Two girls and a roadtrip

Last weekend, Teegen and I took a road trip to my hometown, to attend a baby shower for my cousin and just spend some quality time with family. I was a little apprehensive about traveling that distance by myself for the first time. But the trip went off without a hitch, and I was even able to get the pack-n-play together without cursing.

The little girl got tons and tons of love and I'm pretty sure that someone was holding her all the time. Teegen and her great-grandmother spent some quality time bonding while making dumplings. And my sister and I attempted a photo shoot with T and Annie. I hope that they will be more cooperative when they are a bit older.

Learning how to make dumplings with MaMa.

Maybe I shouldn't have eaten all those dumplings! Check out that belly

I'm not sure about the photo shoot!

Take #7

Don't we look cute in our matching dresses!

Exhausted from all the love!

Adventures in Bathing

Teegen is still not sure about bathtime. Sometimes she acts like she's going to like it and other times not so much.

A little ray of sunshine to warm up the bath water

This might be alright today. Water is warm, soap smells nice...

This is the life. Now, where's the jacuzzi?

I'm still enjoying this. That mommy really knows her bath stuff.

Alright, enough is enough! I'm outta here.

Dry and warm at last!

More to come soon!

Picture Pages, Take 2

Today marks one month since we brought Teegen home from the hospital! It's amazing how your life can change so quickly. I seriously wonder what we did before she came along. Here a some recent pictures of our princess!

One month ago!

Modeling her new dress, practicing for Project Runway

Look, Mommy, I said no more pictures!

Seriously Mom, these socks don't match!

Could someone please hurry up and find me something to wear?

You know, they say a milk bath is good for the skin.

My dad makes a great pillow.

That's my best friend Thorn. He came to visit on Sunday. We had a great time!

Should I start a braces fund now or later?

My friend Kim caught this at her son's birthday party. I'm thinking of starting a orthodontia fund. Any donations?

One Month Old!

One month ago, we received the news that would forever change our lives, the news that we had a daughter waiting for us to meet her and bring her home. We were filled with excitement and anticipation as we stepped into the hospital and met her birthmother, and then laid eyes on our girl. She was so small and I didn't have a clue what I should be doing. I was surprised at my emotions. I had assumed all along that I would be a bawling mess when I saw her, but instead I was filled with this indescribable joy and peace.

And while our lives have changed so drastically, I don't remember what we did before she entered the family. She is simply incredible. And I could stare at her for days.

I have to confess that I was a bit apprehensive about having a daughter, particularly since I grew up without a mom. There has always been a void in my being, longing to come full circle. Last night, as Teegen laid across my shoulder, our hearts beating on top of one another, I realized that we had come full circle. It was one of the most meaningful moments she and I have shared. Of course, she was asleep, but it was meaningful to me.

Enough with the sap, here's an update on the girl.

• Teegen now weighs 8 lbs, 9 ozs. She gained almost a pound in one week
• She sleeps a lot and poops a lot.
• She is a messy eater. I usually end up covered in formula.
  
• She is waking up twice a night.
• She has almost outgrown her newborn clothes.
• Teegen is starting to like the bathtub. We're not quite to loving the bath, but she doesn't hate it anymore.
• She will only burp for her dad. And when she does, you would think it was a grown man.
• She is starting to be more and more alert.
• Loves "Puff, the Magic Dragon" and anything by Kenny Chesney, if mommy is singing.

Chillin' in the bouncer

Don't touch the binky!

See, I can do more than sleep, Mom!

Okay, so maybe all I do is sleep.

Tobie is right by her side when she cries!

Baby Shower!!!!

On Sunday, several of my closest friends threw Teegen an incredible baby shower. There were tons of people there to meet the littlest member of our family, tons of great food (thanks to my cousin Jeanell, who is an awesome chef) and tons of fun. I continue to be amazed at how many people love this little girl. And I continue to be overwhelmed at the outpouring of generosity shown to us. Here are a few pictures.

Delicious cake, filled with whipped cream and strawberries. My niece Sophie ate all the fondant people on the cake. I hope her stomach didn't hurt!

Sophie loves Teegen. Here is a close up shot of T's dress, which didn't fit when we were out West. That girl is growing.

All of the shower gifts. Now you can see why I'm feeling overwhelmed. People have been so generous.

A special blanket for a special girl.

Her first monogram!

Her first tye-dye. Her mom may have to get a matching one!

The shower was such a fabulous event. We are so thankful to everyone involved.

My First Photo Shoot

Teegen had her first professional photo shoot the other day, thanks to our good friend Kim. Teegen was asleep for a majority of the time. Here are some of my favorites!

Why is that strange boy staring at me?

A Teegen Burrito

Tiny toes, Big love

I've already got mom wrapped around my little finger

That was mom's favorite stuffed animal growing up!

Does life get any sweeter?

Thanks Kim for doing this!

Becoming Three

I promised to write more about how we came to be a family of three, so here goes nothing.

As I mentioned in a previous post, Larry and I signed up with an agency located out west the beginning of May. We continued with our initial agency, however felt that things were simply not moving forward. We would later come to find out that in fact, that was at a standstill. But that is an entirely different story.

So, we signed up with this agency and sent out our profiles. We were open to any race and either gender, and were hopeful that things would move quickly.

Throughout May, we heard from the agency frequently and had a few glimmers of hope that our child was just around the corner. At the same time, we tried not to get our hopes up. We started to focus on things that we needed to get done at home and contemplated taking a vacation, which we hadn't done in a couple of years.

On Monday, June 16th, Larry called me at work and told me that he knew where we should go on vacation. The conversation went a little like this:

Larry: So, I've been thinking and I know where I want to go on vacation.
Megan: Oh, yeah, that's nice...where?
Larry: Somewhere out west (He actually said where, but I'm trying to preserve somethings for Teegen)
Megan: Okay, well what would we do Somewhere Out West?
Larry: How about pick up our daughter?
Megan: SHUT UP!

The conversation continued with me repeatedly saying Shut Up! in utter disbelief. In fact, one of my coworkers stepped in to make sure everything was okay. We told no one until we had heard more from the agency. And once we heard more, we told everyone who would listen.

That week went by so quickly, yet so dreadfully slow at the same time. There were moments riddled with anxiety and tears of joy and sadness. But finally the day came for us to board an airplane and head Somewhere Out West.

After over 12 hours of traveling, we finally met Teegen. Due to a traumatic birth, she spent several days in the NICU, with an incredible group of nurses. She was thriving by the time we got to meet her and continues to thrive at home.

There were moments throughout the days we were in a hotel room Somewhere Out West, when the enormity of the situation and the intensity of the emotions we were feeling became overwhelming. I said to Larry at least twice that I didn't know if I could go through that again, but then I would look at Teegen and realize I could.

A year ago, we were mired down in the great fingerprint debacle of 2007, anticipating a son from Vietnam. Today, I sit here with my three week old daughter, trying to wrap my head around the fact that I'm fortunate enough to get to be her mom.

Here's the first picture of us as a family:

Introductions

The last few days have been a bit hectic for us, to say the least. Here are a few photos of Teegen meeting some of those people who love her and have been waiting patiently for her!

Meeting Pop at the airport

Meeting Sophie

It's nice to meet you, MaMa

Annagrace is so excited to have a new cousin

Saying hello to Thorn and Leanne

Meeting Auntie Hannah

Big sister saying hello to her new little sister