17

Today marks 17 months of officially waiting for our referral. Our home study was approved July 30, 2009. We are praying for an early 2011 referral.

Christmas Blessings

Raleigh and I have had a wonderful Christmas with our families. It is always a blessing to spend time with those we love.

We started our Christmas celebration at my sister's house.



Next, we went to my uncle's house. My mom is one of 6 siblings and we all still get together each year the Saturday before Christms. It is always fun to spend time with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures there.

Here are a few pictures from my parents' house, although all of these presents were taken to the other Christmas celebrations that I previously mentioned.




After celebrating with my family, Raleigh and I came to Colorado to spend time with his family.

A Winter Wonderland

We are in Colorado for Christmas this year. Yesterday we woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland. It didn't really snow, but there was ice covering all of the trees.

An Early Christmas Gift

Raleigh and I are enjoying the Christmas season, celebrating with our families. Each year, we alternate spending Christmas with my parents in Nashville and Raleigh's parents in Colorado. This is our year for Colorado, but Raleigh knew that the gift he had bought for me was much too large to take on the plane or to have shipped. So...I got to open it early while we were still in Nashville at my parents' house.

I really had absolutely no idea what could possibly be in the large box, because I really didn't ask for anything.

I was so surprised and excited when I unwrapped the gift. I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

A Painting Giveaway from Kendall Boggs

I love the beautiful angel paintings by Kendall Boggs. She is having a giveaway on her blog. Hop on over and check it out!

The Nursery Chair

Since Raleigh and I started the adoption process, I have known that I would love to have a big, comfy chair for the nursery. When I look for nursery ideas, I always look at the gliders and rockers and dream of one day holding our baby in the chair.

Well, the day after Thanksgiving, my mom and I were out shopping and found the perfect chair. It is called the Storybook Glider. I just love it!! My parents were sooo generous to purchase the chair and ottoman for us.

Raleigh and I went back to the store today to pick out the fabric. I went with something pretty simple- 100% cotton fabric in the color oatmeal. Since we don't know if our little treasure will be a boy or girl, I wanted to choose a fabric that would easily fit a room for either gender.

They are ordering the chair Monday. I think I would like to find some type of cool basket to keep beside the chair. I think it would be neat to keep seasonal books in the basket for bedtime reading. And if you are wondering, I don't think it is ever too early to read to your baby. Children learn so much about reading by listening to others read with fluency and expression. Regardless of our baby's age when he or she comes home from Korea, I plan to read to him or her everyday. :)