{project life: birth story}

I am starting to work on my photo album for Deegan. As I am working on it I am realizing that  I want it to be more than just an album filled with photos. I want to journal the memories that are forever linked to the photos. I want to tell our story. 

I am really exited about all the little ways I can incorporate this into his album. Here is one example of his birth story. I kept it short and sweet. I wanted to tell the story and the little details but not go too overboard and make it too long.

I also wanted it to be simple enough so that he can read at an early age without too many questions.

I am going to print these as 4x6 photos and put it into the album with the photos of his birth. 

I also have screenshots I am going to print of our facebook status' and things that were happening that day. 

My husband saying I was a trooper.

 My dad posting that my water broke on facebook. 

I love that.

My sister posting that she was an aunt and Deegan was going to have awesome parents. 

Those are the moments that I cherish.

Those memories. 

They tell our story.

{"He looks just like you..."}

"He looks just like you..."

I know that this is something that we will hear quite often. 

It makes me laugh just a little and to be honest, yes I think he does in fact look like us at times. 

Some people don't know "our story" or that he is adopted. Friends and family that do know often forget that he is not genetically ours. It is even crazier since he is technically adopted but yet I carried him in my belly and gave birth to him. 

I carried him for 9 months. 

I had morning sickness. Heartburn. 

Doctors appointments and ultrasounds. 

I had baby showers and maternity photos.

My water broke and I went into labor. 

He gave me stretch makes on my butt for goodness sakes!

 I think that makes it easy to forget that he is adopted and I think that makes it even more confusing to new people that don't know. It's fun to explain, of course . Yet most people don't even know what an embryo is so explaining it can be very interesting to say the least. There are a lot of confused looks. Questions. Then excitement and joy for us. Most people don't know embryo adoption exists. Even couples with infertility don't realize it is an option.

I don't mind telling our story. I tell people quite often. I am an open book. I love our story. I love our family and how we came to be a family. However one day, as he gets older it will be HIS story and something that we will more selectively share.

I know that Deegan will know he is adopted. I mean....hello...at some point he is going to wonder where his Asian eyes came from, right?

 

 We really want it to always be an open conversation. 

Something that is cherished and embraced. Always. 

We want him to know how much we wanted him and how much he is loved for everything he is. I always want it to be a positive thing. A wonderful, happy, positive story.

I can't wait to see what traits he has from genetics and which ones he gets from us.

Will he be good at sports? 

We are not very athletic so will we one day cheer him on at Friday night football games?

Will he love outdoors? He daddy sure does. They could canoe and go hiking.

Will he be creative and draw or paint like my family?

I can't wait to see. 

When I look at him. I see my son. I see the child that I was meant to have all along. 

 I see that he was meant for me. For us. For our family. Whether he looks like me or not is up for debate but definitely is not something I ever needed to have to bond with him or ever needed to hear to know he is mine. 

I know he is mine 100%. No questions about it. 

"He looks just like you" is just a little added bonus.

{Dear Deegan - 6 weeks.}

6 weeks. 

You are:

 Smiling a lot. 

Trying to roll over. 

Enjoying bath time.

Mr. Fussy Pants until mommy holds you to sleep.

   

Deegan,  

These are some of my favorite moments with you. 

I am loving all the little snuggles and cuddles we are having right now. I know that they are not going to last very long. You won't be this little forever. (that makes me a little teary eyed already) You won't need to listen to my heart beating to fall asleep. So, right now I am cherishing these moments. You really love laying on me and are not liking your crib at night. I am afraid I may have spoiled you, but it is so hard not to because you are just so darn cute! It is so hard for me to put you in your crib at night. I know I this isn't going to be good when I go back to work soon. You are going to challenge me, I already know.

My body has become used to operating on only a few hours of sleep each night. You are so worth waking up for every night. You are worth all the dirty diapers and crying fits too. I promise. 

I hope with all of my heart that you know how much I love you.

 

I can not even express in words how much I adore you. You were worth the wait. I would wait all those years all over again for you because you were meant for us sweet boy. You truly make daddy and I so happy.

 

 Last night you tried to roll over. You got halfway and passed out. I was kinda happy. As much as I am excited about you rolling over, it kinda scares me. It means I really can't look away - even for a second.

You are growing up so fast and are so amazing. 

You also know my voice - you look around to find me when you hear my voice and you wake up when you hear daddy come home from work.

 You don't really interact with your puppy siblings yet but don't worry - you will soon. Obi gives you kisses on your toes and Vegas likes to lay on your boppy when you aren't in it. She thinks it is her new bed. One day soon you will have lots of fun playing with Vegas and Obi. I can't wait to see that.

 

I hope you always stay so sweet.

Love, Mommy.

{Playtime with Deegan}

5 weeks. 

Playtime with Deegan. 

Well, he is definitely starting to smile more. Big smiles, almost like he is about to laugh. I am really loving it! It is just hard to catch on camera! I'm trying to but no luck today! Of course I was able to snap a lot of blank stares and sweet faces, but no big smiles today.

This was my favorite photo of the day....

He is just such a sweet, loveable boy.

We are starting to play more when he is awake during the day. He really enjoyed his play mat today. It's so colorful and fun for him. He was kicking his little legs and moving all around.

Obi just sat and watched him. He is so loving with him and sweet. It makes my heart happy to have little moments like this.

Life is just so sweet right now.