a 3 month size…it probably just runs long.

And I also know I was reminded that five months is one of my favorite ages!  Such a fun little boy!  I love him so.  Look at those dimples and that smile and those blue eyes and his little bald head!  Ha!  He's actually not bald.  His hair is blonde and he definitely has only a fine layer, but it's there.  And precious!

Grabbing toys and taking them straight to his mouth.  Eight ounce bottles (give or take) every four hours.  Sleeping through the night.  And starting to take long naps in his bassinet instead of the swing.  [I need Kleenex on that one.]  It was such an easy transition, and I know it allows him better naps.  But still.

Oh, and yes….still in the bassinet in our room.  Right by my side where I can reach in and help him out any time I want.  Or just simply watch him breathe.  It only lasts such a short time.  I'm trying to take it in!

It was a happy five months indeed!  A month ago...

Final Post Adoption Visit

In March, we had Smith's final post adoption home visit.  After Smith was placed in our arms, Bethany's policy is to schedule three post adoption visits in our home to be sure he is growing healthy and we are taking good care of him.  It is just policy with our particular agency before finalizing adoption.  Of course, Smith is our son.  But until the adoption is finalized 6 months later, our names are not listed on his birth certificate and the agency is legally his guardian.  I may not have used all the right words, but that's the gist.  It is just a legality, but a big deal for us when our babies' adoptions are finalized.  Our family day!

Our sweet Missouri social worker came by for her last visit to ask some standard questions about routine, health, dispositions, and more.  We visited for a little while before she was on her way for the last time.  Smith was fussy during the entire visit.  We would find out later - at about 4 am - that he was getting a virus with a high fever.  Bless his bones!

Words fail me when I consider the good things the Lord has done for us.  We are certainly filled with JOY!  Our home is happy and joyful and loud and stressful and messy and BLESSED!  Everything we prayed for years and years before our hearts even turned to adoption.  I saw a quote the other day that said, "Sometimes God doesn't change your situation because he is trying to change your heart."  Thank goodness for that!

My heart is forever different.  And better.  And fuller.  And more than I could have ever imagined!

Tis SO SWEET to trust in Him!

Rollin' and Four Month Well Visit

A month later, I guess I need to fill you in on Smith's four month well visit and those yucky shots.  Millie Janalee always loves to go to the doctor with Smith for a check up.  A mini Doc McStuffins.  Only those of you with Disney Channel will understand.  Ha!  She watches every move the doctor makes and checks it all out.

We began by weighing our growing boy.  He weighed in at 14 pounds (17%) and measured 67% length. I can't remember exact length...I have it written down.  I'll have to look!  That's what happens when I get behind on this blog.  Still a little bit according to his percentages.  He took his shots like a pro.

And when we got home, he decided it was time to show out. He rolled from front to back time after time after time.  Yay Smith!

Thinking about it...

Here we go...

Going...

Going...

Gone!

The same week, he began rolling over back to front also.  He just needed a little boost from his pediatrician to get a move on.  Ha!  The rest of the afternoon and night looked something like this...

Dr. Millie Janalee giving him her own personal four month check up.  Poor Smith will always be her very own baby doll.  And he doesn't really have a choice when I serve as her accomplice placing him in her baby doll bed from her.  It served as great calm entertainment for a long period of time.  So what's the harm?

Perfectly healthy baby boy at his four month visit!