Birth Mother

Every day I think about Kayla, in fact, every time I see Emme I am reminded that an amazing young lady made a very difficult choice. A choice that I am sure she still questions, a decision that I am forever grateful for. Kayla was an answer to our prayers and we are so blessed because we have Emme in our life. I live every day knowing that we were given the greatest gift, that of being parents. Something we couldn't do on our own. I cherish every moment I have with sweet little Emme, enjoying every awake moment with her. I never knew I could love the way I love Emme. I love that Emme has been blessed with a birth mom that loves her as much as we do. She is a lucky girl, so many people to love her.

It has been two years since we got the phone call from our case worker that we had been matched. It has been two years since we nervously walked into the agency to meet Kayla. I will never forget seeing this cute young lady walk in, she greeted us with a hug. We talked for a little bit and then then departed. We thought we had a few months before we were going to meet our little girl. We thought we would meet or talk with Kayla again before Emme was born.

We were wrong...it was just a week later that we got the call that her water had broke and she was headed to the hospital. So many emotions ran through my mind as we walked into the nursery to see a sweet little girl.

This picture from placement day sits in Emme's room. I love that she knows that Kayla has a special place in her life. I can't wait for the day when she truly understands how special her birth mom is. We love you Kayla.

Often birth mothers don't have the support that they need. Over the past couple of years I have become an avid reader of adoption blogs, both of birth mothers, adoptive families, and of adoptive kids. It has enlightened me and softened my heart. It has helped me understand a birth mothers perspective. I was pleased to find a lot of support groups.

Here is an upcoming event for birth mothers...

August 31, 2013
East River Front Park
10991 S. River Front Pkwy
South Jordan, UT 84095

More information can be found on the blog adoptionsharethelove.blogspot.com

Boating

Emme loves the water! We were so glad that we were able to make it to the lake for a day of boating! Emme loved going fast on the boat, cheering for those that were wake boarding or tubing. She didn't hesitate to jump onto the tub and go for a ride. She still talks about it. We are so glad that she isn't scared to try so many fun things.

Tracks

A few months ago moved to a house on the west side of the valley. Now have to go over train tracks when we go home. Since the very first time that we went to look at the house Emme would say "wee, wee"! There are three sets of tracks that we cross, so we would count them as we went over...always warning her of the last set of tracks. A short time later Emme started saying "one more".

Time passed and we started using Legacy or Redwood Road not going over the tracks much. However, this morning, we got a flat tire and had to drive to get it fixed. We went over the tracks...and Emme shouted from the back seat "Wee, wee...one more!" then she laughed and laughed. She has the best personality.

So glad that she can find happiness in the small things in life.

California

 

 

 

 

 

A spur of the moment trip to Cali. It was a bitter sweet trip as we helped to move Jen and Andrew down to Cali to start a new adventure. We are sad to have family so far away. Emme will miss her cousins "Aba" (Ava) and Carter.

We did have some fun times at the beach. Emme was a bit apprehensive with the ocean and the waves. Yet, each day we went she was more adventurous. By the end of the trip she was running in the water and chasing the waves. She loved playing with her cousins, playing in the water, and hanging with Grandma and Grandpa all weekend! We were sad that Dad had to stay and work. We missed him.

We can't wait to visit Jen, Andrew, Ava, and Carter in California soon. Love you guys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm A Big Girl

While in St. George Emme discovered that she could climb out of her crib and onto the bed. When we thought that was bad, a few short minutes later she learned how to open the door to the bedroom. It made for some fun going to bed times!

We thought when we got home and got her into her crib, back into her nightly routines she would be fine in her crib. Boy were we wrong. We could barely put her in her crib, shut the door, and walk down the hall before we would hear a THUD on the floor and see a sweet little girl poking her head out the door.

We didn't want her to get hurt so we moved her to her big girl bed. At first she loved the idea and never came out of her room. The first night when we went to check on her before we headed to bed this is how we found her.

She doesn't always stay in her bed, or her room. It has been an adjustment for her to be in a big girl bed. She likes her new found freedom of being able to leave her room whenever she desires.

Her favorite thing to say at night when she doesn't want to go to bed is "cuddle". Her Dad taught her about the powers of cuddling. She knows that we love to hold her close. She would much rather cuddle then go to bed. Sadly she could cuddle most of the night without falling asleep. Or falling asleep to wake up the minute we lay her down.

It has been close to a month, she is better at staying in her room. She still would rather cuddle then go to bed. She has figured out how to open her door even with a child proof casing on it. But she is back to sleeping through the night and even getting her naps again. Sure love this little girl!

4th Of July

Freedom...a simple word that has so much power. Having a day to celebrate our freedom makes me aware of how blessed we truly are. I am grateful for all the men and women that serve and have served for our country. I am especially grateful for my Dad who served our country.

A day of fun beginning at the Murray parade. Emme loved watching all the cars go by. She would dance as each band would come and go. She cheered and played with her cousins.

We then went swimming and to see a movie with Grandma and Grandpa K and her cousins. A full day of playing.

To end the fun day we went back to the Murray fireworks with Papa and Grandma Susie and cousins. It was a full day of fun and playing. Emme loved the fireworks. She spent the night saying "fireworks, boom boom!" All the while she hits her leg.

 

Family Fun

Family parties are so much more fun with Emme. We spent a few days down in St. George with Brandon's family for a reunion. We had a number of adventures.

The car ride down...
Emme was so good in the car. Between reading books, playing with cars, and watching Elmo she was a happy girl--as long as she had BB close at hand.

Zions National Park...we went on a fun little hike. It was named the frog hike because of the number of frogs and tadpoles found. It was a perfect hike, Emme walked nearly all of it. There was fun little ponds that she could play in. She loved playing in the water, climbing the rocks, and most of all catching and holding the tadpoles. She walked around pointing and saying "tadpole in water". She loved going on a hike, so much that we went back to hike and find the tadpoles.

Miss independent...walking all by herself.

Tadpole

Hangin' with my cousins Aba & Owie
(Ava and Owen)

Climbing up the rocks with Mom







 

Rock Slide

 

 

 

 

Rock Slide...down to Dad



Made it to the waterfall with Grandma & Papa



Swimming at the condo. Playing a little basketball with Carter and Jen. 

Mary Poppins at Tuacahn

 

 

 

Hike number two...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Splash Pad and Minute to Win It Games

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A great weekend of family fun! We are blessed to have such a wonderful family. I love that Emme has so many wonderful cousins that she loves to play with.