Oh boy, oh boy, OH BOY!

That's right! THREE BOYS!

Meet Baby J, watching cartoons with his new brothers!












I feel like I've written this post before! haha!

What a whirlwind this last couple of months has been! BUT, what a gracious and loving God we serve and my how much I alone have grown during this whirlwind. I have learned so much from what we've been through and I can already see that there will be even more learning in our future as we work to make our newest addition officially ours. Adoption... it's a process, that's for sure!

So, last week we received this sweet piece of joy!

Sleeping with Papa!















Let me apologize right now for the limited photos, but his face is just so precious and I really haven't been very good at taking pictures that don't show his whole face, so cute and clear! But, I've got to share the news in more than just an email! I want to document everything for this sweet baby, hoping that one day he will be able to know, without a doubt, how much he was desired and loved from the minute we laid eyes on him!

He's been with us less than a week and I already feel like he was totally meant to be here. Logan absolutely loves him (no surprise there) and Ryan is learning what it's like to have someone else in the house crying and being held by mommy. He really is taking it very well and just loves to give baby kisses. He has started to say "baby" (more like bay,bay,bay,bay over and over) but only when it's on his brain and in his timing... quite cute nonetheless.

There are definitely challenges that come with getting a 3 month old (esp when there's a 14mo old in the home!)... you want to bond, but you want them to sleep... you want to hold them so you can make up for lost time, but there are other kids in your home that want you to hold them... you want to give them adequate tummy time because that's important at this age, but you've got a 14 month old that would like to use baby as a pillow (or think seat cushion!). I was very spoiled having Logan and Ryan being 3 years apart, so this is a whole new world for me. We are all learning, that I can assure you! I'm really hoping that Ryan's next new word isn't "no!" because I'm afraid he's hearing a lot of that these last few days! :-)

But really, Baby J is so wonderful! I didn't realize the conveniences that come with getting a 3 month old... life isn't on hold like it is with a newbie... you can go places, keep your routine, let other people hold him, etc... a lot less stressful in that way for sure! Another really big bonus, his ability to react to you! He smiles, giggles, and truly recognizes the voices and faces around him, something that you often times have to wait patiently for in a newborn. So, God knew all along how to capture my heart... the coos that come from this boy are to die for!

I've got to keep this post short because sleep is a necessity these days, but please continue to keep us in prayer as we go through the process to make him "ours" in the eyes of the law. We don't go to court again until the new year, so for now, we are just going about our days and loving him as we know how. But really, his life is in God's hands and we feel so blessed to be playing a part in it! Thanks so much for everyone's love and support as we have prepared for this, been through the trials that came at the beginning, and those of you that will hopefully be by our side when we celebrate a lifetime with this sweet boy!

Dear baby J,
What a wonderful addition to our family you are! God knew from the very beginning where this path of adoption was going to take us, and we have been praying for you since he laid it on our heart to add to our family in this way. Your brothers love you so much... Logan is so proud to call you his and tell everyone everything about you! Ryan doesn't have much of a clue right now, but I look forward to the day when the two of you are best little buddies, being raised so close together, not having a memory of life without each other in it. Ryan is such a sweet boy towards you, thinking that the closer he is to you, the better... even if that means squishing you or head-butting you! :-) We love you dearly and pray fervently that God would find it in His will for you to be our true son. May God bless you with a full life, with us as your mommy and daddy!