Lesotho

Le- soo- two. We will just start with that.

In March, Nathan and I took a trip to Lesotho, South Africa. It changed our lives. For the better, but I can truly say that we were shaken in every way possible.

You, of course, know that it led us to make the decision that we want to adopt but before I get into all that that is, I wanted to just share about our trip.

Our team met at the church early the morning of our departure for prayer and communion. I loved this time. We were surrounded by our team mates, our families, and just praying members of our church body. They truly cared about what we were doing. And I loved communion. Camden's school didn't start until 9:00 that day so I got to hold onto him for a little extra time. He got to take communion with us. While he didn't understand anything that was going on, I lingered in the fact that I was holding my baby, cherishing the blood and body of Christ, while I was preparing to let him go and go love on other babies. It was bitter sweet.

Our team was made up of so many different talents! We had a dentist, teachers, and pediatric PT, construction workers, nurses, a minister (thats my boo y'all!) and others careers that the Lord put on this team to help us accomplish the things He had set out for us.

Our flight was 17 hours. We were haggard and tired of sitting. But we were in AFRICA! 

This shows just some of the luggage we brought. We were all allowed two checked bags. But personally, we only each used one. All the others were used for carrying supplies. We brought over 100 children's books and 100 pairs of shoes. We also carried tooth brushes, soap, tooth paste, and towels to hand out to the people the medical team encountered. 

The main crop in Lesotho is sunflowers. They were everywhere. It was so beautiful to see rolling hills of the most gorgeous sunflowers.

This is a sweat shop that Old Navy and Banana Republic use. The people who work here work under horrible conditions but cannot get out of the endless cycle that it begins. 

We finally arrived at Beautiful Gate after 5 more hours of driving from Johannesburg. We were so glad to be out of the car and settling into our lives for the next week.

We stayed in this guest house as a team. It was seriously so nice. We had bunks, a kitchen and a living area.

This orphanage is amazing. The campus is bright and well kept. There are toys all on the lawn and lots of room for the kids to run and grow. There are five houses that they children are split up in. Each house has a full time house mother (Mme- said May). Then there are volunteers who come and help with the daily events and routines. These women are amazing. I pray I can have half the patience they have.

While we were there we got to go out and see some of South Africa. We went to a place called the Green Goose. This amazing woman has tons of land and runs her own farm. She then makes her own cheese from her animals milk, feather pillows from the geese's down, and dinner from her garden. It is open by appointment only and we got the royal treatment. It was seriously some of the best food I have ever eaten.

After that, we went to a place called Temple Hoff. The man who own this place raises lions. Thats right people, lions. Like with real teeth! He showed us around his property and then let us love on his lion cubs! A true African experience.

This is my dad y'all. A true man! 

South Africa is gorgeous. And I was so blessed to be able to take this trip with my parents. It was the first time we had been on a mission trip like this and I am glad we got to do it together. It was also so special that they got to watch our adoption journey unfold in our hearts as we experienced each day together.

I took so many pictures at the orphanage. I wish I could share them all but for confidentiality purposes, I can't. So I will leave you with this precious one. This totally captures our time. We were all over those babies and they were all over us.

Here the Mmes and performing a traditional Basotho dance! So much fun being with these women. 

At the very end of the week, we were given the honor to be a part of an adoption ceremony. A mom had come from Sweden and was taking home her son. They do this amazing ceremony in which the Mme hands over the child that she has raised to their new forever family. I was a sobbing mess at this point. I had just said goodbye to a child I would love to call my son. And I was overwhelmed with the fact that this could be us one day. I think my favorite part of this trip was this time. The whole ceremony was performed in both Sesotho (the language spoken there) and English. I was reminded that heaven is not just for America. And love is not just for biological families. God is weaving us all together for his purposes.

Every tribe. Every nation. Every tongue. 

So blessed to have had this experience. I can not wait to return to the place that hold my heart. And I can't help but wonder if my child is there now. 

