Two Weeks

Has it been two weeks since Liam was adopted? Can I really call him "Liam" on the web?We just got internet hooked up at our new place. I've been without wifi for two weeks. Sure, I have a smart phone. But there's something about sitting at this desk and writing. I cant blog on my phone. Well, I can. I just dont. 

We are loving Nashville! The people here are the nicest you'll meet. In fact, I just heard a knock at the door and there was an unfamiliar man there. I decided to open the door and it turns out he was the previous tenant. He was so thankful that I forwarded his mail to him and he wrote a nice card and gave us a giftcard for groceries! 

I have been eating fast food and not-recycling for 2 weeks. I also ate fried chicken on purpose today. I am only a shadow of my former self. Kidding. It has been a huge adjustment and I'm still trying to figure out what my life here should look like. I'm a stay at home mom for the first time. Trying to organize a new house during Liam's naps so much harder than it sounds. I'm so fatigued! I am so excited to start using essential oils. My premium starter kit from Young Living arrives tomorrow!

We adopted a dog. An English Bulldog named Gibson with a major alpha male attitude problem. It's my fourth day with him and he's doing great. 

Between a cross country move, a change in employment and training a toddler and a dog... I'm pretty frazzled. Just taking things nice and slow, like any good Southern gal would.

XOXO

What's in a Name

Do you know how hard it is to name a person?  Parents have been doing it since the beginning of time but rather than naming an unborn child with hopes of that child living into their namesake, we got to name a person with his own little thoughts and opinions, with 2 and a half years of life experience, a past, and a bright future. In my opinion, that made it harder.

The way we see it his first name was chosen for him, by God, because it is a short version from the name his biological parents gave him. Liam means "strong-willed warrior" which definitely suits him! I am so happy that we were able to keep a part of his past in his name, as a connection to his birth family and where he came from.

His middle name wasn't so easy to choose. We wanted a happy, peaceful name to compliment (or rather counteract) the "strong-willed warrior" first name. Apparently it's not easy to find a peaceful or happy boys name. Many masculine names have meanings about strength and war. So, we started a list - which we worked on for months - and here are some of the contenders...

1. Solomon (Hebrew) peace
2. Axel (Scandanavian) my father is peace
3. Theodore (Greek) divine gift
4. Noah (Hebrew) peace, rest
5. Felix (Latin) happy & prosperous
6. Xavier (Latin) the new house
7. Maddox (Welsh) fortunate
8. Abraham (Hebrew) father of nations
9. Arvin (German) friend to all
10. Alvin (American) noble friend
11. Matthius (Greek) gift of God
12. Nathaniel (Hebrew) gift of God
13. Matthew  (English) gift of God
14. Corliss (English) Happy
15. Sebastian (Greek) venerable
16. Isaac (Hebrew) he will laugh
17. August/Augustus (English) great
18. Lennon (Irish) dear one
19. Krister (Scanadavian) Christ-bearer
20. Pascal (French) Easter
21. Eron (Hebrew) peace, light /enlightened
22. Quentin (French) five/fifth
23. Quincy (French) from Quincy
24. Monroe (Irish) from the hill
25. Finnegan (Irish) fair, white
26. Moses (Egyptian) born of God

For a long time it was going to be Solomon. Then Axel.  Then I actually designed adoption announcements with the name: Felix. Then I really liked Theodore and Eron while Dan liked Finnegan and Quincy (the name of the town he was born in). But, at long last, the winner was: Moses. I love it because it means "born of God", because as he's not our biological child, he literally is born of God. Dan loves that Moses, the biblical prophet, was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter and he also loves that Liam and I will have the same initials.

Liam Moses, wear your name with pride! It suits you well. 

Introducing...

We would like to introduce to you our son, Liam Moses!

I've kept a journal for a few years about the journey to becoming parents (6+ years) and the process after we got Liam. I transferred some of it to a blog a few months ago. Letters to OUR BOY will remain anonymous and hopefully serve as a tool for advocacy for fostering-to-adopt. One day, when he's old enough, we'll read these journal entries to him and he will see affirmation that he is so deeply loved and that God has a perfect plan for his life.

