Sicky Sicky :(

I don't know about where all of you live but around here there is a nasty bug running rampant! I have been coughing up a lung for the past couple days and poor hubby got up and went to the couch, then the dogs annoyed him so he went to our guest room, then he couldn't sleep so we both ended up watching tv at 4 in the morning :(

I just hope I don't get poor Lydia girl sick, I am constantly wiping things down and disinfecting my hands. I just can't help but want to snuggle her though bc she's just learned a new trick... eskimo kisses... :: I die::

Here is to hoping all of you stay healthy and safe if you are in the way of this storm coming through, I'm thinking tomorrow might end up being a work from home day if the ice hits like they say.

Working Mom Fail

I am so sad, our CEO is finally allowing a jeans day on the last Friday of the month and guess who forgot? So sad, it's crazy to think that wearing jeans changes my mood and my productivity but it does. I feel happier, more comfortable and therefore get more done and now I am sad :(   Fail. 

On a good note, I got to hang out with Lydia this morning while she had her bottle in our bed and watched Playhouse Disney, oh the little things!

Blizzard Bloghop -- Wish I could be star struck at Blissdom instead

 


Welcome to my little corner of the web! I like many of you wish I was star struck meeting some of my favorite bloggers at Blissdom this weekend but this will have to do! Thanks Household 6 Diva for setting this up.

My blog look is brand new as of this week. (swooons over Persnickety Pages and More's Talent) This blog is basically my outlet to find advice as a first time mother, brag about my darling baby girl, Lydia, talk about our crazy fur children and also share our newest adventure in the world of adoption. We hope to have enough funds saved in the next year or so to adopt a baby from Ethiopia. Why? Why not? You can check out the video that explains a little more about the why's when you have time, up in the Why Ethiopia Tab of my blog.

I love God, My Husband, My daughter, My dogs (ok sometimes they get on my nerves), rescuing said dogs, reading a good book, watching our favorite tv shows at night, sports and lots of sports, a good beer, and meeting new blog friends! So please come back and visit, grab my button if you would like to help spread the word and follow our adoption journey.

Enjoy your Blizzard Bloghop and stay warm!!

A BIG THANK YOU

 I want to take a moment to thank the wonderful, encouraging, sweet Shannon at Persnickety Pages and More for my awesome Blog Makeover, is it not the sweetest thing you've ever seen. I love how it incorporates our wonderful love for our Lydia Rose and the new journey we are about to embark on.

She ROCKS and I would totally recommend her to all that are wanting to have something done. (hahaha it sounds like plastic surgery)

THANKS SHANNON!! Check her out here

Finally The Announcement!!

We.

Are.



ADOPTING.

Someone is excited!!

I am sure most of you could have put the pieces together as I add blog after blog to my blog roll of amazing families who are on this journey as well. I find my inspiration in them and when I am feeling like maybe this isn't right for us, one of them posts something or I get an email from one of them that just solidifies the fact that this is where God wants us and this is what he has called us to do.

There are many factors that went into this decision and many things that were just simply God moments that made this all come about.

1. Awful Awful infection after my delivery, I would have never uttered the words adoption had I not been in that hospital bed with an unknown infection, a mama bear without her cub as my dad put it, angry and mad and sure that I would never go through the experience of child birth again.

2. Got over said angry and mad emotions as I grew to love and adore the blessing that is my daughter (BUT adoption was still uttered in that hospital bed, and a seed was planted)

3. Went to Women of Faith in August and heard the Chapmans beautiful story of adoption, saw countless World Vision promos and pleas for help. The seed began to blossom.

4. Read "Choosing to SEE" by Mary Beth Chapman... ok this seed is a full blown fire in my heart to help others just like their baby girls, just like my Lydia only not as fortunate to have been born in a country where the fact that I had to undergo an emergency c-section meant she got a chance at life, that we both did.

