A day or two early, I know! What a year this has been. It is hard to believe that we'll be saying farewell to 2009 tomorrow night. Just for fun, I thought I might do a little year in review!
January - Rang in 2009 with family at the beach.
February - Scott was in a car accident and was thankfully fine.
March - We got a late winter/early spring snow storm that brought about 8 inches of snow.
April - The beginning of the wedding season. Scott's cousin Brad's wedding in Indianapolis kicked it off. We also celebrated Easter with our parents at the beach.
May - The wedding season continued with two more weddings (family and friends). We also got to host Scott's family for a couple of days which was fun!
June - My grandmother passed away.
July - Celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary.
August - Had a baby shower hosted by Scott's sisters and went on vacation to Asheville, NC.
September - Received the wonderful news that we had been matched with a birthmom.
October - Spent a relaxing weekend at the beach and got some things ready for baby!
November - Was extremely thankful for the many blessings in our lives especially celebrating Thanksgiving with family. Oh and got more things ready for the baby!
December - Spread Christmas out over 4 days (2 days with the Slonakers and 2 with the Gerkes). It was so much more relaxing and enjoyable. Oh and we let the family in on the baby's name, which was great!
What? You want to know the name too?? Well we think you have waited long enough. Our little boy will be named Caleb William Gerke and he will be here in just about 3 weeks!!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
News
You know the old saying, "no news is good news" right? Well in our adoption journey "no news" has contributed to anxiety, stress, worry, fear, and even a few tears. With several weeks possibly even months of "no news" our mind has drifted from excitement, to curiosity, to anxiety and fear. We automatically assumed the worst. Our social worker assured us that this "no news" was not uncommon and that we should think positive and that all signs pointed us in the direction of a successful adoption.
So today, we got the best possible Christmas gift. We had contact with our birthmom's family. She is doing well (uncomfortable, but well) and is still confident with her adoption plan. They say the baby is going to be a big boy because his birthmom is huge! In just two weeks she'll be full term and her due date is five weeks from today.
For the first time, in quite a while, we can breathe a sigh of relief. We feel as if a 100 pound weight has been lifted. Now this "news" also contributed to some feelings of anxiety, stress, and still a few tears, but all in a good way!
I'm on my winter break now, so I'll get back to finishing up some things in the nursery and our goal is to have our little boy's bag packed by the time I head back to school. We'll also start doing some things like installing car seats and finalizing hotel plans (see all good things to be stressed about)!
Thank you for all of your prayers...many of them were answered today when we got that call!!
So today, we got the best possible Christmas gift. We had contact with our birthmom's family. She is doing well (uncomfortable, but well) and is still confident with her adoption plan. They say the baby is going to be a big boy because his birthmom is huge! In just two weeks she'll be full term and her due date is five weeks from today.
For the first time, in quite a while, we can breathe a sigh of relief. We feel as if a 100 pound weight has been lifted. Now this "news" also contributed to some feelings of anxiety, stress, and still a few tears, but all in a good way!
I'm on my winter break now, so I'll get back to finishing up some things in the nursery and our goal is to have our little boy's bag packed by the time I head back to school. We'll also start doing some things like installing car seats and finalizing hotel plans (see all good things to be stressed about)!
Thank you for all of your prayers...many of them were answered today when we got that call!!
Monday, November 23, 2009
9 weeks and counting
Today marks the two month date! We have nine weeks until our baby's due date! Just two months ago we found out we were having a boy! And about three months ago we started the amazing process of adopting this little guy! My how things have changed over the past couple of months.
We met with our social worker last week and really didn't get too much new news. We will probably talk with her a couple more times before his arrival just to ask and answer any questions that pop up. But, for the most part, sometime in January we will get "the call" that our birth mother has gone into labor. Once we get the word, we'll hit the road! We also got some good news that we might not have to stay out of state as long as we had once thought. We still might be there around a week, but that is MUCH better than two weeks!
Ohhh....we are 99% set on the name for our little guy. We aren't revealing it yet...soon, I promise.
We met with our social worker last week and really didn't get too much new news. We will probably talk with her a couple more times before his arrival just to ask and answer any questions that pop up. But, for the most part, sometime in January we will get "the call" that our birth mother has gone into labor. Once we get the word, we'll hit the road! We also got some good news that we might not have to stay out of state as long as we had once thought. We still might be there around a week, but that is MUCH better than two weeks!
Ohhh....we are 99% set on the name for our little guy. We aren't revealing it yet...soon, I promise.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Still getting ready!
So we are a little more than two months from the arrival of our little man. We haven't heard any more updates, but we meet with our social worker next week. She might have some information for us then.
