It's been a while since I've posted, but I wanted to fill you in on the latest happenings in the Baker house.
Back in late March Billy and I headed down to Disney World with the girls and my sister's family. We took the following picture in Epcot, with plans to use it to announce that we were adopting a special needs child from China.
We were so very excited to start this journey and had been praying over several kiddos on our agency's list. There was one little girl, about four years old that completely stole my heart. Payton was super pumped about another sibling and also, the possibility of going to see the "great hall" (AKA Great Wall) and eat lots of rice. We were eager to announce to the world that our family was growing again.
We had a fantastic trip to Disney and even discussed how this could be our last trip to Disney with a little bitty person. We bought a Mickey Mouse China pin, and imagined that our next time in "China" would in fact be in China, and not the World Showcase.
We got home on April 2nd. I was dreading the following day. Anyone who's been to Disney and loves it, knows that there's a bit of Disney detox that happens the first several days home, as you readjust to reality. I hate coming home from any vacation, actually. This time though, I knew that April 3rd, our first full day home, would be particularly painful, because it was our Addie's second birthday- Another birthday that we would miss- Another day to remind us of the sting of losing her and missing her.
Last year, on April 3rd, 2013, Addie's first birthday, the Lord blessed us with the gift of news that our court date had been scheduled for Ellie. It was such a welcome surprise that truly lifted our spirits on an otherwise pretty crummy day. We had no idea that The Lord had another gift prepared for April 3rd, 2014.
It was on this day, Addie's second birthday, that we found out God had another blessing waiting for us- this time, in the form of a baby He's knitting together in my womb. I sat that morning, staring at a pregnancy test in utter disbelief. Positive?!?! Say what?!?! This was so completely unexpected, and I had a hard time fully wrapping my brain around it. We were of course, thrilled, though, and Payton was pretty excited, too.
China is still on our hearts (as Ethiopia is, and probably always will be- before the pregnancy news, I was planning on being there this past week with a Eyes that See) but for now, we feel The Lord has instructed us to wait- to enjoy this growth in our family and follow Him in other ways in orphan care. The little girl in China whom I begged The Lord for months to give a family has been matched with parents, and though my heart still has a special place for her, I can rest in the peace of knowing my God is sovereign and watching over her.
Today, June 24th, marked one year from the day we were waiting to hear from the US Embassy if we had cleared to bring Ellie home. I was preparing to teach preschool music at VBS when Billy called with the amazing news that we were going to get our girl. Today, a year later, we woke up, eagerly anticipating more news- the gender of our little one.
Payton went with us to the ultrasound, and it was quite hilarious. I'm not really sure she ever recognized the baby on the screen, and she asked three gazillion questions, but it was so wonderful to find out all together that....
IT'S A BOY!!!!
We expect Cole Ellison Baker to arrive some time the first week of December, and we are all thrilled. This was not our plan, but there is no denying it's the Lord's, and we are beyond thankful. He has blessed us richly, and we can't wait to meet "another Baker baby."