5. Stumbled across The Anderson Crew blog, randomly e-mailed Emily, which I had never done up to that point, I was a silent lurker. But I was moved by her announcement and interested in their journey. I thought China was where God was leading me until I heard the word "Ethiopia" and I started researching. The statistics, the stories, the pictures spoke to my heart especially my heart as a new mom.

6. Ethiopia took a piece of me from the moment we decided this is where we were going and it will be there until we bring our darling baby home and I hope it stays over there so I never become comfortable doing nothing to help.

Being a mom has changed me, God has used my new roll in this world to uncover a desire that I didn't know I had, to uncover a longing to help someone's Lydia, I see her in the eyes of the orphans all over the world, not just Ethiopia. But Ethiopia is where God put my heart, it is where God has a child waiting for us.

Our time-line is flexible as my husband and I do not have the best paying jobs in the world. So we are setting out on the mission to raise as much of the funds as possible before we are comfortable applying. We have chosen our agency, we have completed our pre-adoption paperwork and spoken with staff at our agency. We just feel as though we will be more prepared once we have a large portion saved and don't have to worry where the next check will come from. I am not worried, "My God is a God who provides!" he will help guide us in ways that will help bring this baby home.

Feel free to check out the Why Ethiopia section at the top of my blog, there is a video that rocked my world and I hope it will lead you to support us through the most important part of this journey... in prayer. Pray for Matt, Lydia and I as we answer the tough questions from those that won't understand, as we go through the paper chase and the wait that is the adoption process, and please pray for our child that we have not yet met, pray for the family and the mom of this sweet baby that we already love.

It's going to be a journey, one that will never really end because we cannot forget the others, we cannot pretend we do not know.

James 1:27 “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress…”

A picture post

So my Aunt took all of these pictures at my friend Amber's wedding and at her daughters birthday get together. She was kind enough to download them for me so I wanted to share a few with you. Her camera rocks so it's way better than most I take. (Please don't mind the sweet potatoes on Lydia's nose on half of them) what can I say, girl likes to eat her some sweet potatoes.

yes she wore a dress to match, she did walk in with me after all

 

I love my family

my hubby!

Her "cousin" Ethan loves Baby Lydia or Baby Cutie as he calls her

Told ya she loves her some sweet potatoes. Oh be still my heart this is a darn cute babe!!

Hope you enjoyed these as much as I did as I uploaded them to my computer. Oh I love my Sweet baby girl!!

*Note her headband in the wedding was a custom made Lillypie... check my friend Laura out here! She Rocks!!

Baby's Best Friend

Lydia is adorable and "B-man" (Bentley) our 6 year old Golden is a SAINT! He is her new favorite toy and she will not stop crawling all over his furry 90 lb body and pulling herself up on his red silky fur. They are best friends in the making!

I need a Recommendation

So.. I need to have a blog button made.... who has someone they would like to refer to me?!?! I always just play around on here by myself and making a button is a little bit too much for me to learn and take in, so suggestions on who to use to create one for me would be EXCELLENT. (someone not too expensive and who is pretty quick, I'm getting antsy here to launch something BIG!!)

THANKS!!

Bottom Blessings:: Changing the World one Bottom at a Time

Hey lovely blog readers. I wanted to take a quick moment and plug something that is becoming more and more near and dear to my heart, the orphan crisis. (Being a mommy really changed me and opened my eyes to this subject, more to come later)

There is a LARGE and REAL NEED to get cloth diapers over to orphanages in Africa. Right now they are being as creative as they can with the resources they have but that is not always enough to keep these bottoms clean and dry.

Many are reusing disposable diapers by rinsing them out and hanging them up to dry, they use plastic bags and put a towel, liner of some sort inside. Like I said, creative with what they have but we can help them diaper these kiddos through sending over cloth diapers.

