Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Ayla has grown up so much over the last year. She is now 

saying her first words walking and getting into everything! We are looking forward to this new year and can't wait to see what she's going to do next. She is such a happy girl with great spirit! 

Fall fun

Our big girl is now ONE! We can't believe how much has happened in 1 yr.

Last weekend we took a trip to Minnetonka Orchards and had a fun family day picking apples 

and looking at pumpkins. We also got to see a few animals. Ayla had a great time! 

She's One how the heck did that happen?

This past weekend was Ayla's big birthday Party she is now ONE! It's so crazy to think the thoughts that were going through our minds last year at this time. Today is the actual day that we got to meet her for the very first time. A couple of days we will never forget. Everything feels so right and so meant to be. the 14th  is our wedding anniversary and the 15th is her birthday. That has to be a sign from god  letting us know that she was just meant to be with us.  It's been a wonderful year and we love her more then ever! Below are some photos of her big day. 

Way too long..Time goes way to fast!

It seems like just yesterday I was saying it's never going to happen. I am never going to be a mom. And now our baby girl is 10 months old.. How the heck did that happen. Throughout this journey I have had to let go of the control and I now know that everything that has happened was meant to be. I am so thankful for all of our family and friends and their support that has lifted us up and brought us to where we are today!

Our fourth of July was a fun time spent at the family cabin! :) 

Where is the time going?

It's so fun to think back to last year at this time how we were so on edge every time the phone would ring. Is this the call would this be the one. And now our little Ayla is up and moving on the go! She just started crawling and is now pulling herself up on everything.So much has happend since this time last year and we feel truly blessed to have such a sweet lil peanut!

I am not really sure how this has happened but Ayla is now 7 months old. Time has gone by so fast it's hard to imagine life without our little peanut. She is doing great growing and discovering everything she can get her hands on lol.. She has also enjoyed sharing with us her wonderful squeals and screams and lets not forget my favorite her little giggles! 

 

6 months!

Our little peanut is now 6 months old. It's hard to believe 6 months and a day ago was our first morning together. We were exhausted but smiling from ear to ear!:) Here are some photos I took of Ayla yesterday. She is one happy Baby!

Getting so Big! It's Final!

On February 25th we had our virtual court date which really consisted of a conference call with a lawyer in Florida. Our adoption is finally finalized. Which means we are Officially Ayla's parents via the law. Technically before we were by law her legal guardians. We had a great lunch afterwards followed by a walk with the whole family even Libby. 

At Crossroads Adoption Services after we finalized.

At Lunch

Getting Ready for our walk! Daddy can't resist those cute little cheeks

LIttle miss giggle pants

I just had to share this video of Ayla and her giggles. Hearing her giggle is the best thing in the world. It puts a smile on my face! More news is that Ayla just got her first tooth! She is growing up so fast I can not believe it! We have loved and cherished every day with her! I think of her birth mother every day and what a wonderful gift she has given us! She truly is an angel in our eyes. :) Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  

Great Video.. Great Message

While online today I ran across this really great website called Bravelove.org. This is their mission: Our mission is to change the perception of adoption through honest, informative, and hopeful communication that conveys the heroism and bravery a birth mother displays when she places her child with a loving family through adoption. The heartbreaking truth is that many women facing unplanned pregnancy feel unable to care for a child. Sometimes the single-most loving thing a mother can do is place her child with a loving, eager adoptive family. We aim to invite and empower women to choose adoption. I thought this was a great site and needed to be shared. Have a great weekend everyone!

Adoption Increase Campaign from Coffee Productions on Vimeo.

Smiles

It's amazing how fast Ayla is growing it seems like it was just yesterday that we could lace our hands around her tiny little waist. She truly has been such a happy baby she is smiling most of the time.. but be warned if she is not fed on time.. The world will know lol.. And as you have all heard she has some pretty good lungs!

Justin and I have met a lot of great couples on our adoption journey. Two of the couples we have met through one of our adoption groups and another couple that is part of our online adoption group got their little ones. This is such a neat thing to witness and we are so happy for all of them! And Ayla is so excited to meet her new friends. We are always so amazed by the wonderful families we have met along the way. For those of you who read my blog and are still waiting don't give up! It will happen! :)

Ayla on her Baptism what a pretty princess..

