Friends

So Jason and Tiffany have really been there for us during this whole experience that we have been going through with Andrew's job and with the church. It has been an emotional and scary and life changing five weeks. So when I was looking at this picture it really made my heart grateful for the Glover Family.
A couple years ago we all went through a big storm in our friendship. One that I didn't think we would ever get past. Andrew and I did some stupid stuff and weren't very supportive. Now as I look back, it seems like it was all so trivial. I know we can't take back the mistakes we've made and we can't get that time we all spent not being friends back, but I am so glad that we are all friends again. I love that we can do life together, that Andrew can talk to Jason about anything and that Tiff is always there to hang out with and I really love that our kids will grow up together.
So today, I am thankful for real friends. Friends that are there when you're not fun to be around, to walk you through the valley and to rejoice with you on the mountain tops. Here's to a life long friendship, to forgiveness, and to covenant relationships. We love you guys.

A Restful Weekend!

My mom had a layover on Friday night so Josie and I went to spend the night at her hotel. Her flight didn't get in until 8 so we went shopping at Babies R Us and Target before heading up to the hotel. It was fun. I like shopping with her, except she is beginning to reach for everything and wants me to put stuff in the cart. I think she may be a little too spoiled!
My mom didn't get to the hotel until about 8:30 but Josie was just playing in the lobby so we didn't mind waiting. The ladies at the desk tried to bribe her with chocolate chip cookies, but she didn't go for it. What's with everyone trying to give my kid sugar?
I guess the excitement of seeing her Mae Mae and being in a new place got her all wound up because she laughed, cried, screamed, smacked, threw her paci, and everything else imaginable until about 11pm. When she suddenly stopped moving and started snoring, my mom and I were scared to move. Luckily she was out and slept until 8 the next morning.
She watched a little Sesame Street while we got ready. She doesn't ever watch TV, but she was pretty interested in the show. As you can see, she didn't take her eyes off of it!Then we went for a walk to a little coffee shop and then had breakfast at a diner. It was good and Josie ate more eggs then my mom and I did. She likes breakfast like her Daddy! All that eating made her tired and she fell asleep on the way back to the hotel.She looked like a tiny baby in the big king size bed with all the pillows! She's so sweet!My mom tried to fit her in her suitcase so she could take her home to Minnesota. Unfortunately, she just went through a little growth spurt and we couldn't get the zipper closed. I guess she's stuck in Georgia.When my mom left we decided to go hang out with the Glovers. Jason had class so Tiff and I took the kids to Conyers for a little bargain shopping. They were so cute in the backseat. Everett kept trying to hold Josie's hand and she couldn't figure out why he was touching her! He was not pleased when she fell asleep on the way home either!Andrew had his trial weekend managing the WH in McDonough. He absolutely loved it! They told him he has the job so hopefully he will get the offer today. We found out he won't have to work every weekend until he is done with training so it looks like Josie and I will have our man friend for awhile longer!
We don't have any big plans coming up. We're just getting back to life as usual.

I'm A Mommy!

It's official! 
She's a Pope!

Josie could hardly contain all her excitement on the way to the courthouse.

The morning went by SO fast! Here's some pictures of us waiting for the judge.

We packed the Judge's Chambers out! But what can I say, everyone loves Josie!
I was expecting a big emotional experience, but it seriously only took about 10 seconds. The lawyer was going to show evidence, but the judge said he didn't need to see it so all he had to do was sign the papers. Andrew was trying to set up the video camera so we could tape the whole thing, but the judge was done by the time we got the tripod out of the bag!
Tiff got the shot of the day when she captured him signing the papers!

After that we got a few pictures with the judge, who Josie was not a fan of. She refused to let him hold her and then she proceeded to slap him.
I'm pretty sure she could have gone to jail for that.

Finally! It only lasted a couple seconds though!

Then we all filed out to get the official adoption papers. We were instructed to guard these with our lives since they are our proof that she is our child until we get the new birth certificate.

We had our own "Waiting Room" outside of the clerk's office.
It really did look like in the movies when someone is having a baby and everyone waits outside the double doors for the Dad to come out and yell, "It's a girl!!"
Only our new baby is a 21 pound beauty!

A few more family pictures before we left the court house.

Then it was back to the house for brunch and some playtime. 

We were exhausted by the time everyone left around 12:30.
Andrew and I kept saying, "Can you believe she's ours?" and "We adopted a baby today!"
We are in awe of this whole process and feel SO blessed to be able to raise this little girl.

Let The Countdown Begin!

This is my 100th post!

