Two Months Together

It's hard to believe it's already been two months since our precious son was placed in our care!  At times, it's been a sleepy and joyful whirlwind of feeding, burping, changing, and visiting with family and friends.  Then other times, the seconds seem to tick by slower than ever (usually at a 3 a.m. feeding when I'm doing all I can to keep my eyes open!). Either way, with each passing second, we've only grown to love Caleb more and more.
Here's a quick synopsis of what we've been up to over the past two months:
The law required that we remain in Alabama with Caleb until we were approved by both Alabama and Georgia to return home.  While we waited, a friend of a friend of a friend offered to let us (complete strangers) stay with her and her family.  She just so happened to live in the very same town in which the adoption agency was located, so our first car trip with Caleb was a short one.  We had a hard time getting him into the car seat, but we finally got it right!

So tiny!

From the moment we entered Ms. Jane's house, we felt as though we were in our home away from home.  It was like a mini-vacation, really (with a newborn baby, of course).  We had a comfortable room, a beautiful view of the lake in her backyard, and great company.  She also cooked some delicious meals for us while we were there.  Oh and did I mention that she just so happens to be a professor of nursing at a local college and that she used to be a NICU nurse?  Not many new moms get the luxury of a live-in NICU nurse for the first week of caring for their new baby!  She was great about answering my questions and checking out little things I was concerned about.  She also showed us how to properly give Caleb a bath.  I attribute our bath time success to her...

Ms. Jane and Caleb

Happy at Bath Time

From the moment we arrived back home, our family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances have showered us with love, meals, gifts, and prayers.  We have never felt so loved!

Praying for Us at Our Church Shower

My friend Ashley made this for us.

Sweet Friends

Rockmart Shower

Rockmart Shower

The Lovely Hostesses of One of Our Showers

Needless to say, because of everyone's generosity, I think we're set on diapers and baby clothes for a while!
We've also had SO many visitors!  I don't think I've ever been this popular...

Baby Staring Contest

One thing I know for sure: Caleb is loved by so many wonderful people!
Here are some other things that we've experienced in these first two months:

Baby's First Trip to the Pool

We just sat in the shade by the pool, but I have a feeling next summer it will be a different story.

 Checker finally got close enough to Caleb to check out what this little, noisy thing was.

I think he decided that he was ok.

Caleb got to cheer on the Bulldogs for the first time.  He may have slept through the game, but at least he was dressed appropriately.
Caleb has started giving us real smiles.  The first time that we both agreed it was a real smile (while he was awake) was on September 3, 2013.  There are no pictures of them at the moment because they are so fleeting, but we hope to get a shot of one very soon...

Caleb has drank lots of bottles and worn lots of bibs, including this one, my personal favorite.
Daddy and Caleb have taken a nap or two together:

My Babies

Aren't they precious?

Through all of that eating and sleeping, our little bitty baby that looked like this when we first saw his picture...

...now looks like this...

I'd say he's enjoyed his first two months with us!  As for Tony and me, there's no doubt that we've loved every moment with our sweet boy!

The Day We Were Forever Changed

July 15, 2013.  That was the day that our life changed forever.  That was the day that we finally met and held our son, Caleb - the little guy we've been praying for and thinking of for so long.  It was the day filled with so many emotions:  unbridled joy at the addition to our family, sorrow for the birth mom and her loss, gratitude to all those who took care of our boy before we were able to, trepidation at the idea of caring for a new baby, and worry with the enormous responsibility that was being laid on our shoulders.  Needless to say, I have never been so nervous in my life.

When Leslie, the sweet lady who had been taking care of Caleb while he was in the hospital and afterwards, came into the room holding this tiny little bundle, my heart skipped a beat.

Tony held him first - taking to our new baby like a duck to water, as he says. They were so comfortable with each other that you would have thought that had known each other for years.

As Caleb was finally passed to me, my fast-beating heart slowed as it sunk in that this was our son.  He was exactly where he was supposed to be - in my arms and in our family.

His sweet little face, tiny fingers and toes, and head of dark hair were perfect.  We were instantly smitten with him.

Long before we had even begun thinking of adoption, God had planned this day.  He had already chosen Caleb to be our son and us to be his parents. We are amazed at His goodness and provision towards us.