Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Jared flew in just in the nick of time and I was able to pick him up from he airport at midnight on Christmas Eve. If he had been much later he might have spotted Santa from the airplane ;) I'm very happy that Jared is back. I wish I could say that we had an absolutely wonderful Christmas... but it just isn't the same when your not home. I'm still bummed that I didn't get to put up any of my decorations this year *sniff*. I love decorating for Christmas and my stuff is usually up the week before thanksgiving, and up until the third week of January. I feel like I've missed out on all the big holidays this year... halloween, thanksgiving, christmas, new years etc.

This week we found out that our caseworker has been changed to agency director over Sandy because of the unique circumstances around this adoption. Our agencies director used to live in Illinois and is more familiar with Michigan adoptions so we won't be working with Debbie quite as much anymore. She's been AMAZING though and has been so helpful. I hope our situation hasn't ruffled too many feathers back home because our situation is absolutely not a typical adoption, especially within LDSFS. In fact, our situation is so unique that now the commissioner that is over the worldwide LDSFS is now familiar with our case. I don't think there is much we could have done to prevented us from being in the predicament that we are in. We had met with the birthfather's mother two months before Kylie was due and though it was difficult for her, she was supportive of the adoption. Once she saw her in the hospital she must have changed her tune. I'm just so thankful that he didn't decide to pursue paternity until weeks after Kylie was born. If he had filed papers pursuing paternity before she was born Abbie most likely would not have been able to place her for adoption because the birthfather would legally have the same rights to paternity as Abbie now has. As Abbie recently said, Kylie needs to be protected from her birthfather. So as harrowing as this has all been we know that it is for the best.

I feel so blessed that this is the first Christmas that instead of being a family of two we are a family of three! What a wonderful blessing Kylie has been. I'm so grateful that she is with our family. We love her so much! Her birthmother made some tremendous sacrifices for her and Kylie will always know how loved she was. She truly has brought so much love into the world.
Some friends sent us a gift package with such fun things inside. I have such amazing and wonderful friends. I miss them so very much, along with my ward family. Here are a few pictures donning a few gifts that people have sent.

Kylie with her Santa hat & doll

"I have an idea!"

"Woa Baby!" Okay, I know this bow is meant for a toddler,
but a friend sent it as a gift and I just had to try it on her.
It will now be tucked away until she's big enough for it :)