Happy Birthday Emma Bean!

It's hard to believe our little gal is three years old today! It feels like yesterday that she was a tiny babe, and now she's a spunky, fun, smart, compassionate little lady. We had a great time celebrating her special day. Yesterday we went bowling (it's becoming a tradition) and out for ice cream. Then for a special dinner of pizza and broccoli at Emma's request. Today (her actual birthday), we had a scavenger hunt to find her presents and then went to her Mimi and Grandpa's house for playing, cupcakes, and more presents. Three years feels like a big deal. It is so neat to see Emma grow and learn and she's so excited to be a big sister. We are excited for the next year with her!

Referral Video

For a taste of the moment when we first saw the precious face of our new daughter you can watch this video. This is after we received the referral call and when we opened the pictures of her on our computer (sorry Brendan's head is not in the picture for some of the video-oops!):

This is a picture I captured today of Emma giving her sister's picture on the fridge a kiss. :)

WE GOT THE CALL!!!!!!!!

Yesterday at 4:30 p.m. we received the phone call we had been hoping for, dreaming of. I was having coffee with my dad (we just moved across the country and started a new job but more on that some other time) and the phone rang. It was our America World family coordinator. She got Brendan on the line too and told us they had a beautiful 2-month old baby girl for us. I raced home to Brendan and Emma and we opened up her pictures on our computer. She is gorgeous and we are already head over heel for this baby girl who we have been waiting for for a year and a half (and dreaming of for the last 4 and a half years). We cannot show pictures of her on our blog until we pass court so you will have to take our word that she is a doll! We send off our referral acceptance this morning. In the next month or so we will have word on a court date and then should have a tentative idea of when we might travel to Ethiopia to bring her home. We praise you Lord Jesus. You are good!