dear baby girl {letters from the heart}

Dear sweet baby girl,

How is it possible to love someone so much, so fast?  Ever since we received that phone call two weeks ago we simply can't stop thinking about you.  

We talk about you all the time... wondering what you are like... what your favorite foods are... how big you are... what your hair is like... if you have a favorite caregiver... what your name will be... how long before you come home with us... and it goes on and on.  

I pray for you every morning on my way to work.  Your daddy has your picture saved as his wallpaper on his phone.  Your Mimi couldn't contain herself and already mailed you a package full of adorable new clothes and your very first dolly.  Friends and family have already started planning your arrival, as many of them have been praying for you long before they ever knew you.  You are already so, so loved by so, so many... and that makes us so, so happy.

Hurry home sweet girl, hurry home.

Love,

your mama

thankful thursday {link up}

{Link up your own Thankful Thursday post below...}

This Thursday I am thankful for...

1) Progress.  Ever since finding out about sweet baby girl, we have been steadily pushing through the paperwork.  In the past two weeks, we have completed our I-600, paid the I-600 application fee, finalized our home study documents, completed our agency registration documents, knocked out a few dossier checklist items, and heck... we even notarized some forms at a housewarming party we went to last weekend.  We are pushing through.  It definitely helps when you have an adorable picture to look at for motivation:)

 2) Tomato plants.  We finally got our tomatoes planted in the beds this past weekend!!!  Tomatoes are pretty much the only thing that I care much about in regards to all this gardening business.  I love tomatoes and you just can't beat homegrown.  Apparently the chickens like tomatoes too... well, at least tomato leaves anyways.  It didn't take long before we had to put netting up.  Either way... I'm pumped about eating some tomato sandwiches soon!!!

3) Pretty commute views.  Aka... sit-on-the-bridge-in-traffic-for-forty-minutes-view.  Don't worry, I was perfectly safe while taking this picture... I think my car might have even been in park at this point (yep, it was that bad).  I rarely get stuck in traffic on my drive to-and-from the office, but if I do... it's usually on the bridge... which I'm okay with.  Bumper-to-bumper traffic isn't nearly as bad with the Ohio River and the Louisville skyline to keep you occupied, so for that, I am grateful.

What are you thankful for this week? Grab the Thankful Thursday button from the right sidebar and link up your own post below. Be sure to visit the other Thankful Thursday participants and share the love!!

I may be linking up with any of these fellow Thankful ladies:

The Fontenot Four

First Day of My Life
There's Just One Mommy

Lovely Little Whimsy

things that make me happy...

On my happy list lately...

...fresh cut flowers from our front porch...

...cherry limeades at work...

 ...downs after dark...

...pretty thank you cards...

...an anonymous strawberry fairy...

...my new Uganda necklace...

 ...awesome antique finds...

...quality time with the girls...

 ...my handsome husband...

...my new project life kit...

(and the most appropriate 3x4 card ever)

The past couple of weeks have been beyond exciting around here... I am constantly reminded of how much I have to be grateful for.  We simply can't stop thinking about our sweet baby girl and we have been so encouraged by how all of our friends and family have responded to our adoption news.  Baby girl is already so, so loved... and that makes me so, so happy.

What's on your happy list lately?

woop. woop.

thankful thursday {link up}

{Link up your own Thankful Thursday post below...}

This Thursday I am thankful for...

1) Sweet baby girl.  Obviously our latest adoption update has caused quite the stir this week... and we couldn't be any more excited about sweet baby girl.  We talk about her everyday, pray for her everyday, look at her picture everyday... we are pretty much in love.  We are beyond grateful for our precious Gift.

2) Dear friends.  This week has been a week of more last dinners and goodbyes.  So many of our dear friends are packing up and moving... New York, Alabama, South Carolina, and even France.  Not.cool.  But regardless, we are so thankful for the time we have had with these dear friends in Louisville.

3) Our first egg!  This week one of our chickens finally laid an egg!!!  Now it's only a matter of time before we have eggs coming out of our ears.  Getting excited for lots and lots of omelets!

What are you thankful for this week? Grab the Thankful Thursday button from the right sidebar and link up your own post below. Be sure to visit the other Thankful Thursday participants and share the love!!

I may be linking up with any of these fellow Thankful ladies:

The Fontenot Four

First Day of My Life
There's Just One Mommy

Lovely Little Whimsy

a precious Gift indeed.

