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Monday, September 24, 2012

Emma Victoria: 7 Months

At Emma's pediatrician visit last week, she was 13 lbs, 8 oz (3rd percentile) and 25 1/4 inches (8th percentile).  Emma may be tiny, but this month we are especially thankful for two great health reports! 

Since May, we have been thickening Emma's milk because she was aspirating small amounts of milk into her lungs each time she drank her bottle.  Two weeks ago, Emma had a second swallow study with a speech pathologist to see if her swallow function has improved.   I didn't know anything about swallow studies before Emma had her first one in May.  During a swallow study, I feed Emma a bottle of barium (poor baby!) while a radiologist films Emma's swallowing on x-ray video.  A speech pathologist then analyzes the video to see how well Emma is swallowing.  The great news is that Emma was able to drink unthickened liquids without any aspiration this time!  So, we are slowly weaning her to unthickened milk over the next few weeks--woohoo! 

Emma also had a follow-up appointment at the pulmonologist, and he gave her a great report, too--her lungs sounded perfect!  No more visits to the speech pathologist for swallow studies or to the pulmonologist!  Thank You, Jesus, for this healthy baby girl!

Here are a few favorite pictures from this past month: 
While we were in Minnesota for a week before my sister's wedding, we stayed with my Grandma Dolores for 4 days.  I am so thankful that my grandma has been able to spend so much time with both Isaac & Emma!
   
Four Generations at my sister's wedding

On our way home from Minnesota after my sister's wedding, we stopped in Iowa for a night to visit Dave's grandparents.   This was Great-Grandpa & Great-Grandma Bailey's first time to meet Emma!

Hanging out with Isaac and cousin Amanda! 

New boots for fall! 
(I might have been just a little excited about buying these boots for Emma!)

And...Emma's adoption was finalized on September 4. 
We had a great time celebrating her Gotcha Day!  We love you, Emma!
 

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

He keeps me laughing!

See this smiling boy?!?  Isaac is at such a fun age.  He makes me laugh on an hourly, if not minute-by-minute, basis.  This isn't to say that we don't spend a lot of time training and correcting, but Isaac truly is a delight.  This is a long post, but I wanted to take a few moments to remember several of the funny things he's said and done over the past few weeks. 

Ever since we went to the rodeo, Isaac has been really interested in animals.  Specifically, he loves to play bull, horsey, and doggy.  When we are at home, it seems that he spends more time walking around on all fours than on two legs.  Last week, he took pretending to be a doggy to the extreme of licking my face.  Dave and I have started emphasizing that Isaac has to act like a boy when he is called.  For awhile, he was coming to us as a horse or bull and only "answering" us in neighs or snorts.  I'm sure that I laughed at this a few too many times! 
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After supper a few nights ago, Dave and Isaac were playing upstairs.  Isaac received a tent last Christmas; we usually leave it tucked away since it takes up so much space, but Isaac asked Dave to set it up.  As I was practicing piano downstairs, I heard them decide to take a camping trip.  I tried to keep practicing, but Isaac was so excited about this "camping trip" that I had to go upstairs and watch. 
Roasting marshmallows around the campfire
(Who knew a Boppy had so many uses?)

Uh-oh!  The marshmallows caught on fire!

Snoring away in the tent
This was by far my favorite part of their camping trip...Isaac and Daddy used wooden blocks as fishing poles to fish through the banister.
A few seconds into their fishing time, Isaac dropped his "fishing pole" down into the piano room below.  After we determined (thankfully!) that it had not hit my piano, Isaac looked at David and said,
"Uh-oh, I lost my fishing pole in the lake. Can I borrow yours?"
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Isaac was not sleeping at nap time a few days ago. This doesn't happen very often; but, when it does, I usually let Isaac read books in his bed after he's laid quietly on his pillow for the first hour. I went to check on Isaac during his nap, only to find that he'd already gotten a book to read. As I walked into his room, Isaac looked up at me very hesitantly from his bed with a guilty look. Then, he quietly said, "I am just reading my Bible." I'm sure he assumed that he couldn't be in too much trouble if he snuck out of bed to get his Bible to read. :)
Also, his favorite story in his Bible is the story of Samson. He wants to read it every single night. Isaac also loves looking at the pictures of Cain and Abel.  "That man is not being kind to that other man!" is what he says each time he looks at their picture.
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Isaac is also very intrigued to watch Emma learn to eat food from the spoon.  One day, he quietly watched her for awhile and then said, "Well, when I was a little baby like Emma I got big messes on my face, too."  Isaac loves to talk on (and on and on) about things Emma does and how he also did those things as a baby. 
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We have been visiting our chiropractic office more frequently.  Isaac told me that Dr. James, our chiropractor, is his really favorite friend.

