Christmas 2009!

Well this year I have almost 2 weeks off during Christmas which is sooooo nice!

For Christmas we go to my moms Christmas Eve go to church, have fun, talk, play games etc.. we stay over night and get up in the morning and open gifts etc.. and then eat a late lunch around 2pm - this works out perfectly because it allows us time to get packed get home, pack the car again and get to Lisa's for Mike's family dinner!

Christmas was great - I love being around all of our family, the older you get the more you just cherish those times and realize that your family is truly the most important thing you have.

This year with Mikes family we decided not to by gifts for each other and instead we adopted a couple of families through a local charity organization. We all put money in and got them toys, clothes, jackets, boots, and food gift certificates it was nice to be able to help others - it gave us all a nice warm and fuzzy feeling!

Christmas day was also the first time we actually got to see Ronin and hold him - he is such a little peanut - what a true gift!

Christmas morning getting ready to open gifts!

Meeting baby Ronin for the first time!

The happy new family - Ronin's first Christmas!

Landyn wants to see his new cousin too..

You may remember Meghan, our niece that was born Oct 15th - here she is now! Also her first Christmas! She has affectionately been nicknamed "Chubberella" she is sooooo freaking cute I could just eat her! - Mike and I seriously can not get enough of her!!

The two newest cousins!!

Emma - and the sweater that she wanted - I love it when you get something they love!!

Shayla and Meghan! Our oldest niece and youngest niece

Last but not least me and Meghan she is wearing a sleeper that says I love my Auntie - how appropriate!!

My job situation

As many of you know this time last year I was looking for work. Right after Christmas I got the job I currently have and I LOVE it!!! It is only a one year mat leave but it is in a field that I love and at a company I have always wanted to work at - I had hoped that something would come up and I would be able to stay. Unfortunately this week we heard from the lady on mat leave and she plans on returning at the end of Jan - because of the economy etc... they are not going to be able to keep me on at this time :(

As of Jan 30th I will once again be unemployed :( :(

Our new nephew Ronin!!

Well On December 15th our family was blessed with an early Christmas present - our new nephew Ronin!!

He was born 4 weeks early but weighed 5lbs 11ozs. He was in the NICU for a couple of days so unfortunately when we went to visit we were unable to see him but we were able to see a couple of pictures (below).

We now have a niece born Oct 15th, nephew Nov 15th and another nephew on Dec 15th - this makes things much easier to remember!!

Kevin and Kerith you have truly been given the best Christmas present ever - Congratulations!!!

27 month LID Anniversary!!

Well there really isn't much to say except we are one month closer to our little girl!

November 29th, 2008 marks 27 months since our LID.

In November they only referred 2 days.

MIW Dinner - November 14th

I try to attend the MIW dinners as much as possible. I must say that the last couple of times I just haven't felt up to going - I think that the wait is soooo long and I almost feel like it is something that will never come true. I feel like the more I do the more it will make it harder to cope if something happens to our adoption.

In the end I always ed up going if I am available and I am ALWAYS happy that I did. I LOVE driving in with Karen - we always have such good chats and it is so nice to have someone in my life to talk to who really "gets it" - this is also how I feel about all the mommies in waiting, once I am there I just feel like I am surrounded by people who understand and have the exact same feelings as I do.

It has been so nice to be part of this group and I cherish the dinners we have together!!!