Showered with love

I can't even begin to explain how amazing my showers were.  I had 3 separate showers and was blessed by so many people.  The amount of support poured out on us through love, prayer, gifts and time is so overwhelming to us.  This little girl is already so loved.  It is amazing!




Anna, Andrea, Nicole and Liz threw me a shower in MKE at the stone creek factory store, a beautiful location.  I'm pretty sure Jonathan and I both teared up when we walked in.  Everything was so absolutely me.  You guys nailed it!  Shelby and her family were able to come to this shower which is so amazing.  Having them there made it perfect!

My mom, Mary and sister, Peggy threw me a shower in Chicago at Portillos.  I don't know if I could have picked a better spot.  I got to eat amazing food while celebrating with people I love.  Plus, I got to see people at this shower that I hadn't seen in awhile, it was wonderful!

My mother-in-law, Janet and sister-in-laws, Krissy and Lisa threw me a shower in Palatine.  Most people at this shower were Janet's friends, some people I hadn't even met!  Everyone was so generous and we are so thankful.  The theme here was baby feet, complete with tiny sock garland.  Adorable!

Thank you all for your hard work!  

You made Jonathan and I feel so special and loved.  

oh and for those of you waiting for a hint on baby's name- it starts with an E. :)

Introducing...

Baby Girl!

We officially have a match with a birth mom due with a baby girl, due April 9th.  I can hardly believe that there will be a baby in our home in only a few short months!  Here she is:

Taken at a 24 week ultrasound that we were able to attend and see sweet baby girl.

While we are overjoyed that a baby is coming to our lives, we are equally excited about the extended family that we are gaining.  We love Shelby, birth mom, and can absolutely feel God working in our lives to bring us together.  Her faith alone would be reason to love her, but she's also sweet, funny, selfless and unbelievably considerate.  She also comes with an amazing family of believers who are backing her wholeheartedly.  Basically, it is the most perfect situation we could have ever imagined.

Baby girl does have a name (we picked one out with Shelby) but are keeping that a secret until she's born.  But stay tuned... maybe you'll get a hint soon :)

A Babymoon

I can't believe that not only is the summer over, but it's only 2 months until Christmas!  No news on a baby- we're still just waiting.  We're trying hard to stay content in this phase- but its hard!

Earlier in the summer Jonathan and I decided we'd try to go on a vacation.  We knew we could have our baby by next summer so we figured- why wait?  We decided to do a road trip going east and stop in a bunch of different places.  We camped along the way (making it as cheap as possible).  We stopped at Niagara Falls, Boston, NYC, Philadephia, Gettysburg, and a bunch of smaller places along the way.  It was unbelievably fun.  Something we will always remember.  Here are some pics :)

NIAGARA FALLS

Thanks for the yummy bread Andrea!

misty :)

We caved and got a hotel room for a few nights. :(

BOSTON

Freedom Trail.  Got to see all the important stuff.  Just follow the red line!

Where the house of reps meets.  And our super cool tour guide.

You know I look so cool.

Paul Revere's House

We climbed to the top!

USS Constitution

A beach in New Jersey

NYC

The Today Show!  Hello Martha!

Tamron's Instagram

The Met

LOVE the met!

My feet hurt.

Dean & Deluca!

overwhelmed much?

I look totally legit.

Happy Camper.

PHILADELPHIA

mmm.. cheesesteak.

The room the Declaration of Independence was signed in.

Independance Hall

I'm a nerd.

GETTYSBURG

If you squint really hard you can see a loser in the woods.

best impersonation of a mad soldier.

me and my buddy, Abe!

too cool for school.

Setting up the tent my himself- part of my gift during the trip.