Announcing the arrival of Gavin Glen Peterson!

Well, now I understand it.  I've always wondered why it takes new parents so long to post on their blogs, etc. about the new baby in their lives.  Now I realize it's because they would much rather be cuddling said sleeping baby all the time!  (That and the fact that they are likely very tired!)

Gavin Glen Peterson came into the world on Monday, July 11 at 1:29pm.  He weighed 7lb 4oz and stretched out to 19.5 inches long.  And because Brandon and I were incredibly blessed to be a part of the lives of his birthparents, they welcomed us into the delivery room just after he was born.  He's absolutely perfect and loved by so many that it's somewhat hard to convey the feelings that I have about this experience through words.  We are without a doubt, beyond imagination, amazingly and astoundingly blessed.  God is good.

On Sunday, we got a call that it was time to head to the hospital.  We met S & D just as the nurse was telling them to go back home.  But just a few short hours later, we were called back at midnight as labor had begun.  Brandon and I snoozed in the waiting room and visited when they were awake.  Then it was time to push!  Gavin's mom was so brave and strong as she worked to bring him into this world while we waited with his birth-grandma for the news.  After 2 1/2 hours, S came to tell us that little Gavin was born and everyone was doing well.  That had to be one of the longest 2 1/2 hours of our lives!  And then the moment we'd waited for so long, she asked if we'd like to hold him. (sigh)

First family pic

The next couple of days went by in a blur as we learned about how to change him, when to feed him, immunizations, and a ton of other things that I'm sure we've tucked away in our adoption notebook.  We were treated so well by Overland Park Regional Medical Center as they gave us our own room where we could care for our son.  We traipsed back and forth between his birthmother's room and ours while we cuddled, fed, and changed him - sharing these first milestones with her.  She was truly amazing.  And it was so obvious how much his birthfather, grandmother, and even great-grandmother love him as they all visited and poured out blessings on his little life.  I am so grateful that we know them and that they will be there when he has questions that we can't answer along the way.

On Wednesday, we got to bring him home and we got settled into the house by unpacking all the diapers and formula.  He was so tired that first day.  He also got to meet Sammy & Bianca that evening and it went really well.  Bianca took to him right away as we were sure she would and Sammy was very concerned whenever he cried.  They spent the first night standing guard as we took shifts feeding and rocking him in the nursery.

Two on the lap, one on the foot stool

Since then, we've spent all our time learning about our baby boy.  He likes to sleep all swaddled up, loves himself a nice full belly, makes adorable faces right before he falls asleep, usually saves the best diapers for Dad, and makes us fall more in love with him every day.  In about one hour from now, he will be one week old.  That's a little surreal to me - where did that week go?  I'm sure we'll say that sort of thing many times for years to come.

There's more to say, but I'm starting to hear my baby wake up.  The wait is over . . . . and the adventure is just beginning.

One day until D-day!

Just a quick note to say that Brandon and I are anxiously anticipating the arrival of our son any day now!  His official due date is tomorrow, July 9th, which just happens to also be the day that Brandon turns the big 3-0.  There is so much to celebrate in our lives.

Thank you for your well-wishes, support, and prayers as we wait out the final days.  We are so grateful for the immense support of our friends and family as we have moved along this journey.

With love,
Janell

The Latest

I have lots to share with you all today!  I suppose that likely means that I should be posting more often, but hey, in order to have things to write about you have to get off of the computer and experience them right?

We've been working on finishing touches for the nursery and starting baby registries and trying not to get too excited over the last couple of weeks.  All that sort of flew out the window on Thursday night when we realized how truly unprepared we were.  D called us and said she had been having contractions all day and ended up at the hospital that night.  We went up, but it turned out to be a false alarm.  On one hand, I'm glad because it was sort of a wake-up call for us to really get ready.  On the other hand (which definitely has the winning edge), I'm bummed because it felt like we were so close to finally welcoming home our child.  Sigh.

So now we are officially less than 2 weeks from the due date and her body is apparently getting ready for the big day.  Also, there is some comfort in knowing that they called us right away when these things were happening.  It was a good thing to share in that with them.

Now, here is something we've all been waiting for . . . it's a boy!!!  No - I'm just kidding.  You all knew that.  Even better though - here's his adorable face!

They had a 3D ultrasound done at the end of May and we were able to get our hands on the pictures!  I told Brandon last night as I looked at one that I've placed on my nightstand how much I want to allow myself to fall in love with that little face, and yet how scared I am that I will get my heart broken if I do.  Oh, how we long for the day when we'll meet him in person!

