Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep...

Our baby boy is due in 3 weeks and frankly, I've had a hard time putting together a nursery for a little boy. There aren't many options for boys & I hate to admit that's not 100% done. But I've made a room for a little baby~who will soon grow into a little man.  He might still be nameless, but he's ours.

P.s. If you have any great ideas for boy names  - I'm all ears :)

We have 2 names that we LOVE - but we can't decide between the 2.

Here is our progress so far....

Isn't this the coolest piggy bank ever!?!

 

 

 

 

 

 When Jared was born, his Papaw Hill handmade him a cradle & we are so excited to have it

in our little boy's nursery to use for the next generation. . .. The final picture doesn't do it justice - you'll have to come by & see it for yourself & go ahead & call before you come :) ha ha

Jared is cleaning up & checking out the cradle - getting it ready for his son

This is what's under the cradle "Made for Jared Allen by Grandpa Aug 11, 1983"

 

 

The Snow Is Beautiful & That's About It

I got out & braved the cold with Bear & Chloe since we had been cooped up in the 

house & took the opportunity to take a few snap shots :)

And like I said in the title : The snow is beautiful but that's about it :)

The bluff in front of the house . . .

The puppies love the snow & ice!

And this is my favorite - this is the driveway right before you get to our house...just gorgeous!

How Do You Blow Out Over 100 Birthday Candles?

. . ...You Don't! 

You just put a few sparkly ones on the cake to make it 

special enough to represent all the candles you would of had to use otherwise!

Birthday Girl #1

Birthday Girl #2

Rare moment of sweetness - love you girls!!

Watch out for the static queen!

Dad isn't getting any static with that head of..... hair..   :)

We were all a little tired & way too full of cake - but still made time to shake our groove things & Just Danced!!

!!!HaPPy BirThDaY MoM & KarEn!!!

T - 43 Days & Counting!

It feels like I haven't written in so long that I don't know where to start. There are so many things happening in our life right now, that I supposeI'm just in shock &  I don't know what to write.... but I'll try :)

This morning I had the pleasure of going to the doctor with our birth mom & her grandma. I wasn't sure what all the doctor would do - but was very excited to see her progress. 

The doctor measured her & she's right on target but then something miraculous happened.......I heard 

a little "thump-thump" "thump-thump" and at that moment my heart stopped and I was closer to my son than I'd ever been.

She then stepped out of the room & it was just me, her g-ma & silence.

I turned to g-ma & said "That's the 1st time I've heard his heart"! 

Then I starting tearing up - she was shocked because she didn't realize that I hadn't heard it before. I grabbed a tissue & tried to compose myself before our BM came back in. 

When she came back in the room she immediately asked me what was wrong - and I wasn't going to tell her that I had cried, I'm tougher than that :) But she figured it out & by that time I started crying again. 

I was apologizing for crying because I didn't want to be just a "silly girl"... but she reassured me & said, "Lydia, you're not silly ~ you're his mom!" Well that made me just ball. I jumped up & hugged her & it was amazing :)

We're so blessed to have an awesome birth mom - and she's become so much more than that to me. 

And we can't wait to bring home our baby boy & share him with our family & friends!!

Happy New Year!!

Normally, this time every year I have a couple of things that are on my "new year's resolution" list....

and I'm just not feeling it this year. I don't know if Christmas came & went so fast that I'm still in a Christmas fog, but it doesn't seem like it's time for the New Year yet!

Yesterday, I heard a lady on the radio that felt the same way - every year she had her resolutions of things that she was going to change...So, this year why don't we make a list of a few things that we wouldn't change?!

I know that I take for granted too many good things in my life - and I will regret it when they're gone.

Everyone says to live today like it's your last - 'cause one day it will be your last.

Just this morning a tornado hit Cincinatti & people we used to be neighbors with are gone - homes are gone, families &people's lives are changed forever. We are so fortunate that our family that still lives there wasn't hit by the tornado, but we are sending are prayers to all of the families in the community that have lost so much.

So, if you'd like - leave a comment of your non New Year's resolution & post something that you wouldn't change ~ Happy New Year!!

A Boy & His Dog

It seems like we've been extra busy this holiday season ~ but Jared & I did manage to find a little bit of time this past weekend to work on the baby's room!

As we were moving some furniture out & hanging some new blinds, I noticed that Bear was lying on a new rug for the nursery. He was very calm & still, but you could tell he knew we were getting ready for something new.

I got down on the rug with him & reminded him that we were going to have a baby & this was going to be his new room - I'm sure Bear understood everything I was telling him ;)

But as we kept working, you could tell he was lying there - protecting the room for the new little one. 

I can't wait to see our little boy & our Sugar-Bear together.

"A boy can learn a lot from a dog: obedience, loyalty, and the importance 

of turning around three times before lying down."
~Robert Benchley

The Legacy Of A Child.. .... .......

The Legacy of a Child in an Open Adoption  

By Brenda Romanchick 

 

Once there were two expectant mothers.
One carried and cared for you beneath her beating heart
She became your Birth-mother.
The other carried the hope of you within her.
She became your Mom.
As the days passed, and you grew bigger and stronger,
Your Birth-mother knew that she could not give you all you needed after your birth.
Meanwhile, your Mom was ready and waiting for you.

One day your Birth-mom and your Mom found each other.

They looked into each others eyes and saw a friend.
Your Birth-mom saw the life your Mom could give you.
Your Mom saw how much your Birth-mom loved and cared for you.

They decided that what you needed was both kinds of love in your life.

So now you have two families,
One by birth, the other by adoption.

And you have a home where you can get:
your questions answered,
your boo boos bandaged,
your heartaches soothed,
And much needed hugs.

And a place where you can find:
answers to your questions,
your image in the mirror,
a part of yourself,
And much needed hugs.

Two different kinds of families
Two different kinds of love
Both a part of you.

From Couple to Family ....

The past couple of weeks there have been some changes that will forever change our lives & we couldn't be happier! We met a wonderful young woman, whom  Jared & I both had an instant connection with, who is now our birth mother! I had the pleasure of  joining her for the ultrasound this week & it was an amazing experience :) There was the little baby we had hoped for & it all became so real~ 

So, we proudly announce the next chapter of our lives.... 

"From Couple to Family".

Coming March 3, 2011

Frogs and snails and puppy dog tails.

It's a Boy!

It's Official!

Chloe Beth is officially a "Conner" as of yesterday afternoon !

We are so happy to have her in our little family :)

We love you, Chlo!!

Miss Aayla Blair

We welcomed a new little cousin into the family on Halloween!

Her name is miss Aayla Blair & she is perfect - 

All in pink - just for fun :)

Welcome to the family, doll.