Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

She is a strawberry. Her top says "Strawberry Kisses"

We hope your day was great!

We struggle with keeping our baby warm! Here are a couple different tries.

This was her first snow storm! She loves it!

She is rolling from her belly to her back, giggling, and chattering. She is so dang fun!

Fall Days

Just this morning, Bella and I relished in the joys of Fall. She was still in her sleeping bag jammies and I slapped on a sweatshirt to go on a morning stroll. As we started in my premeditated destination, her stroller began to roll through the leaves that have scattered all over the road and sidewalk. I couldn't help but smile. I love the sound of crunching leaves. I love it!

I could've...should've taken a picture of us this morning. We were a layered and entirely uncoordinated pair. We loved every minute of it! As we walked, additional leaves fell over us.

Things I love about this time of year:

Bella's sleeping bag jammies. They are amazing.

The brisk chill in the air.

Oranges, Browns, Reds, and Creams

I love the beginning of school. I love new school supplies. I love the opportunity for a new beginning. ("Opportunity" is our family theme this year.) Bella is very loved by our students and our community-so we try to give back by displaying her support and cuteness.



Of all of the sports that I am required to watch, volleyball is my favorite.



We, Bella and I, really love him. We love to watch him in his element.




I love the natural beauty of change. Change is good. Change is welcome.

***Big congrats to The R House!***

12 Weeks

It's not so bad to start the day when this is the face that greets you in the morning!

Her temperment is so sweet.

We like to talk and smile together in the mirror. This was my attempt to catch that! She is incredibly gorgeous and we can't get enough of her.

So Many Pictures

Our Joy!

She is two months, weighs 8 lbs. 13 oz., and is 21.5 inches tall.

Our date while Grandma has been here helping us transition.

Her new trick. Oh...how we love it!

What she thinks of us while we do crazy things to get her to smile.

The baby shower with the family.

The lovely table. We had grilled chicken salad, eclairs, mini cheesecakes, and yummy candy. It was a lovely pink tea party!

The first week of her smiling.

Her first photo shoot. We had her picture taken with the blanket that matches the one we gave to her birth parents.

She is more beautiful...perfect...fun...good...etc. than we could have ever imagined. She sleeps through the night a couple of times a week-which is incredible. The doctor says she is perfect. We know that already.

Tears of Joy

The weekend after we had been chosen by our birth family, Shawn and I went to Park City to go shopping at the Carters' Outlet. For along time, I have walked past those baby stores and ached for the opportunity to one day walk in there and shop for my babies. In March, I finally had that opportunity-and we spent a lot of money! The one thing that I knew I wanted to get was a newborn dress-a risky idea when you don't know how much the baby will be born weighing. I bought this one. It was the most pink and frilly thing I could find that day. On Sunday she wore it and she looked gorgeous.

I was asked on that shopping trip what I was doing in Park City and I responded, with tears in my eyes, "We are shopping for a baby girl who we will adopt in July!" I can't believe she is here. I have teared up often as I've rocked her and stared at her in awe of the miracle that she is!

Perhaps one of the most rewarding things about having Bella is that she recognizes me and my voice. She calms down to listen to me-it is incredible. The other amazing thing about her is watching Shawn be her dad. He is so good with her and she loves to snuggle up in his arms and fall asleep.

Grandma and Grandpa F. were here for a week.

Isabella enjoyed her first game night and, specifically, her first nertz game. She'll get the hang of it all!

Some Photos of Her Sweetness

These photos range through weeks one and two!

Her first morning home















My favorite bug on her cute bottom

My sisters came out for the day.

Her first Rockies game.

Friends

Eye contact with Grandma F

Her very cute cherry dress from Aunt Krissy

She's Here! She's Here!

We have been given an incredible gift this weekend.

On July 3rd we were staying at my dad's house when we received a phone call at 3:30 saying that K had been admitted to the hospital because she was in labor. We got to the hospital at 5:00 and our baby girl was born 2 hours and 58 minutes later.

Isabella Harmony was born weighing 6 lbs. 8 oz. and measuring 19 inches. She is tiny but she is healthy and GORGEOUS!

(Here is a little size comparison example-big dad vs. little baby girl)

There aren't words to describe how we feel. It is incredible how your heart can just love this little one so much. She truly is an angel and we feel so blessed to be able to have her in our family. We are excited for this journey!

Isabella means "consecrated to God" and is a derivitive of Elizabeth which means "a gift from God." Bella means "beautiful" in Italian. We felt that her name explains exactly what she is! Harmony is the name her birth parents had chosen to name her. We want her to remember how very loved she is by both families.

We feel so blessed. Miracles happen!