You Choose the Caption-Weekend Fun

We will be enjoying the LONG weekend!! We hope you will kick back and enjoy it yourselves!! But we give you this.

Let's see who can come up with the best caption for the pic below!!



I'll start it off:
"Hey, did you hear the one about the horse and the goat?!?!"

I'm Not Prejudice...August Update

I'm not prejudice or anything but this has GOT TO BE the cutest kid EVER!!!


What's that? I have personality?!?!



I think I could be America's Next Top Baby Model



You know it's true!


Just look at my beautiful eyes...




Analise is currently at 16 pounds and is 24 inches. She is also starting on pureed baby food AND is cutting her two bottom teeth!! Our little girl is growing up!! I can't wait to squeeze those cheeks!!

Time Sure Does Fly

Today we are filling out UPDATED adoption paperwork. Our homestudy and background checks expire mid October. It's hard to believe that we have been at this for almost a year now!! WOW!!

I really have enjoyed the whole process. Every step is exciting/different and sometimes you have to keep your chin up and keep smiling. I look forward to the end result....

Seeing this face


In this space



Just as all the children who came home before her and all the children who will come home after her, she WILL come home!! We have a promise from our Father.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!

***Edited:Problem Solved!!***

Okay, I am about to toss my laptop into the wall!! UGH!!!

I am trying to change my profile picture and keeps giving me an error!!! Would one of my dear friends please help me out with this?????


PLEASE!!!

The FAT on WEIGHT

It's time to "chew the fat" on weight. If you aren't familiar with the term "chew the fat" it means the same as "dish the dirt".

As some of you know, we had a group of bloggers in the spring that were part of the group called Junky Trunk. We all CHOSE to work on losing the Junk in our Trunk. It was a fun group and I think alot of people were encouraged to lose weight through moral support. Well, that group no longer exists, due to other circumstances. Mainly time!!! We could all use a little more of it!

Although the group is gone I have tried to continue my quest for becoming a "more fit" me. I have lost a few more pounds and continue to work out. Through the last 6 months I have worked towards changing my body and my mind. The body part seems to be a little easier. The mind? Well, that's a whole other ballgame!

Throughout my life I have struggled with weight, mentally. I always wanted to be healthier and thinner but my mind wouldn't have it. I am the one who put my self in this mental state. I believed that food was my comfort. Whenever there was stress or something not quite right-the comfort of food always seemed to make things better.

Over the last 6 months the mental weight of choosing food as comfort has subsided. Last week, on the day we received our 2nd KO from PGN I had a major breakthrough.

After the initial shock of the news I was very upset. The Shannon 6 mths. ago would have went straight for something sweet to ease the pain. But, to my extreme amazement it was not the first thing I wanted to do. My first thought after the news - "I need to go run." and man, did I run!

Although the pain of the KO was hurtful, God gave me victory in another area. The victory in knowing that the addiction to food no longer weighed so heavy on my mind. I am excited to become a "more fit" me for myself, Adam and of course, Analise!

Analise's Cowgirl World

The crib bumper is finished!! We now have a completed nursery and are awaiting the good news of our "out"!!

Here are all four walls.







The Crib!! SOON to be occupied by our SWEET GIRL!




Some up close shots.






Now, it's time for us to get "the call"!

Stand

This is the song that got me through yesterday. It will hit home for many of you going through an adoption right now. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Rascall Flatts - STAND


And, of course, HAPPY 6 MTHS. to our sweet girl, Analise.
We Love You.

PS-I am joyfully expectant, AGAIN!!

The Walls Came Tumbling Down

After 8 1/2 weeks of praying and expecting we just received another KO. The KO was received because the reviewer did not like the way our POA form was submitted. It has been fixed and we will be resubmitted today.

I am not even going to pretend to be joyful today when in fact I am crushed.

I still believe in miracles and know that our faith and trust is in God and His plan. Our time WILL come. Today I will work on becoming joyfully expectant, again.

Gather Together

Today marks 8 weeks in PGN. We have the "edge of your seat" feeling. Almost as if we could stretch out our arms and grab it.

Growing up I was raised in a spiritual family. It was more than just a religion it was a relationship with God. My parents taught me at a young age to have hope and faith. The first thing I ever put my faith out there for (I was 8) was a blue bible with silver lined pages. It was the prettiest Bible I had ever seen. I just knew God wanted me to have it!! So, I prayed. I knew that it was God's will for me to have the desire of my heart and that I just needed to thank Him for the means to get it. After all, my parents also taught me that God is my provider and that He will provide for my every need. Child like faith was all that was required. I thanked God every time I went to church and saw that Bible in the bookstore. Sure enough, God heard my prayers. Someone actually bought that Bible and gave it to me...

My husband & I got married when we were 21. We are now 33. I have the best relationship with my MIL & FIL. They have always treated me like a daughter. I am thankful that they continued the work in me that my parents started when I was young. They continue to support us in our faith and encourage us to go beyond the comfort zone spiritually.

I thank God every day for the FOUR parents that he saw fit to bless me with in my life. They will be living examples to Analise of God's love and kindness....

Yesterday, my FIL reminded us of a very familiar scripture and then we prayed and thanked God for Analise's process to be complete.

Matthew 18:19-20
19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers,[h] I am there among them.”

Please join us in our agreement that Analise's process is finalized, we are joyfully expecting "the call".

Mucho Gracias to SBP

Oh, dear Secret Blog Pal...I love, love, love the precious gifts you sent to Analise!! Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity!!!

