Monday, August 22, 2011

Introducing the newest little Campbell: Welcome Dre!



DeAndre "Dre" Braddock Campbell
Born: July 17th, 2011
Height: 19.5 in
Weight: 6lbs. 12oz. (exactly like his sister!)

Our first moments meeting Dre and his foster mother.



Check that look on Daddy's face... yeah, that would be pride. "This is my boy." he told me.

"I've waited almost my whole life for you." (since I was maybe 8 years old. Yeah, I cried.)

During his physical, his foster mother comforted him. I spent the afternoon at her house learning from her about his likes and dislikes (of the last one there are very few, he's SUCH a content baby - yet alert! SO fun!)



There's that look again.

First of many. I just adore bottle feeding.

Play time!

He played this game with me all afternoon : Spit out tongue, wait for me to, smile, spit out again. Wish I could get the smile, but the camera was too scary.

Sleep well, my sweet baby. Mama and Daddy are coming to take you home forever tomorrow.


Saturday, August 20, 2011

Eva Quote: Silly Paul McCartney



Listening to the Beatles in the car...
e: "Mommy, is the sun going down?"
M: " No."
e: "Is it coming up?"
M: "No, it's right over our heads."
...pause...
e: (burst of forced laughter) "Silly man who sings 'here comes the sun!' " 
e: (quietly to herself) "Silly, silly man."


Friday, August 19, 2011

Adoption Update: IT'S A BOY! Welcome Baby Dre!



It's true, we're bouncing off the walls over here in the Hallelujah House! We got a call from the agency today saying that the other adoption plans for Baby Dre fell through and the birth mother would like us to be his parents!!

So Adam and I are going up to northern VA Monday to meet him and meet his foster mother and learn from her his routine. Then Tuesday he comes home forever! How crazy is all this??? Completely, we say. How fun is this? Heaps, we think. How AWESOME is our God to set all this in place? Quite awesome in every way.

Psalms 118:23
This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

Lam. 3:22-23
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

 

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Staycation Week Part 3 (the last part)


Our third and final part of Staycation week was probably the best part. Mummzie and Eva got to watch Daddy run in the local 5k.

This is his pre-race "determination face."

and the warm up technique.

The fans.

Here he comes! (oops, blink)

"Go, Daddy, GO!" (Eva was a great little cheer-er.

Big finish!

Our American Hero.

Wanting to race Daddy. (We're so proud of you!)

Post-race happy face... was it the well run race or the free Chic-fil-a for runners?

And then, on the last Stay-ca day, we took a trip to the lake.


Lake Anna State Park Beach




Hope your family's vaca was a soooper as our Stay-ca!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Staycation Week Part 2

More chillin' durin' our stay-cation...


while others worked...

... on another way to chill - tada!

We also worked on finishing the kids' room. (big reveal coming soon)

And we went to the FAIR!
... with our buddies Solo (short for Solomon) and his family.

It was a nice night for a pig race. Someone ended up kissing one of the champions... the things people will do to impress celebrities, I'm tellin' ya.


This looked cool.

So did he.



And the Fair isn't the Fair unless there's some really bad, really good FOOD.


We got deep fried oreos (Below - Uh-mazing), brisket, corn on the cob....
... funnel cake...

...and ice cream. Yeeeeee-um!

As for rides, Eva only had eyes for one.


 The Fair is magic.




Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Adoption Update: Not This Time


Our social worker called today to say that the birth mother chose the other family she met with Saturday to be the parents of her little boy, Dre. (Dray)

From my journal this week:
Aug. 8, 2011
"We're waiting still, here on Monday, to hear of [birth mother's] decision. I'll admit, it's getting hard to be patient, but I'm also growing grateful for the time we've "had" with Dre in our hearts. I realised something truly sweet today: Dre doesn't have a Christian mother, and so while he's in my heart and I'm praying for him all the time, I'm "mothering" him in the very best way. This makes my heart so glad, because even if he's not going to be my boy to raise, I still got to be his "mother" for a little while, which was a dream come true. (I've always had a heart and desire for an African American son) God knows this desire is deep and my love for baby Dre is strong, and seeing him go to another home would be tough, but there is a deeper, settled peace that is wrapping all these emotions and feelings and guarding my heart. Thank you, Lord, for your mighty power in loving care of me! Your tenderness is touchable. I truly trust you. How amazing is this peace that you've given me! It really does surpass understanding. Thank you, Amen."

Though today's phone call was not easy, Adam and I just kinda sat there for a while, that I was talking about peace still resides in both our hearts and neither of us feel "crushed" or depressed by the news. I'm grateful that, though we had to wade in much deeper with this birth mother and baby, God really guarded our hearts from anxiety and holding onto something that wasn't His will. We love this little boy, but we see now that he's not our little man, and so we're praying now for his new home that the gospel will be taught to him there and in his new family that he'll grow to be a man of God with them. And so we let him go.

In less than a month our training begins and we'll be in the "parent pool" and possibly getting more calls than we are now - or not. Ya never know in this business of adoption! Each call has equipped us and prepared us better and better for this process; this one was certainly the most involved and "heart pulling." Our social worker says things are not typically done this way (with there being two families met with) - but we know Who's running the show, as always, and so we're seeking to play our parts with grace and gratefulness.

I'm tellin' ya folks, goin' through this makes me cherish  and thank God for my sweet little girl all the more. I hold on to her and praise God for His goodness, and I hold onto His Word and expect more. Thank you all for your prayers and "cheers" as we keep on down this road. It's been very uplifting to read your encouragements and hear of your excitement. We feel the love, y'all, and love ya back.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Eva Quote: Making Room


Praying for Eva as she was going to bed:
Mummzi: "Lord, please show Eva that she needs you to give her a new heart..."
eva (whispering): "Mom, I already got one."
M:"Well, actually, you still need Him, Honey. Every day we pray that God would teach you how to love Him and others and have a new heart..."
e:(jumping in): "But I already got Him!" (points to her belly) "He's in there."
M:"Well, I'm glad that He's working in you, that He's making a place in your heart for Himself."
e: (smooshes belly with hands)
M: "What are you doing?"
e:"Making more room for Him."