some big news!!

So, we took a trip out to Utah about a month ago. We went to visit Peter's family and had a blast. Well, toward the end of our trip we got a phone call. It was from our adoption caseworker out here in Rhode Island. She had some news for us which took us completely by surprise! She told us that there was a birthmom out in Utah who wanted to meet us. She had chosen us as the family she wanted her baby to go to when he/she is born in December. We cried and hugged and I probably jumped up and down once or twice or three times. But we didn't tell Peter's family right away. We wanted to wait until we knew for sure we'd be able to meet her while we were out there. Once we had an appointment and things felt a bit more certain we told our families the exciting news.

We got to meet our wonderful birthmom a couple of days later, just 4 days before we would be flying home to Rhode Island! It turned out that our birthmom also wasn't going to be in Utah much longer, but would be going back to her hometown in another state in two days. We saw it as a miracle that we happened to be in the same place at the same time when she made her decision about us. She told us that she thought she might not get to meet us at all until the baby was born since we lived so far away, but when she found out we were in Utah at the time she couldn't believe it!

Our first visit with her was awesome. We loved her right away (just like we did with Sam's birthmom), which was really incredible! It was amazing to see how many similarities we have with her and her family. She wanted to meet us before making her final decision, so it was a bit nerve racking going into the visit. Once we sat and talked with her for a while though, it all felt so natural and it just felt good. After about 2 hours of talking with her and her mom and her aunts we all said goodbye, but planned another time to see eachother the next day for a picnic in a nearby park. This time they wanted us to bring Sam along so she could meet him, too.

The next day at the park our birthmom gave us something. In our first visit we somehow got on the topic of how nerdy hip-packs are. Peter piped up and defended them by saying how convenient they were and how he would wear one if he had one. At the park our birthmom gave us a hip-pack. Hilarious. We thought it was just a gag gift, but she told us to open it up. At first we didn't really understand what was in it, but then everyone in her family got their cameras out and it made me wonder what was going on.

So, here we are opening up the hip-pack and seeing what's inside:

Here's what is was:

Instantly we all started to cry and Sam just wondered what was going on. Peter and I each hugged her. For those of you who haven't ever known a birthmom then just trust me when I tell you that in that moment you feel like you are hugging an angel, and you are. It's difficult to describe, but we feel so much love for her and her family. They have just pulled us in like we are part of their family. Our birthmom told us that before she found a family she felt like her baby was homeless because she knew adoption was the right thing for her to do. Then, once she found us she said she feels like her baby now has a home and that everything will work out right. It brings us so much peace to know her and see her courage and strength. She really is an angel in our eyes.

I waited to make the big announcement here until we found out if she would be having a boy or a girl. We found out last week that we'll be bringing home a little brother for Sam! We are so excited! Now I feel like I can buckle down in all the little preparations that come with a new little baby. I love that part:)

Sam is super excited to be a big brother sometime around December 30th! I hope I'll be able to keep up with two boys!!! If they're both this cute and hilarious then I think I'll be all right.