And here's to our next journey - a family of 4!!!

I can't believe it's been 3 months since I have blogged last but a lot has happened in the last 13 weeks. Jack is going to be a big brother! Yes we are pregnant! God definately had a plan in store for us to become a family - just didn't know He would bump us to a family of four all within a year. January 11th we are expecting our new bundle of joy and we are so excited! Miracles do happen I guess!

Meanwhile Jack is continuing to grow and change like never before. He is very good at constantly babbling and trying to talk to everything around him. He loves his baby Bumbo seat and activity walker. He thinks he is hot stuff as he becomes older. He also has started cereal which he LOVES! But he has always been a great eater since birth! I am looking forward to many other milestones that Jack will meet in the next year. I can't believe he is going to be 6 months this month. Time flies by so fast. Well this is the end of this blog but the beginning of a new one yet to be created.... Family of 4 Please?! will debut later this month so we hope you can join me there. I will post the link as soon as I get it up and running! :) Thank you all for your support as we went through this journey to become a family! We can't imagine life without Jack - he is the most amazing thing in our lives and we are so proud that God has entrusted him to us.

3 Months already?!!!!

Jack turned 3 months old on April 20th! Can you believe it?! It is so hard to believe it's already been 3 months. He is growing so much and is changing every day. Everytime we blink he has changed it seems. On his 3 month birthday I called the doctor to see if I could bring him in to get him weighed and measured for his baby book. They laughed and asked if this was my first baby! I said yes and they commented many new moms want their babies weighed every month with their first. I couldn't believe how big Jack was when we weighed him ---- 13 lbs. He was measuring at 24 inches in length! Such a big boy and good eater - up to 5 oz. every 3.5 hours. However he is sleeping from 9:00PM to 4:30AM without any wakeups! (crossing my fingers this continues).

Growing up so fast!!!!

Jack is developing and growing so fast it's almost hard to believe!!! At his last doctor's appointment (2 mos. checkup) he weighed 10lbs 12 oz and was 23.5 inches long!!! Jack is lifting his head completely on his own on his tummy and looks around the room even. He has started smiling and occasionally giggling.


Jack's First Smile - I actually caught it on camera!!!!



2 months old today! March 20,2012

Jack turned 2 months old on March 20 and it was a great day! Mommy (me) made a lemon cheesecake tart from the Martha Stewert show to celebrate. Unfortunately Jack had a doctor's visit that ended in 3 shots, but he did very well. Only cried for 3 minutes and calmed down with some cuddling from Mommy!!! We came home and he wanted to be in his swing....then he slept....he slept... and slept... and slept some more!!! Grandma Wurmnest and Aunt Jenna came down for dinner since Daddy was in Joliet for training and he even slept through their visit!!!

9 weeks old in my chair!

10 weeks old today! (Look - I'm Mike Wizowski!)

We have been spending a lot of time outside this week because it has been unusually warm for this time of year - 89 degrees on Sunday!!! We got the hammock out and rocked in it - Jack likes the hammock! We also bought a new jogger stroller for outdoor use and we LOVE it!! Jack and I try to go on at least 1 if not 2 walks a day (weather permitting)! Jack likes the outdoors and sleeps really well after being outside!

in my new stroller on a walk

I love being outside on the hammock - even with this giant sun hat on my head!

Jack got his first pictures taken with a professional photographer - Lindsey K! She did Mommy and Daddy's wedding pictures. I can't wait to see how they turned out but I did get some pictures during the photo shoot on my camera to share until the professional ones come in! Here are some samples....

Easter Sunday is coming up quickly this week and Jack's Easter basket is full!!! We have his Easter outfit already and can't wait to see it on him! We did visit the Easter Bunny yesterday at the Hickory Point Mall and it was quite fun (for Mommy anyways)! Jack did very well and just kind of chilled out in the Easter Bunny's arms this year!

Jack's First picture with the Easter Bunny 2012!

Working with the Baby Whisperer!

