0 to 2 in 287 Days...and Living to Blog About It!!!

I've been thinking...

I am a very blessed woman.  Yesterday, I was reading a friend's blog and decided to make a comment.  After I wrote the comment, I read it over and realized the journey we have been on FINALLY makes sense to me.  Every single time I look at Gavin I get butterflies in my stomach and have to remind myself that he is ours forever. 

God knew we needed you...

Through all of our losses, the only thing that kept me sane was my faith in God. I knew he had a plan and one day it would all make sense. (Although, it really didn't help when other people, even if they were well-intentioned, reminded me of this.) It seemed like life kept moving forward for everybody else and ours was just on pause. Finally, I started finding praise in the little things. After each test they ran came back normal, I praised God for my health. After we decided to make our family through adoption, I praised God that we had the financial stability to move forward. After Gavin finally joined our family, I literally thanked God for our losses. I know it sounds crazy BUT he was meant to be a part of our family. We had to go through the really bad to get to the really good.

We fed him rice cereal for the first time yesterday and he did such a great job.  Such a big boy!  I had the camera and camcorder going.  The poor child probably feels like he is living his entire life in front of the Paparrazi.

Here are a few pictures from his first cereal experience.

Hmmm, what is daddy giving me?

Mom, what the hey diddle is this stuff?

MMMM, I think I like this stuff.  Now, give me more!

So this is how forever feels...

Sorry I haven't posted in a few weeks but I have to tell you we have been busy bees.  We were fortunate to go to court for Gavin's finalization on Thursday, July 30, 2009.  Gavin is now officially a part of our forever family.  And, we can't even begin to describe how awesome it feels.  He is such an amazing blessing in our lives and we are beyond grateful to have everything be official!  Here are some fun pictures from the day.

Our friends, Jo, Mike, Lora, and Brad hosted a party for us that evening.  Many of our friends and family headed over to join us in celebrating Gavin's finalization.  They gave us a picture frame that was engraved with our court date and said, "The end of a journey, beginning of a lifetime!"  I guess that sums up completely how we feel about the entire experience.

 

Thank you to all who traveled to spend the evening with us.  We were so touched to have so many people we loved celebrating this special event with us.

Finally, on Friday we went to our agency to visit with all of the ladies that helped make our adoption possible.  These ladies literally held our hands, cried with us, laughed with us, and helped us navigate our way to Gavin on this journey.  We will be forever grateful to all of them.

As a new school year begins, please keep our birth mom in your prayers.  She is getting ready to start her senior year and we are hoping it is a great year for her! 

Now, stay tuned for our next post.  We hosted a Finalization Celebration for Gavin on Saturday, August 8th.  Our friends and family helped us shower Women's Care Center and the Diaper Bank of Michiana with presents in Gavin's honor.  I can't wait to share pictures from this amazing evening.

Thank God

for our birth mom!  As we approach Mother's Day, I am overwhelmed with emotion.  I am ecstatic to truly enjoy this holiday for the first time in years.  However, I never want to stop honoring the one person that made all of this possible, our birth mom.  We are protecting her personal information and story but hope all of you will send an extra prayer up for her on Sunday. 

I worked last Friday night making a Mother's Day scrapbook for her.  It was simple but hopefully will remind her how much we think of her and how grateful we are for her sacrifice.  You see when people say, "How could a mother give her baby up for adoption?"  My response is simple...she PLACED Gavin with us because she loveS (not loved) him beyond measure.  She is trusting that we will provide him with a loving, two-parent, Christian home for all of his years.  Also, she hopes that we will always speak of her with love and respect, reassuring Gavin that ALL OF US love him to the moon and back.

Really it is the least we can do.  So thank God for our birth mom and for all other birth mom's that make the most unselfish choice in the world.

If you are interested, this is a great adoption link and  another great link.  They are worth the time to better understand the adoption journey.

Rockin' the Play Group

So yesterday, I took Gavin to his first infant/toddler play group.  Now, I know you are all thinking, "seriously, a play group at two weeks?!?!?"  I totally recognize that at this point it is more for me, but this group is pretty amazing.  It is an adoptive families play group.  It provides a great opportunity for me to talk with other moms who have been through a similar journey.  Here are some pictures from our morning!

Here is a picture of Gavin at "play" group=)

Here is a picture of Gavin with his friend Aidan.  Aidan was totally awake and so interactive...waiting patiently for his friend Gavin to wake up!  I promise he will be a little more fun in a few weeks, buddy!

New moms, we've waited a long time for this moment!!!

Doesn't he look like he is interacting nicely with his peers?  hee, hee...I think he only opened his eyes one time during the entire morning.  All the other moms told me to enjoy it while it lasts because before I know it he will be movin' and groovin'.  I totally love this newborn phase and am in no hurry to move onto the the next part of babyhood quite yet.  He is my little snuggle bug.

What a Wonderful Week

Well, Gavin is officially one week old today.  It is crazy for both of us to think about the rollercoaster of emotions we have gone through in one short week.  I think, try as they might, our agency could never prepare us for what the final days of the adoption process are.

We feel blessed beyond measure to have such an amazing birth family.  One day, once things are more final, we will share what we are comfortable with.  Until then, just rest assure that Gavin is loved by many and for that we will forever be grateful. 

