Stomach Flu, Schmumick Flu: Let the Good Times Roll

Greetings! It has been a crazy and wonderful time in our house. :) Well wonderful with the exception of the Robo-Virus that rolled through our house last week and was generously spread to each and every person with whom we came in contact. If you happen to be one of those lucky people...wow...sorry. We are very, very sorry. Cannot stress how sorry we are. Truly. Sorry. Please don't be afraid to visit again. But as the sickness passed we pressed on with some major festivities.
Scott and Meg came in from out of town and finally got to meet Adam who adores his aunt and uncle. We had a wonderful visit with them and Adam of course loves them very much. It was fantastic to have them here. Last Saturday Rose (Grams) threw Adam and I a fantastic shower. It was a great time visiting with friends and family and we cannot thank her enough. Last Sunday Adam was baptized in a beautiful service. Thankfully we had the ceremony when we did because Adam was able to barely-wear Matt's baptism outfit including booties that were knitted by his grandma, which was really special. I think we were about 3 apple Puffs aways from popping a button and putting out an eye, but it did fit and Adam was adorable. :) It was such a special day and I continue to humbled by our many blessings. Then Tuesday it was off to The Stock Show and rodeo. Yee-hawwww. We had the best time introducing Adam to the animals, the events, and the glory of the giant turkey leg. He loved it!! I think we have a future Mutton Buster in our midst.
It has been quite the action-packed couple of weeks. It blows my mind that Adam will have been home 3 months next week. Adam grows and changes everyday. Time seems to have flown and yet at the same time, it's like he's always been here. It's an amazing thing.

Love to all of you and your family!

Next time on the blog: Adam turns one. How has he changed? What major feats has he accomplished in his monumental first year on the planet? What is his outlook for life as a one year old and finally Carly tackles the tough questions like, "Wait, does that mean I'm a year older too?"

Photos of the big events:

Showers are reasons to smile!

























Suck it in! Pheew never a doubt...

All right there partner, time to hydrate after a long day on the range and head out to the rodeo. Move 'em out

Surveying the land.

Dressing in layers helps maintain rancher-style and the ear-warmth.

Happy Holiday Who-bilation!

Make way for the Holiday Cheermeister!

Happy New Year to one and all! I hope you and your family had a blessed holiday season. It is hard for me to find the words (Ha! Somewhere Matt is muttering, "Well that's a first") to explain how amazing our holiday season has been. Being together with family and friends has always been the most special gift to receive during the holidays, but this year, with Adam home....well it was enough to choke me up on more than one occasion. I am thrilled to have had 2 weeks off to spend with Adam and we have certainly made the most of it. We had a great time at holiday parties and lots of lunches and coffees with old friends. We froze our gum drops off at Blossoms of Light at The Botanic Gardens and introduced Adam to his first giraffe at The Zoo Lights. We had a wonderful pre-Christmas Christmas at Rose and Jerry's house where Adam loved spending time with his cousins and vice versa. On Christmas Eve we went to mass and then had everyone over to our house. Christmas day both sides of our family met up at my folks' house and we had a great day opening gifts, playing games, counting our blessings, and basically eating our way through the day. It was wonderful to have Emily back home to celebrate with us. New Year's Eve had a brand new theme for Matt and I this year: Midnight on the East Coast is Good Enough for Me. :) Actually we stayed awake to see the first 5 seconds of 2008, and for that I am pretty proud.

It is amazing to think about all that has happened in a year. It was a year ago that Matt and I decided that our family would grow through the miracle of adoption. A year since we got on the list to meet our son. We had started 2007 with hope, lots and lots of hope. And with each month that passed came more hope, more paperwork, and a greater realization that our baby was coming. Then in October the years of waiting came to an end. From the moment I met Adam every single second of waiting was not only worth it, but seemed like a small price to pay. We thank God for all of our blessings this past year and look forward to what 2008 has in store.

Much love to all of our family and friends, even if we could not physically spend the holidays together, you were in our hearts!

Check out my sweet new ride. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

You Can Do It, Adorable Santa Can Help

Thanks Nana and Papa!

Is there no end to the goofy outfits my mom puts me in?........No. No there's not.