2012

Happy New Year !!!!!!! 

It is hard to believe just how much changed for us in the course of a year. 

The most exciting event of 2011- we became parents again and Zoey became a big sister. In May, we saw James' picture for the very first time, and it was love at first sight. We have loved and missed our sweet boy every single day since.

We spent the entire year "in process" with Holt to expand our family. We started in 2010 and we will hopefully be complete in 2012.

Zoey started school in January and had an extremely difficult time. If it wasn't for the therapies that she needed I don't think she just might have been a preschool dropout. It was a long transition- for both of us. For the first two months I went to school with her every.single.day and then gradually I left her for a small amount each day. She cried - like hard- every single day for months. Fast forward to September - Zoey loves school. She takes the bus. She even asks to go on the weekends. So proud of my baby girl for accomplishing something so big this year.

We met so many wonderful friends on this adoption journey.... friends from all over the country who I couldn't have imagined doing this process without.

We welcomed into the family a new pet.  Gertie the guinea pig.

We made it to Disney-twice. Once was extra special because we got to meet new friends there.

We completed lots of small projects around the house in preparation for James to come home.

I joined the PTA and became room mom in Zoey's class.

... and we just had a very busy year doing the little things. Sinking our toes in the warm sand at the beach all summer.... building snowmen in the winter.... picking pumpkins and apples at the farm on a brisk day in the fall.... planting flowers on the first days of sunshine in the spring.... messy art projects... getting our hands sticky with baking....play dates...shopping.... you know, all the little things.

2011 was a great year... but the truth of it is, as soon as we learned that James would not make it  hope until the new year.... I just couldn't wait for 2012.

It is hard to put into words how hard it is to wake up each morning and want the one thing in the world that you can't have..... to hold the sweet boy that grew in your heart every single day since you first saw his picture.

It is hard to explain how you could possibly love this little boy so much even though you have never been in the same room. This little boy has my heart, big time, and missing him hurts... big time.

It is hard to wait....and wait even more when time doesn't stand still. James has grown so much the last 9 months and every day that goes past we can never get back. I am thankful for all of the tomorrows we will have together but I want him to come home so we don't miss too many more yesterdays.

Praying that James and his waiting friends all make it home soon. Praying that 2012 is the quickest the ministry ever processed the paperwork and the process moves quickly.  Praying hard.

Praying that James has an easy transition to his new home. We have had months and months to prepare for him, for him to grow in our hearts, for us to love him.... but he has not even the slightest idea that pretty soon his world is going to be rocked - hard. He is going to lose everything he has even known. Praying for his foster family as well as they prepare to say goodbye to the little boy that they have taken care of for almost a year.

2012 I am sure will have a lot of ups and downs as James comes home and transitions into his forever home but 2012 is going to be a great year because our entire family will be together and that is all we need to have a very Happy New Year.

Happy New Year!!!