ahem... it's a GIRL!

Introducing Isla Rose 

(pronounced "eye-luh") 

Joined our family COMPLETELY and AMAZINGLY quickly through the miracle of adoption. We got the call right after lunch and she was home with us by dinner. 

I am so in awe of my God, my Isla and her amazing birth-mother who I feel so honored to have spent time with before placement. 

To God be all the glory! 

Ready to be refreshed!

(photos via C2C FB page)

I stayed up late last night to register for the March Created for Care retreat in Atlanta - good thing too because the January retreat sold out in just hours! I can't wait for a weekend of learning, rest, fellowship and worship with 449 other adoptive moms and women with a heart for adoption! 

Did I mention no husbands or kids?
Or that it's held here?
Or that it starts on my birthday?
Or that there's a session called "Adoption and Chocolate" where you basically hang out in PJs, eat chocolate and chat?

So stoked! 

excuse me, excuse me- announcement(s)!

This smiling 2 (ok, almost 3) year old is...

wait for it...

paci-free! 

It's true! One night about a month ago, we wrote a note to the Paci Fairy (requesting pirate toys, of course) and left Noah's paci out for her to take to "a baby who needs it to feel safe at night". 

not sure why this is sideways

...and she TOTALLY came through!  A Jake and the Neverland Pirates sword and action figures (along with some sour gummies- little dude's favorite!)

We have been pretty busy around here! VBS was the last week in July, and as a staff member, that means it's a 30-40 hour work week. 

At least I got a cool hat out of it. 

I also threw the first a few baby showers coming up, and nothing to terribly important to post about those EXCEPT THE CUPCAKES!

Holy cow- Caramel Frappucino and Key Lime. Kill me now!

which obviously means there has been some sewing going on.

This quilt is for a sweet baby who was born last month straight into the arms of her forever family who have been dreaming of her for a long, LONG time. 

Her mama and I went to high school together and I've really enjoyed going through the adoption process with a friend. Hopefully our wait will be a semi-short one like theirs! 

So, since she's obviously a tiny precious baby, I had to make a tiny precious baby dress. 

 

Another quilt I just made is for a friend of our family who is having a little girl this month. She already has twins... who are freshmen in high school! Baby Shayna has built in babysitters! How lucky for her mama! 

 

My last (favorite) project of late is this crib skirt for my best friend's little girl! 

To make a long story short, I moved to SC from GA in 10th grade. My best friend, Rebecca, from GA used to come visit me sometimes starting in 10th grade and while she was here, met Joe's best friend, Derek and long story short 12 years later, they are now married and live down the street from us! They will be welcoming their baby girl in October and I have had so much fun helping her get Baby No Name's room decorated!

I love it! 

It's not usual for me to be quiet...

I'm usually the loudest one in a bunch, so it's pretty weird that I've been quiet over here. 

I do have a few good excuses, though. 

1. With a little help from my bff IKEA, I figured out my little "what to do with the giant sewing machine problem and have been just stitching away lately. Quilts, baby gifts, fixing my parent's dog's bed that she chewed the zipper out of... exciting stuff around here, folks. 

2. I started running again. Why did I ever stop? That was so dumb! I ran three 5k's last year and my goal for this year was three 10ks- I'm a bit behind seeing as how I took a "break" from December to April (ouch!), but I am signed up for the Hilton Head Bridge Run in October (10k) and then the Color Run in November (5k). Woot!

3. I'm having mixed feelings about blogging about our adoption journey. I am the #1 fan of basically any and all adoption blogs, but as we are about to begin our fourth month of "waiting", I can't help but get a bit wary of sharing details and happenings. Not because of the chance of our birth-mother "finding us", (we are actually hoping and praying for an open adoption), or because I like keeping secrets (I don't... and I suck at it), but because in a way I feel that our child's story is his/hers and not mine to share. It's hard to keep it between Joe, our parents and myself, but I feel like the details of our journey should be kept to ourselves until we find out where it leads us. 

Does that sound insane? Sometimes I think so. 

Also, I'm VERY whiny at times. Trust me, you don't want to read a bunch of "We haven't been picked yet." and "Well.... we haven't been picked yet". Trust me- I'm sparing you. I'm a super-impatient person and this adoption journey has by far been the hardest thing I've ever done.

