Check out Kylee's pictures!!!

My friend Jana took Kylee's pictures last week & she posted some of them on her blog tonight! I LOVE them!!! Check out her photography blog here. THANK YOU SO MUCH JANA!!!

HOORAY!!!

Remember this whole mess? Well...I went to my LAST endodontist appointment today!!! I actually still have to go in for x-rays every 6 months to make sure things are continuing to heal, but I'm SO excited that I don't have to have any more regular appointments there! (Seriously, who likes going and getting shots in their mouth on a regular basis? Ugh!) I hold the record for the patient who they've treated the longest...I've been seeing them regularly (anywhere from weekly to monthly) for the past 16 MONTHS! The main thing I learned is to pay attention to your symptoms! My teeth hurt for close to 10 years and I just thought it was normal. Also, get a full set of x-rays if your dentist recommends it, even if you don't think you need it! My dentist actually uses my story to get people to get their x-rays done. So sad, I know! :)

I've had headaches seriously EVERY DAY for the past 10 years. Since my endodontist has been working on my teeth, 90% of my headaches are gone and they are way less severe than they used to be. Pretty crazy! My endometriosis still makes things harder than usual, but it is definitely manageable. I never thought I'd be able to say that! I still haven't had to take any prescription medication for months & the only pain medicine I've had to take is Tylenol and Aleve...and when I take it most of my pain goes away. (For years I took Percocet multiple times a day and was still in excruciating pain.) My stomach gives me problems once in awhile, but if I eat what I should it's not bad. Hooray for better health and answered prayers. I can't believe I'm doing so much better!

Adoption Academy

On Saturday Linc & I had an all-day adoption academy with Families Supporting Adoption. We had to go to it to fulfill one of our certification requirements. It really taught me a lot and made me realize that the reason I have HATED this whole adoption process (not the people involved...just the legal part of it) is because we weren't able to follow the process! It was like reading the script over once before acting in a play. You know the basic story and may remember some of what you're supposed to do or say, but obviously you are going to have A LOT of problems! We've just been so confused, frustrated and overwhelmed doing all of the paper work and trying to get things together on such short notice...and now I know why. They have a certain order to the adoption process for a reason. Of course I am SO grateful that we got Kylee right away and that things have happened as quickly as they have, because that's how it's supposed to be...but it doesn't mean it has been easy by any means!

Anyway, at the academy there was a panel of adult adoptees (adults who were adopted as children...I loved this one, because they gave great tips on how to talk to your child about his/her adoption), a panel of adoptive parents who did trans-racial and special needs adoptions, and the birth mom panel. I just wanted to say something about the birth moms. I really think that when people ask me about Kylee's birth mom (or another adopted child's birth mom) that they expect to hear that they are just totally messed up. Well, I've met multiple birth moms so far and all of them are SO normal. Seriously, Breonna is so level-headed and mature, and just has a calming effect on me...I love her. You realize the real reason why these moms gave their babies up for adoption...they honestly just wanted their child to have a better life than they could provide. Also, the more I look at the church's view on adoption, the more I'm amazed at how perfectly they support it. The whole process is truly amazing!

One more thing...I've really tried to understand how Breonna is feeling about this whole situation. One of the birth moms at the academy was talking about giving birth at the hospital and handing her son over to his adoptive parents, then leaving the hospital without him. She said, "It's just NOT normal to leave the hospital without your baby." And it hit me...I do know what that feels like, even though our situations were different. I still remember what it felt like to be wheeled out to the car without Jackson in my arms...and I don't wish that feeling on anybody. I can't imagine doing that voluntarily, but every time I hear a birth mom speak they talk about how the Spirit just takes over and points out to them exactly where their child needs to be. Seriously, I have the utmost respect for women who place their children for adoption for the right reasons.

I wish I could adequately describe to people the miracle of adoption. I want to tell Kylee's story in more detail, so people get a better glimpse of how truly miraculous this has been.We are LOVING having her in our family. She has the sweetest personality and is so alert and expressive...she is such a miracle!!!

I Just Can't Stand It!

I just can't stand how cute this girl is!!! We tried to take her swimming last week but the water was FREEZING. She looked dang cute in her bikini though!

A Few More Pics...

