July 2013(33)

Happy New Year!!!… now let's talk about July. Why? Because I'm that far behind. BUT I do think it's better to be late than never… so… here we go:

July 2013

The scene: I have a 1 month old and a boy just shy of 3 and a half. Boxes up to my eyeballs to put away in a new house that demands more than my brand new infant at times.

No big deal :/

Also, we were in the middle of Grace's 30 day countdown. Once we took Gracie home we had 30 days for her birth mom to change her mind and take her back.

Kind of a big deal.

Mature as I was in my zombie state {See June Bloom}, I wanted to run away… with my family of 4 that is. I just wanted to get away and have fun without worrying about how to fix _____, or calling ____ about _____, or….

As luck would have it, we had already planned a cabin escape with Mark's family the week of the 4th of July. THANK YOU GOD!

I could not WAIT to drive far enough away from life where all I'd have to worry about was "What should we make for dinner?", "Do you want your marshmallows golden brown or charred?",  "Who wants to get up to feed Grace tonight?"  (joys of the bottle!)…

Well, when we got there, our cool getaway ended up being super hot. As in triple digits with no air conditioning hot.

We could only stand it for 2 nights, then we headed back to our (new) place. All 14 of us for a redirected vacation staycation. 

I'm not going to lie. I was sad to come back to reality so soon, but we did make the best of it! Lots of swimming, lots of BBQ, fireworks from the balcony, and the girls even got away for part of the day for lunch and some mani-pedi action… Here are some pics...

At the Cabin

We escaped to a cafe for air conditioning.

Turning the oven on was unbearable, but we did it for cookies!

Grandpa and Ethan.

My favorite conversation:

Grandpa: "Ethan, do you see that bird waaaay over there? Beyond that big tree on that little branch?"

*pretends to shoot his gun*

"Now you don't!"

And then they'd both laugh and take turns shooting different objects all over the backyard…

"Now you don't!"

"Now you don't!"

And then of course, they battled each other

Hot! Hot! hot!!!

By the end of the trip, Grace was sleeping in her diaper. 

Back at the fort.

Brothers, BBQ, Cousins, 4th of July marshmallow sticks...

Girl time!

Gracie getting loves from her cousins and Auntie Katie.

4th of July pictures

Poor baby girl caught some sun on her face :(

Grandmas spent lots of time visiting in July as they missed seeing their Ethan boy AND spending time with their newest grand baby girl!

Oddly enough, I only captured moments spent with Ethan.

He does demand attention ;)

Kisses for Grandma Wager

Fairytale Town with Grandma Young

"Gabout" Fairytale Town

{Ethan substitutes the first letter in some words for /g/}

I was worried that Ethan would feel royally robbed of my time and love after welcoming Grace into our family. To try and avoid that, I made every effort to spend as much time with him as I could when she was asleep and also, let him choose the activities of the day.

We did whatever he wanted (within reason).

One day I asked him, "Ethan, today we can do anything you want! What do you want to do today?"

His response: "Let's go to Fairytale Town!"

This was my first week alone with both kids (after my mom had taken Ethan for a week so we could bond with Gracie)

My response: "Let's do it!" 

And we did!…

 I felt a little like super mom (with a double stroller and baby sling)!

Our little runner sprinter (as in, mad dash away from you in large, public, crowded places) did excellent in staying with me when I had to give the baby a bottle or change her diaper…

Looking back (now 6 months later) Ethan was just as much of a gift during this time as Grace was. 

He is an angel of a big brother.

Way to go God!

*Thankful*

 Pictures of friends and fun in the mid-summer sun...

When Grace's 30 days were up, my mom, Grace and I took a long weekend trip to the LA Garment District to find fabric to make her nursery.

My mom has serious sewing skills and… a serger

(just ask, she's proud to share! ;)) 

So, yes, make her nursery.

Crib bedding, curtains, etc.

THIS was the vacation I really needed.

It was a total blessing and a great girls weekend (of 3 generations) bonding, laughing, eating food we didn't have to prepare, and sharing the joys of a multiplying family.

My mom had never been to the Garment District… we had a good laugh at the "Tang Tops" for sale.

Also, I saw "God winks" everywhere… all over this trip!

Our hotel and airfare costs were $333 each.

We also stayed at the L.A. Hotel Downtown.

The Address?

333 South Figueroa Street

3*wink*3*wink*3

I know it's good to laugh at life sooner than later, but sometimes you have to take a break from life itself to actually be able to fully enjoy and laugh in the moment with a good friend.

That's what happened when I escaped with my mom.

She got away with me and helped me focus on just living and laughing in the moment… 

...add in a little retail therapy...

and I was transitioning out of being a "zombie" and back into being "Allie".

Thank you Mama.

And thank you Hubby for having a "Boys Weekend" so we could escape!

<3(33)

June Bloom {Growing Pains}

Welcome back! 