Group Assignment

OK. So, I don't read boards or forums. Mainly, I just didn't know where to go to find them. I am a member of the yahoo group but only read some posts. I've really tried to stay away because if there is a rumor it will be spreading on the boards.

Anyway, we were resubmitted on June 25th. That was a Monday. So, there weren't any submissions on the 23rd or 24th. I have seen two outs for people submitted on the 21st.

Has anyone else seen any outs for submissions after June 21st???? We are SO SO SO close!!!! I know it!!!

My Two Favorite Faces

I look forward to the day that their eyes meet for the first time.....



He asked today where we were going to hang her flatscreen TV in her room?!?! He said she needed to be able to watch her videos from anywhere in the room. Can you tell that someone will soon be wrapped around a little finger....

Sneak Peak

This is a sneak peak at our nursery....I love it!!!!


Once we have the crib bumper I will post pics of the whole room. It is so everything I wanted in a nursery!!!

Can you say BUTTERBALL???

Today we received our medical update for Analise. She went to the doctor on August 1st. She is healthy as can be and had one immunization. She now weighs-16 lbs.!!! She gained 3.4lbs. in 6 weeks. Does that sound right??? That seems to be a BIG gain to me....she is also 24.4 inches.

Pick a Word - Any Word (Answer to the funny pic)

Did you ever play this game growing up?!?! I did and I love it!! You have a group sit in a circle and one person starts with one word, any word. The next person has to say the first thing that comes to mind within a few seconds. If they don't, they are out. I use to win this game-ALOT!!! It may come from the fact that my mind moves really fast and I love being creative!!!



I said all of that in order for you to understand how I got the funny pic from yesterday...

It all started by me hanging a mirror in the right place next to one of the dressers so that I will be able to see the crib when my back is turned. I then realized that if I take a picture just in the right way it looks like I am in the wall. And if I put my hand just right in the photo it looks like I am on BOTH sides. So, there you go...and yes I will share all of the pics because I'm not embarassed and I think they are hilarious.

This is one of my characteristics that I want Analise to pick up. No matter how old you get or how serious other people are - there is always time for a good laugh!!! That reminds me - one of the first times my husband and I met, I was telling the story about how my Grandpa taught me to kill chickens. I know that doesn't read very humorously but you haven't HEARD me tell the story.

Here are the pics-use them as a laughing mechanism at your leisure.



PS- HUGE SHOUT OUT to Ginger & Maya on their PINK slip!!! CONGRATS!!

Baby Shower-Final Pics

Here are some of the final pics from the shower. Also, there are some beautiful pics of Kya Blu at the end. Oh, and a funny pic of me!! I will post about that tomorrow.





This dress was made by Kya Blu's Nana!! I LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!


These pics are for Candy!! Kya Blu is just BEAUTIFUL!!



Finally, funny pic of the day

PGN Update

As of last Friday, we are still in PGN!! Yahoo! That makes 6 weeks today. Our agency seems to think we will be out in 1-2 weeks!! I just know we are nearing the end of our stay in PGN.

God has been so faithful to us during this journey and we thank Him everyday for the blessing that we call Analise....


Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and support. Each of you have played a significant part in this journey to our girl...

Baby Shower - Part 2

OK, so here are some more FUN pics from the baby shower. My, SIL decided to play the, "Guess the Baby Food Game". Oh, how wonderful it was to taste the grandeur of baby food.

First Taste of Chicken & Broccoli, I think


Reaction to Chicken & Broccoli, dry heaves


Full on Belly Laugh. Laughing at myself for dry heaving at my own baby shower


Grandma tasting the food


Aunt Jodi & Cousin Laura



Of course, we couldn't have the baby shower without a Guat Tot in attendance!

Kya, Shannon, Candy & Kya's Nana
Nana made Analise the COOLEST pillowcase dress EVAH!! Pics of that tomorrow

We Interrupt the Regulary Scheduled Post......

....to bring you this hilarious photo of my nephews!!!

Hi Devin & Derek!!!!


This pic is hilarious for many reasons.

My brother and I, when we were little, LOVED WWF wrestling!! My Dad would take us all to the matches when they close to where we lived. Oh, the memories!! I once was so excited that I got to touch the arm of Magnum TA!! He was wonderful!!

My parents, at one match, misplaced my brother and I. They looked towards the wrestling ring and there we were standing ringside beating on the mat!!! LOL!!!

My sister, Annie, HATED going to matches when they were in town. She would sit with a coat over her head so nothing would get in her hair!! You know-food, beer, spit, etc..

These are her boys!! The ones on the left and right! She is having to relive all the memories!! She just took them to a WWF match!!! I just LOVE the irony!!

Baby Shower - Part 1

We took LOADS of pics at the shower last weekend. So many, in fact, I going to break down into three posts over the weekend. One each day!!! How fun is that?!?! Trust me, you will want to check back!! There will be pictures of me downing chocolate icing, me gagging on baby food and of course there will be pictures of Kya Blu too!!!

Part one will consist of pictures from Friday night. My MIL and I had a blast making cupcakes and made some memories to last a lifetime!! Thanks Linda!! Alright, here we go!

Here is the cupcake mix we used. It is called Sprinkles and you can buy it at Williams Sonoma. YUM-O!!


Here I am enjoying the leftover icing!! It was SO, SO, delicious!!

Here are the cupcakes and decorations from the shower!!




Here are the gifts that that the guests received. They were really cute...


This is my SIL, Katie. She did a wonderful job! Everything was perfect. Thanks Katie for all you hard work!! Analise will adore you!!

A little teaser for tomorrow!!! Stay tuned....