Best Birthday EVER

Can I just say how blessed I feel this birthday? It always feels that when you hit milestones you seem to stop, take a minute to reflect, and really evaluate life.

The journey to expanding our family has not been an easy one, but it has certainly been a rewarding one. And Worth. the. Wait. 

I am wife to an amazing husband and mother to two beautiful children. Yes, pinch me. I said mother of two. I am still in complete awe and wonder of God's goodness and perfect timing. I can't imagine life any other way. I can't imagine two more precious children to love and hold. I simply can't imagine.

So cheers to another year, another celebration! 

Happy Birthday....to me.

Welcome Quinton James!

It is my joy to announce the birth of our newest nephew, Quinton James.

Making the day even more special, Quinton shares a birthday, and middle name, with his Uncle Sam.

Both born on July 7th.

So welcome to the world little Quinton and happy 30th birthday to my love, Sam!

Updates +

Where has the month of April gone? I have apparently been in a bloggy daze and must apologize to my faithful blog followers [all 2 or 3 of you] for the lack of posts.

I am going to try to make it up to you in this single post. To keep said updates organized I am resorting to actually numbering my random posts, pictures and yes, videos. I don't think I have ever done that in my years of blogging.

1. Max has apparently taken up the game of golf in his spare time. He is quite pleased with himself every time his club makes contact with the golf ball. And just for the record, daddy is quite proud.

2. Max is very sweet on our neighbor and his friend, Brooke. Only two doors away from each other, the kids literally run down the sidewalk towards each other with their arms open, ready for hugs. It is quite a sight and incredibly adorable.

3. I am not sure why I get all sappy when Max learns to do something new, but, I do. It always includes two moments for me. First, I celebrate at what he has learned to accomplish on his own. Then, I choke back tears because I realize he doesn't need me anymore to help him with that task. On this particular day, Max mastered blowing bubbles on his own. This is really no small feat and he was quite proud of himself. Ok, and I was proud of him too. Sniff, sniff.

4. Oh how I love the zoo! It is perfect for all ages. Max and I recently had a zoo adventure where he could not get enough of the aquarium. Every fish that swam by [and there have to be thousands in the big tank] he would scream and say louder than the time before, "FISH, A FISH!" Take a look!

5. And last, I can hardly believe that Max will be 2 years old in 3 days. I am pretty sure I am in denial. On the other hand, Max is not. In fact, he has been celebrating for a couple of weeks. From gifts in the mail to a mini-birthday party, Max is in birthday heaven. And if you ask him what he wants for his birthday he shouts, "Cake, I want Cake!" Take a look at Max doing a little birthday dance to a card he got in the mail [thanks Auntie Marie and Uncle Joe].

I am sure I will re-enter the blog world in only a few short days as we celebrate Max's 2nd birthday. Keep you posted!

Paradise

Sam and I just returned from paradise in Riviera Maya, Mexico. We spent 6 glorious days and 5 glorious nights pretending like we were on our honeymoon again. It was pure bliss.

We celebrated my 30th birthday in style. Our lazy days were spent by the beach and our evenings at romantic dinners. What a way to celebrate a birthday!

While we were away, Mister Max was well taken care of by his Grandma and Papa. We emailed daily with the little guy and he seemed to get along just fine without us. Here are a few excerpts. I am sure they will bring a smile to your face as they did ours every time we read one!

11/12: Day 1 of Trip

Hi mommy and daddy,

I hope you had a fun afternoon at the pool/beach. I was soooo good all day. I got
to play with Eli all morning and Maddie watched us and took us outside in the back. It
was great fun. We then had a delicious lunch (I'm wearing a bib for grandma) of grilled
cheese, tomato soup, etc.

I didn't nap very long, maybe one hr. and then talked and coughed a little for another
hr. Grandma got me up and I was very good and happy. We left for home at 4.
Papa played with me lots while grandma finished dinner and cleaned up. I ate
all my spaghetti, some peas, yo-gurt, raspberries, pretzels. I did good, huh? and milk.
Well it is after 7 so I know they will say it's bedtime soon so I guess I better go and
play with them a little more so they won't be sad. Maybe read them a book.

All is well and I am happy. Have fun and don't be sad at all.
I love you, Max

11/15: Day 4 of Trip

Okay I'm telling on Grandma. She slept til 7:30 this morning. Papa got up and moved the monitor and
shut the door so she could sleep. Papa and I had a great early morning time together.
We looked at books and he gave me some dry cheerios and a drink to hold me til breakfast.
He loves to hold me when I wake. Me and my baa baa.

We went to church and I went to the nursery. Aunt Becca and Uncle Chris were in there.
I stayed in there til 11:15 and then they took me back to Gma. Becca said my nose was
running and I coughed on kids. Whatever! Don't tell I told or Gma will get in trouble.

Church was great. The Lord was moving. Worship lasted til noon again and then Pastor Jim
said to get your kids and come back up front if you want to. We left and went to Jersey
Mikes with Uncle Luke, Aunt Bethany and cousin Claire.

Home for nap. I slept not quite 2 hrs. Then books, played outside etc. My favorite -
Gma sat me in her lap and we checked out all the blogs. I loved it and didn't move for
20 min.

Lauren came at 4 and we played, outside and in. I ate the biggest dinner - spaghetti,
kiwi, and frozen yogurt and milk etc. Delicious! Lauren and I are now watching a video
before bath/bed. What a great day here at the Ritz. Uncle Tom and Beth are stopping by
at 8:30 to show us her engagement ring. I guess I'll be in bed:-(

I am wearing a bib at every meal. I even tuck it in behind the tray. Gma has these
great cotton bibs. Plastic sucks!

I love you and miss you but I am doing so great - real bonding with these old folks.
Love, Max

11/16: Day 5

Hi mommy and daddy,

I'm counting down. 24 hrs. or less. I miss you. I had a great day. Lauren played with
me this morning. Then we met Auntie Kristen and kiddos at Mc.D's for lunch and we took
Lauren to school.
I slept and slept for my nap. After 2 and half hrs. Grandma turned on the hall light,
15 more minutes and she turned on the bedroom light. I finally roused at almost 3 hrs.
Whew, I bet I grew sleeping so much.

We ran a couple errands and went outside. It is so nice here, the weather has been good.

O.K. it is 8:30 pm and I am jabbering up a storm in my bed. I stayed up til 8:15. Papa got
home from his elders meeting and I wanted to spend some time with him. I go from Grandma to Papa without hesitation. Hope I don't hurt her feelings. It's a guy thing.

See you at the airport. I'll be the little guy with beautiful blue eyes and blond curls
grinning ear to ear.

Love, Max

29 is Just Fine!

Today is my 29th birthday.  

I only have 365 days left of my twenties. And then I start a new decade.  Scary, but exciting, thought.

I am the type of person that loves birthdays. I milk it for months. I am always providing family and friends with the countdown. And I love to plan something special to celebrate [or even better have someone else plan it in my honor!].

The last few years have been difficult. Don't worry, I still mustered up the strength to celebrate my big day. But, it was a reminder to me of another year gone by...without a sweet baby in my arms.

This year is different indeed!

Taking a small glimpse back to just one year ago:

We were in the midst of paperwork and our home study.

We had only shared with a couple of people our hopes of adoption.

We hadn't heard of a girl named Emily.

And we certainly didn't know a baby boy named Maximus.

God has been so faithful. So good to me this past year. I am so thankful to be celebrating this birthday with my sweet baby boy in my arms.

I am overwhelmed by God's goodness.

A HAPPY birthday it is!