We now have 1 day and 22 hours until we say goodbye to Brittany Hall and hello to Josie Pope! I'm starting to get REALLY excited! You know, that kind of excited where time seems to crawl by! We just found out that Andrew's dad and step mom will be in town for his step sister's birthday so they will be able to come to the adoption. They haven't met Josie so that will be cool for them to get to see her. They get in tonight around midnight. Now all I have to do is figure out how to clean the house and yard before they get here! Andrew is home with Josie today so hopefully they will be able to get some of it done!
I didn't think this would be emotional since I have known she was going to be ours forever since the beginning, but it is definitely an emotional experience. I guess it's like being excited that your pregnant, but then having that extra surge of love and gratitude when you actually hold the baby. She will be ours forever. I'm going to be her Mom and Andrew will be her Dad! This is going to be amazing!
I am so in love with her.

Andrew's job situation is looking up too. Life is finally beginning to make sense again and it's all falling into place. God is so faithful.

Easter Weekend!

Josie fell asleep about 5 seconds after she got in the car on Thursday night. I guess she had a long day at daycare. I know the feeling.
She woke up right when she heard Andrew's voice though. Her newest tricks include climbing in and out of her chair (after only a few bumps from falling out backwards) and showing everyone where her tongue is. Both very important skills for today's society. I guess she was done posing for pictures.
I was off on Friday, but it didn't feel like it. Josie and I got up extra early and went to the consignment sale at the speedway. It was really cold and we had to stand in line to get in. But it was so worth it! We got a TON of summer clothes for really cheap! I love a good deal! I wanted to get her some outside toys, but those were picked over by all the volunteers (thanks Tiff.) But we did get a couple and Tiffany let us buy one of the slides she had bought. We were there for FOUR hours! I know that is ridiculous, but I really do love those sales!

Then Andrew and I thought we would drive to Whole Foods that afternoon instead of going on Saturday. Bad move. We sat in traffic for 2 1/2 hours on the way home. I hate Atlanta. I wish they would build a Whole Foods on our side of town, but until then, we'll keep making the weekly trek up there. Josie sported her shades on the way up. She's such a diva.On Saturday, Darlene and I took Josie to Sunnyside First Baptist Church for their egg hunt. This was the church Andrew grew up in. It's in the smallest town I've ever seen. If you blink you really might miss it. But in true southern style, there are 2 big churches right across the street from each other.
Josie wasn't sure what to do, but she figured it out. She wanted to get all the grass out of her basket. And she was the cutest baby there. And yes, we do match and yes I do that on purpose. I know that's really lame, but she's my little lady so I don't care if it's silly. Andrew's Maw Maw and Paw Paw are buried at the church. Maw Maw died a couple years before we brought Josie home, but she would have loved her to pieces. I fully believe that Maw Maw helped God pick Josie out for us.
Saturday night was had a bunch of friends over and it was SO much fun! I didn't realize how much I missed hanging out with friends. We have some really awesome couples in our lives and I can't wait to spend more time with them! I think they all need to move to Hampton. We cooked out then all the guys went trailing (I guess they like to have near death experiences) then played some cards (and screamed like girls). All the girls just talked the whole time. It was amazing. Our kids were laying flat on the floor with exhaustion, but we weren't done hanging out so they just had to tough it out. Maybe we'll get a babysitter next time!
And now, some Easter Pictures...

Josie and GracieAfter looking at our Easter pictures, I now know why my back hurts all the time. Josie better grow a couple inches before I end up with a serious hunchback.We are so cute!Avery was eyeballing Josie's eggs.This was right before Josie had a meltdown. She had a late night on Saturday then didn't feel it was necessary to take a nap on Sunday. Needless to say, she was not in the best mood.All I want is ONE picture of the two of us with her smiling. However, this is what I get. Close enough.Josie has some big muscles!

Easter was great. We love being with family, but next year I'm making sure Josie gets a nap.

Bring on the 3 day weekend!

I have 9 minutes until my 3 day weekend begins!
This will be an amazing weekend, I can feel it!
1) It's CONSIGNMENT WEEKEND!! My favorite time of the year!
2) It's the 1st Easter that I get to participate in the Easter Egg Hunt at Aunt Cleo's!
3) I get to show Josie off to the rest of Andrew's family that hasn't met her yet!
4) This is the last weekend that my daughter and I will have different last names!
5) It's going to be 70 degrees all weekend!

We have 6 days and 17 hours until Josie is a Pope! We're almost there!

Collages

The Good Life

We are seriously getting used to all this family time! We had another very productive weekend. Andrew and I got a ton of planting and yard work done. We had an awesome time grocery shopping downtown and we had Andrew's best friend JP with his new lady friend over for dinner last night. I never realized how much we were gone until we started staying home. Josie seems much more laid back too.

We're on the official countdown to Josie's adoption. Only 10 days left! I can't wait for her to be a POPE! I need to make her Pope jersey!

Here's some pictures from the weekend!

She loves playing in my jewelery box!

When I got back from Home Depot from buying the new flowers, this is how I found them! Too cute!She's been in a Daddy mood all weekend, so this was the only way he could get anything done. He needs a little practice though, he bumped her head everytime he bent over!