Sitting pretty.

I’ve been so lax about updating our blog. I’m going to try to be better!

We decided baby #3 required that we buy a Bumbo. Baby Lyla now has the best seat in the house.

Miles and one of his new best buddies, Sam.

 

Fun with Dad

Mess-pot, but oh so pretty

Dimply girl

 

Elephant? No, she’s trying to eat it.

The Wii is serious stuff

 

My brother, Richard. Showing off in our pool. I’m hoping Miles never tries this…

I’d like you to meet my new best friend.

I finally took the financial plunge and bought a dSLR camera. I wish I would have done this years ago!!!

I love it!

I can’t stop taking photos. I’m ready to take a photography class so that I can have some great skills and not just a great camera.

These are a portion of my mini shoot I took on Sunday. Lyla was still sleeping during the pictures with Luke, Miles and Masie. I’m so sad I didn’t wake her up because I love how they turned out.

Enjoy!!

Masie's Pool Party

We invited a few friends over to help us celebrate

Masie's birthday.

We just love a party!

Masie enjoyed herself all day.I made the cupcakes.

Some were blue with shark fins sticking out of them, more were coated with graham cracker "sand" and topped with candy sea shells, and the rest had the "sand" with toothpick umbrellas on top.

Cute and tasted pretty good.Masie eating more plate than cake :) Our water-girlThanks for all the great girly gifts!Gift from our family was a Stella doll with Masie's coloring.

Included was a backpack to pack the doll around.It's a little heavy for her, so she got balance help from Dad.Her day ended with laughter when she said goodnight while watching Miles bounce on the inflatable mattress setup for Grandma (she arrived just a little too late for the festivities).

A fantastic party with our great friends and family for

our amazing girl.

Masie is One!

What an amazing year it's been with this outgoing, usually sweet, always mischievous baby girl! I know, how time flies, but really it's been so fantastic I can't believe a year has already passed since she changed our world forever.

Masie Lynne ~ Oh how we love you!

She would live on string cheese and blueberries if we'd let her.

You'll always hear her hearty laugh whenever Miles is around.

She can't contain her absolute excitement when Daddy gets home.

She likes to pretend she's shy by cuddling me when you talk to her, but give her a minute and she'll stare you down until you give her more attention.

She is not shy; she loves everyone even her big scary Uncle Richard or especially him.

She absolutely knows how to get what she wants and always knows exactly what it is.

She can do a fake lip quiver to get extra sympathy.

She thinks her baby sister Lyla is a doll to pull by the arms and suck on the fingers.

She does not like to be startled and gets very anxious if you move too fast or talk too loud.

She hates it when the boys leave the house without her.

She loves the pool and has learned how to hold her breath.

She loves to copy me whether it's dancing, undressing, or cleaning the high chair.

She is ok playing by herself.

She gets into everything! It's as if she's just waiting for you to forget to put something out of her reach or forget to close that door.

She loves to chew shoes.

She is no longer a spit up machine but still likes to sleep with a burp cloth.

She is trying to run.

She loves when I lay on the floor so she can climb all over me.

She loves to cuddle pillows, blankets, and the couch (yes, she cuddles the couch).

She says, "mama," "dada," "Tru," "baby," "good girl," and "thank you."

She hates her high chair and always rips off her bib, throws her food, and casually drops her sippie cup while staring right into my eyes.

She is a climber. Before she could walk she'd prefer to be climbing up the outside of the walker instead of walking on the inside of it.

She is sensitive.

She is tough.

She is as coordinated with her toes as she is with her fingers.

She has started to play dress-up and brings me the dirty close to pull up her leg or over her head.

She has the most gorgeous looks including a scrunched up face while snorting.

She is loved by everyone who meets her.

We love her.

Made with love by Nana

My Nana (my mom's mom) made Lyla a beautiful quilt.

I love it! It is so adorable!!

Nana says this is her first time making a patch-work blanket. She did an amazing job!

Thank you so much, Nana.

Lyla will cherish it always :)

The bunny on the pillow is my favorite.

Lyla Monique

This post was originally created about a month ago, but I never had the chance to publish it.

Our journey to find Lyla started with the loss of another baby...

It really all started back around Christmas. I had the feeling while we were in AUS for the holiday that we were meant to have another baby... soon. I repeatedly said to my family that about the time Masie turned one, we would be ready. I got a lot of eye rolls and "Are you sure? That's really soon."

I'm telling you I JUST KNEW!

I made sure we stayed current with our adoption certification that was coming due on April 9th. For those that don't know, you get certified, which can take FOREVER, but then have to keep up every year and renew your stuff. That's not so much work, but very important to get it all done in time, so you don't have to start all over again.

Then I started looking. Luke was totally on board, but it's really my drive, my thing, and my feelings that keep us moving toward finding our babies. He is super supportive, does every task I ask of him, and lets me know he knows I know what I'm doing :)

Even if you're certified and have a current homestudy, once you begin to work with an agency you have more paperwork to fill out, reference letters to assign, medical reports to get completed, copies to be made of official documents, and family profiles to create. Each agency has something just a little bit different that they need.

