New Years Eve

New Years Eve


This is an older photo of you taken before you were with us by your foster mother. It is a favorite of mine; you are so beautiful in this photo....it is also a photo that i have put in a frame to keep. Every time i look at this photo, it makes me smile knowing that you are my daughter.

It is New Years Eve....and you are safely tucked in bed in your new Tinkerbell pjs. You are so cute in them; i'll take a photo in the morning so you can see just how beautiful you are. You are changing daily and your personality is starting to shine thru; you do this cute snorting thing where you srunch up your nose. You have a laugh that warms my soul, little one. You seem to be happy and know that we love you and that you are safe here with us.....and that knowledge is good to have. I hope that you will always feel that we are your safe place.

It will be a quiet New Years Eve and New Years Day for us. Your three cousins and Aunt Claudine and Uncle Troy left this morning and i was sad to see them go. You were facinated with Viktoria and she was with you. In fact, she wanted to know if she could "borrow" you to take home for a while! She wants a sister and you seem to fit the bill! Viktoria loved to hug you....and you let her. It was fun to watch the two of you together.

Hopes for the New Year? Everyone seems to have a list a mile long for such things, but my list this year is short: for you to be a happy healthy little girl and for us to continue to be a happy family. This life that i have with you and your Daddy is more that i had ever hoped to have. I feel so blessed and so very thankful every morning when i wake up. And when i hear you and your Daddy play "i'm-going-to-get-the-baby-belly" my soul fills with gratitued. You and your Daddy fill my soul....

Happy First New Years, Emma!

Love you to the moon and back.....

Mommy

The Chosen Heart

Thinking of Emma
THE CHOSEN HEART

Longing for a child to love,
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew,
A part of me was meant for you.

I think how happy we will be,
Once I adopt you, and you adopt me.

I dream of all the joy you'll bring,
Imagining even the littlest things.
The way it will feel to hold you tight,
And tuck you in every night.

The drawings on the refrigerator door,
And childhood toys across the floor,
The favorite stories read again and again,
And hours of games with make-believe friends.

The day you took my outstretched hand,
A journey ended, but our lives began.
Still mesmerized by your sweet face,
Still warmed inside by our first embrace.

I promised to give you a happy home,
And a loving family all your own.
A house you've now made complete,
With laughter, smiles and tiny feet.

A parent is one who guides the way,
Know I will be there everyday.
Rest easy as each night you sleep,
A lifetime of love is yours to keep.

Longing for a child to love,
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew,
A part of me belonged to you.

Teri Harrison

More Christmas Photos

Christmas Day

Christmas Day


A perfect, perfect day.....my soul is filled with love. I will remember this Christmas for the rest of my life.

You are a gift from God, Emma, never, ever forget that.

Love you to the moon and back....

Mommy

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve.....

.....and this was the photo of you and Santa that was taken today. You were such a trooper, no tears, no screaming; you were just curious about Santa and loved looking at all of the lights around Santa's house.

Your Daddy and i are truly blessed, dear Emma, to have you in our lives.

Love you to the moon....and back,

Mommy

Sad day for our neighbors....

Sad day for our neighbors....
Our neighbor, Karen came by this morning with some horrible news. Our next door neighbor's mother (who lives with them) had a massive heart attack while driving with her grandson last night and passed away. Her name was Joan and she so loved her grandson. Her grandson is okay, just a little banged up, but of course, is very upset about his grandma. He thinks that it is his fault, had he not wanted to rent a movie, this wouldn't have happened. Joan volunteered at the school where her grandson goes....she is going to be so very missed. What a difficult and sad Christmas it will be for this family! She had been very nice to me, asking me about you....she was a very kind woman, Emma. She had this very red hair and loved to wear big earrings....but what i remember most about her was her love of her grandson. They were always together; she drove him to school, to his karate lessons, to after school programs. She will be so greatly missed by not only her family, but those around her.

I will be going over later and bringing dinner to them on Sunday. Karen is doing dinner for them today, Carla is doing Saturday and i'll be doing Sunday. Such an odd custom, to bring food when someone passes to the family, but food can be a source of comfort and a way of saying "we care". I hope that i am able to find some words of comfort....i know how a heart can hurt when someone close to you passes. This is also a time of asking "Why"....i guess it comes with age when you realize that sometimes there are no answers to that question and you just have to trust God and know that it is part of a plan and maybe not for you to understand. At any rate, it still hurts your heart....

You are asleep soundly upstairs; it is a few days before Christmas and we are completly done shopping for everyone. I can't wait for you to see your presents! Of course, at 10 months of age, you won't understand, but i'm sure that we will have it all on video for you for years to come. Your Daddy and i feel so blessed to have you in our lives, Emma. When i hear the two of you laugh and giggle while playing "i'm getting the baby's belly", my heart and soul fill with love and thanks. You are truly our blessing, Emma....

Love you to the moon and back....

Mommy

Readoption Day!