Breaking the Blogging Silence

I feel like that needs to be one of those "Where Are They Now" episodes. So thats just what we will do. Life has been all kinds of crazy-but the best kinds of crazy. I seriously thought motherhood would be so easy (quit laughing...I'm serious, I can hear you!) and of course its not. Something had to take the back burner and blogging was it. I was so sad to let it go for a season because I probably won't remember some specifics but I will take the loss and revel in the fact that I spent a whole lot of time loving on my babies.

So without further ado...the catch up.

Camden started and finished his first year of "day school" this year.

...Annie got bigger and bigger.

     ...and bigger.

... Madelyn Celebrated her first birthday. She is now 16 months old. Yeow. In 2 months she will be one and a half people. Lets all take a minute to catch our breath.

           ... ok. Moving on.

... We traveled to Lesotho (Le-soo-two), Africa. Not much happened there. We only decided to ADOPT  A BABY!

Yep! We arrived on the campus with a heart to serve the orphans and we left with a desire to make them orphans no more. I am going to do a whole adoption update on another post because while we aren't too far into the process, the process (and our future child) deserves more than a few sentences.

So its official. I am back and better than ever. I can't wait to show you what we have been up to!

Madelyn: 1 year old

This post is picture less but please, reminisce with me.

11 Months

 I will swallow it. I am the worst mother in the history of mothers if we are judging on how often I blog. But if we are judging on how many kisses, giggles, and memories we have captured since Madelyn was five months old (cough 6 months ago cough) then I am a dern good mom!

Sweet Sissy, you are 11 months old. I am so very sad that I have not blogged all of the things that you have done at each milestone but I am not going to let you turn one year old without doing a better job.

And can we please quit saying you will be a year old? I think 12 months sounds more babyish. Lets stick to that! I can not believe that it has been a year since I gave birth to you. My life has been different in every good way possible since you arrived!

Sorry about that 8th month-it must have been crazy! 

Your Daddy and I joke all the time about how much you are like me. (Sorry!) One thing that is just like me is your love for the water. When it is bath time I have to keep you from jumping out of my arms. You could play for hours. And you usually do-or at least until the water gets cold and you start shivering.

This is all you Sister. You are always doing something to make us laugh. 

You can now stand on your own from the floor without holding onto anything. You can also walk but you choose not to. You preferred methods of transportation are my arms, Daddy's arms or sometimes crawling. But girl you can scoot when you want to! 

You are still so infatuated with Camden. He is in his "mine" stage and you are giving him great practice at sharing. You want to touch everything he has and he thinks everything is his. So he pushes you and then you rare back and smack him. Its a vicious endless cycle but its adorable I must say. He really is your little protector and truly likes you, I promise. You are smitten with him and you laugh at the littlest things he does.

You are in a size 3 diaper.  You weigh 17 pounds.  You are in the 10th percentile on the charts. You wear a size 3 shoe and size 9-12 month clothes. You eat all solid foods. You take 3 bottles a day.

 Hello Miss Attitude!

My girl, you are full of sass. This picture makes me fearful of when you are 16. You are so fun loving and care free in every situation you are in. I hope that goes with you through your childhood. Don't let Satan quench the spirit the Lord has given you.

Sweet Baby, I think I have wrapped every post up by saying thank you for saving me from the wreckage that I was. I can not wait until you are old enough to understand how the Lord has already used you in a mighty way. You and your brother are the delight to my days. You make me a better mama and person by challenging me. I can't wait to celebrate 12 months with you in a few weeks.

5 Months Old

Madelyn, my love, you are 5 months old! 

Life has been super busy so I missed blogging about your 4th month (but I did get the pictures) so here is your collage so far. You are growing too fast on me Big Girl. 

And because I missed your 4th month blog all of the pictures are from the past two months. 

You have really blossomed into your personality. 

You are in a size 2 diaper these days. We just moved you up but I am contemplating putting your tush back in size 1s. Not that you would fit in them better but because I can't stand that you are growing this fast. You are wearing size 3-6 month clothes. Your tiny feet can barely keep any shoes on. 