Several of my friends have talked about the book "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer." So I decided to buy a copy on ebay. WOW! This book is amazing and compliments the Babywise book I had read 2 weeks ago. Jack and I started putting some of this into practice yesterday and we got great naps, great feeds, and a very happy baby ALL DAY LONG! :) I feel like I am connecting more to Jack by communicating with him on a different level - figuring out his cues, body language, and cries!

My two amazing books about babies!

Jack is growing so much day by day and it just amazes me how fast it all goes! Last week we went to the doctor and he recommended gas drops for a while if Jack has trouble burping after a feeding. However that wasn't going very well either - so we started Jack on probiotics which is 100% natural and seems to be working. If it didn't work the doctor wanted to put him on a Soy-based formula instead - hopefully we won't have to do that but if we do - we do.

At that doctor's appointment they weighed Jack and he was 9 lbs 2 oz. and 21.5 inches long! He is growing so much! We have moved him into almost all 0-3 month clothing and he has moved into size 1 diapers! :) Time flies when you're having fun I guess!

Amused with my Discovery playmat!

Getting an opinion of my own

Reading with Mommy!



Bathtime with Mommy in my new Pooh robe and slippers!



Napping with Daddy!





Becoming a Mom....

It's officially happened... I finally feel like I have crossed over to Mommy-hood! Jack and I have our daytime routines including feeding, activity time, and naptime! Jack LOVES his new activity/discovery mat by Baby Einstein! He has become so much more active in the past week or so! He loves the mirror and rattles on the activity mat! He can even lift his head to a certain degree! WOW!

Tummy time!

My mommy instincts are kicking in as well. Jack has been more fussy after eating and I have this feeling it's his tummy. No matter how long, which postition, etc we burp him in he still won't burp consistently each feeding. So we have been using infant gas drops when needed and they help a little, but I am taking him to the doctor today to make sure it's not acid reflux. I hope not - but I want Jack to feel better!

Here are some great pictures from my 4 days at my grandparents house!

Bathtime at Grandma and Grandpa Waughop's House

With great-aunt Betty, Grandma Waughop, and great-aunt Terry



With Great-Grandpa Aupperle!



Ah the joys of parenthood...

Jack turned a month old yesterday! I can't believe he is already that old - seems like we just went to Memphis the other day! Time flies when you are having fun!


Thinking in my Thinking Chair...



Ready for my close-up


We tried to see how long Jack would sleep at night without us waking him up every 3 1/2 to 4 hours - He went about 5 on his own but his schedule got majorly messed up. He got crankier and wouldn't take more than a 45 minute nap, etc. So I have begun reading BabyWise. Today we established a routine that works for Jack much better. He has been napping for 1.5 hours so far and still going. I am not as interested in the feeding routine as much as the sleeping routine. I had been doing something completely backwards - naptime after active/awake time instead of naptime after feeding. He did much better with this routine. The home study agency is coming today for post-placement home study visit #1. Gotta finish picking up before they get here!

Hanging out with Mommy before bedtime!




I look so cute in my hoodie!!!



Jack's Neverland Nursery

Mobile Mommy made for me - over the changing table

My crib and rocking chair

The beginning of my library of books!

My nursery

Peter Pan Wall Decal over my crib

Adoption Day!

Today we were in Chicago for Jack's official adoption custody court appearance in Illinois. We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel on Michigan Ave. last night and it was a great time. The hotel sent up champagne to congratulate us on the great day! We took it home instead so we could celebrate another time. We went to the Daley Center at 7:30AM and were done by 10:00! We have official custody of Jack and will recieve final paperwork in July or August with his new birth certificate, etc. It was a great day ending with a stop at IKEA for some items for Jack's new nursery.... pictures of the nursery to come!

Daddy, Mommy, and Jack with the Deputy Sheriff getting Jack's Jr. Deputy Badge and court summons!



With our Illinois Lawyer, Kathleen Hogan Morrisson





Some more pics of Jack!

Jack continues to change each and every day! It amazes me how many expressions and funny things he does! He is the light of my life and the joy in his Daddy's heart! We can't even begin to express how much love we have for this little guy and a special love for his birthparents! This is the greatest gift anyone could ever give and we will forever be thankful!

