The Christmas Checklist

Lauren's Christmas Checklist Countdown...

Family Christmas Photo = Check



First Santa hat for baby = Check



Party dress for this week's Holiday Party at daycare = Check



Presents wrapped = Check



"Babies First Christmas" Ornament hung on the tree = Check



Christmas Dinner (forget the figgy pudding, Lauren is going to try her hand at rice cereal) = Check

With 4 days to go, we are all set at the Thomas house for a very happy holiday. Cheers!

Dear Santa,

Thank you again for my two front teeth.

This year I have everything I need. Fuzzy pajama's, tons of diapers, two cats, and family and friends who gush over me all day long.

Next year my list might be longer.

Love, Lauren

All I want for Christmas...

is my two front teeth.

And if you look close enough you can see that Santa delivered. Thanks Santa

Gotcha Day - Part Three

After a very full day of flying, visiting and under-oathing at the Court House, we spent the rest of the afternoon touring downtown Fort Worth. Of course the trip wouldn't have been complete without a pair of cowboy boots for Sydney's early birthday present. Boots and a baby = a perfect weekend!







We finished off our trip with a fine meal of burgers and fries back at our hotel room. It didn't matter where or what we ate that night. It was the perfect end to a wonderful journey.



Thank you to everyone for all of your love and support. We are blessed!

Gotcha Day - Part Two

After a wonderful visit at the Gladney Center for Adoption, we took Lauren to an authentic Mexican lunch and then headed to the Tarrant County court house for our adoption hearing. The building was full of other adoptive families also coming to finalize. Just as you would imagine everyone was excited, smiling and truly grateful for such a special day.

Lauren catching a quick cat nap as we wait for the judge to begin our hearing...



Still waiting...zzzzzzzzzzzz



The court room was full of balloons, stuffed animals and childrens books for all of the new families. One by one we each took our turn in front of the judge.



Judge Hennigan was very kind and looked like an actor straight from a TV show. He told us his daughter and his grand-daughter were both named "Lauren" so I'm pretty sure we were his favorite family. Ha!



Next stop...Old Town Fort Worth.

Gotcha Day!

Friday, December 3 was our family's "Gotcha Day". True, we theoretically "got" Lauren over the 4th of July weekend, but this week it was made official by our adoption agency, the judge and the great state of Texas. WE ARE A FAMILY!

Our day started at 3:30 a.m. when we pulled Lauren from her crib to whisk her off to the airport for her first airplane ride as we headed to Dallas/Fort Worth. She was perfect, and her parents were so very thankful.



After arriving in Fort Worth, we put Lauren in her dress, tights and red patent leather shoes. After all, you have to look good when it's your Adoption Day AND your 5 Month birthday!



We then headed over to the Gladney Center for Adoption for a visit. It was surreal pulling up to the building and remembering two years ago when Bryon and I (and many other hopeful couples) first attended New Parent Orientation. I remember one of the speakers that day saying "You may think adoption is your Plan B but when you are placed with the child that is to be yours, you will realize that adoption was always your Plan A". How right he was!

Here is Lauren with our Adoptive Family Caseworker, Jennifer Hart. Jennifer has guided us through our entire adoption journey and we are forever thankful for her friendship and for helping us become a family.



The happy family at the Gladney Center for Adoption.



Next stop...the Fort Worth court house.

It's our family adoption week!

In just a few short days, the legal part of our adoption journey will be coming to a close. And we couldn't be MORE excited!

At Noon on Friday, December 3 (also Lauren's 5 Month Birthday), Bryon and I will stand in front of the judge at the Fort Worth, Texas court-house and officially become Lauren's parents. Birth certificate and all.

Words cannot express our relief, joy and complete happiness.

More to come from the great state of Texas!

Thanksgiving

Gobble gobble.

We just celebrated a wonderful Thanksgiving with dear friends and family. Bryon and I have been blessed in so many ways this year and we are so thankful for all of it!





Aunt Coni and Uncle John came to visit from Iowa and brought much love to our Thanksgiving festivities. PS: They love to baby-sit too which is definately an added bonus.





Lauren's "twin friends" Kenzie and Morgan also joined us for Thanksgiving. Having three babies play in our home was so much fun. Girls, you have no idea how loved you are or how long we've waited for you...
















So thankful for the smile you put on your Mother's face everyday



Happy Holidays everyone!

An Angel Among Us

Oh the Christmas stocking! For many its just a decoration to adorn the fireplace, or for others a place to stash one's holiday lewt. But for me and my family, its a sacred item that makes Christmas such a special time of year.

