There is nothing more I'd like to blog about right now than Cora Grace. She is such a doll baby! She's so happy and cute and constantly doing new things I look forward to watching her grow and become a successful human and kind daughter.
My friend Kristyn sent me these pictures on like June 5th and I am only now posting them! I know you will all appreciate seeing Cora's birth family as it also warms my heart. Cora Grace was born on Tuesday, June 1st and came 'home' with us on Wednesday. These pictures were taken at a get together on Friday with Cyndee's 4 current children and family. My brother Jesse, my sister in law Kelli and their son Stewart are there too (their cute daughter had other plans). Her daughter Jessica is 20 from her first marriage and 3 sons; Jacob, Jarrod and Justin are 9-12 years old from her 2nd marriage (she is divorced). She has 2 sisters and a brother and their mother Marlene is also there. Cyndee's sisters were very nice to me and Cora's two cousins were the sweetest! They even wrote her a note each which I hold sacred and dear. I was very touched by Cyndee's brother in the pictures who was very emotional the whole time. As a note, their father had just passed away 2 months before and Cyndee's surprise baby seemed to add to the mood. Lastly, C.G.'s birth Grandmother, she is truly a special soul. I felt very akin to her the moment I met her and I think C.G. looks so much like her which pleases me. I hope you don't mind to have waited this long for these pictures or documentation of this account. Thank you Kristyn for hosting this at your home and for being the photographer (among everything else you did even though you have a husband and 3 babies of your own. hug). xo
I do love this picture of Cyndee :)
This is Kristyn who got this beautiful ball rolling. :)
Cousins Kathrine and Tori. I could only dream that Cora will turn out as sweet as these two were to us.
These are Cora's 1/2 brothers biologically, Justin, Jacob and Jarrod (and Cyndee).
They have A LOT of energy but I really loved it. I think they are sweet also, to each other and to Cora.
Jessica is on the left and was really emotional the whole time but we persuaded her to let us have some pictures with her in them. She feels so in love with Cora and was not given proper time to deal with what was going on. Jessica and I talk all the time through email and she is the only one I talk to in the family. She is MUCH more at peace and our conversations are the reason. She is happy for us and for Cora and admits it is not just the shock of the baby being born, then placed for adoption but previous struggles in her life that brought all the emotion to the surface. We didn't want her to be so sad but also didn't take it personally and she was happy to hear that.
Jessica had a locket inscribed for Cora (of which she has the same one for herself) that says "Forever Sisters" with a picture of herself and another of her holding C.G.. This is her giving me the locket and a blanket for our precious baby. I've had pictures made of Cora holding the necklace and another of Cora holding a ring Marlene gave her. Jessica loved the pictures.
This may be the biggest smile for Cyndee, which I love.
This is Jessica's boyfriend on the left but I love this moment captured of Jacob holding Cora so delicately.
This is Marlene, Cora's birth Grandmother <3.
Evan found a way to entertain everyone, even then. Peek a boo!
Peek a boo 2.
I really loved her boys and their tenderness for mom and baby Cora.
Cyndee and her brother Billy. He really broke my heart.
Cyndee, her brother Billy and his wife Sandy. I really don't know why Cora is crying in all these pictures cause she literally never does this but I found through that week, she would cry when the family held her and I think it's because she could sense the stress. As a reminder, Cyndee kept her pregnancy a secret and the family was very surprised with phone calls on June 1st. I don't even know if her brother had even seen the baby yet before this so if that is the case, I'm even more grateful he came.
This is Cyndee's sister Colette. She seemed so familiar to me for some reason, it was really strange but in a good way. I felt comfortable with a 'stranger' because of it. :)
This is Cyndee's sister Claudine. She was more of an observer and I did not get to talk to her barely unfortunately.
The whole gang. I love that Stewart is just laughing at Evan. :)
I don't know if I ever posted this but it is from Cora's birth day that Kristyn's friend took. I am very grateful for these pictures taken at the hospital since I would have preferred to be there myself of course. They are special to me and will be very special to Cora Grace. I know I was sad that I never had baby pictures of myself (being the 5th, there's only a few things on my parents mind besides photography. lol)
So there you go. Let me know what you think. :)
5 comments:
Lila the whole thing is precious! I loved the pictures. Recently our agency said that they lost touch with Landon's birth mom it breaks my heart. You have something so amazing.
She is beautiful. And so blessed to be able to be raised in your family!
This is the sweetest post, ever! First of all, I am balling my eyes out at the sweetness and emotion wrapped up in his post. I am so grateful that you were chosen for Cora Grace (& Evan). It's so hard for me to fathom being in this scenario. I am such a cry baby and so emotional about things that I can't see myself being as strong as you guys look in these photos. It just seems like such a roller coaster of a process for both families involved. I guess a bitter sweet moment as a whole. I could never imagine letting go of a child, but am so grateful to those who choose to do so for this very reason. There are times this is just the right choice to make and those times are ones that God gives to people like you. He has truly blessed you and your family and I pray that you will be blessed with all the children you can handle . . . plus some? hehe. You guys are so perfect with kids and am so glad to see your family growing in God's time. You are so good to keep on top of your blogging with both kids. I love the fact that they are going to have this as record and know how much they are truly loved and adored.
So special - I'm all emotional like looking at these pictures (I won't admit to actual tears...I'm too tough...) :-D
I think C.G. is SOOOO LUCKY to have you for her mom, and she's so lucky that you took the time and effort to have such a HUGE family get-together for her biological family so they could have a moment with this precious baby that was such a surprise for them. I think without that, they would have always had some sadness or bitterness. I hope that by meeting you and having that moment with C.G. they will have peace.
I love how you and Bennett (and Jen) have really opened your hearts to the birth family's. I am so amazed and touched at the selflessness that is adoption. I can't even imagine how hard the decision to place a baby is, and am so touched and full of love for these families that are so strong to be able to hold that baby, and then turn her over to her new, and eternal family, knowing she is no longer theirs. It breaks my heart, while filling me with so much joy all in the same moment.
If you talk to them, tell them that I say THANK YOU for this beautiful gift that is Cora Grace. She is that much MORE special because of this. XOXO
I love these pictures! I find it so interesting and sweet to see the family she comes from. They look like it was a hard decision, but she is so blessed to have a family like you!
Post a Comment