Holiday Fun

Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to y'all! I was recently told by a dear friend that she could hear a slight southern drawl in my speech since we have returned from spending New Year's week in SC. Secretly, I wish I had a much stronger southern accent. 

It has been 2.5 weeks since our last trip to NY. Instead of going Christmas and New Year's weeks, the clinic scheduled us the Friday after Christmas. We were supposed to go last Wednesday, but the polar vortex happened. 

If Elijah and I don't look super thrilled to be outside in the snow, it is because we weren't. We didn't last too long out there.   

So in lieu of posting about our trips, I will post pics from our break. We started off the holidays with a little time in court. Elijah's adoption was finalized on Dec 19. We didn't make a big deal about it because it seemed final when we left the hospital, and we never once doubted his lovely birthmother's intentions. However, it is sort of the last step (minus applying for his birth certificate and social security card), so it is memorable for us. Nate's attending physician graciously gave hime the day off, so we had a nice day just the three of us. 

We hosted Christmas Eve dinner at our house, which was so fun. Nate's parents came over, as well as some good friends from church. We enjoyed the beautiful Lessons and Carols Christmas Eve service at church and then opened presents from Nate's family. 

Awesome gift from Uncle Matthew: The Mustachifier

Nate worked Christmas so Elijah and I stayed in our pjs all day and did a whole lot of nothing. Nate sneaked home for dinner (shhh don't tell his boss!). Our time in SC was wonderful. I was nervous about the 12 hour road trip with a baby but he was great and slept almost the whole time. As always, it was great to be with my family. It was especially fun since Elijah got to meet some of my extended family for the first time. Plus, he is so much more interactive and aware since my family was up shortly after his birth, so it was fun to see him interact with my parents, sisters and brother-in-law. 

Meeting Mimi (great grandma) for the first time

Great Aunt Terri, Great Uncle Howie, 2nd cousins Braydon and Jada

Snuggling with Mama's cousin Angela

        Reunited with Grandma Ina

Chubby face squeeze from Grandpa Marty

Ok, so Elijah doesn't love the chubby face squeeze yet, but my dad does it to all babies. He would probably like it better if we hadn't just taken out his NAM plate and cleaned out his mouth. Also, can I just say that my dad is a baby bath genius? Up until our trip to SC, Elijah had generally screamed at bath time. Turns out my dad is great at bath time. Also turns out that Elijah was just cold at previous bath times since I maybe had the water too cold. I mean, it wasn't cold water. I was just scared to make it too warm that it would burn him. Come on. First time mom. Lesson learned. 

Aunt Christina still has her magic touch

Entertainment by Uncle Patrick and Grandpa Marty

Lots of love from Aunt Christina and Aunt Hannah

Meeting Great Uncle Richard and the North Carolina 2nd cousins

       An exhausted little sweat pea

We headed back to Indy a day early to beat the polar vortex. I can't decide if I love or hate the name "polar vortex". It sounds ridiculous and awesome at the same time. My youngest sister Hannah made the brave trek back to IN with us. However, she didn't leave the house from when we arrived Saturday night until Thursday afternoon when I took her to the airport. She was originally supposed to go with us to NY last week, but instead we shut up in the house and played board games, baked, watched movies, and had lots of fun with Elijah. Our friend Shanda came over and spent the worst of the weather at our house, so it felt like one of our "hurricane parties" that we had when I was younger in SC. (I know severe weather is no laughing matter. I am not making light of hurricanes or other severe weather. I am just saying its nice to have quality shut in time and we were fortunate to have shelter, heat, and food.) 

Hannah is great with Elijah and her teacher spirit came through with all her educational songs. He loved her singing to him. 

I now have several of these song stuck on repeat in my head: "days of the week (snap, snap) there's Sunday and there's Monday..." (To the tune of the Addams family) or "hip-hip-hip-hippopotamus. Hip hooray God made us..." 

I miss my family like crazy, but am so thankful I got to have good quality time with them. I forgot to mention that while Elijah and I spent New Years Eve in SC, Nate spent it with some college guy friends at the Chic-Fil-A bowl to see Duke play. While it was a sad ending (note Elijah's reaction below), we are proud of Duke's football season! (Yes, that's right, I include myself in that even though I typically hate all things football, I found myself legitimately rooting for them this year.)

Elijah's pre-game vs. post game faces

We have so much to be thankful for in 2013. Too much to list. We are amazed to have so clearly seen God's provision and sovereignty this past year in adoption and cleft related things. We are excited for what he will do in 2014. We pray we will be open and willing to serve him in whatever ways he asks us.