Ayla and daddy

Ayla & Mommy

Ayla & Daddy

Ayla hanging out at Zoss Design :)

Little Screamer

Ayla is getting so big. I never thought that just the little things would mean so much to us. Just seeing her grab on to something is so much fun to watch. Lately she has started to let her voice be known to the world with her beautiful screams. Which at first we thought to be so cute and funny and now they are still cute but a bit loud lol..

Christmas time where we were then and where we are now.

I always think back to this time last year and how sad we were how down in the dumps I felt that I still didn't have that little one in my arms. I felt so much loss and despair. I felt as if it was never going to happen and everything was totally out of my control. This year as I write that void has been filled by the most adorable little girl who we call Ayla. We couldn't be happier! We have been enjoying every minuet with her. I personally can't wait until she is old enough to bake Christmas cookies with me lol.. many of you know I love to bake. I always say if I wasn't a designer I would be a baker but then I think I would probably weigh 500 lbs too lol.. We are looking forward to all of the holidays with our little one this year. Here are a few photos of out little miss.

You are not forgotten! At the same time I also think of those who are in the same shoes I was in last year at this time. And those who are still mourning their biological child. Since I have been through it I know the pain of someone else's joy. When you hear someones big announcement of "we're Pregnant"  Your heart sinks, you put on that fake smile and say congratulations even though your crying on the inside. Your so frustrated as to why it's not you and why it is soooo easy for everyone else to just get pregnant. It's a really tough thing to go through and something I did not understand until I went though it myself. The pain does not go away but gets better with time. So to all of you out there struggling with your losses. You are not forgotten. I think and pray for you all every day that soon you too will get your little surprise! And I hope it is very very soon! 

National Adoption Month and what's been happening with us..

November is National Adoption Month! 
Presidential Proclamation -- National Adoption Month, 2012 | The White House

I finally feel like I have a chance to sit down and breath a little. Everything has finally set in. I am a MOM!  now I think back last year at this time we were dealing with a very difficult decision weather to continue on with infertility treatments or move on to adoption. Do we waste time and money on never ending doctors appointments  ultrasounds and more privacy invasion? Which where there is no guarantee of becoming a parent of a child or take the plunge into adoption and gain both being a parent and a child. So we took that plunge and we are so happy we did. Don't get me wrong it wasn't an easy decision. We spent a few months thinking about it. All of the pain and anger frustration was all worth it when we got to hold our little Ayla for the first time.

Me and Ayla in FL 

We couldn't have done it with out all of you! 
We are so blessed to have such an amazing support system of family and friends. We have have seen so much love and generosity through out or journey it amazes us. It makes us so happy to know that everyone loves Ayla as much as we do! We just want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts! We are looking forward to you watching Ayla grow with us.

 Ayla and Daddy on Halloween

 A family photo

Ayla hanging out with her cousins (Oliver and Antonio)

Happy Halloween!

Just a quick note to say Happy Halloween! It's crazy to think that next year at this time she will be moving around on her own..

Time flies when your a new Mom & Dad

I can't believe Ayla is over a month now... It's crazy how fast time flies when you have bottles to wash and diapers to change. It's funny how everyone tells you to enjoy it because before you know it they will be walking then talking then off to school etc.. I am now believe it! Everything has been going great! With the exception of the lack of sleep. Alya seems to be quite a night owl being that she is wide awake from the hours of 10:00 PM to 3:00 AM. She does however sleeps most of the day which is actually a good thing considering I am not really on maternity leave lol.. But being that I work for myself I have the flexibility to work when I get a spare min here and there which works out awesome. I had my first Baby shower this past weekend which was really fun. I never ever imagined that I would have a baby shower.. It was finally a shower I got to go to and did not dread going because I would be the only one there without a baby to talk about or didn't have to answer the question "So when are you going to have a baby". What a relief that was and pure enjoyment. :) So far we have had two home visits and one to go! Then we get to finally finalize our adoption. The state of FL requires three home visits and a certain amount of days before you can finalize. Don't get me wrong she is all ours but as of now we are only labeled her legal guardians in the eyes of the law.
Justin is now back to work and trying to get enough sleep to function. He has told me many times before we had Ayla "I don't need sleep" lol.. I know call him a liar! hehe.. But really overall we have realized that we can actually function quite well on very little sleep funny how that works out. :) Here are a few photos of Ayla that we have taken. I hope to try at least to blog once every two weeks if time allows for those of you who read my rants and raves and run on sentences oh and not forget my famous typos lol.

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