photo update

Amy reminded me the other day that I haven't updated our Flickr account recently, so I brought it up to date last night. If you liked the shirt photo from the previous post, there are a few more from that series in the "Josiah" set. Check it out!

Too Cute...

The other day, Josiah found one of my shirts on the ground and began playing with it. He got all tangled up inside and when his face poked out from the arm hole, we couldn't help but laught and run for the camera.

Amy's article

Our church has a quarterly newsletter that they publish in magazine format. It's a neat way to find out what's been going around the church and catch up with the various programs that our church offers.

Although she's relatively silent on this blog, Amy really enjoys writing. When she was approached by the editor of the church newsletter to write a feature story about our adoption journey, we thought it was a great opportunity to share our story with the church family, many of whom didn't even realize we had a new baby!

Amy wrote a really great article, and they featured it in this last issue of the newsletter. They even used it to increase awareness of adoption in general through our FAM ministry (fostering and adoption ministry).

To read Amy's article, click HERE.

It's a GIRL!

Amy had her 22 week ultrasound today where they look at the anatomy and check for birth defects.  I'm happy to report that everything looks perfect!  The little lady has a strong heartbeat and even moved around for us a little.  

At one point, the ultrasound tech asked, "do you want to know what it is?" and we were like, "Yes.  Definitely." Finding out that we were pregnant four months after Josiah adoption was surprise enough.

Bring on the pink onesies!

Quite the Scare...

We took Josiah to the Cavalcade of Bands last night, which I think he really enjoyed! He seemed to connect with the music, but the visual elements (i.e. the color guard with their flowy flags) really seemed to capture his attention. By the time the last band was finished, he was fighting to stay awake (which is really cute and probably a whole other post...) So we took him home and put him right to bed.

I was singing in church today, and I was camped out in the back behind the auditorium getting some prep work done for the worship service next week. Amy calls my cell and tells me that she's having trouble keeping Josiah awake. His diaper wasn't wet this morning (very weird) and she couldn't get him to take food. I was a little worried, because the mosquitoes were out in full force last night, so I had some bug spray on my hands. He loves to put my fingers in his mouth, and probably ingested some of the bug spray. I told her to call the pediatrician and see what he says.

Now I'm freaking out; I have to go sing an acoustic version of Switchfoot's "Meant to Live" and I'm worried that my baby is dying (yes, I'm the "over-react-er" in the family...my wife wants to get me the "Prone to Panic T-Shirt, but I digress). I was understandably distracted, but got through the first service and called as soon as I was backstage. He was a little better, and seemed to perk up after she offered him a bottle. The Pediatrician suggested Peadialyte just in case we was a little dehydrated, so Amy's nursed him back to health back at home. He was FINE, it was just a new experience for us, with new emotions.

It's a weird mixture of fear and panic when your child is sick. You feel it in your gut like a sucker-punch, and you try not to think the worst. It's never easy, but that's where Faith comes in; it's the ability to rest in knowing that God is ultimately in control.

Strange Encounter

I was inspired by Melba to share a strange encounter that Amy had at the Mall the other day:

Amy went into "Motherhood Maternity" with Josiah to find some pants for work. She went during the day, so the store was completely empty except for the saleslady. She was a friendly AA woman and easily struck up a conversation with Amy ("he's so cute...how far along are you..." that sort of thing). Amy gave he the thumbnail sketch of our story (we never like to get into details with strangers) as she perused the "sale" rack. She headed back to the dressing room, tried on a few, and emerged unsure of what to buy.

And then, it happened...

The saleslady approached Amy just outside of the dressing room and said, "I'm sorry, you're going to think this is crazy, but there's just something that I need to share with you: God loves you, and he loves this baby; He doesn't want you to worry about what people will think. That was just burning inside of me ever since you came in, and I just had to tell you."

Amy was stunned. She asked, "you mean Josiah or the baby I'm carrying?"

"I don't know" replied the saleslady. "That's the just word I received from the Lord."

Needless to say, Amy felt obligated to buy the pair of pants. [grin] But the word from this modern-day prophetess energized the excitement within her as she realized that she had heard from God in the most unlikely of places.

Misery Loves Company

Why is it that when you tell people you're expecting, the first thing out of their mouth is, "get ready for sleepless nights..." When we tell people that Josiah and "Baby G" will be just 11 months apart, they say, "good luck" or "you're going to have your hands full!"

Rather than rejoice with one another, it seems like parents want to commiserate together.

I didn't mind getting up with Josiah those first few weeks. I respected the time-honored tradition of sleep sacrifice. Yes, I was tired, but the fatigue was character-building. I spend those times holding the son I never thought would come; though I was exhausted, my every thought was intently focused caring for this tiny miracle.

In January, 2009 we'll do it all over again with "Baby G." I know that it'll be tough, so having random people remind me that we'll have our hands full isn't helpful. I get that the insomnia is a supposed "rite of passage" of new parents and they're trying to welcome me into the brotherhood, but seriously...it's tired and cliche. It's like that conversation about the weather that you have with the neighbor because you both know that neither of you have anything to talk about. "...gonna be hot today...ever hotter tomorrow..."

So I'm going to resist offering meaningless anecdotes about sleep deprivation to parents that are already dealing with enough anxiety. I'm going to encourage new parents by confessing that I have no idea what I'm doing, and Josiah's turning out OK. I'm going to share with them the awe and wonder that is parenthood and tell then that they're in for the biggest treat of their lives!

Abraham & Isaac

Remember the story of Abraham & Isaac?

Abraham and his wife, Sarah, desperately wanted a child, but they knew that it would never happen in their old age. Even after God promised them a child, they scoffed it off. Only when Sarah gave birth to a beautiful baby boy did they fall on their faces and praise God for the miracle of their son, Isaac.

The story gets complicated when God tests Abraham's faith by asking the unthinkable of him: to sacrifice Isaac atop an altar. We know the rest: God stops Abraham just as he draws back the dagger, sparing Isaac's life. But we have the luxury of hindsight; as far as Abraham knew, he was saying goodbye to his only son. It must have been heart-wrenching.

I grew up in the church, so I've heard that story many times. But it never became real to me like it did this week. Now that Josiah is almost 7 months old, he's more fun than ever! He lights up when we enter the room, he giggles when he hears our voices, and he cries when we leave him. His little eyes penetrate my very soul, and he looks to me for comfort and reassurance. When I was younger, I didn't see the "big deal" in Abraham sacrificing his son. But now I can imagine Isaac looking to his father with those same eyes, wanting comfort and reassurance. A frightened and confused look that says, "Dad? What Are you doing?!"

I don't have the faith of Abraham, and I would never be able to sacrifice my son. But I think it's awesome how God's word comes alive through the lives of our children! I'm learning more and more every day about myself and my faith just by spending time with Josiah. Hopefully through the process, I'll become the kind of father that God wants me to be.

Backpackin' it

As promised, here are the pictures of "the backpack" from our trip to the Baltimore Aquarium.

Sarah Palin video

It turns out that Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin grew up in Wasilla Assembly of God Church in Wasilla, Alaska. She recently returned to give a brief message and testify to what God has done in her life and political career.

Check out the video HERE