Sunday was the “double-digit” day for X. The big 1-0.

Despite having to work Saturday night/Sunday morning, I was determined to make her day as special as possible. Even if that meant a severe lack of sleep on my part.

From cleaning, to wrapping, to getting her iPad set up, to decorating – I stayed up to 1:30am.

Then got up at 4:45am.

I had to be at work at 7am so I told the kids that if they went to bed early (7pm) on Saturday night, I would wake them up for breakfast and presents before I went in. They easily obliged and X was wide awake when I went in to her room at 5:40am. I made hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, sausage, fresh berries, and cinnamon rolls for breakfast (YUM!)

I wrapped this robe and labeled it from E – with the justification that he doesn’t want her to be walking around in a towel in the mornings now that they share a bathroom. I think I’ll buy a robe for X to give E next year….he’s the bad one who especially loves to go around naked.

At least he had pants on here.

She’s laughing because she was with me when I bought this and she forgot all about it.

Just can’t have enough GAP sweat shirts and pants – we Newcoms love them.

This is a memory foam pillow. I have one that she’s been coveting for years.

Then of course, there was the iPad.

As I darted out the door at 6:56 (oops!) X & E were taking pictures with Photo Booth on the iPad.

When I got off work it was Birthday Party time. 3 of X’s friends came over and we headed to ‘”Frost” ice skating rink at the Westin LaCantera. I have the girls all “party favors” of matching gloves, hat and scarf to wear while skating.

too cute.

The all quickly made friends with this 3 year old out there on the ice.

And fell several times.

There was tons of laughing. One girl said it was probably the most fun she’s had all year.

As we left the Westin the girls stopped for a picture in front of the gorgeous view overlooking San Antonio.

Now that the energy and fun level had been turned up the girls were in 100% giggle mode. I don’t think they stopped giggling for the next 2.5 hours.

I took the girls to Grimaldi’s at the Shops at La Cantera.

4 Shirley Temples and a big Caesar salad to share. The girls were so excited to eat Caesar salad…go figure.

We came home and had Cold Stone ice cream cake. With 10 candles.

And then they danced.

And E tried to shake his booty with the girls.

He thinks he is so funny.

But sadly, we were all laughing. So I guess he really is that funny.

All the friends left by 7:30. X talked to the Grandmas, played on her iPad, then went to bed. She had a great day.

I went to bed at 8:30. I was 5 steps past exhausted.

We call it our “Adopt-iversary”. September 24. Yes, I realize how late I am posting this.

This year we celebrated 3 years (of officially being adopted) and 4 years of being in our family.

We started a tradition on the first adopt-iversary of making pottery together. I wanted the kids to have something tangible that they could see throughout the years remembering this special day.  Pottery just seemed like the most fun activity we could maintain throughout the years as they get older.

And they absolutely love doing this. They know when we say it’s almost our adopt-iversary that they will get to go make pottery. This year our weekend was super jam packed with activity that we almost couldn’t find the time. How sad on our part! We squeezed it in between a meeting at church and my Alpha Xi Delta meeting in San Marcos.

X chose an ice cream cone this year. The plan was to make it match her room.

E chose some sort of little monster thing – I actually have no clue what it’s supposed to be.

My Mom was here that weekend.

Today is my Mom’s birthday – Happy Birthday Mom!! We love you!

I’d actually forgotten to bring my big camera. Luckily, I carry my point & shoot in my purse in case something catastrophic like this happens.

Yes. Ryan and I match every single Sunday. Whoever gets dressed first on Sunday morning gets to choose what Journey Church shirt will be worn that day. I know – we’re so cool.

The finished product. Totally awesome. Matches her room perfectly.

Cute. Whatever he is.

Crazy to think that 4 years as already gone by since these days. While every day brings new emotions to this motherhood journey, I wouldn’t trade any of the highs or lows. These two children are changing me for the better every single day.

4 years ago today our lives changed forever.

We had 3 hours notice before X (age 5) and E (10 months) came to live with us.

We had NO clue what we were doing.

Sometimes I still feel that way.

But oh boy, have these 2 kids been amazing.

Despite the pre-teen drama that seems to rule most of my days lately, X & E are an absolute gift from God.

God was so faithful in His promise to give us children.

When I look back on his continued faithfulness, I am overwhelmed by His goodness.

Mother’s Day for me was good.

We did our normal Sunday morning routine of breakfast then out the door to church.

Danny’s message was about Hannah [1 Samuel], her infertility, and how she cried out to God asking for a child. For me, as for many women who have struggled with infertility, that story stirs a million emotions of the desperation I once felt. And while I’m so thankful to be free from that bondage, the feelings are still too easily recalled.

I spent the majority of the service praying for those women who are currently in that state of painful desperation.

Because I know how much it sucks.

And how much can be learned and gained from the experience when you surrender to God’s plans.

Back to the service – I was on the verge of tears as it was. Then Ryan, our worship leader (“the other Ryan”), sings a song that he wrote for his Mom.

It wouldn’t have been that big of a deal except that Ryan is adopted as well. And the lyrics of the song clearly reflected that fact.

[That's his Mom in the foreground of this picture.]

And maybe not such a big deal if I hadn’t been standing next to Lacy who is in our Life Group and  who adopted 2 children from the same agency we did.

And maybe not so bad if X hadn’t been one of the children who came walking up the isles to hand out roses to all the Moms.

Yeah, I pretty much lost it. But I certainly wasn’t the only one. As I looked around tears ran down several faces.

Which is what makes Ryan a Rock Star – having the courage and amazing audacity to write and sing such an awesome song to his Mom – and make everyone cry over it. It was really awesome. Except the crying part…..I really don’t like crying in front of so many people.

And I thought that I’d have myself totally under control for the second service since I had already heard it once – nope. More tears. I thought geez – this is ridiculous – what is wrong with me?

I think I really needed to see and hear a success story like that because the day had started and was progressing to be a major X drama day.

Adoptive Mother or not – surely I’m not the only Mom out there who needs to know every now and then that “it’s all worth it” as his song says.

Despite all that – I was in good spirits as we went to Fralo’s [my favorite local pizza and byob joint] for lunch.

Ryan gave me 3 presents – always good for the spirit.

It was 3 new charms for my James Avery charm bracelet.

I’m pretty sure that the guitar charm is a friendly reminder that I need to get back in to playing my guitar again.

And I’m absolutely sure that no amount of drama can keep me from loving these kids.

Or that I wish Angela lived here in San Antonio.

I miss them already.