I have so many thoughts that I would love to have the time to fully journal about.  However, I am busy and have done my best to make notes in a private journal.  This way, when I am thinking a bit more clearly, I can decide best how to further write about our beginning times with Gavin. 

Just so I won't forget how I am feeling this very second, I would love to share the top ten highlights from our first week with Gavin.  They are in no particular order...just random thoughts to sum up a wonderful week.

1.  My very favorite part of Gavin is his nose.  I think it is perfect...I just can't kiss it enough.
2.  Taking Gavin to mass for the first time.  The music seemed to really calm him.  It happened to be first communion and was a really, really long mass.  However, he did great.  Slept through it all like a champ.
3.  Getting peed on while giving Gavin his first bath and having Dustin standing there recording it.  I can't wait until he is sixteen.  His first girlfriend will surely love this one.
4.  Talking to our birth family a few times and hearing it in their voice that they are relieved that Gavin is soooo loved and his needs are being met.
5.  Watching Dustin totally embrace being a father.  He is literally over the moon for this little guy.  I never have to ask for help.  He just jumps in and does what needs to be done at the perfect moment. 
6.  Leaving the house for the first time just the two of us.  I totally knew we would be fine BUT wow!  Still kinda scary. 
7.  Totally not understanding why everybody around me can't realize that I have a brand new baby.  I.E. parking lots where people drive like maniacs crossing multiple aisles without regard to others. 
8.  Sitting up late at night just staring at Gavin's precious little face and realizing our lives will never ever be the same.  We are changed forever and for the better.
9.  Thinking that for the first time in a really long time that Mother's Day will be a happy day for me instead of a sad one.
10.  Realizing that God had a plan for us.  It didn't always make sense at the time.  However, Gavin was worth the wait.  I never knew I could love another person this much.  I thank God for the gift of this baby and pray that I always remember to put my full trust and faith in God even when it is difficult.  It is true what they say, if you never have bad times, how will you know when to recognize the good. 

Here are a few pictures from the last few days...

I took this picture at exactly 4:20 today to mark his one week birthday!

Snuggling!

No worries, I have LOTS of help for those late night feedings.  These two furry friends keep me in line and make sure I am taking good care of Gavin. 

If any of you are interested, here is a link to Gavin's hospital pictures .  Our birth mother chose his outfit and background.  The photographer did an amazing job!!!  Just wanted to share.

When you get to the screen, scroll down to Gavin H and click on it.  Then, type in the password which is Michael.

Finally, we are more than happy to have visitors as long as you are willing to wash your hands upon arrival.  One can't be too careful with germs such as swine flu lurking about!

Love to you all!!!

 

Welcome Home, Gavin!!!

This sign says it all...

And this one...

 

Well, we are finally home and are getting settled in.  It is all so overwhelming in the best way ever!  Gavin is perfect in every way.  We were welcomed home by signs, decorations on the inside of our home, flowers, enough yummy food to last for days, and the love of so many people near and far.  I am tired and emotional but truly want to savor every moment.  I already feel like Gavin has grown and changed in so many ways, it is just crazy!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, neither of us will ever, ever take this blessing from God for granted.  We are so grateful to be Gavin's parents. 

He's Ours!!!

Our birth mom signed off around 6:00 p.m.  Gavin gets to stay with us tonight in our room instead of the nursery.  Yippeeeeee!!!!  Everybody needs lots of prayers right now.

We love all of you and thank you for every single comment, email, call, and prayer=)

He's Here!!!

Gavin Michael Pears Hilary
Born:  April 22, 2009
4:20 p.m.
9 pounds 11.5 ounces
21 inches

No time for a big post...but I thought I would post a few pictures of the little guy...or should I say big guy=)

Our birth mom was AMAZING!!!  She ended up being able to deliver vaginally and did not need a c-section.  Thank the Lord!  Everybody is doing great and I will post more details in the morning.  We are staying at the hospital tonight and need to go check on Baby Gavin!!!

Morning Update

All is going well!  No baby quite yet, though=)

They gave our birth mom the night to rest while giving her medicine to soften the cervix.  They began the Pitocin at 6:00/7:00 am (our time).  Apparently, inducing a baby is a really big process.  She is handling it all beautifully.  The latest ultrasound estimated him to be 8 pounds and six ounces and everything with Baby Gavin seems to be right on track.  This is great news!!!  The doctor was concerned he had gotten too big over the last week...LOL...after he insisted that she go a week past her due date.  Oh well, I am not a doctor and am sure he had good reasoning for what he did.  We are hoping for Gavin to make his grand entrance to the world sometime today.  Only time will tell! 

Many of you have asked about what hospital/town we are in.  We are purposely not sharing too much information with everybody for our birth mom's privacy at this point.  These next few days are a precious and private time for our birth mom and all of her family.  We are not supposed to have any visitors or communication sent directly to the hospital out of respect for them.  Hopefully, we will have the rest of our lives for our loved ones to ooh and aah, take pictures, and give lots of hugs and kisses to Gavin.  So, until we can share this little guy with others, please take comfort in the fact that Dustin and I have one another and are fine.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers!

New News=)

Well, our birth mom has been admitted to the hospital and they are beginning the induction process as we speak.  She is doing really well.  According to the ultrasound, he has grown quite a bit in the last week, so they are a little worried about the possibility of needing a c-section.  However, she is going to give it the old college try.  As you drift off to sleep, please remember all of us in your prayers.