I love the way Collin laughs! It is more like a cackle but total unbridled enthusiasm. I can't believe he is 11 months old today. Everyone said time would fly and it has. I am sad he is not a baby anymore and that stage is forever gone. I want to capture each moment and freeze it in time but that is not how time works. So for now, I will just enjoy watching my sweet boy laugh.

First Word Is.....

Well - Collin said his first word this week. He said Momma! He has been saying it for a while off and on but I was not sure if he knew what he was saying. However, the other morning when we went to get him up he looked at both of us then looked at me and said Momma. Kip wanted to mark that as his first time but I needed more proof. So, the next morning as I was feeding him breakfast he said it a few more times. How precious... he is growing up so fast.

I included some pictures from Collin's first hair cut which he had February 7 and also some pics from our time in Florida.

In case you were wondering, the answer to your question is no, I did not go with him to have his hair cut. I did not want to watch them cut off his curls. I understand he was looking quite unruly but I did not want to see it. When he was done he looked more like a little boy and less like a baby. I wish I could capture these moments in time and freeze them forever. Enjoy the pictures.

Collin's Adoption is Final!!!

Hello Everyone! Most of you know we went to court a few weeks ago to finalize Collin's adoption. We arrived early in the morning and were one of about three other families finalizing adoptions that day. We went before the judge and had to answer a few questions under oath and it was done. Pretty simple and quick.

They let friends and family come up to the front and be there with us! It was a sweet time and one I will never forget.

The next day we had a party to celebrate everything being final. I included pictures from both the court hearing and the party.

Although Collin has been ours from the beginning and we were not worried that anything would happen, it is very nice to have this last thing behind us. Every time I look at our son I see grace. To me, this is the perfect example of how God works all things together for good.

Enjoy the pictures!

I Love Fall

This is my favorite season. I love pumpkins and mums. I love the cooler weather and the changing colors. Having Collin this year is so fun and I am trying to not take a single moment for granted. Here are some pictures from our visit to the Arboretum and from Collin's first halloween Enjoy!!!

I Am A Worrier....

I often have these revelation moments about myself or life. I have decided to try to write them down when I have them. This may never be read or make sense to another reader but here it is. This morning as I was reading I heard Collin start to stir over the monitor and I realized that when I hear him in the morning or even in the middle of the night I always breath a little sigh of relief. He is OK. Nothing happened in the middle of the night. Almost as if I am expecting something bad to happen. Of course if something did happen it would be unimaginable and I would be devastated beyond words. But my point is why do I worry? I have just as much control over his life as I do my own. Collin is a gift just like all children. I think I am so aware of it because of the way he came to our family - completely out of my control and a total gift of grace. Funny thing is, all children are gifts and come to our family by grace and we are completely out of control but I digress... Every second I have with him is because of God's grace. I want to live in the moment of grace and not worry and have fear. How liberating would that be?

As I continue to live life and learn more about myself I know I am a worrier. Why? I realize it is because I do not trust God. Intellectually I know He loves me and He is good. But I think I am a glass is half empty kind of person and I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. I am bracing for disappointment. I have had disappointments in life and they hurt. I try to brace myself for the next one and maybe it will not hurt so much. I am also a person who wants to be in control. I want all the details, want to know everything that is going on. Subconsciously, I think I can control disappointments and hurt if I know everything. But, I am missing the point. Truth is I am me, and God is God. I have no control and worrying gets me no where. We are here by grace and good things happen because of God's inherent good nature. He is grace. He loves us and we cannot comprehend it.

My First (Lame) Entry

OK - I am a loser and have had this blog set up for probably a year now and have not done a thing to it! I read other blogs and think - I need to set mine up, but I do not have anything to say or what I have to say may not be what anyone wants to read. However, I have this terribly cute and wonderful son and all these cute pictures. At the very least, I can post updates about Collin and up to date pictures while I try to get organized - yeah right....

So for now, I am going to put some pictures up and call it good. At least I have finally started. By the way, being mom to Collin is one of the greatest privileges of my life. He is so much fun!