Josephine is 1 month old

Dear Josephine,

Welcome home, my tiny love. Today you are one month old. These days with you still feel surreal. Some days I still can’t wrap my head around how incredibly blessed we have been to welcome home our third healthy, beautiful baby girl. Three adoptions; three incredible birth moms we have the honor to know and love. I don’t know what I did in this life to deserve such an honor, such love, but I’m forever grateful.

This was by far the fastest month of my entire life. Life with you and your two sisters is filled with so much love, but it presents its own challenges, making time pass by all the faster. Being a mother to a newborn, a potty-training toddler and a pre-schooler with ADHD and SPD is the hardest job I've ever had, but I’m forever grateful to Daddy, Mimi and Poppa for stepping in and helping me keep my sanity and not let one thing go in regards to our ever-demanding life.

From the moment you entered our hearts, you started lighting up our world. You have this peace and calmness about you unlike your sisters had as newborns. Heaven and Earth moved to make you ours and you feel right at home in our arms – I think you feel right at home too. It’s incredible how quickly the human heart can love someone they’ve only just met. We loved you and your birth family the moment we laid eyes on you. And with each new day, that love has grown and will never cease for the rest of our days.

Here’s a peek into your world at one month old:

• ·      Tummy time – you are not a fan. You kick your little feet and push yourself right over and back onto your back. We practice unsuccessfully, but we practice. This time may only last a minute or two, but I’m not concerned. Your true tummy time is on my chest and your neck muscles are getting stronger by the day.
• ·      You are my sleepiest baby by far. You were welcomed into this world three weeks early and I think that may be why. You sleep about 22 hours a day right now and are only awake for a few minutes at a time.
• ·      You never cry. You make a couple little grunts, we tend to your need and it’s over. That’s it. You are the most easy-going baby I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and you are ours! My always calm, always peaceful tiny baby girl.
• ·      You love baths. We thought for sure we might get a cry out of you (not that we wanted to, but we were anticipating it) during your first bath – nope, not a peep. You loved it! You just laid there peacefully and let us wash away.
• ·      As of now, you don’t like your baby swing, but you don’t mind your bouncer. But, lucky for you, we have enough hands here when Mimi and Poppa are in town, that you are always in someone’s loving arms. How lucky you are... Or if you aren’t in someone’s arms, Mommy is carrying you in my wrap – you love it and fall asleep instantly.
• ·      You lost your umbilical cord after just a week – that was so fast! I wish it would have hung on a little longer so I could breathe in that fresh from the hospital baby newness a little more. 
• You've always been a great eater, but you do have a bit of trouble latching on to your bottle.  You started out eating 2 ounces every 2 hours and now you eat 3-4 ounces every 2-4 hours (you tell us when you are ready!).       

Birth:

5lbs 10oz

19 inches 

2 weeks old:

5lbs 10 oz (<1%)

18 inches (<1%) – someone measured wrong along the way. You didn’t shrink an inch – promise!

1 month old:

You don't go back to the doctor until you are 2 months old, so per the scale at home – you weighed almost 7 lbs. Still our tiny little baby swimming in newborn clothes.

My tiny love, you are amazing in every single way possible.  In one short month, you have enriched our lives and brought so much happiness to not only us, but your sisters who are obsessed with you and your every move. It’s been incredible to watch your sisters love on you. They, just like us, fell in love with you the moment they met you. You are our dream come true, our happily ever after and God has blessed us far greater than we ever imagined.  You are loved by our family so dearly, it brings tears to my eyes.  To simply say you are special would never be enough.  You are the center of our world.  And just as we promised, we love you with our whole hearts, our entire being, forever. 

We love you beyond measure,

Mommy, Daddy, Emeline and Giselle

(and Oskar and George, too!)

Giselle is TWO!

Giselle Laine,

Oh my love.. How very deeply I love you. You and I have such a deep connected bond. You and I were always meant to be. I pray that for the rest of my days, our bond never tarnishes but always grows deeper. I pray you always need me in whatever small but meaningful way (to me) that may be. I just can't imagine my world without you in it every day. 

Well Giselle, the day has come and ‘you be 2’ now. You are the most loving 2 year old I have ever seen. You love deeply and care for others deeply even though you are shy. You have such a kind soul. A pure heart of gold. If someone is crying you are the first to say, ‘You okay?'. The first to give someone a hug or even a kiss if they are hurt. You kindly give other children a toy and share without my prompting. You are so silly in your own way. I adore your cheese face. Your dance moves. Your love of shoes – my shoes! For the rest of my life I will never forget the sound of you clicking around in plastic princess heals or even my shoes. I’ll never forget the sight of you having my bracelets on up to your elbow and that proud smile on your face. Every day, we pull out your shoe drawer and you stand there for what feels like 2 minutes choosing your shoes for the day. Sometimes I can’t pry them off of you and you even sleep in them for nap. You love all things pink, frilly and girly. But, what’s so awesome about you, is that you also love to get down and dirty. You love to feel and explore. You get your hands dirty and aren’t phased by it. You’ve taught me how to ‘let you be little’ more so than I ever let your sister. You are good for me. More than good for me – you are one of the best things that ever happened to me and you always will be. Your smile makes me smile. Your laugh is infectious. You, my sweetheart are completely irresistible in every way. This next year of your life, you are going to get big – too big, so pardon me if I squeeze you just a little tighter, hold you just a little bit longer. I hope you’ll continue to squeeze me just as tight and put your little arms up asking to ‘hold you’.

