May 26, 2009

the BIG surprise

A few weeks ago, there was a loud rap on the front door and I opened it to see our friendly UPS man with a package for us. We were not expecting anything.
Our apartment was quiet. Beau was sleeping and although friends & family were in town, they were out on a walk. Pierre and I sat on the carpet and used his key to slice the tape.

The box was full of pink tissue paper and an ultrasound picture lay on top saying "It's a girl!" My heart immediately dropped to my knees. Could this package possibly be for us? Maybe there's a mistake. I sure hope it's for us.

I'm not sure how much time passed while the two of us were starring at the little profile in the photograph before we realized that the package may hold more answers.

We pulled up the tissue paper and we both scrambled to grab the letter.
Dear Pierre, Sera and Beau,
...Congratulations! I'm writing this the night before my ultrasound so I have no idea what you are having
[This is when the gasps and tears began.] Most people reading our blog don't know this, but it is unlikely that we will have more biological children. When we found this out, we both felt impressed that our family could be blessed through adoption. We began the adoption application process last September.

So you can understand our total SHOCK when we received this package out of the blue from S. To clarify, we have known S (and her family) for a long time and we knew S was pregnant but we understood that she was definitely parenting.

Little did we know that S had actually chosen us several weeks earlier but decided to keep it a secret so she could also surprise us once she found out the baby's gender (she had her ultrasound and sent the package overnight.) Needless to say, we will NEVER forget opening that package and the rush of emotions. We have been on cloud nine ever since.
It is so magical to think that we could actually have a little girl in September!!! It is so humbling to think of S blessing us in a way we could never do for ourselves. S sent all this. (The bib says, "I love my big brother." The BYU onesie matches one Beau wore in a previous post. S is so thoughtful.) She also sent a DVD of the ultrasound! We saw her kicking like crazy and rubbing her eyes and even got to listen to her rapid little heartbeat.
This is her beautiful little face. See the little nose and the pouted lips?

May 23, 2009

Wednesday Night


On Wednesday night, the young men at church held a car wash to earn money for scout camp.

While Dustinn's with the young men, I'm with the sweet activity girls (ages 8 to 11.) During the week, I had this image (in my head) of one of the little girls being sad and feeling alone. So on Wednesday night, we did a short lesson on trials and made "emergency care kits."
On card stock, the girls listed 3 people they could talk to, who loved them unconditionally. (And we stopped & talked about the word "unconditional." This person will not love you any less if you are in trouble or did something "wrong"; they will always be there for you.) On the bottom half of the card they listed 5 activities that make them feel better when they are sad.

I brought the cards home to laminate them and saw that two of the girls had listed my name as a person they could talk to who loves them unconditionally. It really touched my heart that I could be "that person" for these little girls.

May 16, 2009

Happy Birthday Val!

I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful wife. The past few weeks have been very busy at work, so Val made me my favorite dessert: trifle! Happy Birthday Val, and thank you for being so good to me (the trifle was amazing!)
Here's a random Bradshaw picture from today that I like...

May 13, 2009

The National Zoo

This is a shrew. It reminds me somewhat of Gonzo from the muppets.
Bradshaw announced each upcoming animal by their noises. So cute.
This is my sister Katy and Bradshaw the day before she left us. =(

Gravelly Point

We came for the airplanes, but Bradshaw went crazy chasing the ducks.
Bradshaw & his KT

May 10, 2009

Our hearts are very full today. Happy Mother's Day one and all!

May 9, 2009

Picnic at Hains Point

My favorite thing to do this time of year is go on picnics. Everything is SO GREEN! And it is perfect weather to lie on blanket under the shade of a tree. I swear it's heaven.
This park (Hains Point) is one of our favorites because the entire park is a peninsula jutting into the Potomac.
Bradshaw flirting with Lamia & Jessica

May 7, 2009

May 6, 2009

I've found my dream house!

It's just a little ol' place called Mount Vernon. The old tenants, George & Martha, have moved out so perhaps it is available.
the backyard + view of the Potomac

Feel free to visit us in our new home. Bradshaw has become quite the gracious little host. =)

May 2, 2009

I'm just a bill...

...sittin' here on Capitol Hill
(Remember School House Rock songs? I loved 'em.)
Our favorite things about the Capitol Building:
-echo points
-John Trumbull paintings
-Brigham Young statue
-Bradshaw dancing around the fountain: