Excited for 2018!

I realized this week that it has been awhile since we have posted a blog update. I'm sorry about that. Honestly, not a whole lot has been going on with our adoption journey until more recently.

We chose a name back in November. We had agreed with the EM (expectant mother), that we would choose the first name and she would choose the middle name. We chose the name Evelyn, Evie for short. It's funny because I thought that choosing a name would be hard, but once we heard Evelyn (Evie), we just knew that it was right. EM chose the middle name, Joy, which we love! And it is very fitting because Evelyn means "life" and we can only imagine this baby girl will have a "joyous life". We also love that her name will honor relatives from both of our families. Evelyn was my great-grandma Nellie's middle name and Joy is Chris' step-grandmother's name.

On Dec. 26th, we went with our EM to a doctor appointment. Everything seems to be going fine and she is now scheduled to go weekly for check ups until Evie is ready to meet all of us. We found out our EM's birth plan, which is exciting! We will be notified when she goes into labor. She wants us to be at the hospital and to have time with the baby. She would also like to have time with the baby. Her counselor said that sometimes the hospital will give adoptive parents a separate room to stay in at the hospital, as long as there is space, so we are hoping that is the case. At the doctor appointment, EM asked if I would like to be in the room for delivery. I told her yes, as long as she is comfortable with that, so I think I will be able to be in the room for the birth! This appointment was really nice because it was just our EM and us (in the past, a few of her other children were with us). It was nice to spend time just with our EM and to have a conversation with her. I really do like her, enjoy being around her and care about her.

Over winter break one of my biggest goals was to find a babysitter for Evie once my maternity leave is over. I was putting this task off mainly because I had no idea what I was doing and also because it is nerve wrecking finding someone to take care of the most precious and important thing in your life. Thankfully we found someone that I am confident will be great with Evie, which is a huge relief!

Other than that, we are just waiting. We have been doing a little more work on the nursery, but it is mostly done. We washed the baby items that we have, lined up a pediatrician and are just trying to prepare as best as possible, as we count down the days...hours...minutes, until she comes. I can't even begin to explain the feelings I have even when I think of her. Guys, this is going to be the BEST YEAR EVER and I am so glad you are all a part of it with us! Thank you!!!