Baby Blessing

Gabe gave Persephone a blessing in church on Sunday. He blessed her that she would come to know her Heavenly Father and that she would always be able to look to her parents for advice. We were pleased to have several of our family members present at the event.

(Doesn't she look like a porcelain doll in this picture?)


My brother and his family also attended, but snuck out before any pictures.

Temple Sealing

We had the privilege of taking Persy to the temple with us last week to be sealed as a family. It made me so happy to be in the temple surrounded by friends and family that love us. I felt so grateful for the support and love.

I've thought a lot about the adventure we've had in choosing adoption for our family and I can honestly say that what started out as a trial has become the greatest blessing of my life. Not only did it bring us a beautiful and sweet little daughter, it also taught me many lessons about myself and putting faith in God. I hope that next time the Lord's timing doesn't coincide with my timing I will look back on this experience and feel hopeful. (This picture was taken in front of the Mormon temple in Salt Lake City. If you would like to learn more about Mormon temples you can visit www.mormon.org)

This is a picture of our good friends Marisa and Dave. Dave is a graphic designer and helped us create an attractive adoption profile that really highlighted our interests and personality. I wish I had taken more pictures of the other friends we had in attendance as well as the family members present. I was so busy chatting with people afterwards, that I neglected the camera.



Gabe's Grandma- my 90 year old grandmother was also in attendance



My Parents



The Handsome and Happy Father with his Daughter



4 Generations

Transitions

We are going through a rather traumatic transition this week as we are weening Persy away from swaddling and sleeping in her car seat to sleeping in a play pen with her arms free. In sounds like such a minor change, but 4 month babies really lack life perspective, (and new mothers sometimes too!) We decided it was necessary to stop swaddling because she is close to rolling over and we felt concerned about both the way that she was starting to inch out of the car seat and the danger of her rolling over and not having her arms free to push up and breathe in the middle of the night. I know that this is necessary, but it takes some serious conviction and stamina to keep calming Persy for hours on end as she makes this transition. Last night, I had to get up with her no less than 7 times in order to comfort her and put her Binky back in her mouth.

Seeing her so distressed also makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong. I constantly read, research, and question: Should I let her "cry it out" so she can learn to "self soothe"? How long should I let her cry before I comfort her and intervene? Will this be damaging to her emotionally? Should I ween her from the Binky as well? Should I let her go to bed with her silky blanket or will this pose a suffocation hazard in her crib? On, and on, and on. I realize that there is no "right" answer here, but I can't help but search in hopes of a solution. (I'd also LOVE to hear from any of you if you have good advice to give!)

It's interesting the Persy's transition should coincide with some of my own transitions. I can't help but think that I have a loving Heavenly Father who tries to ween me away from my own personal crutches and shakes His head to see me fuss over such minor changes. Being a parent has me constantly thinking of my own childish behaviors and tendencies and how the Lord is tirelessly trying to teach me and help me to refine myself. My daughter and I are growing together and I only hope that I can become the type of person that I want her to become.

Conversation Board

I'm excited about this conversation board that I made for Persephone's "room." My mother-in-law bought me the board and I painted it black, sanding down the edges to give it a distressed look. For the magnets I hot glued some painted knobs and some antique buttons onto magnetic disks. We've hung the board about Persy's changing table and I plan on using it to talk about different items in the collage and also to sign about the items. (I've been doing sign language with Persy for a couple of weeks and even though she can't sign back, she does focus on my hands.) The pictures are a mix of family photos, gospel pictures, and random items, (like a postcard of an elephant standing on his head.) I'll change them every couple of weeks so we have something new to look at and talk about.

Sickies

I think every mom can relate to the trial of trying to care for a sick family when you are feeling sick yourself. If motherhood was a sorority, then this would be its twisted hazing activity. I am being initiated this week as I simultaneously sneeze along with my daughter and spouse. Gabe and I are lucky enough to be on antibiotics now, but poor Persy just has to wait it out. She has been such a trooper too. Amidst coughs, itchy eyes and mucus extractions she will still look up at me and give me a beaming smile. Who does that? Clearly we have an "old soul" in our home who will be a spiritual guide for her parents. I love this child and wish that she did not have to suffer.

One Wonderful Month

It has been one happy and exciting month since we brought Persy into our family. I just can’t adequately describe how rewarding this experience has been, (and continues to be day after day.) I love being a mother and I feel overjoyed that we were able to be blessed through the miracle of adoption. Going through the adoption process has really strengthened my faith and testimony of the Savior. I feel like I have a greater understanding of how much the Lord loves us and cares about each of us. When we found out that we had been chosen to be the parents of Persephone I felt such a warm sense of our Heavenly Father’s love not only for us, but for our daughter. I really know that he has a plan for her life.

Adoption Update!

It has been an exciting and eventful week for our family. On Monday, we got a rather mysterious call from our case worker, Kim, asking us to come down to LDS Family services to sign some paperwork. She kept stressing the importance that we both come together and Gabe and I had the suspicion that this might just be “the call.”
When we arrived at Kim’s office there was a basket full of diapers, baby wipes and lotion and Kim told us that there was a birth mother who had chosen us for her baby! The birth mother is due the first part of June and has opted for a closed adoption at this point, so we really don’t know too much about her. We know that she is a single mother in her thirties with two young girls at home. We also know that she and the birth father are Caucasian and we have been given a profile on her medical background. She hasn’t had much prenatal care during her pregnancy, so we don’t know the sex of the child. She is scheduled for an ultra-sound next week and we hope to hear that the baby is healthy. (We’re excited to find out the sex, but could care less as to whether we get a boy or a girl.)
It was really exciting to get all this information and I left the office feeling a great peace and joy. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to this loving woman who has chosen us for her child. I’m amazed that this stranger is willing to give us such a gift. I am also overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord and his love for us and this baby.
The rest of the week has been rather emotional for both Gabe and I. We vacillate between joy, excitement, fear, and panic. We are terrified that the birth mother will change her mind and choose to keep the baby. This is a distinct possibility until the paperwork gets signed after the birth of the child. There has also been very little sleep this week, (for me anyway, Gabe seems able to sleep through anything!) It is really hard to believe that in just a couple of weeks we could have an infant in our home! We have SO MUCH to do to get ready!

One Year Later . . .

Gabe and I began the process of trying to adopt a baby exactly one year ago. We started our paperwork in January 2007 and were approved for adoption in August. This past year has really been a spiritual adventure as we've learned to put our trust in the Lord and as we've struggled with learning patience. I've come to believe that whatever trials we experience in life come with an equal if not greater amount of spiritual blessings. I'll admit that there have been discouraging moments, but every time I find myself despairing I feel that the Lord is there to comfort me and teach me some new found lesson. I feel so grateful that I have had such an upbeat and strong spouse that is there to offer council and encouragement. I know that we'll be parents someday and this thought fills me with joy and hope.