Five

Sweet. Cuddly. Affectionate. Loving. Hot-tempered. Hilariously funny. Super smart. Artistic. Interested. Beautiful. Our favorite redhead in the whole wide world. And now, a big sister.

We love you so much, Madeleine. Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!

Home

Today is our second full day back at home. It would have been day three had it not been for major storms in Denver, our connection city, on the day of our return flight. We spent the night in a hotel there with nothing but the shirts on our backs (and just enough diapers and formula for the overnight layover!). Fortunately we got out on a standby flight the next day. I cried the moment the United rep called our names for that flight. So, so happy, relieved, and eager to see my girls.

We're settling in very nicely. Yesterday Patrick went back to work and the girls, Kilian and I managed groceries, a visit to our favorite park, a lovely walk and even making a decent meal with wine for dinner. I keep anticipating the moment I'll feel overwhelmed, but Kilian is such a wonderful baby I'm not sure that moment will come.

The girls are absolutely in love with their new brother. Gianna particularly has taken on the beautifully gentle and attentive role I knew she would. She never seems to want him out of her arms. She repeats over and over "I can't believe this is happening.", as though this has been her personal life-long dream or something. So sweet.

I have pictures. Lots of pictures. Be forewarned, they're coming in great multitude. For now we're bonding. Forming beautiful and important relationships. The uploading of photos and the telling of our adoption story will have to wait just a little longer, but I can't wait to share them.

Good News

We finally got the call we've been waiting for. We can officially take our son home with us. Plane tickets are booked, bags are packed, and we leave tonight. Hooray!!

He's ours. :)

First Week

We're still here in Peachtree City, awaiting a call from our attorney to let us know we can return to California. That call should come in the next few days. I do miss the girls - we've been talking every night and they're having a marvellous time with their Grandma, who is spoiling them as grandmas do. But this bonding time with Kilian has been wonderful. So little distraction. He is such a good baby. Happy and pleasant in the morning, sleeps all afternoon, fusses in the evening, but then sleeps very well. Last night he slept six hours straight and only woke once. He is a marvel.

We are absolutely loving Georgia. It is everything I imagined - green and lush and beautiful. The people here are as friendly and hospitable as you'll meet anywhere. Everyone seems to smile. The homes here are lovely, reasonably priced, and (unlike California) sit on nicely sized yards, perfect for children's play and pleasant family life. We've been looking a little....:). I could move here in an instant. My aunt Bernice is spoiling us rotten - the epitome of hospitality. The other day dessert was a tiered banana cake filled with banana cream, hazelnut praline and chocolate ganache. Poor me. I do feel quite guilty, but she assures me to enjoy it now before returning to laundry and cooking and housecleaning. So I am.

Thank you again for all your prayers and good will for our family. I think my inbox is up to 4800 emails (not all new of course) and I intend to read each one and respond to as many as I can. In case you've always wondered how many pictures a mother can take of a newborn sleeping in his carseat, the answer is thirty-six. :)

Blessed

I have so much to tell you all, and I'll get to that soon. Right now it is so very hard to pull myself away from Kilian long enough to get on the internet. No words can describe what's going on here or the love I have for my new son. At this moment he's my whole world....the sweetest, most precious, most heart-captivating little bundle of joy in the universe.

But something happened just a little while ago that is too beautiful not to share. We learned that Amanda signed her relinquishment papers and has checked out of the hospital. The doctor says we can take baby Kilian home (well, to my aunt and uncle's home) in just a few hours. Amanda is returning home having given everything. She takes no infant home with her. No car seat or pack of diapers. But tonight Patrick and I will leave this hospital abundantly blessed, with gifts greater than we deserve.

10 minutes old

Announcing...

Kilian Joseph Patrick Laurence

~

born May 14, 2010, 6:50 p.m.

7 lbs. 6 oz.

20.5 inches

~

The timing of our travel including delays, cancelled flights and lost baggage couldn't have been more perfect. Born within minutes of our arrival at the hospital, Baby Kilian waited for us to be here before he showed himself! He's healthy, wonderful, adorable...

...and I'm in love.

Thank you for every single prayer uttered on our behalf. We are so grateful!

We're Off!

See you soon!

Snapped

At the park today. Pigtails...

...and missing teeth...

...two of life's most precious things.

While Waiting

I was without an internet connection for two days. At least I thought I was. When re-organizing my bedroom I unplugged and re-plugged our connection. I was sure I did it right and that the problem must have been some sort of external broadband glitch. But the technician who came to my house reminded me I needed to plug the cord into the jack that said "phone line". He only laughed a little...until he got back into his car, I'm sure.

Mother's Day.....mimosas with brunch at the beach....sand-caked girls swimming in the ocean....adults talking baby stuff beneath blue skies and sunshine. Perfection.

I should finish this project. I've been putting off the back cushion, thinking I might get a phone call while sitting at the sewing machine. I could have been done by now. (I should be done by now.)

I'm doing a sort of mini-redec in our bedroom (during which I "lost" my internet connection). Nothing major - just trying to make the room a little more peaceful and summery. It's making me very happy right now.

All is in order for the baby. I'm packed. I got onesies. I went to confession. I'm praying daily for grace....more grace, to be a good mother to my son.

So far no one has guessed his first name, but you nailed both middle names. Lots of great guesses - several we seriously considered.

Hope to have news for you soon. :)

That part about being "slightly relieved"...

...in my last post? Strike that. I wanna go to Georgia.

Non-Update

Well, it's looking like we'll wait a bit longer. Amanda's doctor says he doesn't think she'll go this week. I'm slightly relieved, actually. This morning I suddenly realized I'm not packed yet and I don't have any onesies or a diaper bag. Makes me wonder what else I'm forgetting, but honestly these past few weeks my brain has proved itself to be not much more than mush and I've been floating around like I'm on clouds. In a pleasant sort of way. So now, with a little more time I get to wrap up a few last details....and I get to be here with my girls on Mother's Day. :)

sourdough sea turtles, given to the girls when we picked up lunch

Still Waiting

I haven't mentioned news on our baby in a while because, well, there is no news. As far as we know Amanda is still at 1cm, but we're hoping to hear of progress after her ob appointment tomorrow. Our due date is only two days away, but it's looking like he'll be late. We've been having lots of fun getting ready though. We have bottles, diapers, tiny little newborn outfits, and a name. I love his name. (If you're inclined to guess, feel free. I'll give you a hint...my husband is Irish.)

While we're waiting patiently, below is another project we did for school this year. This made a fabulous science project for introducing the human body and the functions of its organs. For us it became "art" for a bedroom wall, which is super cool except for the fact that I'm sometimes startled by it when making beds. Which means I gasp and jump. I always gasp and jump when I'm startled. :)

"Ducks on Water"

Prismacolor pastels and charcoal

~

Using the Gluck method. We love Gluck. Can't recommend highly enough. Gianna took a Mission:Renaissance class last year and now we have the video series for home instruction, but you can have your child try the ducks above using this free tutorial.