Welcome Home, Laney Lewis

I wish I could describe the excitement that was felt on Monday night @ 8:00 as our dear friends Kristin and Todd walked through gate A17 with their new baby Laney Lewis! With many butterflies in my stomach, Ella and I arrived there with much anticipation to finally be able to meet this little girl that has been such a huge part of our lives already. It was the perfect homecoming for the Lewis family! It was such joy to be able to finally celebrate in person with my dear friends!!


Melissa and I made shirts for Joshua and Ella that said Welcome Home Laneybug!


Our first look at the new family!

































































Laney was so happy to see her grandad!

I Love Technology!!

Last Sunday night I talked Heath into buying me a webcam so I could talk to Kristin, Todd and Laney while they were in Taiwan. It took much convincing but because of his sweet side, he bought me one and it has been worth every penny! I have had such a fun week with technology! Kristin and Laney, and me and Ella have gotten the chance to have many special conversations through our webcams! Ella and Laney already have had a chance to solidify that best friend relationship that Kristin and I so badly want them to have. Laney is amazing! They have had the best week. When they imagined for all those months of their perfect baby and the perfect situation and the perfect week, they had know idea how close they would get to those dreams. This week has proven how good the Lord is and how well He has taken care of them and Laney because all of those perfect things that they pictured in their heads have happened. It could not be any better! I'm sure most of you have been keeping up with them on her journal, but if you haven't here are a few of my favorite pictures! I can't wait until Monday night @ 7:45!! Only 2 more days!


Peter and Melissa came over Friday night for a few hours to help Heath and I move (which is a totally different yucky story), and Melissa and I got to talk to Kristin and Laney with our babies! I guess it could be their first official playdate!

Clip On Bows!

Great news...Ella actually has enough hair now to put a bow in her hair that CLIPS on! I am definitely not going to abandon the adorable bows that attach to a headband, especially since the clip bows can't stay latch on for longer than a few minutes due to her super fine hair. But, I discovered this last week when Ella and I went over to Kristin's to help her pack all of Laney's stuff for Taiwan! Since Laney and Ella are about the same exact size, Kristin wanted to try a few outfits and hats on Ella to make sure they would fit her Laney. And then we thought it would be fun to attach ALL of Laney's hair bows in Ella's hair, or should I say Kristin thought it would be funny!! And it was!

Christmas Day!!

Wow..I can't believe it is already the end of January and I sitll have not posted our Christmas day! I couldn't pass it up because there are some pictures that are too cute! It was a fabulous day! And we were totally rid of the nasty stomach virus!

My favorite Christmas present!


So my new favorite store is called BabyStyle. Heath's mom and sisters got Ella this adorable lamb chair and rug from there! I absolutely love it!

And now with all of her Christmas stuffed animals.


One of the many adorable presents from her Grandad and Grandma Angel!

This is the dinosaur toy that Heath and I got her.

They're Off!!!

We have been waiting for this day for months and it has finally come! When I say we, I mainly mean Todd and Kristin Lewis! But also me and lots of other family and friends that have walked along with them on this journey. Todd and Kristin left just an hour ago for Taiwan to bring their precious baby, Laney home! This morning Ella and I went to the airport to see them off and it was a very emotional time for all of us. Kristin and I have been through the ups and downs of this last year together and to see it now totally unfold into God's perfect plan was a blessing and a pouring out of tears! In just 10 days, Ella and I will be back at that airport, with anxious knots in my stomach, as we wait for that family of 3 to step through the gate!! They will be posting videos and pictures while they are away, so to keep updated click on the Kristin and Laney link to the left.

Christmas Eve and Stomach Viruses

Christmas Eve morning I woke up to my husband throwing up in the bathroom. Because I am totally over emotional, I put Ella back in her crib and shut her nursery door in hopes to block out the evil germs and then started bawling. I hate to hear anyone throw up, it's so sad and I was convinced that Ella's first Christmas was ruined. Her dada was going to be home sick all weekend. After a few minutes I composed myself somewhat and Heath and I talked about how he would stay home today (Christmas Eve) and rest and then should be better for Christmas day. His stomach virus didn't come as a complete surprise. My poor baby got it 2 weeks before Christmas. She was totally fine, playing on the floor and then all of the sudden started throwing up. I thought it was a fluke because babies throw up a lot. Well, then 10 minutes later she did it again. That's when I knew this was not a fluke and I begin to be extremely worried. Ella continued to throw up for 3 hours!!! She is amazingly strong. After she was done throwing up, she slept all night and was back to normal the next morning. The rest of the family however was not. I was the next to get it, then my mom and then Heath's mom. My father and Heath were so proud that they had missed it. Well, on our way home from Missouri, my dad called us and he was sick with it, then the next morning Heath was. So it wasn't a surprise, but I was still devastated that Heath had to miss Christmas Eve with my dad's family in Mansfield. But it turned out to be a fantastic day and I once again overeacted.


What do you do when you get a new snow globe for Christmas?

You taste it, of course!

Forget the presents, I've got ribbon!

cousins, Zach and Ethan

Meeting Santa Clause

I think the real Santa Clause works at Silver Dollar City!













Ella was so sleepy when she met him and he held her so gently and talked so sweetly to her. She stared at him and touched his beared. It was precious.