We welcome DANIEL LEWIS F. who was born on August 16, 2007 weighing 8 lbs. 12 oz. and 19 3/4" in length.
Michael and I just received the most wonderful news ever - we have been selected by a birth mother (BM) to be the adopted parents of a healthy baby boy. Words cannot describe how ecstatic Holly was when she received the news from our Gladney counselor on August 29 at work. Of course, she could not reach Michael for an hour or two b/c he was in a government building without his cell phone. Somehow she managed to contain herself and not tell anyone else until he called and she said, "We have a baby boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!". Holly called her brother Scott and he was thrilled. Holly and Michael could not track down their parents right away b/c they don't keep their cell phones on :) But when we did reach them, they were over the moon with the fact that they are now grandparents.
Holly had to head off to a Resolve Planning Meeting at Jane's house which was great b/c her adoption support group friends were there and there were plenty of hugs to go around. Jane even gave Holly a stuffed horsey from Ft. Worth that she picked up last year when she adopted Alex at Gladney.
Of course Michael was at home with all our phones ringing off the hook b/c Holly had left messages for all our friends. Plus she was busy sending out emails to everyone with the cutest pictures ever of our baby boy. Holly and Michael are on cloud nine b/c we are finally parents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so blessed and thank God and our BM.
Thanks to our family and friends for all the messages of love and support. We know that your prayers and laughter kept us going over the last two years. We cannot wait for all of you to meet Daniel in September. We are scheduled to welcome Daniel into our arms on September 12 in Fort Worth at Gladney. Of course, Holly is not going to sleep between now and then b/c she is so excited and needs to do more shopping. Michael is already planning all the activities he is going to enjoy with Daniel.
We spent time talking with the wonderful transitional care givers who are taking care of Daniel. Sharon and Don have taken care of 137 babies for Gladney - they are precious people. They said he is a great baby and really knows how to eat b/c he is now 9 lbs. 10 oz. Michael thinks we might actually have the makings of a Baltimore Ravens left tackle. He has the cutest dimple on his chin and has already been to church where all the ladies loved him. Holly also learned that he has an impressive set of lungs at times. But the best news was that he really likes to be held so Holly will be in heaven.
Next Day:
On August 30th Holly told everyone at Deltek and her HR team was just so happy and thrilled for her. Carolyn (Holly's wonderful friend and colleague) took Holly out to a celebratory lunch at Zeffirelli's and toasted Holly being a MOM with champagne! It was a beautiful day.
August 30th Call with BM:
Holly and Michael talked with the birth mom (BM) for one hour tonight and she is such a warm, loving, courageous and amazing person. Michael and Holly had tears of joy and love in our eyes as we talked to this most incredible and caring BM. She was happy to hear that she has made all our dreams come true and how our whole extended family is so excited about our precious baby boy. Holly told her that we were thinking of naming the baby Daniel, and she was the first person to know that we selected that name. She thinks Daniel fits him perfectly. She really loved that Michael has an inner child just like her and will be playing baseball and football with Daniel as well as going fishing. Plus Holly told her that she is looking forward to just holding and kissing Daniel all the time and attending all his activities as he grows up. Holly and Michael told the BM that we will love Daniel more than anything in the world and give him all the opportunities he desires in life. We are and will continue to pray for his BM every night and Daniel will definitely know how much she loves him.