For those of you that have been following along in our adoption journey, you know that we have been pounding away at the massive paperwork process for what feels like forever.  We still have quite a bit to do and lots of loose ends to tie up.  The word "referral" hasn't even been on our radar yet.  But a recent phone call quickly changed all of that...

On Thursday night, around 8:00pm, our adoption agency called us.  Our consultant simply asked us what kind of child we were looking to adopt from Uganda... we went through the stats on the phone... "ages 1-4, boy or girl, open to sibling groups..."  She cut me off mid-sentence, "I have a little girl ready to be adopted ASAP... she is only a year and a half... probably the youngest we have seen coming from the Uganda orphanages... but we need to know right away... like tonight."

Our consultant asked if we wanted her to send us a picture... I said yes without even thinking.  "Now you know that if I send you this picture you won't be able to say no... she is adorable... I need you to understand this." 

Of course I wanted to see her... I needed to see her.  I told our consultant to email the photo and we would discuss it and call her back shortly.

This was not a phone call that we were expecting.  We assumed we would be waiting several months for a referral... after we completed our paperwork... but heck, we haven't even finished our paperwork yet.  This was not the timing we had in mind.  All we knew to do was pray.  And the moment I heard Lance's sweet prayer for this beautiful little girl, I knew.  I was reminded (once again) that this is His story, not mine... His timing, not mine.

And so we said yes.

Yes to this beautiful little girl named Gift.  A precious Gift indeed.

There is still so much that needs to happen between now and when we can bring her home... but never-the-less, we are beyond excited and are continuing to pray for His perfect timing.  We greatly appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we embark on this exciting new adventure.

someday.

Exciting adoption news happening around here... stay tuned for more:)

thankful thursday {link up}

{Link up your own Thankful Thursday post below...}

This Thursday I am thankful for...

1) These guys.  Last weekend Lance's younger brother and 3 college friends took over the house for a few days.  And while I wouldn't normally be thrilled about sharing our one-bathroom home with 4 more guys... these guys are different.  They are like brothers to me and make me laugh until I pee in my pants.  And who doesn't like laughing all weekend?!? :)

2) Rose blooms.  We have an amazing rose bush at the front of our house... it was pretty much the only existing "landscaping" when we moved in our rental.  It's right by our front steps and I love that you can smell the fragrant roses when you're coming and going.  Every year it seems to produce more and more blooms... and I love that.

3) Lance.  I know last week I gave him a little anniversary shout out... but really, he should be on this list every single week.  I have had to work pretty late all this week and he has made me dinner, helped out with the chores, and knocked out some adoption work... all while encouraging me.  He is my rock and I am so thankful for him.

What are you thankful for this week? Grab the Thankful Thursday button from the right sidebar and link up your own post below. Be sure to visit the other Thankful Thursday participants and share the love!!

I may be linking up with any of these fellow Thankful ladies:

The Fontenot Four

First Day of My Life
There's Just One Mommy

Lovely Little Whimsy

embracing june {monthly goals}

{image source}

Start // fundraising.

Adoption fundraising, that is.  June is "get-adoption-stuff-done" month... and fundraising is at the top of that list.  The closer we get to receiving our adoption referral, the closer we get to signing over our life savings.   

Spend // less.
Hand in hand with the above goal, we are also trying to spend less.  Eating at home more... cutting back on impromptu shopping trips... packing our lunches... all-in-all just making smarter decisions about how we spend our money... because we have babies to bring home!!

Smile // more.

Rumor is if you smile more, you actually feel happier.  I'm putting this rumor to the test this month.  I want to overflow with joy and kindness... and I figured a smile is a good place to start:)

Savor // friendships.

We are saying goodbye to a lot of dear friends this month... Apparently June is the month that all of our friends decided to leave Louisville.  So we'll be savoring as much time with them as possible.

What about you?  What are you focusing on this month?

In case you're interested... or super board at work... 
January goals here 
February goals here 
March goals here
April goals here
May goals here

sunday sneak peek :: abby & patrick {houston wedding photographer}

Last weekend I had the enormous pleasure of photographing the beautiful wedding of Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Allen.  It was such a beautiful day, and I feel completely honored that I was able to capture it for them.  Here are a few of my favorites from the festivities...

Congratulations to the Mr. & Mrs!!!!  Wishing you a lifetime of happiness!!

Which one is your favorite??  Be sure to leave a comment to the bride and groom... for every 10 comments they will receive a complimentary 5x7 print.