Would ya look at these faces?

I'm not very technical when it comes to this blogging thing...so sorry the video isn't actually here on the page! Click the link, or go to that web address.


http://vimeo.com/3565906


*We are one trip to the mailbox away from being on the "wait list"....and we are so excited to wait!

(Pictures and post from our trip to USCIS to come soon!)

Oops! Our first adoption mistake....

Charlie is reading up and practicing so next Christmas he'll be ready to entertain his little brother (or sister, but we're thinking brother). Sometimes when I think of having two kids by this time next year I can't catch my breath for a second. :-)

Well, I have tried to be extremely "on top of it" through this whole paperwork process because we know that one little mistake can add on a month or two, to the already long waiting time. BUT...I messed up (and had a small meltdown over it). On December 15th, I sent off our application to USCIS to get an appointment to get our next round of fingerprints and apply for an orphan visa. I checked and double checked that I had all 30 or so papers accounted for and in order, and I did. I didn't think much about it until after Christmas, when we still hadn't heard anything from whoever we sent it to...who knows?! Of course my worrying self kept letting it creep into my thoughts... and then begin to consume them. Finally I prayed and basically promised that I would trust that He has it all under control....something I find myself doing on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis. 2 Tim. 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." A SOUND MIND....stop worrying! This is a verse I've probably said in my head literally thousands of times in my life, and the cool thing is usually after I think it, I feel much better! So anyway, on we got home on Saturday at about 9:00pm and I went out to check the mail. I saw a large envelope with some a return address to USCIS....a giddy feeling comes over me! "One step closer" I think as I wave it in front of Jeff and grin. I rip it open and THUD my heart and stomach seem to hit the floor. The one word I notice is the big bold REJECTED. Immediately my eyes are full of tears and Jeff walks back into the room to return to a complete opposite personality he just left. I wrote the check for $1 more than I should have. ONE STINKING DOLLAR!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!? My roller coaster of emotions went on quite a ride for the next few minutes. I've said it once and I'm sure I'll say it again, I'm so glad Jeff is laid back and reasonable in times when I'm not! He simply told me to write a new check and we would overnight it the next day.....and when we looked at it closer it already had signatures and stamps showing it had already been processed, and a note saying it would be put at the top of the list when returned.

Lessons learned:
His timing is perfect.
Be EXACT and precise next time.
Relax, somethings are out of our control!

Current News

I don't feel particularly "wordy" today so here is a short list of what's been going on here at the Britton household...

-Home Study approved YAY!
-I'M GONNA BE AN AUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!! woohoo!!!
-I'm now 25
-Charlie is painfully and pitifully getting 2 new teeth.
-Only one more Christmas gift to buy....I feel like I've been unusually "on top of it" this year
-I'm coaching a 13 year old volleyball team, now this will try one's patience
-At this very moment I have laundry coming out of my ears.......

Sigh of Relief, After a Bout of Panic

So, as I wrote in my previous post, our home study was Monday. Jeff and I both had double checked on the time it was scheduled...1:00pm. I had cleaned the house in the previous days, so when I got up that morning and got ready to workout, I left the house, knowing I would have plenty of time to straighten up, make our beds, and pick up the trail of toys Charlie had left behind.

It's now 10:30am, on Monday. I had been home long enough to shower and put Charlie down for a nap. (Hair still wet, bed unmade, breakfast dishes still on the table, toys in the floor)

DING DONG!!!!

I peek around the corner to try and see who it is, without them seeing me. I was expecting it to be a neighbor, mail man, etc. Nope, to my surprise our social worker was standing there...clip board in hand! Can you say panic attack?!?!? I answered the door and she obviously saw a little panic on my face....to make a long story short she had gotten our appointment mixed with another one and left soon after she arrived.

And if you're wondering, the second time around went great! Whew!

PS...Look at this cute little Lion! (I know it's a random picture to go with this post, but I love it)

BIG Weekend Ahead

After completing our first round of paperwork, we are ready to "be studied." That's right, this Saturday we meet with Holt for the first time and then on Monday our home study will be completed....and in between on Sat. and Sun. we will attend over 12 hours of parenting classes. Let's be honest....I'm nervous. My house is the cleanest it's been in a while, I've been imagining what we'll be asked and how I'll answer, and praying that Charlie will be his charming self when they meet him :-). I've already gotten a good "chunk" of our dossier ready, and when we finish that we will officially be on the waiting list.....just typing that takes my breath away! We are ready to wait!!!

