This Old Man, He Played SIX...

Today, my friends, is my eldest child’s 6th birthday. How in the world did SIX years go by so stinkin fast? Did I find a Delorean in 2006? Nah, I think I would have remembered that. 

To convince you of what an amazing mother I am, I am doing the required “birthday blog post” for Brayden. Enjoy the pictures. :)

First, let’s start out with a good before and after picture picture because every mom knows the birth of your first child changes more than your sleep...

See? I was skinny and flat chested before having a baby. 

See? I was not skinny OR flat chested after having a baby... well, at least until 6 years later.

Ok, now that we have the important stuff out of the way, let’s talk about Brayden’s actual birthday. 

Remember how I told you I have issues with control? Well, that was true six years ago when I was pregnant. I had my whole perfect labor and delivery planned out! Literally! I had hired a doula and typed up copies of my very specific birth plan to give the doctors and nurses (Oh, how they would have laughed at that while they ate the goodies from my nurses goodie basket). Guess what? Yeah, didn’t happen... not a single bit of it. 

Brayden apparently takes after his mother in the fact that he is extremely hard headed. He takes after his father in the fact that he has a big head! He just could not swing that sucker around as much as he tried, and yes he actually tried,  I felt it. He was butt first breech. I think they have a technical term for it, but I like “butt first breech.” So, I didn’t get to experience regular labor and deliver... I got gutted like a fish.

At 7:44AM on September 26th, it was worth it...

Being a mom is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it’s also one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done. There are no words to describe how instantly you can love someone until you hold your baby for the first time. I still stare at them from time to time and wonder how it is that these children are mine... that they came from my own body. It blows my mind how creative our God is. 

Happy 6th Birthday to my big baby boy!

Until next time! -K

Questions and Answers

Yay! It’s the weekend! I got to sleep until about 9:00am this morning. That never happens. I use the term “sleep” loosely because I really just dozed lightly between getting drinks, wiping little butts and threatening corporal punishment. Good times.

I’m starting to realize why people who are adopting start to post gobs of blog post about it... you can control blog post. FYI, I’m a type “D” personality, and the “control” factor is a big part of me. God is constantly having to kick my legs out from under me to remind me that I am NOT in control! Knowing what I am, I think that desire to do something... anything, gives me some sort of feeling of control. I'm thankful for a good friend pointing that out to me the other day.

So, with that being said, here’s a post about adoption. :)

I’ve realized that, similarly to being pregnant, adoption comes with a few questions that people ask you ALL the time. When you’re pregnant, the questions are “When are you due,” “Do you know what you’re having,” and “What are you naming him/her?” With adoption, the questions are “Where are you adopting from,” “How long will it take,” and “What made you decide to adopt?” Every time someone asks me that last question, I want to respond with, “God.” I’m not sure that would be the best answer, but it’s the truth. That’s such a hard question to answer, but I usually say something simple like, “We feel God has called us to adopt because it’s such a beautiful example of the gospel.” People usually smile and agree, but y’all, it’s so much deeper than that. The other day I tried to put it into words but I failed (aka another deleted blog post). 

This morning I woke up thinking about our girls. Oh yeah, I forgot to update that we have settled on adopting TWO little GIRLS from [country in Asia]. Anyways, I was thinking about our girls... what they were doing, what they look like, what their personalities will be like... and as I was looking at some articles online about adoption, I stumbled across a video of John Piper talking about adoption.

John Piper is one of my favorite reformed pastors. He is so deep in his teachings it makes my head hurt. I can’t casually listen to a sermon by Piper. It takes way too much brain power and that’s so hard to muster when you have two screaming kids running around! I need that brain power to focus on staying sane.

I watched this video, and I knew I had to post it. It totally explains my answer to the question, “What made you decide to adopt?” I encourage you to take five minutes and watch it. 

Until next time. -K

There's Always A First

Hi Y'all! (Yes, I'm a southern girl and we say "y'all")

To be completely honest I've been sitting here staring at my keyboard like a goober for about 10 minutes trying to figure out where to start. (Obviously the best thing I could come up with was "Hi Y'all")

I kind of feel like the first post of a blog is like a first kiss. You're always a tad anxious about it, but you know you want to get it under your belt. You don't want it to be too long, because that might make you seem a bit desperate... but you don't want it to be too short and lack luster, because that might make you seem like you are unexperienced. Then, of course, you want to make sure that you aren't too sloppy and all over the place, because... uh... crazy. In the end you just have to go for it and hope for the best.

For the record (in case my boys ever read this) I do not condone kissing before marriage... girls are gross... unless they are your wife... and that will be arranged... and subject to background check.

Alrighty, well lets get started. I guess the best place to start is by telling you about my family so you know why I'm slightly not sane (I'm not insane just slight NOT sane).

Thankfully, we just had our family pictures taken by my friend John Pyle, so you will actually see a picture of me that isn't from 1998. I'm usually behind the camera (hiding) so getting awesome pictures of our family was HUGE for us!

Me and My Love

Lance and I met when I was a sophomore in high school. I was 16 and he was 20. 

Confession #1: I totally lied and told my parents he was 18. 

Confession #2: He was really interested in my best friend but I was slick. Sorry babe!

Confession #3: I definitely have a box full of these...

Yes... time well spent in Computer Technology Class. I was an amazing writer straight from the start!

We got married 391 notes later in 2004. My pride will not allow me to continue this post without stating that Lance proposed to me at the top of a Spanish castle. *Smiles and bats eyelashes* I know, I know, so romantic! Well, I'm pretty sure that was God's way of preparing me for life full of red roses, massages, surprise getaways and poetic love notes. <--- That's me being sarcastic. 

But seriously y'all, I love my man!

Me and My Boys

In 2006 we welcomed Brayden Edward into the world.

Brayden is proof that birth control is not perfect! I hope that scares some of you! He was stubborn like his momma and refused to turn so I was gutted like a fish... it was worth it. Bray is smart and creative. He loves to draw and act. He's also quite tenderhearted. He is a Daddy's boy!

In 2009 we grudgingly accepted Asher Elias into the world. 

No, just kidding! He was lovingly welcomed, too. My pregnancy with Asher was pretty rough and wild. Now I know why. HE is rough and wild! He's also hilarious and brightens our day with his spunky personality. Asher is the child who will require many sets of stitches and probably a few casts over his lifetime. I've come to accept that. (Asher, sorry son, but I had to pick this picture for the contrast)

So that's our family in a nutshell! Of course there is PLENTY more to tell, but that's sort of what this blog is for. I wouldn't want to spoil it all for you, and so before I make this first post too long or sloppy, I'm going to call it quits. 

Until next time! -K