Four days at Grandmother Lane's

After meeting with the attorney in Birmingham, we drove to east Alabama. Grandmother Lane (Nathan's mom's mom) welcomed us into her home for the week while we waited for ICPC (interstate) clearance to take Hannah home.
It was such a relief to relax in a home, not be on the road, and not eat in restaurants! Grandmother made her home ours and we loved the time with her. Nathan's parents visited us twice during the week (since their home in Georgia is only an hour from Grandmother's just across the Alabama border) and Grandmother Garner came the first night too.
And Thursday evening, we got the call - clearance from both states! So, after packing up and one more visit Friday, we made the trek home. The four-and-a-half hour drive took us seven. . . guess I'd forgotten how long (and how many) stops are with a baby too! So happy to arrive home Friday evening!

Meeting extended family!

After supper in Albertville with Amy and Anna, we went back to our "new" hotel room and enjoyed a visit from Nathan's sister Talitha and family. It was a joy to introduce Hannah to her Aunt Talitha, Uncle Stephen, and cousins Lane (9), Patrick (7), Laoise and Gavin (4) and to spend the evening together. Let me tell you, that little hotel room was a happening place with such a reunion including six children!
The next morning, we got up early and started down the road again - to meet with the adoption attorney in Birmingham (first business day since placement on Saturday). Nothing like a quiet, relaxed time to adjust to life with a new baby!

Words of wisdom

Being a helpful big sister, Abigail decided to share some of her great wisdom with her new baby sister. Hannah didn't always enjoy our road trips between points in Alabama. One day (Sunday or Monday) she was protesting confinement in her car seat and Abigail did all she could to console her - assurances that she was okay, shushing, asking Mommy to try the pacifier again, and singing Jesus Loves Me at the top of her lungs. All to no avail. Finally, she delivered the ultimatum. We heard, "Now Hannah, you have two choices. You can be quiet. . . and Jesus Loves You" (not delivered as a choice at all). Guess she's been listening. Sort of.

Amy and Anna

Sunday evening we met and ate supper at Santa Fe with Julia's long time "Alabama friends" Amy and Anna. We had such fun catching up and were delighted to introduce our new daughter to them. (Funny thing, they - and Amy's sister Bonnie - were the first people we met the day we were engaged nearly seven years ago!)

Family bonding times

During the first part of our Alabama wait, we stayed in hotels. All of these pictures were taken in our room and we did the family picture with the timer. It was actually nice to have some opportunity to adjust and bond without the normal distractions. (Of course, the travels began the second day, and so then we started a new learning curve!)

Hannah's "Gotcha Day"

Sorry for the lack of posts this past week - life has been busy! We were happy to return home last Friday (after waiting a week in Alabama for interstate paperwork clearances). The next day we welcomed family (Julia's side hadn't met Hannah yet!) and Sunday we celebrated Charlotte's 23rd birthday. And then the first couple of days of adjustment (and mountains of laundry!) with Nathan back at work. . . I'll try to catch up. We do have LOTS of pictures from the past ten days. =)
Let's back up. . . to Hannah's Gotcha Day. Though we had no idea until a few days before, our loving Father has always known he would add sweet Hannah to our family on February 7, 2009! After Hannah's two days in the hospital following birth, she spent a week with a private foster family in Alabama waiting for her "forever family." (Alabama has a five day period where the birthmother can change her mind following signing consents and so Angel Adoptions doesn't place babies with adoptive families until that time has expired.)
Saturday morning a week and a half ago we left our Alabama hotel very eagerly and drove to the Bartletts' home to meet and receive Hannah. Guess I told that story below. . . So, here are the pictures!

Tuesday pics of Hannah

Hannah loves her pacifier! And she can strike some pretty dramatic poses (and put on a convincing act that diaper changes are cruel and unusual punishment).
We're grateful to be able to spend the next few days (while waiting for ICPC clearance to leave the state) with Nathan's grandmother. Homes and family are so much nicer than hotels - especially for life with little ones!

Hannah and Abigail on Sunday

Hannah's ten days old!
Our sweet girls were bathed and dressed and ready to drive to another part of Alabama to visit Nathan's sister Talitha and her family (six cousins together - pictures once we're home) as well as friends Amy and Anna.

We're together!!!

Hannah Elisabeth
Born January 29, 2009
6 lbs. 8 oz.
Joined her "forever family" February 7, 2009 (9 days old)


O magnify the Lord with us and let us exalt his Name together! The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy!

This morning at 10:05 we met our new little daughter Hannah Elisabeth! My heart nearly overflowed (and my eyes did) as I held her for the first time. And seeing Nathan and Abigail with her was absolutely precious. We spent the next two and a half hours (while holding Hannah of course!) visiting with the family who has cared for Hannah the past seven days and with the director of Angel Adoptions. Then we drove east to our hotel and have enjoyed the afternoon and evening together. Lots of details to share another time - time to attempt sleep!

Oh, we took lots of pictures on the camera and planned to share them, but my SD card doesn't fit into this laptop - and I failed to bring the USB converter - so these e-mailed from the cell phone will have to do for now.


Thank you to those of you who have prayed with us with us throughout this day as well as the days and months preceding!

Her name is

Hannah Elisabeth!

Amazing "coincidence"
Remember our recent post "A family just ahead of us" (see below)? We don't know Zach and Kim or anything more about them than what's in that YouTube clip, but we're adopting Hannah through the very same agency in Alabama and the same lady who cared for Mya is caring for Hannah until we arrive! (We had no connection with Angel Adoptions until yesterday - but were referred to them through our original agency Special Link!)

Baby news!!!

Lord willing, a one-week-old baby girl in Alabama will be our daughter in two days!

After paperwork arrives by Fed-Ex tomorrow morning, we plan to have fingerprints done and some things notarized and then we’ll be on our way. The placement (meaning: baby in our arms!) is scheduled for Saturday late morning. Thank you so much for praying with us – please continue!

We’ll post an announcement and pictures as soon as we can.
The very excited family

Baby news!!!

Lord willing, a one-week-old baby girl in Alabama will be our daughter in two days!

After paperwork arrives by Fed-Ex tomorrow morning, we plan to have fingerprints done and some things notarized and then we’ll be on our way. The placement (meaning: baby in our arms!) is scheduled for Saturday late morning. Thank you so much for praying with us – please continue!

We’ll post an announcement and pictures as soon as we can.
The very excited family

Special package

A little friend stayed with us the week of January 18. Liviya's parents were in Florida for her daddy to speak at Clearwater and Abigail, especially, was delighted to have another child here full-time!
On Monday, a giant package arrived from California and Abigail got to open her special birthday present from Auntie Lai Lai, Uncle Brian, Rose Marie, Autumn and Havilah. . . with Liviya's help of course. =) Finding a new baby doll inside thrilled Abigail more than anything else she could could have discovered (except maybe a real baby). After a day or so, she decided to name her new baby "Rosie." Thank you, friends! Abigail's little "family" is growing and keeps her busy. =)

Trip to see Granddaddy L

January 16 and 17 found us in Georgia and Alabama (back and forth across the border). Nathan's grandfather had a series of strokes immediately prior to our visit and we were grateful to be able to spend some time with him. Towards the end of the visit, Nathan and Granddaddy (and Grandmother) conversed about salvation and eternity. We pray that Granddaddy will trust in Christ alone!
We enjoyed spending time with other members of the family as well, including Nathan's Aunts Kelly and Donna. Just before heading home, Grandmother G joined us for supper with Mom and Dad.