What has been consuming your thoughts?
This is one of the questions my Life Group has been discussing at our meetings. Obviously, this whole adoption process is on my mind. The past week or two I have really been overwhelmed with thoughts of, not just my son that will be born on the other side of the world, but with thoughts about his mama. Who is she? What is her story? Is she young, scared, ashamed, lonely, and has no other option? Is she older, a widow, mother that can't afford one more mouth to feed? I will probably never know as long as I'm on this earth. But I love her! Jeff and I have prayed for her every night since we've made this decision. We are so thankful for her and the precious gift she will give us. More importantly, (I cry as I type this, just like I cried with the group last night) we pray for her salvation. Can you imagine what it would be like to hug her in heaven? I'd love to be able to spend an eternity sharing everything from his first steps to his first t-ball game to his wedding day with her. WOW! It's possible, with my God, it is SO possible!
There is a girl on the other side of the world that needs prayer. Could you pray for her today?

Home Sweet Home

After two weeks of traveling with Jeff for meetings and a trade-show, we are enjoying being at home in our own beds! We had a lot of fun in Arizona and Dallas, but it always feels good to come home (minus the unpacking and laundry). As far as any updates with the adoption.... We got a call accepting us to the Ethiopia program just 5 days after we mailed in our application! Yay! However, I didn't mention in my first post that you must be 25 in order to adopt from this country. I will be 25 in December, so I thought we would basically be waiting until then before we could go any further.....I just didn't have the patience to wait that long to apply :-)
BUT, I found out today that we can begin filling out the pre-homestudy forms! Paperwork may sound boring to you, but to me it is the beginning of a GREAT thing! We can get our packet all ready so when December comes around, we can really get the ball moving!!! As I have started reading all the guidelines and outlines of what will happen and what to expect, I have to be honest that I get a little overwhelmed. (I may or may not have already cried and told Jeff I wasn't sure I was smart enough for this :-) ) But, as soon as those feelings hit me, it never fails that God brings peace into my heart....
"And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?"
...I just love that song!

Application....check

(*Please excuse the un-made bed)

We told Charlie the news....and he's excited too! What a relief?! :-)

Our application is in the mail!

Here we go!

From a young age God has given me a love for children...particularly those that are less fortunate than me. I believe this is the main reason I felt lead to get a degree in Special Education. (And I plan on using it someday!) Before Jeff and I were even engaged I shared my desire with him to, God willing, have a family made up of biological and adopted children. When we went to Guatemala in 2009 to visit the Boggs and the Eagle's Nest Orphanage, (see previous post) our lives were changed. If I hadn't been 5 months pregnant with Charlie, I probably would have snuck Walter in my bag! I can't really describe the feeling I have had since that trip except by saying....I've never felt so sure about being called to do something, aside from my salvation. And, from what I can tell :-), Jeff feels the exact same way. Sara Groves has a song that says, "I saw what I saw and I can't forget it.....I know what I know and I can't go back." (Hear it here!) That song has been really speaking to me for the past few months, if He has called us to do this...what are we afraid of?

Did you know that there are 143 MILLION orphans in the world? 5 MILLION of them in a country in Africa that is about the same size as Texas. ETHIOPIA! Friday we will send our application to adopt the next member of the Britton family from this special country that God has laid on our hearts. We couldn't be more excited to begin this journey! We would appreciate your prayers!

Check out these stories!!! Evyn and Lucy and Silas

Round 2

I mean really...where does the time go? It has almost been a year since my last post, and a good year might I add! I don't know if anyone will read, and actually it's fine if they don't. I just want to keep track of what goes on over here in the Britton household....like a public journal, I guess.

A lot has changed since Thanksgiving of last year.....it really is too much to catch up on and I don't want to overwhelm myself with this first new post. Let's just say I'm still as smitten to be Mrs. Britton as I was when I wrote my first post, and the littlest Britton - pictured above:-) - has me wrapped around his finger too!!!

Thankfulness

What more could you ask for????

I have SO much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!!!!

Typical day...

...in my life as "MOM."

Around 5:30 or 6:00 AM my little alarm clock awakens me for our first of several feedings for the day. (I love waking up to Jeff on my right and Charlie on my left...in his bassinet...soon I will put him in his own room, what a sad day this will be! I feel like that is his first step to "growing up") Then if I'm lucky he goes back to sleep until around 8:30! Next is my favorite part of the day....Charlie wakes up and is ALL SMILES!!! I LOVE IT!!! We talk for about thirty minutes and he just smiles and smiles...I've yet to see him wake up in a bad mood. The rest of the day is filled with naps, bottles, swinging, smiles, diaper changes, etc. Then at 9:30 it is his favorite part of the day...bath-time!!! He is so funny how he splashes and flairs his arms all around, he loves it! He eats one more time and then snuggles into bed. I lay down and can't wait to do it all again the next day! Best "job" in the whole world! I am so glad that I am able to stay home with my baby! I have a tremendous amount of respect for moms that work, but I wouldn't trade the time and precious memories I experience everyday for all the money in the world!!!

I recently left him for the first time for about 10 hours, and there is no doubt that I won't be able to do that very often! I can't imagine his first day of Kindergarten!!!! I know I'm already more attached to him than he probably ever will be to me :-)

No Words

There are truly no words to express how I feel about Charlie and his arrival....I think that is why it has taken me so long to post the "Life Now that Charlie is Here" blog.

