Water Fun

It was a rainy day in Nashville today, so we had lots of inside fun! Beau had a great time playing in the water with Nana







!

Happy Friday

Beau is having a great day! I hope you are too!

He started his morning by helping Nana make pancakes!

Stirring is fun!

Getting to sit on the counter is even more fun!

Pancakes made with little hands are extra tasty!

After a delicious breakfast it was time to play on the floor with Pipi!

Happy Friday!

Just Working

Beau had to get caught up on his "work" this morning at Nana and Pipi's house.

Fun with Nana and Pipi

Beau and I are spending the week in Nashville with my parents and Beau has made himself right at home.

Beau loves watching out the front door with Pipi!

He was ready to greet Nana when she got home from work.

We found a new food he likes...salmon!

He kept signing "more" so Nana would give him more salmon from the grill!

Yum!! Beau is loving eating in a big boy chair! I'm not sure if we will get him back in the highchair when we get home!

Weekend Recap

Playing piano with Nana!

This is fun!

Nana and Pipi's house has lots of toys!

Chillin' with dad after a long day of playing!

Moving On Up

Beau is moving on up...into size 4 diapers that is! Grow Beau grow!

(Why yes, Beau is wearing a pink v-neck t-shirt. He is secure in his manhood! :)

Mimi and Grandpa

Last week Raleigh's parents were here visiting from Colorado. Beau had lots of fun hanging out with Mimi and Grandpa!

Hmm...where's my bellybutton?

Oh yeah, there it is!

Morning Sun

Beau enjoyed soaking in the morning sun and cool air in his dinosaur pjs!

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him. "

Lamentations 3:22-24

Three Generations

Three generations checking out the swing at Costco....

Social Security Office

Beau and his Mimi (a.k.a Raleigh's mom)

Beau and Me

A few days ago, Beau's birth certificate arrived in the mail! This was the last document we needed in order to be able to apply for a social security card.

Today we headed to our local social security office and we had a GREAT experience! Yippee Jesus! The office opened at 8:30 and we arrived at approximately 9:00. We packed tons of snacks and activities for Beau, just in case we were there for several hours.

Guess how long the process took? Really, take a guess...6 minutes!!! I'm not even kidding!!!

As soon as we arrived we took a ticket and sat down. There were lots of people already waiting, but our ticket number was called as soon as we sat down!

We went to our assigned window and I explained that I was applying for a social security card for my son. I gave her Beau's birth certificate, his passport, and our adoption decree. I also gave her my driver's license for my id. After a few minutes, she gave me a paper to verify that she had typed all of Beau's information correctly. It was all correct! She printed us a receipt and we were done! I couldn't believe it!

I brought TONS of extra paperwork, just in case they asked to see any additional documentation, but the process was easy and painless! She said we should expect to get Beau's card in the mail within 10 days.

Of all the times we had to work with a government office during the adoption process, this was by far the easiest!

Weekend Rewind

Over the weekend, we celebrated Raleigh's birthday! Unfortunately I did not take many pictures! oops! I've got to do better about that! It was a fun day of celebrating!

We started the day with a yummy cream cheese danish for breakfast! Beau thought it was delicious!

Raleigh is lucky to share his birthday with Beau's friend Charlie. Charlie celebrated his 3rd birthday at the fire station! How fun!!

Here is a picture that Raleigh took on his phone of Beau, Lily, and Charlie on the fire truck! The kids had so much fun looking at the fire trucks! Happy 3rd Birthday Charlie!

Later that evening, we went to dinner to celebrate Raleigh's birthday! We had a great meal with Raleigh's parents and our sister-in-law Stacey. Happy Birthday Raleigh!

P.S. Below is a picture of Lily, Charlie and Beau taken in October. I think Beau is doing much better with his photo shoots! ;)

Happy Referral Day

Saturday the 18th marked one year since our referral day! I still remember that day like it was yesterday and I can't believe it has already been a year!

We had been waiting all week to hear whether or not the waiting child committee selected us as Beau's parents. We knew it was happening that week, but we were not told which day. Well, Monday through Thursday passed without any news, so we knew Friday was the big day. I had the day off of work last year because it was President's Day weekend. I stayed home all morning, but my nerves were starting to get to me so I decided to go to the mall. I was in the Lucky store buying Raleigh a pair of jeans at approximately 3:00 when my phone rang. It was the director of our agency's Atlanta office and our social worker. They told me that we had a son! It was such amazing news! I was so excited and I was crying in the middle of the mall! Ha! Ha! Random people came up to me to make sure I was ok and the clerk from the Lucky store brought me some tissues. It was amazing and I immediately called Raleigh. He was in a meeting, but he stepped out to take my call since he knew we were expecting the big news!

I loved Beau from the first moment I saw his picture on February 4th. I loved him on February 18th when we became his parents. And now he has been home almost 7 months and I love him even more.

It makes me think of the song "I Thought I Loved You Then" by Brad Paisley:

Now you're my whole life now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you girl (Beau)
Like a river meets the sea
Stronger than it's ever been
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then.

Last year we spent our referral night in Nashville and we were in Nashville this year as well!

Beau had fun playing at Nana and Pipi's house Saturday morning!

He even learned how to say nana!

Saturday night we went to a Belmont University basketball game.

Aren't my mom and dad cute?!

My cousin Sarah (above) is a cheerleader at Belmont and it was her birthday!

Here are some of the cousins: Sarah, Kaitlin, me and Erica

Beau did really well at the game! Here he is looking at the pep band! Our seats were right across from the band and he really liked watching them!

Here is my cousin Kaitlin and her boyfriend Kevin. I didn't get a picture of Erica's husband Matt, but he was there too!

It was a wonderful way to spend Beau's referral anniversary! We stayed through half-time of the men's basketball game and then we headed back to my parents house because Beau was getting really tired. He fell sound asleep, which was a huge blessing! We've always had a bit of trouble figuring out the best sleeping arrangement for Beau when we are away from home, but I think we figured it out.

We brought an air mattress with us and put it on the floor of the guest bedroom. You see, at home Beau sleeps on a twin mattress on the floor of his nursery. So, the twin air mattress creates a space that is really similar to what he is accustomed to. It looks like we will be traveling with an air mattress for a while!

When we woke up Sunday morning, it was snowing!! So pretty! It was a wonderful weekend in Nashville! It would have only been better if we could have stayed longer!

Happy Referral Anniversary Beau! We love you!