I began with one agency after hearing that they were looking for an adoptive family in AZ wanting an open adoption. I was plugging ahead with the paperwork at the same time that I saw online an agency in UT that had several upcoming placements that fit our desires. Sometimes it's hard to decide whether or not to use one agency or another. Do they give enough support to the birthmoms, is my money being put to use correctly, do they give legal support? We were completely happy with the agency that placed us with Masie, so I called them to ask their advice on the other UT agency. Our old caseworker was excited to again hear from us. Her advice, "Don't go with another agency. Stay with us. We will find you another baby." She was VERY adamant. I felt really good speaking with her, but still in the back of my head I'm thinking, "Maybe she just wants my money. I know there are babies in other agencies. Maybe another agency is where we should go." But I quickly filled out the application for our previous adoption agency and over-nighted it to them. I also continued with my work with the 2 other agencies.

I checked my voicemail after church Sunday, May 3rd.

It was our old case worker, "Emrie, call me. ASAP!"

I called, ASAP!

and had to leave a message because she was now at church!

I paced back and forth down our hallway in front of our office,

Luke watching me the whole time (luckily the kids were napping).

I said to him, "I know what she's going to say."

"What?"

"Masie's birthmom (Corina) is pregnant again. And she wants to place her new baby with us."

"Ha! You think?"

then my cell rang...

"Emrie, Corina is pregnant again. Do you want her baby?"

I AM NOT KIDDING!

this is exactly how it happened!

I was gasping for breath.

Our case worker knew when I called her the week before, but she couldn't tell us. Legally she had to wait to learn from Corina that it was ok to tell us. We learned that Corina (due with her baby the beginning of August) had called our agency to say she was going to place another baby just a few days before I called to tell them we were searching again. If I hadn't called them to initiate our desire, I'm not sure what would have happened.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

Corina has chosen us again!

(this is the end of my original post... the story continues...)

Then came the bad news. We spent a couple weeks dreaming and planning for our next addition. On May 19th I answered the call that nearly broke my heart. The birthfather has decided he wants to parent Corina's baby.

Sob.

There is nothing we can do but pray that this baby girl is loved and cherished.

This was a rough week for us. I couldn't believe how everything had fallen so nicely into place. She was meant to be ours! Why did it work out so smoothly to fall through my fingers now? Free agency or something, right?

Our agency, A Guardian Angel Adoptions, felt terrible. They told us that they were on a mission to find us another baby.

As Masie and I left town on Thursday, May 28th for my brother's high school graduation in ID, I left a voice message with A Guardian telling them I'd be in the area (they're located near SLC) "just in case" they needed me for anything. I don't think "inspired" is the right word for me leaving that message because I felt a little silly, but it got the job done :)

They called me on Saturday the 30th to tell me a little about Jennifer who wanted to place her baby girl for adoption due the second week of July.

Could I meet with her Sunday morning for breakfast?

Jennifer had gone into early labor because of a bladder infection on Friday afternoon, so they had to find an adoptive family right away just in case the baby was born. We were the agency's first pick... Had it not been for the heartache we went through, we wouldn't have been chosen for Lyla.

Jennifer and the baby were ok. They gave the baby steroids to help her lungs just in case she came early, but they were released from the hospital Saturday afternoon. I was able to meet with Jennifer for breakfast the next day at IHOP before catching my flight home in the afternoon. The breaky went fantastic. We made plans to talk again by phone after her doctor's appointment on Tuesday. We parted with her asking, " are you sure you're ready for this? I'd like for you to have my baby."

DEFINITELY!

Masie and I made it home safely. We took some deep breaths on Monday. Most of Tuesday was normal. Our case worker called us Tuesday, June 2nd at 2:30 p.m. and asked what I was doing. Putting away groceries.

She says, "you better get on the next flight because your baby is coming today."

WHAT?!?!

We had 2 hours to pack and pull together our final documents then race to the airport. Typically, we were traveling with two sick kids. Miles threw up all over himself, his Diego backpack, and my laptop bag on the way to the airport. Masie had a runny diaper explosion before and just after boarding (and for the next week). Guess it's never a convenient time for kids to be sick, but sheesh!

I got a text message just as the flight attendant told us to "turn off all electrical devices" that our baby girl had arrived by c-section and she and her birthmother were doing fine. Jennifer was 35 weeks 2 days along in her pregnancy and learned at her scheduled doctor's visit that her blood pressure was way too high. She was sent immediately to the hospital for an emergency c-section. Jennifer never felt sick or in any pain and was able to leave the hospital after 3 days. We love her and look forward to keeping in touch with her.

Lyla arrived June 2nd at 6:49 p.m. in perfect health.

She weighed 5lbs 4 oz and stretched 17 inches long.

She is gorgeous.

We are blessed, again and again and again.