One Year Ago...

One year ago today we first laid eyes on the sweet, sleeping face of our beautiful daughter. We will never forget that moment or all of the emotions we felt as we looked at her 2 day old pictures over and over and over again.

The email subject line read: Introducing Andrea!

I froze, then I called to Keith and Sam. I remember putting Keith in the computer chair and then hopping onto his lap with Sam so that we could all be as close together as possible. We opened the email and fell in love. Just like that. (She was just 2 days old on the photos we received, and a still itty-bitty 8 days old that actual day.) There were tears and hugs and so much laughter... we felt it all! That night, after many calls to loved ones, we headed out for a "Big Brother Celebration". We had a picnic on the beach and then each shopped for an outfit for our Luciana. We talked nonstop about what our lives would be like with this precious angel home with us. You know that feeling when you smile so much your cheeks hurt and your gums get all dry and you are just sure that every stranger you pass has to know that something truly wonderful has happened in your life... that was us.

Right now... Luciana and I are home alone for a little while. Soon Keith will be home from work and Sam will be home from Mimi and Papa's. But, for a few minutes, we are alone and I am going to go scoop up my carrot covered sweetie and snuggle her up all to myself.

Wow. A year.

2 day old Luciana.

Our celebration at the beach... one year ago!

Love, love, love... LOVE!

Happy 1st Birthday, Luciana!

How can it be? Our sweet girl turns ONE today! I remember exactly what I was doing this time last year.... waiting and waiting for the referral of our beautiful baby girl and torturing Keith with incessant thoughts and questions about what it would be like when it happened! It would be just a week later that we would first see her precious face. I've said it before, and I will say it again... we are so BLESSED!

Sam and I had a blast playing with Luciana the other day, as we do most days. Watching my two children make each other smile and laugh is the greatest joy I have ever known. Here are some snapshots of just one of those moments... enjoy!

If the rain holds off, we will be celebrating today with our neighborhood friends in a big ol' cake shaped bouncy house! We will celebrate with our family and a few friends this weekend. I promise to post pics of all the good times soon!

Much love.

Happy Anniversary!

I just found these pics in our basement! Look how young we were! Could we be any happier? Well, time and life would prove that we could! Still, running through a field of Maine lupines (my favorite) is hard to beat when you are holding hands with the love of your life, and your very best friend. Who could have known the amazing Dad he would become? And, for me, I had no idea what "best friend" meant. I could only imagine what was in store... and I was way off! Ha! AND, I couldn't be happier. I said "I do" once when I thought I knew what love was.

Now, I do. And I do, and I do, and I do. Happy 8 years, babe. Heart, me.

Happy Father's Day

We love you!

My Heart

I have put off this post; these emotions. Luciana's 1st birthday is in 4 days. This seems impossible to me. It is such an amazing milestone to have the blessed privilege to be able to celebrate with her.... in our home... with us. It is so emotional to acknowledge that she is home with US because there were many scares along the road to becoming our family that threatened a very different possibility on these days. We are so blessed.

Having said that. I am a mess! ha. Anyone surprised? I just keep counting the days to Luciana's birthday with a heavy heart (and one of celebration, of course) and the reality that it will mean something very different for both her birth mother and her foster mother. I hold Lucy's birthday so close to my heart more for her first mothers than even for myself. On June 18th I am going to remember how very much I longed for my sweet angel, but, more than that, I promise to remember the two women who made sacrifices I can't imagine to give her this life with our family and to give us the family of our dreams. We will honor the two families who loved her first.

I have taken some time to look back at the posts I first wrote when we were beginning the process to adopt. It feels like an absolute lifetime ago. I had SO much to say, and the emotion was so raw! Now, I just spend a whole lot of time being thankful to God that I can go upstairs and kiss the heads of my children as they sleep and know that we are complete.

Much love.

My Family

I am home tonight. My baby girl has been battling a 3 day fever between 99 and 104. She is sleeping now, and we are feeling like she is on the other end of some kind of viral "blech", but it has been a long few days. With her birthday, our anniversary, and Sam's last day of school on the horizon, we have been feeling right out straight. BUT, with all that said, I have had another big event on my mind...

