Introducing...

Esther Grace Therese

Born December 23

A teeny 5 lbs., 14 oz.

It's official! Well, as official as it can be before it's finalized, which won't be for several more months. It all went very smoothly, to the point that we have already been cleared to leave the state. We had prepared for a wait as long as two weeks!

We are so blessed. So, so blessed. Our little baby girl - who we call Essie, just like my grandmother Esther was called - is the most precious, calm, sweet baby (which is quite a change from our last one). She sleeps, wakes and cries a cute little cry when she's hungry and latches on likes she's been doing it for years. She even latched by herself in the dark last night! Her tongue is tied, though, so she nurses for a long time. But hopefully that will get better after it's fixed.

I also wanted to share something that happened to us right as Essie was being born. We stopped quick for Mass in the middle of Texas and when I took Luke out for being loud, I came upon a large statue in the back of the church. It was Our Lady of Grace, who I had a devotion to throughout this entire adoption journey. And by her side was a vase of roses. Roses, a sign from St. Therese. The two middle names we had already picked out - Grace and Therese - were right there in front of me, just as Essie Grace was being born miles and miles away.

 

My stress melted away. Okay, maybe that's overstating it, but I did take comfort in that sign. I knew that I would give her the name we had chosen. 

Please continue to pray for her birth mom. She is very, very special and will always be my hero.

We love you, sweet Essie. Welcome to your family :)