Sadie is One Month Old Today

To help Sadie celebrate her one month mark, we decided to have a little photo shoot, koerdale style.  We are so happy to have Sadie in our lives.  She is our little miracle, and she has so much love to offer.  Her first month home has been a dream come true for us.  She has changed our lives in so many beautiful ways.  She has made our hearts softer.  She has made our smiles brighter.  She has made our love stronger, and she has made our lives fuller.  She is truly a blessing from our Father in Heaven.

A Father's Love

My father and sister's came to visit us this weekend and since my dad is a photographer he brought his camera with him.  We took lots of pictures but out of all the photos that were taken, this is my favorite one!  I love, love, love this picture of AJ and Sadie.  

Sadie got a Tu Tu for V-Day, and as you can see we loved it.   Thank you, Laura

Valentine's Day

While Sadie was Sleeping

I was taking pictures of Sadie while she was sleeping, and I'm sure some of you have witnessed this with other children but she was smiling while her eyes were dancing around in her sleep. It was the sweetest thing.  I was able to catch some of those sweet moments on my camera.  Some people would say, "she isn't smiling...it's just gas." and I would say that she is still communicating with her buddies in that heavenly place she came from.

Here are some other photos I took.

Our little angel, Sadie

Sadie is Home

Tuesday morning,  January 27th,  we got a phone call from Jackie.  She explained that she was having contractions the previous night so she went to the hospital thinking she was going to deliver the baby that night.  Her doctor explained that her contractions weren't strong enough and sent her home.  But the doctor predicted that Jackie would deliver the baby within three days.  Throughout the day we got text messages from Jackie updating us on how she was progressing.  Laster that night around 9:00 p.m. she told us she was at the hospital and they were going to keep her overnight. She was 3 cm dilated and contractions were coming consistently but not five minutes apart.

AJ and I had two round trip tickets to Chicago but the tickets were scheduled for the next day at 10:00 in the morning.  So unfortunately we were not able to get on the last flight to Chicago Tuesday night.  However, we were blessed to be able to get on the earlier flight Wednesday morning together.   Sadie was born at 9:46 a.m. Central time.  She weighed 7 lbs 10 oz, and was 20 inches long.  

AJ and I arrived at the hospital just four hours after Sadie was born.  Jackie (the birth mother) was excited to see us.  She took pictures of our reactions as we met our daughter.  It was love at first sight!  AJ and I invited everyone in the room to sing "Happy Birthday" and "Families Can Be Together Forever" to Sadie.  It was a very sweet and tearful moment.  Jackie let AJ and I stay in the hospital room with her and the baby for the two days they were in the hospital.  We were especially grateful that we were able to stay at the hospital with the baby.  It was a perfect opportunity for AJ and I to bond with her.  We also got to bond with Jackie and her sweet daughter Arianna.  When the baby and Jackie were discharged from the hospital.  It was another humbling, joyful, tearful experience.  Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.  Words cannot explain it but we will always remember that day.

We are so blessed...we came home with a beautiful daughter, and left Chicago with an extended family.  This whole adoption experience has tested and strengthened our faith, refreshed our friendship and love in our marriage, humbled us,  shown us the power of prayer, and we have seen and felt the love our Father in Heaven and Savior has for us.  AJ and I had to wait a long time to become parents, but the wait has been worth every hour, day, and year.  Sadie is a perfect addition to our family, she is exactly what we have been praying for!

The Babies Room

We finished the babies room.  We still have some finishing touches to complete but this is what it looks like so far.  We hope Sadie will love her room as much as we do.