I also finished the bulk of my sewing for the nursery today!  Hooray!  Brandon has been making frames for the letters of baby's name that will have the colors on the opposite wall as their background.  There are as many letters as there are colors so it worked perfectly (today's name clue!).  We also created a light fixture for the corner with some Japanese lanterns that turned out pretty cute.  I think I'm going to wait until my Mom comes to visit to make the curtains so she can help with that!  Here are some pictures of his little room!

All that's really left is the windows and the frames that will hang above the bed

The dresser colors match the wall and you can see the beginning of the bear collection

Yay for finished homemade bedding!!!  Now I'm a sewing junkie!

My how far we've come!

Baby-moon

I surprised Brandon with a little "Babymoon" last weekend before the little one arrives.  I've been super-sneaky planning it out for at least a month and we finally got to go!  It was so nice to peel him away from work for a while and just relax in the little town of Excelsior Springs at the wonderful Inn on Crescent Lake.

The Casbah Room

Our babymoon surprise - those strawberries were amazing!

Our room had a red clawfoot tub.  I just couldn't resist.

This was the ice house for the estate.  They would harvest the ice from the lake and store it here!

Our lovely Friday morning walk after a nice rain storm

Bet you'll never guess what we wished for on the "Wishing Vine"

You have to do what it says right?

We were paddling so fast you could have water skied back there!

Last day sitting on the porch at the inn.  Do you see Davis?

Davis made a new friend while we biked at Watkins Mill State Park

Only about three more weeks to go!!!

It's June!

I do have to admit that May flew by with gusto!  It was the busiest time of the year for me at the Symphony as we prepared for our annual Contributor's Concert and Celebration at the Station that were both in the same week.  Whew!  I may have only been here for 3 1/2 months, but it sure feels like longer some days.  Both events went very well and I'm excited to settle in for the summer with those under my belt.

Fireworks over Liberty Memorial at the KC Symphony's Celebration at the Station

We've also been doing our best to enjoy the weather as it is finally staying warm.  It went back and forth for so long that my body and our flowers were highly confused.  Of course, one of our favorite summer pastimes is in full swing and we've already made several trips over to watch the boys in blue.  Brandon got us some wonderful tickets through his office and we're planning to enjoy them with our friends Eric and Jen this summer.  I picked the games with $1 hot dogs and fireworks of course (I'm such a die-hard fan!)

Go Royals!!!

Brandon borrowed the pink glove from the little girl behind us to defend us all
from foul balls.  Look at that determination!

Brandon and I have also been adding more finishing touches to the baby's room.  I've almost got all of the sewing done (I had to take a break to make a bridesmaid's dress for a friend) and I also found this gigantic cuddly friend to add to the decor.  We'll see if it's fun or terrifying for the little tyke!

So far our favorite name suggestion is General Sterling Price - what's yours?

If you are friends with Brandon on Facebook, you may have heard that we had a rough weekend last weekend in the adoption department.  I wasn't sure whether I even wanted to mention this here, but because this is our way to share this journey, I decided I wanted to share it.  Late on Saturday evening I picked up a voicemail message from the birthfather that indicated we needed to talk because they were having second thoughts.  Unfortunately, it was too late to return the call and so we had to spend a sad and sleepless night/morning before we could find out what was happening.  There were so many thoughts that went through our minds, but I think that the biggest realization was that neither of us was angry that these people we have come to know would be having second thoughts.  Wouldn't we?  Of course, we were frightened and sad at the potential for losing this child, but we have prepared ourselves for the reality that it could happen at any time. 

As it turns out, I was able to talk with them the next day and the message was left in an emotional moment after a difficult day and he apologized for his actions.  Everything was still going to happen as planned, and he was sorry.  Thank you Lord!  On this day, we are still moving forward.  Brandon and I are still a bit shell-shocked and hurt, but also immensely grateful.  For myself, I realized that the pain and grief I was feeling on Saturday night was more for the loss of "normal" than anything else.  I was angry that I couldn't buy a giant bear and baby clothes and not feel silly for doing it.  I was sad that while a pregnant couple would be having baby showers, we were trying to figure out what essentials to buy to bring our baby home without wanting to have so many things that would be painful reminders if it turns out that we don't.  Any celebration or hope is laced with a bit of hesitation and sadness and it's this that I'm still trying to come to terms with.  I know that eventually, once our child is with us, those things will be covered over with joy.  But for now, I'm going to allow myself to cry a bit over those losses.

On a final happy note, D told me that she had a 3D sonogram at her last doctor's appointment.  He has hair!  :)  Love to you all!