Riley LOVES being outside with his daddy! Daniel's been working on a lot of projects in the backyard (or "backard" as Riley says) lately, and Riley's loved every minute of "helping" him. The other night they were outside after dinner, and I was in the kitchen cleaning up when Daniel brought Riley to the window to show me something. He had found one of Daniel's pairs of gloves and put them on by himself. He was so proud! After finishing cleaning up the kitchen, I joined them outside and the fun with the gloves continued. You'll see what I mean...
5.22.2011
Laughter
I could sit and listen to my son laugh all day long. I'll never forget the very first time we heard him laugh. Since then, we've done everything we can to invoke a giggle, and sometimes, if he thinks we're really funny, we'll get the deep-down belly laugh. That's definitely my favorite! The other night we were hanging out in his room and I started hiding behind a pillow and then quickly popping up from behind it. He thought that was the best thing ever! His laugh was so heartfelt and deep that I just had to run and grab the camera. Hope you enjoy the snippet of laughter I was able to catch on video!
5.13.2011
The Angels Sang
Do you know what this means?!
It means we get to do this again! FINALLY!
No, the car isn't completely finished yet, but a wonderful man in the church (who I think I'm going to give a huge hug to the next time I see him!) offered for Daniel to store the car in his shop until it's finished. Halleluiah! I get my garage back! :) Sometimes in life, it's just the little things that make you smile...
5.11.2011
Such a miracle!
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb...Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them."
Psalm 139:13, 16
When I heard our baby's heartbeat for the first time yesterday, I felt so many different emotions. Relief, amazement, excitement, anticipation, etc. I've felt pretty crummy, so I assumed everything was going okay with the pregnancy, but you just never really know until you hear the sound of that heartbeat. What a beautiful sound it is!
As I looked at the ultrasound picture off and on last night and then throughout today, I couldn't help but stand in awe of our God! I realize I'm hormonal right now, but the thought of our little 10 week old having a strong heartbeat just brings tears to my eyes! I mean, there's no face, tiny arm and leg "buds" (as the doctor called them...which by the way, we apparently have a "wiggly" baby - another one of the dr.'s terms!), no sign of what the sex will be yet, no real organs yet, BUT a very strong heartbeat. And this can only be seen or heard through an internal machine. When I look down at my stomach right now, I don't see any real changes, I don't feel any movement, but deep down under the layers there is a little life that is being knit together by the Almighty God. I realize I've already carried one of these little lives, but once again, I am completely humbled that He would choose me to birth one of His creations. A child who has a future and a hope. A child who, I pray with all my heart, will proclaim His name to the ends of the earth. A child who is formed in His image and for His purpose.
Baby Bramlett #2, Mama and Daddy love you so much already! We are so excited that God chose us to be your parents! We know that He has an amazing plan for your life, and we can't wait to be a part of it! Rest in His arms as He forms each and every part of your sweet little body. Because He is perfect, there will be no mistakes, and you will be one of His prized creations! We can't wait for December when we'll get to hold you for the first time and kiss your precious face! Until then, know that we will do everything we can to protect you. Your big brother, Riley, says "hi" and loves you...I know he can't wait to play with you! Keep growing strong and healthy, and we'll see you soon! All my love, Mama
When I heard our baby's heartbeat for the first time yesterday, I felt so many different emotions. Relief, amazement, excitement, anticipation, etc. I've felt pretty crummy, so I assumed everything was going okay with the pregnancy, but you just never really know until you hear the sound of that heartbeat. What a beautiful sound it is!As I looked at the ultrasound picture off and on last night and then throughout today, I couldn't help but stand in awe of our God! I realize I'm hormonal right now, but the thought of our little 10 week old having a strong heartbeat just brings tears to my eyes! I mean, there's no face, tiny arm and leg "buds" (as the doctor called them...which by the way, we apparently have a "wiggly" baby - another one of the dr.'s terms!), no sign of what the sex will be yet, no real organs yet, BUT a very strong heartbeat. And this can only be seen or heard through an internal machine. When I look down at my stomach right now, I don't see any real changes, I don't feel any movement, but deep down under the layers there is a little life that is being knit together by the Almighty God. I realize I've already carried one of these little lives, but once again, I am completely humbled that He would choose me to birth one of His creations. A child who has a future and a hope. A child who, I pray with all my heart, will proclaim His name to the ends of the earth. A child who is formed in His image and for His purpose.
Baby Bramlett #2, Mama and Daddy love you so much already! We are so excited that God chose us to be your parents! We know that He has an amazing plan for your life, and we can't wait to be a part of it! Rest in His arms as He forms each and every part of your sweet little body. Because He is perfect, there will be no mistakes, and you will be one of His prized creations! We can't wait for December when we'll get to hold you for the first time and kiss your precious face! Until then, know that we will do everything we can to protect you. Your big brother, Riley, says "hi" and loves you...I know he can't wait to play with you! Keep growing strong and healthy, and we'll see you soon! All my love, Mama
5.09.2011
The 3 shall become 4!
In my last post I mentioned that some things were going on that kept me from blogging much last month. I wasn't able to say then what they were because my parents didn't even know, but the cat is out of the bag now! In case you missed it on facebook, here's Riley sharing the news with his daddy several weeks ago...
We found out on April 5th that another little Bramlett will be entering the world...on or around December 10th. :) We were very shocked and not quite sure what to think at first. You see, this was not part of our 'plan.'
