Welcoming My New Little Man

First and foremost, THANK YOU for the kind, encouraging words on my last post. I don't usually like to get too personal on here, but I was just so overwhelmed with emotions yesterday that I had to release them somehow (that didn't involved unwarranted screaming at my friends and family). My student came back to school today and seems to be doing as well as can be expected. It's going to be a long road ahead for her family, as well as the "family" we've created for her at school... Now on to something more uplifting!

Showing His true grace, right in the middle of all this death and destruction in Haiti, God blessed one of my closest friends with a perfect, gorgeous, handsome baby boy! About a month ago, I reported to you all that one of my oldest friends, Adrienne, had her baby shower and we could be expecting baby C very soon. Well, at 6:41 yesterday morning a 7 pound bouncing baby boy was welcomed into the world! The rest of the "Hefs" (don't ask) and I went to visit C and his proud parents, and of course, had to snap about 1,001 pictures. Here are just a few of my favorites:

C and his "Auntie Hefs" adoring him already.

All of the hefs with our newest addition.

Proud Mama and Papa

Shows just how teensy he is... and his cutie face and eyes!!

C is definitely a miracle, given to us in the middle of a tragedy. It just shows that God must have some sort of a plan, and it is not our job to question it. Just embrace it - which is what I plan to do with C. I love him so much already and cannot wait to watch him grow up in a handsome young man. I could not be happier for or prouder of Adrienne and her new, growing family!

Blankets, Bottles, and Babies... Oh My!

Lately, it seems as though everyone around me either has, or is expecting a baby! As I told you all before, my Phi Mu little is expecting her first little girl in January and another one of my Phi Mu sisters just had a little boy in November. And one of my coworkers, who actually shares a 1/2 wall with me (I teach in an open space school, so there aren't any real walls/doors/etc.) is going to be having a beautiful baby girl in May! So, imagine my surprise when in early November a good friend of mine from the (ahem:: AWFUL ::ahem) restaurant I worked out throughout high school and college collected our group to announce her pregnancy!

As I said, a little over a month ago, my good friend Adrienne asked myself and our other two friends, Megan and Katie, to dinner, we assumed it was a typical Hef (what we like to call ourselves... don't ask) get together. However, when she arrived, we could tell that she was ready to burst with something. In late October, Adrienne found out that she would be delivering a bouncing baby boy... in MID JANUARY! Needless to say, this little miracle wasn't exactly planned, but definitely an exciting addition to our little group!

We scrambled to get things, and a baby shower with the help of Adrienne's sister, together for Adrienne and baby Boy. Last weekend, we were able to spend an afternoon together, celebrating the new life that Adrienne will soon be bringing to us! We played some fun games, ate delicious food, and OOOHed and AHHHed and AWWWed while Adrienne and her boyfriend opened at least 25 adorable baby boy outfits.

Earlier this week, before the Storm of the Century hit in our area, The Hefs got together at for our annual Christmas dinner. Every year during dinner, we talk about the things that have happened and changed in our lives this year, as well as the things we're hoping for in the year ahead. This year, we had a TON to talk about: Megan got married in September, Katie is engaged and will have her wedding in July, Adrienne will be a new Mommy in less than a month, and I finally landed my dream job as a real life elementary school teacher! It would be selfish to say that I was a little bummed that my "big change" had to do with my career, rather than my love life or a new family, but on the other hand, I saw a dream I've had since I was a little girl come true this year. A big accomplishment if you ask me (even if it doesn't include a diamond ring...)

At the end of dinner, we contemplated whether we might have two babies (or at least one more on the way) at our next Hef Christmas dinner, or if Adrienne or myself would be the next to get hitched. I knew for sure that I was so happy for all three of my friends for the amazing lives they've created for themselves, and their new families.