Readoption Day....busy, busy, busy!


It has been a very busy past few days for us! These photos were taken on Friday at the Sumner County Courthouse after our re-adoption appointment. It was an exciting day for all of us, and as you can see, you were very cute in your dress. You were a charmer at the courthouse with the judge and it was very sweet to see. While it was just a formality, we are happy that now in everyone's eyes, we are official! But you've been "official" in our heart since the first moment you were placed in our arms...

We spent alot of time this weekend at home...it was really too cold to go out. I thought that we would maybe get some snow, but it didn't snow. It didn't get cold enough but it felt like it was! I did go shopping one night after you were sound asleep, but for the most part, i think that your Daddy and i just enjoyed being home with you. You are fascinated with the Christmas tree and it's lights but we don't spend too much time in the sunroom so you are stuck looking at my silver tree, lol. I think that i may be the only one who thinks that trees is beautiful....

We had a really good day today.....we went to WalMart for some much needed supplies. It was also the first time that someone asked me if you were mine. It was from an older woman who was watching you and i play and you were laughing and laughing.....she kept telling me how beautiful and what a happy baby you were. And then she asked me if you were mine. I smiled the biggest smile that i could and said "Of course! Isn't she just a beautiful child?" I know that she meant no harm, she truly was enjoying watching you laugh and giggle. You are a joy to watch, sweetie.

Gotta go check on you,

Love you to the moon and back.....

Mommy

Getting ready for Christmas...

Getting ready for Christmas








There are only about 14 days till Christmas, little one. Our tree is up and we have almost finished picking out presents for our family and friends. Our Christmas card (with your photo on the front!) went out today; all 67 of them. Some of these folks will send cards back, others won't but i hope that we can teach you while you are growing up that you do things for others because you love them, because you cherish them, not because you think you'll get something back out of your gesture. To truly give from the heart is one of God's greatest gifts to us, little one.

All of the houses around us are decorated brightly with all kinds of Christmas lights and Santa! So pretty to look at....your Dad and i are usually "lets hang a wreath on the door" kinda folks, but since you are now here, well, we are decorating the trees in front with lights. If i let your Dad have his way, Emma, i'm sure that he would put up 30 ft high Santas and Snowmen in our yard! I'm sure that the next few years as you grow, your Dad is going to end up having his way but i think that this year, we'll start with just the trees, lol. And with your cousins and Aunt Claudine and Uncle Troy coming, we do need to decorate a little more. I am sure that we'll be taking a ride around to see the lights while they are here; my hope for you is that you don't sleep thru it!

As you grow up, you'll learn about Santa Claus and making out your Christmas list. I also hope that you'll learn from us what the season is truly about and what it is that makes it so special. It is more that presents and holiday cookies and holiday parties; it's about Jesus and how he was the best present to the world from God. It's also a time for family and for looking out for others who are in a rough time or place. It's our responsiblity to take care of others, Emma.....it's our responsibilty to mankind. So many folks in the world are alone and without anyone to love or to love them back. While i understand that we can't help everyone, those that we can, we will help.

And of course, this year, we will give special thanks to your birth mother. Because of her, we are a family.....i think that God links people together for reasons sometimes. You'll find as you grow up that not everyone who comes into your life stays in it. Perhaps these people were put into your life for a reason or to teach you a lesson or to just be there when you need them the most. I've had many, many of these people in my life, and i'm so thankful for them. These angles help you get to where you are going in life, to put you on a path, whatever it may be. So always be on the lookout for angels, and never forget that you may be one in someone's life

Love you to the moon and back.....

Mommy

Leaves, Leaves and MORE LEAVES!

Leaves, Leaves, and MORE LEAVES!


Last weekend was "clean up the leaves" weekend. A lot of work and it was fun to watch you play with your Daddy in the leaves. Of course, you wanted to eat the leaves, lol, but we managed to keep one step ahead of you and stop you! There is no greater gift, Emma, than to see the world thru your eyes....

We continue to get ready for the holidays. It's odd that this year will be one of my happiest and yet, one of my saddest. I love taking you to the stores and watch you look at the lights, the trees and the deorations. It's all so much fun to see these things thru your eyes. I'm hoping that you will not be afraid of your cousins when they come visit us; somehow, i think that you guys will have great fun together!

Off to check on you....

Love you to the moon and back....

Mommy

Growing up and learning things....

Growing up....Learning things....

I am surprised at how quickly you are learning things, Emma. I'm sure that all Mommies think that their child is the smartest, cutest and fastest learner....but in this case, it's true. :)

You are now cruising around the couch and the endtables...holding on, but moving nevertheless. Every now and again, you will let go and balance yourself and then you seem to notice that you have let go and you grab back on. You are also walking behind your little Enstien toy, pushing it along as you walk behind it. You also love the stairs, lol, and yesterday, you climbed them 5 times! I love to see the determination and concentration on your face as you climb those stairs.....you show such independene already, little one