About a year ago, Daniel came to me and asked that I begin praying about adoption. He felt very compelled that we needed to adopt, and he wondered what my thoughts were. I was pretty taken off-guard, and honestly, I wasn't too keen on the idea. I told him I would pray about it, but was a bad wife and basically pushed the thought right out of my head. He came back a couple of months later and asked if the Lord had revealed anything to me. It was then that I had to admit that I hadn't even prayed once about it. I was scared! I had so many questions. What if I don't love an adopted child as much as Riley? Do I want to have any more biological children before possibly adopting? Can we afford to adopt? And the list went on and on. But, I promised my husband I would begin praying, so I did.
Slowly, but surely, the Lord began opening my heart to adoption. He answered questions for me through movies, magazine articles, books, friends' testimonies, etc. It seemed as if everywhere I turned, I was hearing or reading something about an adopted child and how their life was changed through that action. Finally, at the beginning of this year, I surrendered to the idea and Daniel and I committed to do whatever it took to "rescue" a child and bring them into a home filled with love and care. We started the process of figuring out which agency we wanted to work with (or did we even want to go through an agency?), we told our families and close friends so they could begin praying, and then the week before we found out I was pregnant, we told the church. We were excited and ready to find our child!
And then, there was this! Honestly, when I found out, I was very upset because
I felt like we had disobeyed God. He clearly told us we were to adopt, and I've always believed that delayed obedience is still disobedience. Later that afternoon, though, I spent a long time with the Lord and He spoke such peace over me. He reminded me that children are a gift from the Lord, and this child is no different! He/She is not a mistake, and He has a plan for his/her life! Yes, we are still called to adopt. A positive pregnancy test does not change that, and He still expects us to be obedient to that command. It just won't all work out the way our finite minds had planned it! Come to think of it, when does it ever?! He is in complete control, and His ways are ALWAYS better than ours! After I was reminded of all of this, I truly felt the peace that passes ALL understanding, and I became very excited about the newest addition to our family! I just know God is going to use him/her in a powerful way!
So, right now I am 9.5 weeks along, and we'll go tomorrow for my first ultrasound. I can't wait to see the little bean of a baby with a strong heartbeat! I'm trusting that everything is okay and we'll get a great report. I'll be sure to keep you updated. Oh, and the reason I didn't post more last month is simply because afternoons (when I normally would write) have become for NAPS recently. :) I've never been a good nap taker, but this baby has taken the energy right out of me! The thought of getting on the computer and writing a post just made me even more exhausted. Hopefully my energy will pick up again soon, but don't be surprised if the posts stay sporadic for a little while longer!
We found out on April 5th that another little Bramlett will be entering the world...on or around December 10th. :) We were very shocked and not quite sure what to think at first. You see, this was not part of our 'plan.'
About a year ago, Daniel came to me and asked that I begin praying about adoption. He felt very compelled that we needed to adopt, and he wondered what my thoughts were. I was pretty taken off-guard, and honestly, I wasn't too keen on the idea. I told him I would pray about it, but was a bad wife and basically pushed the thought right out of my head. He came back a couple of months later and asked if the Lord had revealed anything to me. It was then that I had to admit that I hadn't even prayed once about it. I was scared! I had so many questions. What if I don't love an adopted child as much as Riley? Do I want to have any more biological children before possibly adopting? Can we afford to adopt? And the list went on and on. But, I promised my husband I would begin praying, so I did.
Slowly, but surely, the Lord began opening my heart to adoption. He answered questions for me through movies, magazine articles, books, friends' testimonies, etc. It seemed as if everywhere I turned, I was hearing or reading something about an adopted child and how their life was changed through that action. Finally, at the beginning of this year, I surrendered to the idea and Daniel and I committed to do whatever it took to "rescue" a child and bring them into a home filled with love and care. We started the process of figuring out which agency we wanted to work with (or did we even want to go through an agency?), we told our families and close friends so they could begin praying, and then the week before we found out I was pregnant, we told the church. We were excited and ready to find our child!
And then, there was this! Honestly, when I found out, I was very upset because
I felt like we had disobeyed God. He clearly told us we were to adopt, and I've always believed that delayed obedience is still disobedience. Later that afternoon, though, I spent a long time with the Lord and He spoke such peace over me. He reminded me that children are a gift from the Lord, and this child is no different! He/She is not a mistake, and He has a plan for his/her life! Yes, we are still called to adopt. A positive pregnancy test does not change that, and He still expects us to be obedient to that command. It just won't all work out the way our finite minds had planned it! Come to think of it, when does it ever?! He is in complete control, and His ways are ALWAYS better than ours! After I was reminded of all of this, I truly felt the peace that passes ALL understanding, and I became very excited about the newest addition to our family! I just know God is going to use him/her in a powerful way!So, right now I am 9.5 weeks along, and we'll go tomorrow for my first ultrasound. I can't wait to see the little bean of a baby with a strong heartbeat! I'm trusting that everything is okay and we'll get a great report. I'll be sure to keep you updated. Oh, and the reason I didn't post more last month is simply because afternoons (when I normally would write) have become for NAPS recently. :) I've never been a good nap taker, but this baby has taken the energy right out of me! The thought of getting on the computer and writing a post just made me even more exhausted. Hopefully my energy will pick up again soon, but don't be surprised if the posts stay sporadic for a little while longer!
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