Doctors Visits and more visits....

Once we got home the first person who really needed to check Jack out was our pediatrician Dr. Rauch! We had a visit that first Friday and Dr. Rauch gave Jack a clean bill of health. He was so excited for all of us because he too had been praying for a baby to join our lives! Jack gained weight reaching 6lbs. 3 oz. and 20.5 inches!! WOW!



Dr. Rauch



Dr. Morrisetty



We also visited Dr. Morrisetty today for the circumcision consult. We are planning to do the circumcision on Thursday at 2:00. YIKES! Mommy isn't looking forward to that at all.... but then again neither is Jack.

Visitors Visitors

Today was the day we could finally travel back to Illinois. Grandma Wurmnest and Aunt Jenna drove us home - we had a packed Enclave that's for sure! We took it easy on the way home stopping every 2 hours to get Jack out, feed him, change him, whatever he needed, etc. Then we arrived home from Tennessee on Tuesday, February 2 around 5:30PM. Around 7:00 Jack had his first set of visitors.


Zachery, Lindsey, and Issac with Jack!




Sarah and Missy with baby Jack - They brought balloons!

 Mitzi met Jack for the first time and they were fast friends. Mitzi sniffed, licked Jack's forehead and left. She will do great with the baby as I knew she would.

Jack and Mitzi - fast friends!!

Chad came home from his workshop tonight so we could be a family in our home for the first time! It was the best feeling in the world and I can't wait to see what the next part of our journey is! But for now... goodnight! A midnight feeding is close at hand! :)

Meet the Grandparents!!!

The first time grandparents are in town and boy they are excited!!! Grandma and Grandpa Wurmnest, along with Aunt Jenna, arrived yesterday around 4:30pm. They were just so amazed at how tiny and cute Jack was! We ate Backyard Burgers and just had a great time admiring little Jack!




Grandma and Grandpa Wurmnest




Your "favorite" Aunt Jenna!

 Today Grandma and Grandpa Waughop arrived and there were lots of tears! They have both been praying for a little one for so long and here he is!!! We had a great day just hanging out in the hotel room and enjoying life with little Jack in our lives at last!


Grandma Waughop




Grandpa Waughop

 For dinner tonight we got Corky's BBQ and had a feast to celebrate Jack's arrival and it was a great family time! It was also Grandma Wurmnest's birthday so Mommy surprised her with a cake and TCBY frozen yogurt! YUM!

A Day at the Courthouse

Today we will be traveling to the courthouse in the birthparents hometown. They will be signing over rights to us and we will get custody of Jack. The ride took around 2 hours and Jack did wonderful!
we met our Tennessee lawyer at the courthouse along with the birthparents. They were doing a little better today however we knew it still was very emotional for all involved. They signed papers first then we went in to sign. I wanted to give them time with Jack while we had to do paperwork and I think they apprciated that! I wanted them to spend as much time with him as they could since they were giving him to us for a lifetime! After papers were signed we officially had custody! The birthparents have 10 days to change their mind which is scary! But we all felt very good at the end of the day so I hope they feel the same. Jack feels like he is a part of us now - I couldn't bear it if they took him from us!!
When we returned Mommy and Jack stayed at the hotel hanging out and bonding while Daddy went to get dinner. We ate dinner and hung out with Jack! Jack is now an American Idol fan. LOL.
We went to bed around 9:30 and Jack slept after each feeding for about 2 1/2 hours each time - whoo hoo!!! We got 7 hours of sleep tonight. Very good baby.... I think it was the new Snuggabunny bassinet we bought him while we were down here!

Jack is discharged from the hospital!

I went back to the hospital early the next morning and was so ready to hold Jack. During the day it was a lot of coordinating with lawyers while feeding and changing Jack. Jack was to be discharged that afternoon and there was a lot of information coming our way. The nurses were awesome with loading us up with several packages of Pampers, formula, supplies, etc. Then finally it was time for Jack to leave with us.