Here are a few more pictures that I like. Here's Nana (my dad's mom) holding Kylee the week after we got her. Nana was adopted, so I love talking with her about Kylee and hearing about how she feels about her adoptive parents. Part of what made me want to adopt was knowing that she was adopted and that it was such a positive experience for her.
Meliss & Kylee...
My dad singing to Kylee...she LOVES his voice!
Lincoln hanging out with his girls. :)

Ear Piercing...???

Question...we want to get Kylee's ears pierced but don't know when the right time is. We'd like to get it done as early as we can. For the record, I'm not asking if we should get them pierced (we've already decided) just when. What do you moms who've gotten your baby's ears pierced think???

Family Trip To Cochise

My dad's side of the family had their annual summer reunion this past week in Cochise, AZ. Mom & Dad, Megan, Linc & I & Kylee all drove up together on Friday. We stopped to eat at Cracker Barrel on the way there. Here we are waiting to eat...(I don't know what I was doing with my hand in this pic.)
When we got there we had our evening program. We all sat around the campfire and Uncle Chris introduced the "Indian" theme for the weekend.
Then Grandad gave us our Indian names. I am now known as Gentle Dove and Lincoln is Medicine Man. I still have to ask him what Kylee's is...I'll let you know. :)
On Saturday we got dressed in our matching family reunion shirts. They had a big Indian face on the back with the quote "You must speak straight so that your words may go as sunlight into our hearts." Words to live by, right?! :) Kylee had a little shirt but it was WAY too big for her so we just put it on her right before the family picture.
We found this guy in the yard. I don't know where it comes from, but I have a small obsession with turtles. Just ask Linc...the first time I met him I told him all about my pet turtle named Caleb who I constantly talked to. It's no wonder he fell madly in love with me! :)
Oh, I wish I could have taken that little turtle home!!!

Apple Annie's

On Saturday we went to Apple Annie's Orchard in Wilcox. We realized it was totally stupid of us not to bring Kylee's stroller with us...so we sat in the shade and just hung out most of the time we were there. Some of the other families walked through the orchards and picked their own apples and stuff. Oh well! We still enjoyed talking and eating. It started raining pretty hard toward the end...I loved it!!!

Kylee slept most of the time we were there...and entertained us with crazy faces...
We spend a lot of our time now just staring at her... :)
We had fresh apple pie and ice cream with our lunch. The helping they gave us was HUGE...it was YUMMY!
Us girls just hanging out...
Lincoln & my cousin Sophie talking...
My mom and I were bored and started pretending like we were having A LOT of fun and told Meg to take pictures of us. I know...we are totally weird.
I love this little girl...
Don't be jealous of how cute Meg & I are...

More Pictures...

Kylee posing for the family picture in Pearce, AZ...her cheeks are getting chubbier... :)
She usually loves Daddy's kisses, but not this time!
In front of an old jail...one of the only photo ops that was there. :)
Linc was curious to see inside of the jail. Since the door was locked he just jumped right up and looked through the window. If I had tried to do that I would have broken some bones.
I LOVE this picture of Kylee and her Aunt Megan sitting by the campfire!
Don't ask me why I choose to post totally gross pictures of myself on my blog. Linc took this the last morning we were there. I was totally asleep with my mouth open and drooling all over my pillow. I only do that when I am REALLY tired (which happens a lot now!)...
Melissa couldn't go to the reunion because she was feeling really sick, so we brought home a little present for her. My parents bought this tea-stained doll for her at the auction at the reunion (we have an auction every year where family members donate & bid on the items, and the money goes to the next year's reunion)...I wish I would have taken a picture of this doll's face. It was some kind of little animal face...it was SO weird!!! Funny sidenote: There were a lot of these tea- stained dolls in the auction (this one was by far the ugliest) and every time the auctioneer (my uncle) would tell us that another tea-stained doll was up for bidding, my dad would yell, "What? A PEE stained doll?!" My grandpa thought we really thought they were pee stained and asked my uncle to make sure everyone knew they weren't...you probably just had to be there, but it was hilarious!

Flash Forward

Is anyone else watching the new show "Flash Forward"? It is INSANE...I absolutely love it!!!