One afternoon, Isaac said, "Mama, you lay down.  I'll be Dr. James and give you an 'justment.'  I'll press on your back and make you be all better."
After I played along for awhile, Isaac said, "Okay, now you be Dr. James."  Isaac laid down, and I pressed lightly on his shoulders.  Isaac turned his head and said, "No, Mama, you have to press really harder."  :)
(I'm pretty sure the four chiropractors in our family will appreciate this story.) 
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One afternoon, Isaac and I were playing t-ball in the backyard.  I accidentally batted the ball right into his neck.  (Clearly, I've never been too good at anything athletic.)  It didn't cause too many tears, but he said, "Mommy, that was not kind of you."  When Dave got home that night, Isaac said, "Mama hit the ball right here.  It was not kind of her at all."
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Another afternoon, out of the blue Isaac asked me to make muffins for him.  I don't bake too often, so I'm not sure what prompted this.  I told him that I was sorry, but that I couldn't make muffins that day.  Isaac was quiet for awhile and then said, "Maybe my Nana can come from Colorado and make muffins to me."  (He often mixes up the prepositions "to" and "from.")
But, when I do cook or bake something, Isaac is extremely complimentary.  One Sunday night, I made waffles.  I'm sure Isaac was amazed they didn't come from a box.  :)  As he ate them, Isaac said over and over, "Great job making these to me, Mama!"
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I definitely think Isaac is hilarious!  But, he is also very sweet and loving.
Before the wedding, I was trying Emma's wedding outfit on her.  I asked Isaac, "What do you think of Emma's new flower in her hair?"  Isaac's answer: "a princess!" 
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Isaac loves Emma.  I am usually carrying Emma when I wake Isaac up each morning.  If I'm not, "Where's my sister?" is the second thing he says.  (The first is always, "Where's my daddy?") :)  Before he gets out of bed each morning, Isaac loves to snuggle with Emma--he asks for her to lay on his pillow with him each morning.  Most times, he's careful to remove all his favorite blankets and animals from his bed before I lay her down, though once in awhile (like below), he will let her touch his blankets.
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When Isaac saw us getting ready for Emma's Gotcha Day party, he asked if it was his birthday.  I explained that we were having a party because Emma was now his sister forever!  After Emma's party, Isaac said, "That party was to Emma because she's mine forever, and next is my birthday!" 
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By far, this is my favorite story from the past month.
While we were driving home to Texas after my sister's wedding, we stopped overnight in eastern Iowa to visit David's grandparents.  The next morning, we got up around 5:30 so that we could eat breakfast with David's grandparents before driving 14 hours home to Texas. 
About two hours into our drive that morning, I realized that I had forgotten my bridesmaid bouquet at David's grandparents house.  The night we arrived at their house, I had brought it inside to put more water in the vase and ended up leaving it on their kitchen counter.  All of a sudden, I started sobbing.  I know I cry often--but I hadn't cried this hard in a really long time.  I'm pretty sure all my tiredness and emotion from Emily's wedding caught up with me in that one moment.  In the middle of my complete meltdown, I heard Isaac say, "Daddy, will you pray with me for our mommy so she be happy and not sad?"  I might never see my bouquet again...but I will never forget my precious boy praying for me!  


Monday, September 17, 2012

Emma's Gotcha Day & Dedication

On Saturday, we had a fun party dedicating Emma & celebrating her Gotcha Day!
We had planned to have the party in a pavilion at a park nearby.  But, it rained so much on Friday that we knew the kids would get dirty from playing on a wet playground.  It was supposed to be cloudy and damp all Saturday morning, too; so, on Friday night, we changed our plans and decided to have the party at our house.  I owe a HUGE thank you to my parents and Dave who pitched in and helped me clean and get the house ready!  (The upside of waiting until the last minute to have a party at your house means that you really don't have much time to stress about cleaning and getting ready at all!)  :)
Emma snuggling with my dad before all the guests arrived!
Can you read her little shirt?  Forever a Rinn!
We are so thankful that this sweet girl is ours!

