Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Getting ready for baby!

Well, we have the crib, I'm still on the lookout for a dresser/changing table, we need to decide on a bedding set and we've gotten lots of stuff already from friends and family for the new baby.

I have the bedding narrowed down to about 7 options at this point, once we pick on we can get it ordered and decide if we are going to paint the room or not. I'm thinking we probably will. I also have picked out the car seat/travel system that I like and am still on the fence about a pack-n-play of some sort. I think we'll probably want one for when we travel and for when she is more mobile and need to confine her... but it's not at the top of my list. Oh, and we were at the new Wal-Mart the other day and saw the best thing! Instead of a normal high-chair, we're going to go with something like this...

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fisher-Price-Space-Saver-High-Chair-and-Booster-My-Little-Eye-Collection/12960801

We don't have the largest kitchen so this will be perfect and a huge space saver for us.

Our garage sale went great! We had tons of help from friends and family again and I couldn't feel more blessed for all the support we have. We raised another $800!!! And just in time too... we have a lot of things to get to be ready for baby! I am going to try and add a count-down ticker to the side somewhere... if I can get it to work. It's hard to believe that in a little over two months we could be coming home from the hospital with a new bundle of joy!

For now, we are still waiting on the tribal things to get sorted out. My social worker keeps telling me it just takes time and there is no telling exactly when they will get the all clear. As soon as they do the next step is to set up a meeting with everyone and go over the cooperative agreement and also the birthplan for the big day. In the mean time, we have started getting to know Shantel more and more. We are so blessed to have someone in our lives that wants to share SO much of this journey with us. She actually came over with her boyfriend to help out with the garage sale set-up... how cool is that!!! And, Brian and I are having them over for dinner tomorrow night. We just really want to make sure that we are all on the same page, we want to get to know her better and most of all we want her to get to know us AND know in her heart that this is truly what she wants to do.

Keep those prayers coming... they are working so far and until we have that little girl home and in our arms we are still hoping and praying that this all comes together perfectly.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

A Match...

Well... it's happened. We have matched with a birthmom and things couldn't be better! The last two weeks have been a whirlwind!

We met through my co-worker, her name is Shantel and she is 7 months pregnant, due November 23rd... SOON! It's a girl and everything so far is going really great! Our first meeting, while incredibly nerve-wracking was also the most joyous part of this entire experience. There we were, sitting across the booth from a wonderful young woman that wanted to help make our dreams of being a mom and a dad come true. I could cry just thinking about it.

Shantel has since met with her own counselor at our agency a few times, and the paperwork part of this whole process has been set in motion. At this point we need to wait to hear back on a couple of things, but then we actually sit down and go over things officially.

As far as we are all concerned... this is official. She likes us, or at least it seems that way! And we are already loving her and the little baby girl in her tummy. It's hard not to though. We are excited and going to slowly get started on getting the future nursery set up... heck if this all happens we only have about 9 more weeks until we bring a baby home! EEeeek!

I was able to go to her last ultrasound appointment... there are few words to describe the emotions I felt that day. It was amazing, Simply amazing! I have a pic to share... so here you go!

Photobucket

I couldn't have asked for a better person to have brought into our lives. I feel blessed to know Shantel and am so thankful for the experiences she has shared with me so far. I hope to have more good news to share with you all soon. For now, we are focusing on our second garage sale... lots to do and no time to do it all! Hopefully it will be even half as successful as the last one. With a baby on the way... we are saving every penny we have.

Please keep us all in your prayers. Shantel, the miracle baby girl in her tummy and Brian and I are going to need them!