Baby Shower #3

I don't have any pictures from my ward baby shower, which was my first one. Boy, am I spoiled! My friend Amber threw it for me and some other friends in the ward helped. THANKS GUYS! I LOVED it! It was nice because they threw it for me right after I got Kylee & we had hardly anything for her! Having that shower so quickly sure helped! Plus I got so many fun girly things...like about 30 headbands thanks to my friend Tiffany! Even though it was so last-minute there was a really good turnout and it looked so nice. Thanks again to all of the girls in my ward...I am so lucky to have you guys!

Also, I feel like I need to explain the whole "shower" situation, because there are a lot of people who weren't invited to any of my showers. Each shower that I had was for a specific group of people...my first two were for my ward & Linc's mom's family. This other shower was for my mom's family and her ward and a few friends. I didn't have one on either of our dad's sides of the family. I know a few of our cousins were wondering why they weren't invited and that is why. Also, I am positive I neglected inviting some friends to this shower, because I thought of at least 5 people that night that I felt HORRIBLE for forgetting. This shower was kind of last-minute too, but I still should have had things more together than I did. I am really sorry to anyone who I offended. I already know of a few people and just wanted to apologize again in case any of them read this!

Now on to my third baby shower...my Aunt Elizabeth (my dad's sister) & her girls threw it for me (she lives in my parents' ward) and it was AMAZING! I had an insane amount of fun! Here's cute Megan making a list of the gifts I received...she helped a ton with the shower (delivering invitations, making "thank-you's for me, cleaning up, etc.) as part of a Young Women's project. Thanks so much Meg!!! (I love my face in this first pic. My feelings are always written all over my face...I can't help it!)
Grandma with Kylee...she kind of hogged her the whole night! :)
My cousin Stetson's wife, Holly, feeding Kylee...
Cute Megan posing for the camera...
All of the Allen girls (minus Ashley, but including Kylee...WE MISSED YOU ASHLEY!)...
Here's my sweet cousin Sophie taking care of Kylee. She is so cute with her. By the end of the night she had fed Kylee her bottle and made a little bed for her, was cuddling with her and listening to baby music with her. On Sunday I was over there visiting & she put Kylee in a pack 'n play and then climbed right in there with her. :) Thanks for all of your help Sophie.
A few of the decorations at the shower...I just love this pic of Linc & Kylee.
How cute is this?! I took this picture at the end of the night so most of the food is gone, but look at that centerpiece! My aunt is extremely talented at decorating...she makes everything look beautiful!
Beautiful roses...
Me holding up a pair of little boots that my mom got for Kylee...
Oh, I LOVE this picture...Kylee just adores my mom. The other night my mom was out of town and called, wanting me to put the phone up to Kylee's ear so she could talk to her. I told her that was fine, but that she was kind of fussy. I put the phone up to her ear and Kylee stopped fussing & started smiling SO big! It was so cute! I took the phone away and she stopped and then a few minutes later I did it again and she did the same thing. She loves her grandma...and my mom is seriously OBSESSED with her!
My parents' bishop's wife Karen made this necklace for me. I couldn't believe it...it is beautiful! I couldn't get a good picture of the whole thing, but these are my favorite parts of the necklace. Her name, the locket and "worth the wait"...I'm trying not to be weird and wear it every day! :)
Meg & Kylee...
The group gift...a money tree! We got almost $600 on it...it was amazing! Lincoln & I were so excited because this helped A TON with our adoption expenses!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone involved in this! We honestly couldn't believe we got that much.
And it is all for this little girl...I hope she ALWAYS knows how truly loved she is by SO many people!!!
My gift pile...I was opening gifts until a little while after the shower ended, there were so many! She got lots of blankets, which I was so excited about because we didn't have any. Now we have plenty! She got all kinds of outfits and other fun things.
By the end of the night she was pretty sleepy...
Sophie thought it would be fun to go outside & release all of the balloons from the shower. They didn't get very far...
Sorry for the picture overload! I wanted to remember everything from this night though! :) Thanks so much to everyone who came!

Temporary Custody Hearing

As I mentioned before, we had our temporary custody hearing a week and a half ago. The hearing is SO simple, but I was so nervous. I hated answering questions for the judge...I was so scared. I'm sure he could tell. :) We had our attorney take a picture of us in front of the court. :) (Gotta love Lincoln's man-bag that he carries around now! At least it is tan right?!)
This makes everything more legal & official. We are able to get her on our health insurance now because of it. This also gives us paper work with her name on it stating that she is in our care & that we are in the process of adopting her. This just puts us one step closer to finalizing!