{speaking to myself} 

It's been forever since I've blogged as I've been just a bit busy lately. 

Having an infant and transitioning into a Mama of 2 has taken much of my time…

Ever been there? 

{speaking to you now}

I was looking back at some old posts and I was reminded of two things:

1) I didn't start blogging until Ethan was 5 months old. 

2) I need to keep blogging because, unlike Facebook, this is a keepsake for me and my family.

Well, Grace is near 6 months now so it's time to catch up!

My goal is to be up to date by the end of the year… so...

Here we go!

JUNE

June was a month of beauty, growth, new life, change, and challenge.

Grace was born on Monday, June 3rd.

We moved Saturday, June 8th.

Mark's brother, Scott, got married on Sunday, June 16th. 

Grace came home with us on Monday, June 17th.

We celebrated our 9 year anniversary on Wednesday, June 19th.

Does it sound...

Busy?

It was.

Super celebratory?

It was.

Painful?

Oooh yeah.

I was stretched so far that my closest friends could see I had checked out.

Mentally that is.

One friend even said I looked zombie-like.

{attractive, right?}

I was spent. 

And if I had anything left in me to give, I saved it for my son, who was also going through a lot of transition (between our foster care experience, moving, and now adding another babe)…

I was ready, at any moment, to absorb the impact of his fall.

Which I knew, I just knew was coming… annny minute… juuuust around the corner…

But he didn't.

Call it resilience. 

Call it ignorance.

Call it what you will…

I call it God's provision.

God was all over the month of June... even when I was unraveling at the seems.

His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

Amen!

Here are some pictures of June along with some candid commentary…

Getting a pedicure with Anna and saying hello to Baby Girl while she was still cookin'.

I feel truly blessed to have spent time with Anna while she was still pregnant.

It allowed me to get to know Grace's birth mom and experience part of her pregnancy with her :)

Happy Birthday, Gracie!

Back at the fort. 

Taking a break from packing...

 Switching gears to wedding mode.

Jennifer's bridal shower with the Young girls...

Noteworthy: I tried fish at Sienna and LOVED it.

As a previous "anti-anything that lives in the ocean kind-of-eater"… this is HUGE.

Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi with Cilantro Lime Rice, Pineapple Salsa, Thai Chili Sauce.

Delish!!

Monkey Boy finding fun while I get my bridesmaid dress altered...

 So, I had this day.

The kind of day where I tried with so much effort and so much determination to get a handful of things done. On the top of my to-do list: 

Call credit card companies and switch over to new address.

Sounds easy enough. 

Should take no more than 10-15 minutes tops.

Wrong.

Because I'm not the primary card holder on majority of our cards, I couldn't do it.

{Mark, in the mean time, was working all week to cover for the other doc in the office…}

Seriously? 

I know the man's social security number, blood type, and every flippin' freckle on his body…

Really? 

You can't… just…?

They tell me that I can change it online, however.

Great! 

Log onto the internet… it's disconnected.

*Sigh*

Call Comcast.

After many transfers and holds and attempts to "fix the problem on their end"

... an hour later… 

still disconnected.

It's 10am.

I spent just under 2 hours doing absolutely nothing {productive}.

But, wait... where was my 3-year-old?

And why was it so quiet?

I run all over the house calling out his name.

No answer.

Heart pounding, I enter this scene:

See those shoes at the bottom of the picture?

Ethan had them on and was walking through the sticky mess. 

In the background I hear "Glug. Glug. Glug…" as the cleaning containers continued to pour out the mess that so accurately described my life at that moment. 

And there… in the middle of it… 

was Ethan

tracking prints all over the garage as if to say, 

"Have you walked in my shoes lately?"

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's when I cracked.

I literally came unglued as I stared at the cleanest mess I had ever encountered, not knowing where anything was to clean it up.

{Because unpacking boxes was the 2nd thing on my to-do list}

I made such great efforts to take 2 steps forward in productivity but instead felt pushed back 5 giant steps.

So what did I do? 

I called my Mom. 

No answer.

So... I called my Mama-in-law.

When she picked up the phone, I started sobbing.

I don't know what it is about breaking points and a simple "Hello?" on the other end of the line… but I always just lose it when I hear some anticipated love and comfort on the other end.

Just give me a hint of normalcy and I feel safe to emotionally collapse.

So… that's what I did.

Seeing I had lost total control of my life, she ordered me to take the day off.

Leave the mess for Mark to clean up and go do something fun and relaxing with Ethan.

Done.

So, for the first time since we moved in, I enjoyed our new pool with this little man.

Who, by the way, started swimming independently.

Which meant I could do this:

What's a life story without a little drama? ;)

And then she came home.

And all I wanted to do was hold her and keep her safe...

 This is what our anniversary looked like 2 days later…

headed out to a romantic dinner… table for 3.

My mom took Ethan for a week so that Mark and I could bond with baby.