Truly, she isn't ours--she is God's, and part of the purpose of our celebration was to dedicate her to God and acknowledge that Emma ultimately is His.  David and I are so blessed and humbled that God has chosen us to raise this precious girl.
For Emma's dedication, David shared that he & I are committed to raising Emma in a home where she can learn and experience the love of Jesus.  Our ultimate prayer is that she will trust Jesus as her Savior and look to Him her entire life.  As parents, David & I realize that this is a huge responsibility that can only be fulfilled through the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives and in our family.  After sharing our commitment to raise Emma in this way, my dad, some of our dear friends, and David prayed over Emma.
  "For this child I prayed, and He has answered my prayer.
Now I am giving her to the Lord, and she will belong to the Lord her whole life."  I Samuel 1:27-28a

While we were praying for Emma, she fell asleep in Dave's arms.
Isn't this picture precious?  This is one proud dad--and one content baby girl.
This was my first time to plan a girly party--and I had so much fun!
Thank you to some of my sweet friends for borrowing me lots of poms!  I tried my hand at making one (using this tutorial), and my friends' were just so much better that I decorated with theirs!  :)  I also had a lot of fun looking at ideas on Pinterest.  This fun blog gave me a lot of inspiration on decorating for a breakfast party!

Emma was a trooper!  She usually takes a morning nap from 9 - 11, but stayed awake for almost her entire party!
Wasn't it just yesterday we were having a joint Gotcha Day party for Isaac & Landrie? 
Speaking of Isaac and Landrie, they loooooove Miss Shamron!  Shamron took care of them many, many Sundays in the Baby Suite at Keystone and still adores them!  (The feeling is mutual!)  ;)

 Thank you to many of our friends and family for celebrating Emma with us! 
And, we know that there are many, many more of you who have prayed with us through Emma's adoption--we love you all!

A few years ago, David & I were longing for a baby in our arms.  God knew that we would someday be parents to children in our home, but I was hurting so much that I couldn't even imagine the joy that was ahead of us!  Now, I will never get over the wonder of God's incredible plan that I see every day when I look at my precious boy and girl. 
God, You are faithful!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

A Happy Reunion!

On our road trip to Minnesota for my sister's gorgeous wedding, we were able to drive through Missouri and visit Emma's birth family.  It was such a happy reunion!
 
Emma's birth grandparents were so gracious to have us over to their home. 
Emma with her birthmother, Linda
Emma is wearing an outfit Linda gave to her at birth.
Emma with her birth grandma, Heather

This little sweetie on the right is Heather and Glen's younger daughter, Sayla!
Sayla loves Emma!
Heather & Glen were so kind to have gifts for both Isaac and Emma!  Can you see that Isaac was just a little excited by his new ambulance?!?

Isaac has never known a stranger!  He loved playing with Sayla in her fun backyard!  Days after our visit together, Isaac talked on and on about Sayla, and referred to her as "my new friend."
After cuddling Emma and catching up, we all went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner.
Glen is the store manager of the Chick-Fil-A (yum!)--so many of the employees were excited to meet Emma!  Doesn't he look like a proud grandpa?  :)
To say that we are grateful for this precious family is an understatement...they prayed for Emma before she was born and love her dearly.
This is one loved baby girl!
Years ago, when the idea of adopting was just beginning to settle in my heart, one of my biggest concerns was how I'd feel about my child's birth family.  I wondered if I would feel like a "fake mom" when I was around them.  

Now, with Isaac and Emma as my children, I can honestly say that God has settled these questions in my heart.  I don't ever feel like a "second-place" or "substitute" mom.  Both of our children's birth families affirm David and me in our role as parents to Isaac and Emma.  Ultimately, my calling as Isaac and Emma's mother comes from God Himself, and it is a calling that I am thankful for and humbled by. 

We already talk with Isaac about his adoption; and, as he and Emma both grow, we will be able to share more of their stories with them.  We believe it will be a gift for both of our children to know that they were and are loved by two special families. 

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Emma's Gotcha Day!

Yesterday as we were driving through Kansas on our way home, we got fantastic news from Missouri!  Emma's adoption was finalized yesterday afternoon in court!  Unlike Texas, Missouri does not require that adoptive parents be present in court for an adoption finalization. 

Emma's court hearing was at 1:30 yesterday afternoon, and we were on pins and needles (actually, I was on pins and needles waiting as I was driving and Dave was taking a well-deserved nap) until we heard from our lawyer's office that Emma's finalization had gone through smoothly.  Even though Emma's adoption was not contested, we still have a huge sense of peace and relief that Emma is truly OURS.  Legally, she is now ours just as if she were our biological child.  Her birth certificate will now be rewritten to say that we are her parents, and her legal name is now Emma Victoria Rinn

While we have so much joy that Emma is our daughter, we also think often of the sacrifice and love of Emma's amazing birth family.  We were able to visit them on our way to Minnesota, and we are so grateful for how much they love Emma--and us, too!

Happy Gotcha Day, Emma~September 4, 2012
We love you!

For two years we prayed
for another baby to love
God answered our prayer with Emma,
more precious than we'd dreamed of... 
For us to have our Emma
is like a dream come true.
Emma Victoria, we're so grateful
God gave us the gift of you!  

   
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