I know deep down that no matter when our baby comes to us, it is the *right* time. Just with getting pregnant with Noah- if I would have done it any sooner or any later, it wouldn't be NOAH. The Lord has already brought so many awesome people into our lives through this journey already and I'm trying so hard not to wish this time away. I think about when I was engaged and just waited and waited for my wedding day and then suddenly- it had come and gone. I think that applies to adoption as well- I want to make a conscience effort to enjoy each day of the waiting, know that God has put us here at this time for a reason and he's teaching me patience- how to wait well- something I've never been good at. 

I found this video earlier today and I feel like it is just what I needed to hear at that exact moment.

Don't worry- I'll be back with way less whining and way more pics of cute kids and creations in the next post. :) 

Well, this just isn't going to work...

My new machine is here... but she doesn't fit on my table! 

I've got a few ideas...

(ikea)

(ikea again)

(aw man can't you just see the serger sitting on that little sliding table? *wistful sigh*)

...but it's looking like we're gonna have to do some MAJOR reorganizing to fit a bigger table in a room that already houses a train table, expedit with toy baskets, easel, fabric cabinet, and cutting table. Yikes. 

Anyone out there have a great table that they love for sewing (pretty sturdy/no bouncing) that isn't a $1k or higher Arrow or Kangaroo table (not that I wouldn't love one- that's just a BUNCH of money!)? I would LOVE some recommendations! 

oh, and to make up for all the missed Wordless Wednesdays

Why is my kid suddenly, like, 15?

hurry up and wait AND slowing down a little

hurry up and wait
In an incredible, God-can-only-be-responsible-for-this-answered-prayer turn of events, we found out in March that we were suddenly- shockingly- financially prepared for the adoption. Once finances were no longer an issue, we went on rampage of paperwork, recommendation letters, online seminars, portfolio-making and talking to Noah about his new brother or sister. Since we have decided to adopt a child of color, we explained to him that while we won't look alike, our hearts are the same/all families are different and that's ok/God is creating our family in a special way. We've talked with him about sharing his room, his toy, his Nana, his Mama and Rufio as well as the fact that while Mrs. Meaghan, Mrs. Erin, Mrs. Ashley H., Mrs. Ashley O., Aunt Rebecca, Mrs. Allison and Mrs. Amber are all currently growing babies in their bellies (that's right- SEVEN of my friends are currently pregnant.), I'm currently growing one in my heart. 
Within a few weeks, we had attended our last meeting, signed our last paper and were officially "waiting" (dun dun duuuuuun!). We've been waiting for about a month now and I have to say it's weird to not be dropping by the agency office multiple times a week! :) Now we just keep on truckin' as a 3-person family and wait for that life-changing phone call. In the words of our agent "It could be 18 months from now, or it could be tomorrow." I have peace knowing that our child, and his/her birthmother are already chosen for us and they will not enter our lives one day earlier or one day later than God has planned... though I can't lie- there is a part of me that just wants to know when it's going to come! :) 


slowing down a little 
In light of the imminent change around here, as well as a finicky home embroidery machine that's been just about pushed to its limits (4 million stitches put on that machine in less than 2 years? YIKES!) and two sudden realizations that I can't be good at everything AND I've got too many irons in the fire, I've decided to take a short break from the embroidery and applique "business" (ahem... again). We're thinking that once we are settled into being a 4-person family (what's that? 2030?), I will invest in a multi-needle machine and pick up the "business" again. For now, I'm focusing on quilts and sewing for myself, Noah and this new little person that's going to enter our lives. So, Friday Joe and I took the trip to the store that makes his wallet cry and I upgraded from my Brother 1250D to this lovely lady:

What do you think? 

Does she seem like a "Large Marge" or "Big Bertha"? 

This girl needs a name ASAP!

The old machine and I have a few more shirts to do together but this Friday we're headed back over there to complete the hand-off and I will officially be on embroidery hiatus! (which, honestly, after my busy last few months seems like a major relief!)

Those are the not-so-thrilling (yet EXTREMELY busy!) updates in my life after almost a month away from blog-land. I've got a lot of blog-reading to catch up on- and baby projects to plan!