Throughout celebrating your 2nd birthday, this chorus was a constant in my thoughts - “I don’t know about tomorrow / But right now the whole world feels right / And the memory of a day like today / Can get you through the rest of your life.” Those words feel so true for our life and the joy you have brought to our everyday. 

Happy 2nd Birthday my little love.

All our love,

Mommy, Daddy and Emeline (Oskar and George, too!)

Emeline is FOUR!

Emeline,

I can’t believe 4 years ago I was blessed with becoming a mother – your mother. It’s been the greatest journey I’ve experienced yet and I firmly believe these are the best years of my life. I could never, ever thank your birth mom enough for this amazing gift. I’ve never been happier or more fulfilled in my life and it’s because of her loving choice. You and your birth mom helped me find my place in this world. Motherhood was my calling - it’s been my greatest adventure. I’ve grown more and loved deeper in these last four years. You and your sister have been and will always be our absolute biggest blessings.

You, my little girl, are so amazing in every way. You are just a little bit different than all the rest. Just a little bit more special. You are full of life and energy, you exude love, wisdom and sometimes maturity far beyond your four short years on this earth. Your teachers, admins and founder of your school have all pulled me aside to tell me how much they love you, the conversations you have shared with them, and how you have touched them. Actually, you touch someone new every day. Even your dance teacher teared up telling me of a conversation you shared with her about your life aspirations while she took you to the bathroom. She told me, “Emeline wants to “get big”, become an adult, get married, have a baby in her belly, grow old and one-day (a very long time from now) die so that she can go to heaven.”. I teared up and beamed with pride as Miss Jessica told me this story and I had to document it for you.

You love learning. Sometimes when you get overwhelmed in social situations with too many people around, you sit back, watch, play alone and/or help someone in need of help. I find in these moments you are learning and growing in ways I could never teach you.  You love writing your letters, reading and learning any fun facts we are willing to teach you. You know some really funny tidbits like how a chicken lays an egg and where on an animal’s body your dinner that night has come from. You recognize your letters, knows theirs sounds and say you are teaching yourself how to read. Ha! I asked you if I could help and you said, “no thanks Mommy, I’ve got this”. You actually say that a lot. You have become so incredibly independent these day. And for that, I’m proud (and thankful!).

At almost four, you understand the circle of life, the difference between heaven and earth, and you have Jesus in your heart. Your school has really been an incredible resource for you in growing your faith. You have grown so much in this last year, it’s hard to truly comprehend. One minute your thoughts, conversations and wisdoms are so profound at such a young age and the very next you are running, barefoot and wild, oftentimes squealing, while playing with your sister.

You love deeply. Already kissing boys and telling friends you love them. Your love for me when you were born was something that felt so surreal I almost didn’t believe it, but as the years go by, your love runs deeper and our love for one another is something I’m proudest of in my life. I think, hope and pray we are forming an unbreakable bond that will surpass any hardship we may face together as you grow. You tell me you love me 100 times a day and when I least expect it, you kiss me and hug me often, and you still love to be held and cuddled. 

You look up to your Daddy and admire him in all the ways a little girl should. You love waking up early with him for your special alone time making breakfast before he heads off to work. And you love helping Daddy ‘work’ around the house. You really just love to help others. And that quality of yours makes you the sweetest big sister. 

Giselle admires and adores you and that adoration is mutual. At first I thought that was just how all sibling relationships looked like, but again, your love seems to run a little bit deeper. You two are thrilled to see each other first thing in the morning, give each other kisses on the lips before bed and as for during the day, you never part whether by my side helping me or playing. Somedays I feel like I’m raising the same child. If you love something, so does Giselle and if Giselle is interested in something so are you. I suppose that makes my job easier! You have made us proud with how loving and doting you continue to be with Giselle. You have become Giselle’s protector, always looking out for her safety (Giselle is clumsy!) and best interest. You two are truly best friends.

At four years old, you still love to make people laugh, you enjoy singing and dancing, playing with your friends, dressing yourself in your own style, princesses, PJ Masks (superhero show), picnics, park trips, ballet and tap, gymnastics, swimming, crafting, baking with mommy, reading and playing anything under the sun with your sister.

In my opinion, you are the best of everything good in this world and I love everything about your fiercely. I’m forever blessed to be able to share life’s ups and downs with you, show you the world and impart any and every wisdom I know onto your heart. I’m doing my very best and always will, in your birth mother's honor.

We love you more than you will ever know. And we couldn’t be more proud to be your parents.

Love you more,

Mommy, Daddy and Giselle

(Oskar and George, too!)