A new blog friend of mine Christie she is starting a large campaign to get diapers over to agencies in Ethiopia. Her son Zek is adopted from Ethiopia and oh so darn cute!! So she has the hook up and the fire to get these over there. Her husband is also getting ready to go on a mission trip to Africa as well.

WHAT THEY NEED:
- Prefold diapers
- Flat diapers
- Microfiber inserts for some of the pocket diapers they have been able to get donated

She also has a place on her blog where you can donate a kit that will diaper the bottom of an orphan.

So as you can see there are sooo many ways you can help out with this cause. The little bottoms of this world need your help.

Head on over to Christie's blog http://knowingnobounds.blogspot.com/ and check out how you can help. Or you can get in touch with me and we actually happen to live close so I can get them to her.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!

My baby is Big!

This is what she learned to do yesterday, she didn't want to read any of them, no way! She just wanted to pull them all down off the shelf. (She then proceeded to hit her cheek on said shelf) That was not the first nor will it be the last of this now mobile baby's boo boo's.

Happy Monday Everyone!!

Adoption & Orphan Care

It can be overwhelming, all of the information out there available to us at the click of a mouse. So I thought I would provide you a place to start here are links to organizations/agencies/bloggers that have helped me to learn more about the needs of the orphan, how to help these sweet children and resources that will be available to us once we start our adoption process. Take some time to visit and learn more about how you can help care for the orphan and who knows before you know it maybe adoption will have crept into your heart and taken hold, just like it did mine a little over 2 years ago.

Agencies
All God's Children
America World Adoption
Bethany 

Caring for Orphans and those in the process of adoption

Show Hope
Ordinary Hero
147 Million Orphans
60 Feet
Lifesong for Orphans
Amazima
Visiting Orphans
One Orphan
Operation Christmas Child - Samaritan's Purse

Stay Tuned

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON :)


Stay Tuned..... If you already know, don't make a peep

1 Year Later, they still need our prayers

I heard this song on KLove this morning and it is so neat to see so many artists and children come together to sing and provide hope for those who were touched by this natural disaster. They still need our prayers so take a moment to do just that on this one year anniversary.

We are Mobile

Lydia is officially up on all fours and a crawling machine!! Now comes the stage of chasing her all over the place  and pulling her off of everything that she is trying to climb. She even gets brave and tries to stand on her own, she can do it for a split second and then falls on her little diaper butt. Those diapers are good for that extra cusion she needs to break her fall.

She is so proud of herself and is definitely finding her adventurous side now, I love her so much and can't believe this is all going so fast!!

8 Months (yes a little late)

Oh Lydie Loo Hoo,

You are the light of my life,  a ray of sunshine on a dark cloudy day, you make me smile when I feel like death, you make me cry tears of joy when I think my wacky hormones are finally under control and you just make me burst at the seams EVERY.SINGLE.DAY!!

The beginning of the crazy photo shoot

You are at this crazy fun age right now (do I say that every month, it feels like I do) but it's so true! This month  you have learned a lot and are growing quite the spunky little personality.

What a diva

Where to begin??

You are pulling yourself up on stuff, we were so proud of you when you first did this that you would have thought we won a lottery scratch off but NO you were just so determined even after those attempts that ended in you landing in the splits position or swinging around the Einstein bar like a monkey landing on your face, you finally did it and you haven't stopped since. Mom's leg, Dad's leg, Bentley's ears, couch, new leap frog table, baby einstein jumper and your CRIB!! That one gave me a heart attack when I walked in. I thought you were going to throw yourself over the edge, so your crib was quickly lowered to the lowest setting (so we don't have to mess with it again) Crisis averted.

This is her, I'm running on no good nap time all day look :)

You aren't quite crawling still, you do the downward dog (you'd be great a yoga), you do one heck of a GI Jane alllll over the place (wood floors make you go faster), you do kind of an inch worm use your face thing, you almost crawl in place because your knees are moving but you haven't gotten the hands and the knees without falling to your stomach yet. Doesn't hold you back from getting where you need to go though.

