I would like to take this opportunity to wish my hubby a happy birthday!
Jeff:
I'm so excited to begin this new adventure of parenthood with you! You'll be an amazing daddy! I LOVE YOUS!!
XOXO,
B

Spring has Sprung!

Jeff and I agree that spring is the best season, at least in Houston!!  Even when we were dating Jeff would plan special trips to the azalea trail in town or a car trip to see the blue bonnets.  Lately we've been enjoying our own flowers.  We have three varieties of azaleas in our front yard and they are beautiful and in bloom right now.  The weather is also very pleasant as we anticipate the coming long, hot Houston summer.  We have also been doing some spring cleaning.  We recently had all our carpets cleaned which is very necessary when you have a cat and a dog.   I'm also trying to find my inner organized self to plan how to organize the closets, under the bathroom sinks, and kitchen cabinets/pantry.  Any of my organized friends, or sister ;) want to give me any helpful hints?  Jeff suggested looking at the Container Store and I checked online.  Let's just say that what I saw online was for the fabulously wealthy organized soul, not me unfortunately!

And the winner is.....

We bought your pick (and our favorite too) and it will be delivered in the middle of April.  The store was running a financing special so we have 18 months no interest, plenty of time to pay it off.Dave Ramsey would be so proud!  Actually he'd prefer us pay cash, but whatever.  

Purchasing the furniture makes me so excited about becoming a mommy!!  I have a lot of other ideas for the room including vinyl lettering for the wall.  I'll definitely be posting about the progression in the next few months!!  We're also working on a list of requirements for our fire inspection including changing locks, installing interconnected fire alarms, and getting our air conditioner and gas line serviced.  Please continue to pray for us as I seek the type of employment that is best suited for our growing family and my gifts.  I'm still only working part time and need to contribute more to our income.  Thanks for taking this journey with us!

Happy Birthday, DAD!

We want to wish my Dad a very happy birthday!!  We're so proud of you and love you to pieces!  Three of my favorite fellas: Dad, Jeff, and Clayton share a birthday month.  Jeff's next!  His birthday is this Friday!

Adoption Update & Rock the Vote

This past week Jeff and I participated in 6 adoptive parent training classes. Jeff was a trooper and took off an hour early each day so we could drive a hour and a half in traffic to Spring for the classes! Combined with the 2 classes we took in February, we now have only 2 classes left to take in April in order to complete our adoptive parent training!! Jeff also has to take CPR/ First Aid, but is scheduled to attend this Saturday. We are working on the HUGE application and working on the steps to getting a fire inspection which include changing our locks, getting gas line and air conditioner checks, and purchasing fire extinguishers, among other things. We see the light at the end of the tunnel, but also are enjoying getting to know other prospective families with our agency. Now, to the fun part!! We are also searching for furniture for our precious little boy's room!! I have narrowed it down and hoped Jeff would be able to help me choose, but apparently he too is stumped. Here's where you come in! We're conducting a poll and would love for all of you to vote on the furniture you think would look best in this room: He will likely be 6-8 years old. Option A: Midtown Option B: Laramy Espresso Jr.
Option C: Santa Cruz
Option D: Ivy League
Option E: Claremont

Wrappin' it up

Well, I can usually tell how chaotic my life is by the state of my car. Currently it is full of all kinds of messiness: papers, trash, work bags, jackets, and the list goes on. I had to valet my car last night and was mortified!! I actually apologized.
Anyway, life is crazy, hectic and generally out of control right now! Jeff and I are both working 7 days a week and our hours don't even coincide. I just finished my last full week at DePelchin and will have my last day on Wednesday (3 more days). I'm also working at the psych. hospital from 9 am to 3 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. This week the full time social worker will be out, so I will work Thursday and Friday 8 am to 5 PM in addition to my weekend shifts. Jeff is supposed to finish year end on Monday, but he doesn't see how that is possible with how behind they are currently. In the meantime he is working until 11 or 12 on the weekdays and 10 am to 10 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Needless to say we are both sleep deprived. Well, I guess there's an end in sight.
Last night my wonderful DePelchin supervisor, Gabrielle threw me a going away happy hour at a Mexican Restaurant called Molina's. They have a great covered patio area where we all sat and visited. They are actually going to have a lunch next week in addition because quite a few people couldn't come after work. I enjoy the intimacy of a small group though so it was great with me! My co-workers are definitely what I will miss most about DePelchin! They are wonderful people and I hope to stay in touch with as many people as possible! Gabrielle got me a set of bubble bath from Sephora, which was much appreciated!
I also got this beauty from one of my sweet foster to adopt families this week. I LOVE it and am looking for the perfect place for it in our house! Maybe one day I'll have an office to hang it in. All in all, life is busy, but it is nice to feel loved and appreciated in the midst of it all!

Baby Love

Well today was a very eventful day! I had my first day leading groups with adult patients at an inpatient psychiatric hospital in Bellaire. I will be working there on the weekends until they have enough patients to hire me full time. I also interviewed this week for a full time job at United Cerebral Palsy in Bellaire doing Early Childhood Intervention and play therapy. If the ECI job is offered to me I will probably accept that one. However I really enjoyed my groups today!! I was nervous because I've never worked in this type of setting and it has been a while since I've lead groups with adults. I truly believe in the process of group therapy and I felt that today was evidence that it works! Anyway, I worked a half day and then rushed home to host my first ever baby shower for my long time friend, Jenny! I only had a hour and a half between when I got off work and when the shower began so it got a little hectic, but Jeff, my mom, and my dad helped me pull it off.
Jeff helped me make this onesie banner. Here is a photo of it with the table set up. I think it turned out REALLY cute! I got the idea from my friend, Jenny M's blog (different Jenny then the shower honoree). My mom fashioned the bow to top my very first attempt at diaper cake creating. It was really fun to make and not as hard as I expected. My dad was the final detail man and food display engineer. All the help was much appreciated and the shower was a success! Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, which is the most important part! Here are three of my favorite girls posing Paris Hilton style! Jenny, her mom, and baby Ariana (three generations) My BFF and I, please excuse my work apparel. I didn't have time to change clothes. Jenny, her sister Christina, and her niece Maggie. I remember holding Maggie when she was a new born and now she's such a big girl!