Visitors!

Auntie Krystyna and cousins from the East Coast (in for wedding… great timing!) and Grandma Young

Me to the girls: "Thanks for coming to visit us!"

Bella: "You're welcome. I like your baby."

My favorite quote of the day!

Grace's first little buddy that came to visit… Adrian :)

Sibling love <3

Growing pains lead to growth.

But in the end, if you have a bigger heart because of it… it's worth it.

Even if you look like a zombie in the process ;)

The Story of Grace {Chapter 1} Simple & Sweet

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In LOVE he predestined us for ADOPTION to sonship {or daughtership ;)} through Jesus Christ. In accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious GRACE, which he has freely GIVEN us in the One he loves."

- Ephesians 1:4-6

It is with humbled, grateful, and full hearts that we introduce our daughter - and Ethan's sister!...

Grace Elizabeth Kyleigh Young

Gracie was born on June 3, 2013 at 8:01am

6 lbs 5 oz.

19.5 inches

Healthy baby girl!!

The Story of Grace {who we call Gracie} is a beautiful one with more facets than I'm sure we're even aware of! God is in the details and He most definitely was the author of this story.

I don't want to leave anything out, so in an attempt not to bore ya'll with any details you don't want to know, I'm creating "chapters" to her story.

This way you can pick and choose what you want to read.

Chapter 1

Simple & Sweet

The following is a simplified story of how we were blessed with Grace 

{oh how I LOVE the double meaning of her name!!!}

The purpose of this chapter is to quickly bring you up to date as well as bombard you with more pictures than you could ever hope for.

This should also take care of your cuteness quota for the day ;)

Here we go...

We were notified by email through a contact at our church that a birth mom - due any day - was looking for a family to place her child up for adoption.

We sent in our information, a letter with a brief story about our family with some pictures, and we were asked to come and meet the birth mom.

We met and visited several times over dinner, pedicures, and a doctor's appointment...

The birth mom told us she wanted us to adopt her baby girl.

Gracie was born.

Birth mom took 2 weeks to finally place her in our arms.

There was a 30 day period where birth mom could change her mind and take the baby back.

She didn't.

Gracie is now 9 weeks... cooing, smiling, and absolutely perfect!

Baby girl is sleeping 8-9 hours at night and 75th percentile all the way around!

Praising Jesus for our sweet, new, cuddly bundle!

{Gracie at 9 weeks}

Behind the Name:

Mark named Gracie, and named her perfectly.

It was very powerful to me that her daddy named her. Going from fatherless to fully loved sits well with my soul...

Grace {divine grace} means "God given, favor, blessing."

Elizabeth is after Mark's sister, Christie Elizabeth. It also means "God's promise, God is my oath"

Kyleigh is the name that her birth mom, Anna, gave her and means "beautiful"

All of the above are true and fit her story... and ours... perfectly.

Grace: God Given - Gracie was just that, God given, as she was literally dropped in our laps right when we thought we'd wait and pray about trying to adopt again.

Read more about our adoption journey HERE.

Blessing - I've never met a baby that was so easy going, smiley, and cuddly! I love Ethan more than my own life, but the child didn't like to cuddle as an infant! Also, I thought he was a good sleeper... the first time Grace slept 8 hours in her 7th week, I thought... thank you Jesus!! That has been a reoccurring, overwhelming praise of my heart since she has joined our family.

And those smiles!! Ethan took several months to smile. She smiled since the day she came home with us. 

Gracie Smiles Weeks 2-9

 

Elizabeth: God's Promise - After a seemingly unfruitful journey toward adoption... a journey that started over 2 years ago filled with much brokenness and heartache, God proved Himself faithful. 

"As scripture says, 'Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.'" - Romans 10:11

Sometimes it's hard to see God's purpose in everything, especially when it's painful and the storm doesn't ever seem to lift, but I  knew with all certainty that if I was doing what God asked me to do... called me to do... and trusted in Him, that He would be faithful. He doesn't waiver. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow... and so is His plan for us.

How is Ethan doing with Gracie?

Ethan was super "guisguided" (excited) to have a little sister...

Here is a picture of the day we brought home Gracie. 

{Gracie at 2 weeks with brother}

Big brother is smitten and already protective.

{Gracie 3 weeks, Ethan 3 years}

We had a play date where one of Ethan's friends thought Gracie was so cute that he wanted to take her home.

Ethan piped up and said, "You can't take her home! She's my baby! She lives here!"

She has a protector for life ;)

Blessed

Our journey has been anything but easy or comfortable, but God didn't promise us that. 

Through struggle, heartache, perseverance, and pure faith, God has been faithful to us as we carried our cross to follow Him and our calling to adopt. 

She was the plan all along.

She is perfect... just like His plan for us.

Thank you Jesus.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

- Joshua 1:9

"And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me."

- Jesus in Matthew 18:5