You see having my birthday on December 21, I was actually brought home from the hospital in a Christmas stocking made for me by some very special ladies. And on December 25, my parents carefully placed me under the tree in the exact same stocking I hang today. Whether joyful, sorrowful or memorable that stocking has followed me through 39 Christmas holidays. Yikes!

So you can see why Bryon and I felt so much pressure to find the PERFECT stocking for our new baby Lauren. After scouring many, many, many websites we just couldn't find the stocking that was good enough to follow her through an entire lifetime. It had to be really special.

Fast forward one week and I find out from my dear friend Kristen that her Aunt Nancy has been following our blog and made a very special Christmas gift for Lauren. Surprise!


How could she have known that Lauren might go without a stocking on her very first Christmas? And what a special lady for taking the time to make such a memorable gift for someone she's never met. I'll tell you who...Lauren's Christmas Angel.

Thank you so much for the wonderful gift Nancy. I'm sure that Lauren will cherish it for many years to come!

And so it begins

It's 12:45 a.m. on Monday, November 15.

After her midnight feeding, Lauren is carefully placed in her crib to sleep. As always, she is placed on her back because that's how 2010 babies are supposed to sleep.



But wait. She immediately rolls on her side.

Wait baby girl. You need to sleep on your back.

So I quickly roll her back into place.



But she rolls again. And I carefully roll her back.

And we continue this night time dance. Again...and again...and again.

Immediately a new level of "new mom" excitement kicks in.

I think to myself...

This is so exciting. Baby girl is getting bigger and growing up.
I'm so happy she is learning to roll over.
She's such a big girl.
I must put this milestone in her baby book.
But what if she's not ready?
I think it's too soon.
What if she's too sleepy or too lazy to roll herself back?
Can she breathe?
Maybe I should just stay here all night and keep placing her on her back?
Surely I can do this for 6 more hours.
Should I take her pacifier out to allow for more lung capacity?
Is being face-planted into the mattress a positive thing?
Did we practice enough tummy time?
Is her neck strong enough to turn her head?
What if she needs me and I'm not here standing over her crib?

And so it begins. A lifetime of sleepless nights as a new Mother wanting only the best for my baby girl. Sigh!

Yay for weekends!

We love weekends! Sure our weekends are much different than they were five months ago. We don't stay up late, sleep in, or go out nearly as much as we used too. But look at what fun you can have without ever leaving the house.

On Saturday morning's we watch cartoons...Yes, we starting her out a bit early but when you've been up since 5:30 a.m. you do what you have to do.



After the parents morning coffee, we try on lots of fun new outfits out of baby's closet.



Then we take long walks and enjoy our beautiful Fall weather.


















Saturday night is for baths and home facials.



Then on Sunday we do it all over again. Happy Monday everyone!

Four Months

I'm four months old this week! Is it possible that I'm getting bigger AND cuter?

New Discoveries

In the past two weeks, Baby Lauren has found her voice, legs and hands. Enjoy these short videos.

Telling Mom and Dad all about my day at daycare.

Untitled from Sydney Thomas on Vimeo.

Our future gymnast scored a perfect "10" for her leg work.

Untitled from Sydney Thomas on Vimeo.

After all this excitement, Baby just needed a nap with her Daddy

My First Halloween Party

Friday morning Lauren went to her very first Halloween Party at daycare. She and her good friends got all dressed up for a wonderful day filled with a Halloween pancake breakfast, crafts and trick or treating.


Although she was side-lined this year, we can't will until next year when our baby tiger can get out of her car seat and enjoy the festivities.

Viva Las Vegas - Mom's First Getaway

They say the first full night away from your baby is the hardest so I decided to go ahead and get it over with by heading to Las Vegas for a quick "Girls Weekend" with my Mother and sister. Although I knew I would miss Lauren terribly, how could I possibly pass up a weekend with my favorite ladies?

Bryon was more than willing to let me go, so I'm guessing he was either looking forward to spending time alone with his daughter, or perhaps he just thought I'd come home from Vegas with some big winnings.

Although we didn't win any money, we had three blissful days of bonding, shopping, eating and laughing until our cheeks hurt. Three days, two nights, one show, one night club, and a pair of fabulous shoes later, I headed home to baby girl.

Girls Night Out!



Accessories anyone?



Jerris got the shoes...



Mom and I got an empty bag



Can you see how much Lauren missed her Mom while she was away? Me neither...

The best and worst...

While the parents seem to be lacking in posting timely blog updates, we never seem to run out of fabulous pictures of Baby Lauren. Here are some various photos of her best (and worst) photo opps this past month!

Wink. Wink. How can you resist me?



Sporting my bunny slippers (and my growing knees)



Baby loves her pink bath...



But baby does NOT love the arrival of winter clothing!



My parents are relentless. And its not even Halloween yet.