Baby Gerke's room is just about done. We purchased a gilder/rocker this past weekend and just finished putting together. It's so comfy and matches the room perfectly! We know it will be used a LOT for those middle of the night feedings :-)
We've narrowed the names down to three! It is killing my mom that we won't just pick one and tell her! We can't decide on one and we might not until we see the little guy. So for now and the time being he is just Baby Gerke! I'd say we might have a name picked out by our next post, but that's not very likely :-) We know the middle name will be William, so maybe that can hold you over until we pick/announce the name!
Baby Gerke's room is just about done. We purchased a gilder/rocker this past weekend and just finished putting together. It's so comfy and matches the room perfectly! We know it will be used a LOT for those middle of the night feedings :-)
We've narrowed the names down to three! It is killing my mom that we won't just pick one and tell her! We can't decide on one and we might not until we see the little guy. So for now and the time being he is just Baby Gerke! I'd say we might have a name picked out by our next post, but that's not very likely :-) We know the middle name will be William, so maybe that can hold you over until we pick/announce the name!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Fall has arrived
Last weekend, we decided to visit some great spots for viewing fall foliage. We stopped by Deep Run Park and took a walk around the lake there. Then the next day we headed to Pony Pasture Rapids along the James River. We had a great time admiring the beautiful colors and got some great pictures too! Just thought we'd share a few!
Here are some from Deep Run Park
And here are some from Pony Pasture Rapids!
Here are some from Deep Run Park
And here are some from Pony Pasture Rapids!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
3 months to go
Yesterday was October 23rd. That marks three months until our little boy's due date. Just a month ago we found out the due date and that we'd have a little boy. So much has happened since then.
We told our family and friends....we got so many wishes of congratulation and well wishes. We are so thankful for all of them as well as the prayers that are coming with them. Keep the prayers coming we still have 3 more months!
We keep talking to social workers to make sure things are on track and that everyone has everything they need so that things so smoothly. We have found that no matter how anxious and excited we are, people still move at their own speed. So we are still working on that lesson in patience!
We are getting things ready for our baby boy. We received so many great things at the shower and have been spending those gift cards we got too. They have come in so handy getting things like the car seat! And of course we've been picking an out an outfit or two :-)
We also been looking at some hotels near where our little boy will be born. We are trying to look into an efficiency place. That way we have a kitchenette so we can cook meals (or at least heat them up) since we'll be there for up to possibly two weeks. We've narrowed down our options and have found a place that is set up like a 1 bedroom apartment that allows dogs too! I just feel sorry for who ever stays next to us, since we'll have a newborn and a dog!
And last but not least, we are trying to narrow down some names! We have a couple contenders but haven't settled on one! We know the middle name, that part was easy. We still have three months to figure that out too!
The last month went quickly, we're hoping the next three go just as fast!
We told our family and friends....we got so many wishes of congratulation and well wishes. We are so thankful for all of them as well as the prayers that are coming with them. Keep the prayers coming we still have 3 more months!
We keep talking to social workers to make sure things are on track and that everyone has everything they need so that things so smoothly. We have found that no matter how anxious and excited we are, people still move at their own speed. So we are still working on that lesson in patience!
We are getting things ready for our baby boy. We received so many great things at the shower and have been spending those gift cards we got too. They have come in so handy getting things like the car seat! And of course we've been picking an out an outfit or two :-)
We also been looking at some hotels near where our little boy will be born. We are trying to look into an efficiency place. That way we have a kitchenette so we can cook meals (or at least heat them up) since we'll be there for up to possibly two weeks. We've narrowed down our options and have found a place that is set up like a 1 bedroom apartment that allows dogs too! I just feel sorry for who ever stays next to us, since we'll have a newborn and a dog!
And last but not least, we are trying to narrow down some names! We have a couple contenders but haven't settled on one! We know the middle name, that part was easy. We still have three months to figure that out too!
The last month went quickly, we're hoping the next three go just as fast!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
OH BOY!!
We have some exciting news!! We have been matched with a birthmother who is due in January! Come January we will be adopting a newborn baby BOY!!! Needless to say, Scott and I are more than excited. Over the past couple of weeks we have been speaking to social workers, the birthmother and members of her family to try to get things lined up for when our little boy arrives in January. We are adopting out of state, so that will require a one to two week stay in a hotel, but it won't matter because, we'll have our little bundle of joy with us!
We still have a long ways to go on our adoption journey, so we ask that you all keep praying that everything goes as planned between now and January (his due date is January 23rd) and that our little boy is born healthy and happy! We appreciate all the prayers, thoughts, and well wishes so far, just keep it coming for a couple more months :-)
We will try to update our blog as often as possible with new updates and once we get that little boy, we'll post a picture as soon as we can!
We still have a long ways to go on our adoption journey, so we ask that you all keep praying that everything goes as planned between now and January (his due date is January 23rd) and that our little boy is born healthy and happy! We appreciate all the prayers, thoughts, and well wishes so far, just keep it coming for a couple more months :-)
We will try to update our blog as often as possible with new updates and once we get that little boy, we'll post a picture as soon as we can!
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