Quick moving update: We are on our way to Nashville! We finished packing on the 13th and left on the 14th. It's been a wild ride but we are so happy to be together - as an official family!

(Tomorrow we'll announce what his name means!)

Photos by our friend, Rachel Drechsel, andthen-shesnapped.com

Adoption Day

It's done! We went into a courtroom and claimed our boy!  His name is Liam and he is officially ours. We are overjoyed that Liam is a part of our family forever! Thank you to all who have been a part of Liam's life and supported us along the way.

There are three very specific reasons why I prayed for Valentine's Day to be the day that we would adopt our boy. 

1. If you remember, when I brought our son home Dan was on tour. Dan got home on Valentine's Day of 2012 so it was our first day as a family.

2. Dan and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day. We had a bad one early on in our marriage (expectations not met, crying on the rainy streets of Seattle, too much drama) so we stopped. Then we moved to France and for many years we were running a ski camp in the Alps the 2nd week of February and Valentine's Day simply could not be celebrated. So, naturally, we would love for the Day of Love to be Liam's special day. He surely deserves it.

3. Valentine's Day was my parents anniversary and they are no longer together. I feel as though this is God's way of redeeming this day for me and my family. Valentine's Day is now a happy day. God is all about redemption, folks.

With so much joy,

Dan, Lindsy & Baby Bread Liam! 

(Tomorrow we'll announce his full name!)

XOXO! Happy Valentines Day!

Today is Great but Next Friday will be Greater

On February 8th, 2012 I picked up a little 12-pound 5-month-old. I didn't know how to say his name and I didn't have any bottles, diapers, clothes or blankets. Two years of being his mom: Sleep training, tummy time, introducing solids, teething, crawling, walking, talking and playing. Even though the future was unclear I am still so glad we said 'YES!' and I'd do it over again in a heartbeat. Happy 2 year anniversary, BB!

February Uniform

It's that time of year. The gray days of February. And, every Pacific Northwesterner joins in on nature's fun by wearing gray, too. It's a strange winter phenomenon. Perhaps I should go against the grain and throw on my red coat and purple pants. But, it's too cold in my bedroom for such creativity. I throw on all the neutrals I can find. Gray, black, and military green are staples.

We've been packing up the house and staying inside during these bleak winter days. We're dreaming of hot, humid summer nights on our back porch in Nashville. Most of the country is in a deep freeze. What's your favorite part about this time of year? Or are you, like me, just trying to get by?

On me: hat, boots, pants: Nordstrom; scarf: borrowed; jacket: thrifted. On BB: pants, Target; shoes: Converse (Target); jacket: Old Navy; scarf: made by me; hat: Baby Gap.

The Waterfront

We're trying to soak up as much of Washington as we can in the coming days before our big move. Dan was gone all month long. Upon his return we've wasted no time in enjoying all the things that Tacoma, WA has to offer. Friday, January 31st was my last day of work. Dan flew in that morning and I went out to lunch with my boss. Dan and I met up and we went straight to DSHS to prepare for our son's adoption. Yes! It's finally happening! We celebrated with some of the best Mexican food in town, a new place down the street called Memo's. It's probably a good thing we're moving because it's down the street! I've eaten there 4 times since it opened. 

One of our favorite places in town is the waterfront at Ruston Way. On a day like today, if it's not raining or windy, it's not too terribly cold and you can enjoy your own private beaches. BB loves to throw rocks into the water. That's always been one of his favorite things and since it's free and readily available in this part of the world, we do it a lot. We both remarked at how much we'll miss this place. I know Tennessee has lakes and rivers but nothing compares to the beauty of the Puget Sound. 

Our home is starting to look like that of a squatter. Last night we sold our refrigerator and today I sold my treadmill. We've sold quite a bit. My plan is to get rid of anything that I don't love. Dining room chairs? Gone for $100 bucks. Armoire? Sold for $50. Old couch? You can have it. I love our beds, I love our credenzas, the table our friend Andy made and I am obligated to keep our piano. Just about everything else is being sold. I'm not sad about what I'm losing. I'm just trying to focus on what is to come. All the new things to put in our new house, new friends, and new bodies of water to throw rocks into.