 You are trying and loving more foods. Chicken, turkey, mac and cheese, blueberries, watermelon, apples, corn, and peas. Still lovin that baby food too, you get so excited when you see me get it out and open it up for you.

She can't believe she's 8 months either, and she loves her tutu!!

You are trying to wave now, it's kind of a flap your arms like your going to fly away but it's so darn cute.

You put your arms  up in the air like a touchdown when we say " sooooooooo Big" darn cute one kid, gets em every time.

You have started to watch t.v. a tiny bit, makes mommy getting dressed while you sit on the bed a little less frightening because you actually pay attention for more then a split second but you would still rather play and scoot all over the place (which is fine with me!)

Pretty much sums up our 8 month photo shoot

You have started to find a soft spot for your daddy (yes you are mostly a mamma's girl) but the other day you were sitting in my lap about to fall asleep and you reached over and climbed your way into your daddy's lap and fell asleep. OMG melt my heart why don't ya!! Love watching you with him, you guys have so much fun! 

You experienced:
  -First Snow
  -First Christmas
  -First It's a Wonderful Life viewing
  -First ringing in of the New Year (you even made it til midnight...trooper!) I think it was all the cute boys   fighting over who got to hold you though, you flirt.

It was such a fun month and one I will never ever forget. You make me so proud to be your mommy everyday and I love you soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!!

Mommy :)

Mom Fail!

I am pretty impressed it didn't happen sooner but you see that ticker up there that counts down how old my girl is?? YUP 8 months and 1 DAY! Ugggh I am such a blog slacker.

I promise it's coming, I know you all probably don't care as much as I do that it's going to be a couple days late.

Lydia mommy loves you and I was just too busy playing and snuggling you to get it up in time.

Contact

You can reach me here:
 allisongarrett8  at  gmail dot com 

About Me

Hello, I'm Allison, the one blessed with this insanely amazing and beautiful family. 

I am a wife of 8 years to my husband who I met almost 11 years ago while I was in school at Purdue. I love being a mom, sports, country music, a good beer, diet cokes, starbucks, dogs/lots of dogs, reading, and making our house a home.

More importantly I love a God that has turned my world upside down with the gift of being a mother. I would like to say that I've always been a strong Christian woman and that would pretty much be the truth BUT after having Lydia I fell more in love with our God than ever before, oh and if I didn't think it could get better, harder, messier and totally rock my socks off, God blessed us with two more little ones Garrett and Colbie. My children have taught me so much about myself. My husband has taught me what it means to love someone in the midst of messy and not so pretty.

I believe in and am passionate about orphan care and adoption, we started the adoption process over 2 years ago in Ethiopia, we have recently transferred to the China Waiting Child program and believe God has a son for us that we will hopefully meet within the year!! God is in the details and we are certain his plans for us are bigger than our wildest dreams.

My Vision and Hope for "What Love Has Done"

I want this space to reflect my heart & life as a mom to beautiful babies. 

I want this space to be honest, encouraging, open and full of love.

I want this space to provide a voice to the orphan and advocate for the fatherless.

But most of all I want this space to Glorify our God!

Love has done so much in my life and this little space is a place to share and document it to remember for years to come. Stay a while and say hello :)

Here is to 2010, You Rocked My Socks Off!!

Started with a babymoon to Disney World

My hubby got to go watch his Butler Bulldogs in the National Championship

Baby Showers! Baby Growing in mommy's belly!

Baby Lydia Finally Arrived!

Mommy went back to the hospital with an infection, stayed 4 days without brand new Lydia and realized I am way stronger than I gave myself credit for and that God put the right man in my life to be my husband.

 3 months of Maternity Leave, AMEN!

Turned 25 as a new mommy

Football season (sad football season, but always fun)

Amber got married!!

Lydia's First Christmas and New Years, here is to an amazing 2010!!  

2011 I dare you to beat it!!