New Family of 3!!!

The lawyer came to the hospital because the birthparents had to sign Jack over to be discharged to the lawyer. He walked out with us and saw us put him in the car. The lawyer then put us in charge of Jack.

 We drove back to the hotel and made a list of things we needed for our stay. I went to Target and came home with $200 of stuff for Jack and food for us.
After a while we throught we would try sleeping after a feeding. However Jack had other plans. Nighttime for us was daytime for Jack. So we were up until around 3:30 and Jack finally slept once we put him in his carseat (which he loves)!!! We got about 3 1/2 hours total that night but not bad for night #1.

This is the Moment....

We woke up early this morning to head the rest of the way to Memphis, TN around 6AM. I hadn't slept much and was really tired but I didn't care because today was the day I had been waiting for and anticipating! We were going to meet our son!!!
We got to the hospital and as we pulled into the parking deck "This is the Moment" from Jekyll and Hyde came on the radio! (HOW CRAZY IS THAT?) Then went to meet the birthfather in the lobby. We met the birthfather and went upstairs to the NICU where the baby and birthmother were. The baby had ingested some of his feces during delivery so they were keeping him on watch for his breathing. We went to the room and then there he was!!! He was so tiny I couldn't believe it. He was only 5lbs 9oz, 19 inches long!

We decided to name him Jackson Clyde Wurmnest. However we will be calling him Jack! We were able to hold him and talk with the birthparents. I didnt' know what to say to them because all I wanted to do was hug them and thank them over and over!! This gift was soo amazing and I would forever be in their debt. They stepped out because it was very hard to do what they were about to do.

We spent time with Jack and then Chad was able to change his first diaper EVER! Then the birthparents came back in and we ended up moving to the less critcal part of the NICU. After some time Chad and I went to lunch and when we came back up we met with the social worker, Reneka. We also had been on the phone non-stop with the Tennessee lawyer and the Illinois lawyer retaining their services and getting coordinated.
Around 2:00 the birthparents left with lots of tears but they were confident in their choice of us as Jack's parents. Chad and I made phone calls, held Jack, fed Jack, and just reveled in the amazingness of it all! around 6:45 we went to go find a hotel and grab a quick bite. We ended up staying at an extended stay hotel with a studio apartment. The nurses had suggested that if one of us were staying at the hospital that night that it should be Chad since I looked like I was going to drop over with lack of sleep. So Chad went back to the hospital and I stayed and slept. I was still so excited I couldn't sleep like I should of but got a little bit of sleep. It was such an amazing day!

It only takes a phone call....

Chad and I had just sat down to eat a quick lunch before starting a Sunday afternoon of projects when I happened to look at my phone and realized I had missed a phone call. The number was restricted. I asked Chad if he had one too and he did!!! The only restricted calls we got was from Adoption Network Law Center! I called them and they said they had an immediate birth situation and wanted to know if we could leave to go to Memphis, Tennessee to pick up a baby boy born only 2 days earlier. After hearing all of the medical information and background on the birthparents we were sooo excited and accepted. It almost seemed too good to be true.
The birthparents were a married couple who already had 6 other children. Mom didn't even know she was pregnant until 2 weeks before she gave birth and one week before Dad had gotten laid off of work. They could not support another child so they decided to give the baby to us! What an amazing act of love!!!!
Well of course we couldn't contain the news and we called the new grandparents to be! We called all of the important people in our lives, including work to let them know we were going out of town for a while to bring back our son! My friend Lindsay Hanes came over and we ran out to grab some essentials we would need in our hotel. Being in another state we would have to wait up to 2 weeks for the Interstate Compact to go through.
We packed quickly and headed out around 6:00PM. We stopped in Marion, IL about 10PM so we could get some sleep and head out early. We had talked with the birthparents and agreed to meet at 10am at the hospital. They already seemed amazing and I couldn't wait to meet them. Of course I couldn't wait to meet our new little guy so I only slept like 2 hours that night. The next day would change our lives forever!!!