Aubree is 3!

Three years ago today, my life changed for the better - I became a mom. Through a series of events much different than my sisters and friends, Eric and I became parents. [It wasn't the normal way that most girls become a mom for the first time.] Before attending my work party, Eric and I discussed how we would wait a couple of weeks to inform my employers that I would be entering motherhood and exiting my job. Surprisingly, while at that work party, we received a call, informing us that our baby girl had been born five weeks early and that we needed to pack our bags in preparation to meet her (our birthmom had only selected us as the adoptive parents 5 days prior). We informed my boss that I was done working and got in the car for the exciting drive to meet our hero birthmom and sweet baby girl.

When I first saw her, I felt a love, deep inside me, unlike anything that I had ever felt before. I instantly knew that Heavenly Father had sent this special girl to be my daughter. She was terribly sick and needed to stay in the hospital, until she was strong enough to breathe and eat without any tubes. Our first Christmas as parents was spent in the hospital, spending as much time with her as the doctors would allow, hoping and praying that she would recover and be able to come home with us. The days seemed to drag on and on, as we watched our baby girl teetering on the edge of mortality. Finally, after nine days, the doctors released Aubree from the hospital. Before we could bring her home, we went to a church building, for the placement of Aubree.

We met Aubree's birthmom, her birthmom's parents, and our LDS Family Services case worker at a church building. This was one of the most emotional experiences of my life. After visiting for a few minutes, I witnessed one of the most selfless acts of my life. Aubree's birthmom walked over and placed Aubree in Eric's and my arms. We stood, hugging eachother and sobbed. A couple minutes later, we walked out to the car with Aubree and drove away, as a mother and father. Our lives had been changed forever.

Aubree affects every aspect of my life, and when I think about what she means to me, I have a hard time expressing myself. She was born in a small window of time, when Eric's cancer was deemed to be in remission - the only time we could have adopted a baby with Eric's health. She needed to come early, so she could come to our family. Only two weeks after bringing Aubree home, Eric's doctor informed us that the cancer had returned. This little girl was my miracle and my sanity. She gave me something to focus on, which took my mind off Eric's failing health. This girl is the SWEETEST little girl I know. She is not just my daughter, she is one of my best friends. I can't imagine my life without this little girl. I got to be a mom instead of watch and fret about my husband getting sick, losing his hair, or what the future held for us. I am so grateful to be given the chance to raise Aubree and to have her sealed to us. She holds such a special place in my heart. I think that with your first kid, they hold a different spot in your heart, because it is through them that you learn how to become a parent. Aubree is so awesome!

Eric and I made a gingerbread house birthday cake. Aubree loved it!

The rest of these are just random pictures (esp. snowstorm).

Trav talking on his cell phone. He says hi, it is so cute.

Tanner loved being out in the snow. Above he is shoveling our driveway.

We gave Trav his first real haircut. His hair was becoming like a mullet. It makes him look so old. He is so cute!