I just watched this over and over again the other night...it was stangely the only time she ever sucked her thumb. It almost makes me want to do the baby thing again!:):) (Make sure your sound is turned up!)
I can't really use it as an excuse because we have been back for almost 2 weeks now, but I have good reasons for not posting for so long! At least they sound good in my mind:) We had a great time seeing family in Virginia. And we got to take some sweet pictures of Emily with her cousins, uncles, aunts, and grandparents. It was definitely worth the drive up there. Derek and his cousin Kory were troopers. Derek drove all night on the way up and back...Kory stayed awake talking to him almost the whole time. Overall the drive went well and little Ems was a trooper as well!
We had lots of fun and "firsts" while we were there and have had lots going on since we returned home. Emily went on the beach for the first time and got into a real pool and "swam" for the first time. Then when we got back, she got to see her first fireworks. Thankfully she didn't get freaked out. She just laid back on Derek's lap and watched the sky like she had done it a million times before. Unfortunately we forgot our camera on the 4th, so I can't post pics now, but hopefully I can bum pictures off of Nicole or Kolby.
Another fun time that we had was getting to see our sweet friends, the Baker's. We got to meet precious little Caroline Kesi and hear all about their new lives in Dallas. It was bittersweet since they had to go back to the Big D, but we so enjoyed every minute of their visit.
I also found out this past month that I am going to be Aunt Karen yet again!!!! I am soooo excited for my brother Brandon and his wife Lorri. It will be a joy to see what God has in store for them through the gift of this precious new life! They are actually coming in town tomorrow so we will get to enjoy more fun with them over the next week...we can't wait!
I wish that I had the time to write about everything over the past month and a half b/c it has been super busy but I think I am going to let some of the pictures that we have taken speak for themselves. Besides the pics that you see below, I uploaded a bunch more to our Photo Album. You can get there be clicking the link to the left of this post! Enjoy the pics!
"But God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we would be in trouble if He doesn't come through." Francis Chan
Saving Ivan (a different Ivan:)!
This sweet boy has turned 2 and in 2 very short years he will be transeferred to an adult mental institution unless his family comes for him! He has Apert Syndrome (click his pic to learn more) and is such a smart boy. Please consider giving to increase his grant through RR. Maybe the Lord is calling you to be his forever family! You could change this child's life!
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Our Family
Great times, tough times, joyful moments and sad moments...we are a team and sticking together!
Derek
The love of my life! He keeps me grounded and is the most incredible man that the Lord could have ever blessed me with.
Emily Paige
TONS of personality, always ready for an adventure and she couldn't be any sweeter!
Timothy Michael
Full of charm and smiles galore...our tender hearted little guy!
Stella Grace
Sweet beyond words...with a little stinker mixed in!