Saturday, August 31, 2013

Bretton is a loved baby!

My hands have been full the past several days, so I haven't updated as much as I hope to. We've been busy loving on our newest addition, and we are absolutely crazy about him. :) Bretton is totally precious, and he is the sweetest most relaxed little baby. He grins all the time and has the best dimple ever on his right cheek.
I'm still at my brother's, and the kids were finally able to make it over Thursday to meet their newest baby. Then, Friday night, we were able to spend our first night as a family of 5...before the kids and Micah headed out for the beach today. I completely dislike us being apart, but it won't be long before we can all be together in our own house!
Here are a few pictures from the past couple of days...
 






 
Landry and Collier are proud...to say the least! :)

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Bretton James is Here!

Bretton James Gibson has arrived!
Born August 26th at 7:10 PM.
Weighing 8 pounds 1 ounce and measuring 21 inches long.
He is perfect, and we are blessed!






 
Birth mama is getting released now, and we will get to go "home" later tonight. Bretton and I will be staying with Uncle Tyler and Aunt Emily for a few weeks waiting on adoption paperwork to clear. Should be a party! :)
 
More pictures coming soon....I'm about to play dress-up!

Friday, August 23, 2013

Mixed Emotions...

I have talked a lot about this to some close friends, but I haven't really said it publicly yet. With the down time I have had between expecting Bretton and receiving him (still not yet!), God has given me time to slow down and think. I've been struggling with the loss of Parke lately, and even though I see God's hand at work, especially with bringing our family sweet Bretton, it is still hard to grasp everything. I received several books from friends and total strangers during our process with Parke, and I have read a few for the first time lately. They stir emotions and remind me of things that I have put in the back of my mind or heart. One that I read with the kids this morning was, "Mommy, Please Don't Cry...There Are No Tears in Heaven."
 
 
That is a really bad and blurry picture, but it's the best I can get this morning. :) Anyway, I honestly can't remember who sent it to me. I think it was the ANGELS group down at Arkansas Children's Hospital, but I'm not positive. It is signed by the author and has a sweet note inside.
 
Anyway, as I was reading it this morning, one page in particular jumped out at me. It says,
"I've met a man named Noah. He told me about his big boat, all the animals, and the very first rainbow. Have you heard of Noah, Mommy?"
 
In a way, I have thought about that often. Really, I have thought about the things that I will miss getting to "teach" Parke. The Bible stories, his numbers, colors, ABC's. That passage made it so clear to me that Parke is not missing out on anything. I know that, but I don't. He is getting to MEET and sit with and talk with the people that are only stories to us at this point. It was totally eye opening, and I loved it.
 
So, as we move forward and bring Bretton into our home and our family, it is bittersweet and full of mixed emotions. Yes, I wish Parke were still here. No, if Parke was here, we would not be adopting Bretton. Does that mean I don't want Bretton? No, it doesn't. Does that mean I would want Parke back? Yes, it does. Does it mean that I will love Bretton less? No, it doesn't. Does it mean that God has sent him for healing and completeness for our family? To me it does. Does it mean that I get to experience and see God's story for our sweet sons unfold before us in hard and real and raw form? Yes, but I am thankful to see His hand.
 
It is hard. It is sweet. It is confusing and emotional.
Bretton will have his own identity in our family. He will not always be known as just the biological cousin to Parke. He is our son...in the exact same way that Collier and Parke are. I know my emotions will change over the years, but at this point, this is where I am. I don't want Parke forgotten...I promised him he wouldn't be. I don't want anyone to feel that Bretton is a replacement for Parke's life and that our emotions of that situation are erased because of his presence.
 
I'm kind of a mess if you can't tell. I'm just feeling pulled a million ways emotionally, and the stress of waiting and waiting and waiting on Bretton has blessed me with time to think and express my emotions that probably didn't need to be pushed back.
 
I would really love your prayers as we continue on over the next few weeks. Happy, sad, real, raw, angry, joyful emotions are sure to come! :) 

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

My Timing is Off...

I have honestly been prepared for Bretton's arrival for weeks. His birth mother and I have been on the same page that he was going to come 2 weeks early, and now we are down to just a few days from his actual due date. :) She is dilated, so we are hoping we get a call very, very soon to head that way!
 
As I was looking back through pictures that I haven't made time to update, I was just thankful that I have been able to have these moments with the kids. If I had my choice of timing, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to have any of these precious moments with L and C...and I'm sure glad I got to. I don't know when I'm going to finally accept and remember that God's timing is always better than what we plan.
 
Collier's birthday was last Monday. We had been celebrating leading up to the day just in case we were gone. Ha! We woke up the morning of and got out the donuts we got just for his special day. He was so frustrated that they had sprinkles on them! He cried and picked off every sprinkle and said he wanted a "clean" donut. Cracked me up.

We've had several fun days at the park. Have you ever seen a little stinker so excited to be on his way to swing?

We made a visit to our local fire station. Collier has really started acting interested in fire trucks and gets so excited any time he sees or hears one. He loved it and was amazed by the lights!




A few cupcakes and bowls of ice cream over several days to feed mama's stress eating habits. :)

Snuggles...

Dates with my girl...


Rapunzel braids...

A day of trying potty training....FAIL.

A total meltdown at Academy Sports because one tough little brother wanted floral rain boots like his sister. So, we left with only one pair and each of them wore one. Ha!

5 year anniversary date with my love! Our real anniversary is Friday....SURELY to goodness we will have a new baby by then!

Early morning snuggles and sleeping in...
It was still so dark in our room that the flash blinded the kiddos. :) Love.

Art projects...

Digging in our dirt pile...that is now sprouting grass! (See by Collier's foot?)


More snuggles and silly faces with my favorite little companions...


And, sweet siblings caught mid-snuggle. They sure do love each other!
 
So, as I look back through all of these moments from the past few weeks, I am so thankful that I was blessed with each of them. Thank you God for these sweet memories and precious days with my 2 constantly moving toddlers...I know life is about to get a lot busier!

Sunday, August 18, 2013

I Haven't Run Away...Yet!

I have been bad about not blogging lately. We've been busy, our computer battery pooped out on us, and I've been in a constant haze waiting on Bretton's arrival. 
I'll keep you posted when he arrives and be back to blogging soon. 
:) 

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Collier's Digging in the Dirt Party

Collier had a great time at his 2nd birthday party! We had to reschedule the original date due to rain, but it worked out because a few more friends were able to be there this way! 


We had everything set up in our back yard and had a dump truck come deliver a load of dirt about 15 minutes into the party. 





The dirt was damp, and it was LOUD when the truck tried to dump it. Some of the kiddos didn't like the noise much, but they cheered up pretty quickly. :) 

We had shovels and trucks ready for digging, and the kids seemed to have a great time! 

Collier ran to the top of the dirt pile, first thing, and stood up there forever. It seemed like he knew it was all about him that day. :) 


I made "dirt" dessert, and the gummy worms were a big hit. I think Collier ate 10! 


And, in the end, we mixed a little real dirt with the fake stuff! 



Somebody grabbed a water bottle, and the dirt turned into mud!!

Micah decided to hose the kids down before they went home. Have you ever seen a little girl so determined to make it to the water hose? Hilarious. 


The hose wasn't working fast enough, so we ended up just using the sprinklers. 

Collier had the BEST time and was totally worn out after the party...that's what it's all about! I loved getting to celebrate my sweet boy turning 2! Next August, we will be having TWO boy birthday parties....oh my!