You are such a pleasant baby to be around. You giggle and coo at whoever will talk to you. Your giggle is my favorite! You have this wheeze to it when you get really tickled. 

Camden is your biggest fan and you are his. On the day of these pictures, you were sitting up by yourself pretty well for the first time, so I put a toy in front of you. Camden loved it. It was the first time that you two were on the same level. He talked and talked to you and you babbled back. He even shared his blue binky with you. Thats how you know you are loved! The relationship that you two have makes my heart swell. He is so protective already. And you are smitten with him. 

Speaking of sitting up, you are there sister. You aren't all that steady without the Boppi behind you but when you have it you play and play in your new position. When you get tired of that you slide yourself down and roll over. Once you are on your belly you scoot yourself backwards to get where you want to go. I just don't think that I am ready for two mobile babies so slow down for me please. 

You have started eating baby food! You love food like your daddy and mama do. You can eat almost 2 containers in one sitting if you are focused. When your brother is in the room and is acting silly then you stop eating because you would rather watch him. You hate peas and love squash. I haven't found a fruit that you refuse to eat but you prefer to not eat peaches. You get that from your daddy. 

You also have been sitting in the high chair this month. We are transitioning your brother to a booster chair at the table and that means you get the big girl seat!

I think you are about to cut some major teeth because you have been one pile of snot, drool, and cranky! The other night I made a pallet in your room and slept there with you because you just wanted to be close. I am ready to see those pearly whites so that you will get some relief.  

These past two months have been my favorite by far. I love seeing you discover something new everyday. Right now, its blowing bubbles that you are hooked on! You silly thing. Thank you so being everything that you are. Mama needed a passive child and you are that. You are the yin to your brother's yang. You two make me the happiest mama in this world. 

Madelyn: 3 months

 Madelyn, sweet baby you are 3 months old. 

3 whole months. 

I can't believe the difference that just a few months makes in your little life. 

You are finally discovering your personality and its so fun to watch. Whenever someone speaks to you, you dish out the smiles in hopes that they don't stop paying you attention. You know how to work it sister. 

You are still in a size one diaper and size 0-3 months clothes. You can even fit into some of your newborn dresses still. That makes this mama's heart happy. You seem to be growing so fast. I 

just want to hang onto your newborn-ness just a little longer. 

Speaking of growing so fast, your daycare teacher says there is one word that describes you: "grown." You are already rolling over from your back to your belly. The last time I checked, that wasn't supposed to be happening at 3 months. I am quite fearful for what that means for our future. 

You are a mama's girl to the core. You like your daddy, but there is something about our time together that I think we both love the most. Maybe its because you are nursing and we spend so much time together. Whatever the reason, I am loving the special attention you give me. 

This month has been a big one for our family. We bought a house and will be moving next week. Also, your mama quit her job and will be staying home with you and your sweet brother next year. This was a big and hard decision to make little girl. I hope I can show you with my life that when the Lord puts something on your heart and then is gracious enough to provide the strength and peace needed to make that decision, you trust Him and obey. 

I am not sure if we will have any teeth soon, but you chew on your hands all the time. And you are the slobber queen. If there was a market for spit, we would be millionaires. 

You absolutely hate riding in the car. The moment you hear that carseat snap into the base you start to whine. And when the car starts rolling, well honey you let us all know how you feel about that! This mama has taken a permanent residence in the middle seat to entertain you for as long as you can stand. 

You and your brother are total opposites, but gosh I can already tell how much you two love each other. He has started dancing (this ridiculous white boy dance) and you watch intently with a smile on your face. I cannot wait until you can interact a little more. He loves to entertain you and you love to watch. Its a win win. 

Sissy Bear, we are still in awe of what you have added to this family. You are such a happy baby. You remind me of the Lord's faithfulness to His people when I see your face. I still can't believe that when I prayed for redemption from a dark place in my life, His answer was you. You! Baby Girl, I love you more that I could ever put into words. Thank you for being mine.