Well on August 22nd at 1:19 pm, my life was forever changed. For the better, I might add. After a fairly quick (and not nearly as bad as I had let my imagination lead me to believe,) labor, I heard the sweetest cry. Before I could even wrap my mind around what had just happened I was holding MY SON! Those next moments feel like a dream....and I still have a hard time comprehending that he is really ours to keep!

Charlie does what most babies do...eat, sleep, need a diaper change, cry a little here and there, etc. But he already has the ability to GRIN....not just smile, but give you a full out grin. (Check this out for proof: http://www.youtube.com/user/fswalker417#play/uploads-all/0/iVvGqT3pHek ) This has been not only funny, but a blessing in disguise for me...you see, I am a worrier BIG TIME. I didn't sleep for about 36 hours after he was born because every possible thing that could go wrong ran through my mind so I felt the need to stare at him all night :-) Anyway, these little smiles really take the edge off and it kinda seems like God's way of telling me to "chill-out" he's a happy baby!

People ask me "what is one thing you didn't know, expect about having a baby?"

I think the main thing I have realized in the past two weeks, aside from being tremendously blessed, is that I couldn't have asked for a better husband! Jeff has been wonderful from day one, but seeing him with Charlie takes my love for him to a different level. He was there for every "push" sometimes working harder than me, I think :-) I wish I could have captured the look on his face when he saw Charlie for the first time! Priceless! Again, there are no words to describe the love I feel in our house right now, but I am so SMITTEN to be a part of our new little family!

Just a taste...

Charlie Allan Britton

8-22-09

8 lbs 1 oz 21 1/2 inches


FINALLY!!!!

Until further notice....

I will not blog again until I can include a picture of my son...

39 weeks tomorrow and I cannot think of anything to write. I'm tired and ready to get this show on the road!!!

:-) and for those of you who kept up with the "what size of fruit is he now" weeks/ months, I have one word for you...

WATERMELON!!!!!

Ugh...

Still pregnant...............



(my patience is wearing thin)

Pros and Cons

Week 37 = Full Term

Pros

* We are almost there!!!
* Showers, cute clothes, etc.
* He is fine to come at anytime!!! (Did you hear that Charlie??? ANYTIME)
* I am so excited I can hardly stand it!!!
* I can't wait to watch Jeff. He is going to be a GREAT dad!

Cons
* Feet in ribs...which may be causing internal bruising:-)
* Very little sleep...SO UNCOMFORTABLE

* Possibility of still having 3 weeks left...AH! (patience is a virtue, right?)
* Even my "maternity" (aka fat clothes) are getting snug...ugg!
* Labor is right around the corner. <-- pro & con

It feels like 37 weeks have taken an eternity, but what an answer to prayer that he has made it healthily to this point! I know I sound like a broken record but....I am so excited!!!!

35 down....

...5 (oh my can I make it?) more weeks to go!

We are SO SO excited!! I find myself just standing in Charlie's room looking in his bed or at his teeny tiny clothes and imagining what he will look and be like. The wait is almost over! One more month! 36 days...if you're counting :-)

HB MOM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

I LOVE YOU!

Honeydew

This is one squirmy honeydew....

What in the world?!?!

So I'm 32 weeks same ole same ole......

I got the strangest comment on my last post. Yes...I own a Wii, but me a "gamer"...I don't think so :-)

I found your blog online and noticed that you live in the Denver area and enjoy video games. I would like to personally invite you to a video game competition I am hosting in Denver on Saturday July 18th. The event is called "Retro Game Championship" and it will be loosely based on the movie "The Wizard" with Fred Savage. Basically we will have 10 TV's setup with original NES consoles. 5 TV's will be playing a rare Nintendo cartridge called "Nintendo World Championships" which gives each gamer 6 minutes and 21 seconds to get 50 coins in Super Mario 1, finish 1 lap in Rad Racer, and get a high score in Tetris. The other 5 TV's will be playing an even more rare game (there is only real copy in existence) called "Nintendo Campus Challenge". This game gives you 6 minutes to get 25 coins in Super Mario 3, 100,000 points in PinBot, and a high score in Dr. Mario. The championship should be a great time. It gives you a chance to show off your retro gaming skills, hang out with some local gamers, and play some very rare video games. I hope you can make it. Here are the full details again: When: Saturday July 18th 2-9 PM (you can come during any part of the event) Where: JJGames Store | 7975 E Harvard Ave, Ste G | Denver, CO 80231 Website With Directions: http://www.jjgames.com/page/retro-game-championship-2009 I will be giving away prizes through-out the night and will be sure to save a free t-shirt for you if you RSVP and let me know you are coming. Feel free to bring some guests along with you too. I look forward to seeing you on July 18th.