My baby cousin, Julie, is getting married tomorrow in North Carolina. I was able to be at her twin sister Melissa's wedding a few years ago, but we could not manage to get to Julie's. This has been so hard for me. I am a crier... I just am.... so, today has been tearful for me. Aside from Luciana not feeling well, it has been on my mind all day that my great-big-wonderful family would be having their pre-wedding fun today... a sort of family reunion of sorts. I have the most amazing memories of special time with our family. For a very close-knit, very loving family.... we just do not see each other as much as we would like to. But, when we do, it is a GOOD time, an emotional time, a LOTS of hugs and kisses time! Having been to Melissa's very southern, big dinner and bigger party pre-wedding events, I can just imagine all the celebrating that is going on. I am not there, and yet I have received 3 phone calls, one email with pics, and a "few" calls just from my mom because everyone knows how much I wish to be there... I am so happy for my sweet Julie. My all-too-soon grown up cousins are making amazing lives for themselves (some married, some parents) , and I am just so proud of each of them. I can't be there...but I know you sneak onto this blog from time to time... and I can take this moment to tell you how much I have marveled in the women (and man, Brian) you have become. I can't be there to have one of our famous all night heart-to-heart's, but I am only ever a phone call away. For tonight, Jules, just... be happy. Meliss... keep on shining. Bri... keep on keepin' on. You each deserve happiness. John (my brother) and I love you each like crazy cakes from how ever many gazillion miles away. Family is what matters.... and we are there with you in spirit this weekend... and always.

Much love.

PS- You're gonna pay the price of the Pr*** promise if you do not send me pics from the wedding!

How Is It Possible?

In just 5 short days, our baby girl will be one year old.

Bobbi, Did I Beat You To It?

Sam had a surprise day off from school today! We had some special visitors arrive and headed straight to the beach on this 85 degree day!

Handsome Reese had a blast and charmed new friends into sharing their trucks.

Luciana was ALL over the place. She LOVES the beach.
Her favorite moment was splashing in the ocean!

Cassie was her usual "patience of a saint" self with all of the kids.

They spent hours catching hermit crabs!

Krista and Sam were basically inseparable... in the water, catching crabs, playing frisbee.

These two have become fast friends.

Back to the real world tomorrow kiddos.
(I know the layout is weird...no idea why!??!)

Field Day

Sam had Field Day at school last week. Luciana and I were able to go to his school to watch him have a blast in his school's very silly activities. Here are just a few.

Watermelon seed SPITTING contest!

He was covered in watermelon juice for the rest of the day... and sweat. Yuck!

Parachute Fun!

Dancing with Zoomba... he's got some moves!

Sparks Arc brought a BOA!

It was such a blast to watch Sam spend a great day with his classmates and teacher. I can't believe Kindergarten is over in just 2 more weeks. It really does seem like just yesterday that we were saying we couldn't believe our baby was going to school. He has grown up so much this year. He certainly has learned a lot... especially beyond the classroom! I am so proud of my little boy and I can't wait to have a blast this summer!

Yay!

I have been home for 3 months! Yippie!

Luciana continues to be such a content baby. She is (obviously!) growing like crazy, into everything, and keeping us laughing and running! She pulls up on absolutely everything... I see rock climbing in her future. She is standing independently, but hasn't attempted any steps. That is really fine by us! Ha! She still only says "Dada" clearly, but she has created a sound for "Mama" that sounds like "ahh-ahh" in her little sing-songy voice. It is too cute. She definitely has a voice which can be very loud if she wants it to...usually in the car! Most of the time, she is just smiling, clapping, laughing her tiny little laugh, and waving to all her fans! I can't believe we are planning her first birthday. Between that and Sam finishing Kindergarten, I should be in a puddle of tears some day soon.

Much love.

Beach Day

We had the greatest family day today. We had a much needed sunny and warm day, so we packed up the wagon and headed for the beach. Living in Maine means we have access to a lot of beautiful beaches... some less than 20 minutes away. But, today we decided to take a road trip. We headed to Popham Beach which is just a bit over an hour away. When we got there, it was warm and foggy and made for a truly beautiful setting. Both kids had a blast all day long. It was a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful time spent together.

In these pics, check out Sam's adorable fisherman's hat from Miss Sue! How cute is he?!!?! And both kids enjoyed the perfectly timed beach toys they just got yesterday from Mike, Terri and Lexus! Sam was all into castle building, seashell collecting, and "surfing". In these pics, he was waiting for the perfect wave to move him on his board. When it did, it took him by surprise! Later, when my camera battery was acting up, he and Keith had a blast body surfing with the waves. I don't know how they did it because the water was NOT warm! They also attempted to walk out to the big rocks at low tide. They made it more than halfway before it was just too deep. Maybe next time. Lucy was all about the sand! She loved it. Yes, she took that first taste, but that was all it took to realize sand is more fun to play with than eat. She spent a very long time with a piece of seaweed, and had the time of her life splashing in one of the pools left by low tide. That was also when the battery was threatening to quit, but she was hysterical splashing and covered herself with a layer of sand that may take days to wash away!

As expected, Lucy crashed before we even got out of the parking lot. Sam tried, but he was just too tired to fall asleep... anyone relate?! I just love days like this with my whole little family... they have been a long time coming and we are truly appreciating them. Today was just a dream come true. Enjoy the pics.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

PS- We are meeting new friends tomorrow! I hope to have some pics to share. I am really looking forward to it.