Alexa turns THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How is it possible that my beautiful baby girl is 3?!  She's not a baby anymore, but turning into such an amazing little girl?!  It is crazy to think that 3 years ago today I was in the hospital, about to have my c-section!!  This little girl has brought me and Brandon SO much joy!  Our lives wouldn't be the same without her!  I love her more than I ever thought I could love someone!!!

At three, my angel is a ball of personality!  She is such a sweet little girl, with a little bit of sass hahaha!  She loves playing outside, and being with her cousins!  She also loves her grandparents very much!  She would much rather be outside kicking a ball, than inside....but if she is inside, she loves to play make-believe (and she is quite good at it) and have tea parties!  At three her favorite tv shows/movies are: Doc McStuffin, Max and Ruby, Berenstein Bears (somethings never change); Tangled, Brave, Smurfs, Finding Nemo and The Little Mermaid)!  She loves to SING and DANCE and does pretty good at memorizing her favorite kids songs!! She loves to learn, and is continuing to learn how to count, say her abcs, identify shapes, etc!  She LOVES swimming and constantly asks to go to the water park haha!   

I love my little peanut more than words can ever explain!  When I wake up in the morning she is the FIRST thing I want to see....and holding her makes everything right in the world!  I cannot wait to see her take on a new adventure - that of being a sister!  I know she will do a wonderful job, for she already asks about her sister EVERY DAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEXA!!!  Momma and Daddy love you so much!!  Below are just a few pictures from the year!  :)

REFERRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

REFERRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We  are THRILLED beyond belief to share with EVERYONE that Brandon and I officially received AND accepted our referral on Saturday, April 20th, 2013.  It was a LONG eleven month wait for us.  One that had many ups and downs!  I truly don't think people understand the heartbreak you go through when waiting for a child you are adopting, unless you are or have gone through it!  There were many days with tears and fears....but they were all set aside the SECOND I receive that email!  WE did NOT expect to get a referral on a Saturday (it is very unheard of)!  When Friday came and went we assumed we were not getting it this week!  When I randomly checked my email and saw the words REFERRAL I thought for sure it was only a question!  When I opened the email and realized it was OUR REFERRAL I was overjoyed!  I called to Brandon, we read her file, and saw her beautiful pictures.  We were so happy (and of course there were definitely tears for me)!!  It was such an amazing moment!  We quickly accepted and shared with everyone!!

The little angel we were referred is 8, almost 9 months old!  Her birthday is July 27th, 2012, one day before my dads!  She is as CUTE as a button!  We couldn't be happier!  Please pray for our little angel (whose name we are still figuring out).  Pray for QUICK courts so we can get her home as soon as possible!  Now that we have a sweet face to look at I'm sure the 3 month wait is going to be a killer!!!!  I'm so thankful to have many wonderful friends that will be traveling to Ethiopia before us that will be taking pictures (top of the list is my sister who will be able to hold my angel and take pictures of the two cousins together)!

I want to thank EVERYONE that has been praying for us.  All the family members that have helped along the way, along with dear friends (many of which I have met while beginning this adoption)!  Your support has meant more to us than anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We won't be able to post pictures of our angel until we clear court, likely in July.  But, if you would like pictures come by for a visit :) :)

XOXOXO
KRISTEN, BRANDON and ALEXA

Moving numbers..........

I realized that I haven't updated my blog in quite some time!!  In reference to our adoption we are technically number....

We had several slow months, but things are finally starting to turn around!!  Our adoption associate spoke with me not long ago and it looks like our referral could be within the next month or two!  Things are finally happening :)  Super exciting!  Brandon and I have been talking to Alexa more and more about having a sibling!  She is starting to get more excited about it!  

Speaking of my little angel, Alexa....she is such a joy!  Since going back to work, Alexa wants to snuggle with me more at night...which I LOVE!  She and I have been working on potty training (and she is getting more excited about that as well...still not consistent though).  She is learning more and more everyday!!  She loves to practice her abcs and count. She LOVES starfall and is a pro at using the i-pad!  She knows lots of her shapes (triangle, rhombus/diamond, circle, square, rectangle, oval).  She is so much fun to be with all the time. She is a creative person, who loves to color and draw!  However, she is really quite a tomboy.  Brandon and I are so lucky to have such an amazing daughter.

It is so amazing to think that in a few months Alexa will have a baby sibling!!!!!!!!!!  It is hard picturing my baby sitting there without a mother or father right now...so I pray that God watches over my child until mommy and daddy can bring them home!!!

That's it for now :)

Update and Life!!!

Hello All!!

It has been quite awhile since I have posted!!!  Life has been crazy lately!  Going back to work has taken up a lot of my time LOL!!  As of right now, in reference to our adoption... I'm confident we are at least number......

But, there is a chance we are more than that, for just over the past week we know referrals were made!!  Sally, our representative is hopeful to have a referral to us before Christmas!  I'm hoping this happens as well!!  It is so weird to think that our second child is alive somewhere, and we don't even have a picture of their face yet!  Wild, I know LOL!!  It has been an anxious couple of months though, waiting to hear news!!  I will fill you in once I know something more!!!

Onto other things, Alexa is almost 2 and a half, and is a ball of FUN!!  Although she isn't interested in potty training yet, she is such a bright little girl.  She is talking in complete sentences now, and is in LOVE with Toy Story 3.  She knows all of her colors, can count to 12, and knows some of her shapes!  We like to 'play learn' as I call it!!!  My life wouldn't be complete without her!  NO matter what is happening in my life, having her and her daddy around ALWAYS brightens my day!!

Tomorrow, October 8th, is Brandon and I's 7th anniversary!  I cannot believe it has been 7 years!!!  The day we got married was ONE of the happiest days of my lives.  We had so many hopes and dreams, and they are all coming true now!  We have one beautiful little girl, and are awaiting our second child.  WE have a home we love, filled with laughter and love, and a wonderful family with great friends.  Who could want more?!  I am so happy!!!  God has truly blessed us!!!!  

Welp, that is all for now!!  I'll update later!!!

Love to All!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEW ADOPTION UPDATE

Well, we didn't move up THAT much...but there are 4-5 new referrals coming through very SOON!  That brings hope!!  Sally, our adoption consultant predicts about 4 months for us (so around Thanksgiving time)!  Here's to hoping :)

MOVING NUMBERS...............

The start of the month is always an exciting time...for until we get a referral we get updated on numbers!  This month was a little bit slower than May, but we still are making moves in the right direction!!! We are currently number

There is no telling when we will get a referral call...for some people are asking for different things (age, sex,etc) than we are..... So it could be as quickly as a month to as long as a few months from now!  BUT, I have things to keep me busy while we await our referral.  Currently it is BABY NAMES!  We are throwing out some we like, but are pretty sure on our names!  AS of today we are sold on Gia for a girl (Gabriel has always been our favorite boys name - that will never change LOL)!.

Keep the prayers coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Number......................

Our countdown continues!  YIPPEE!  We are now number 18 on the wait list.  Pray that the referrals keep coming the way they have been!

WOO