December 28, 2010

Hi Baby Boy!  Your birth mom is at 30 WEEKS today!  You are getting bigger and bigger and your birth mom is still feeling good so I feel like all is right in the world.

Your dad is 37 today.  Boy, we have been together for a LONG time!  We started dating when I was 25, so that means he was just 23 years old.  Funny how time flies, except when you really want it to...I am hoping the next two months go fast though!

I had to do returns and exchanges today and it was all your stuff.  You are so blessed to have so much love in your life little peanut. 

I'm hoping to find out the date you will be born soon.  Then I will start making plans for going out there.  We'll need to find a hotel and we also have some people out there we'd like to see.  They also offered their homes to us, which is really nice, but your mom and a new baby may not be the best houseguest.  I will be a ball of stress, though I hope I will be one of those mom's who is calm with you so you are a relaxed little man.

One last piece of news I want to share with you before I forget is that your birth great uncle is Greg "the Hammer" Valentine.  I never followed wrestling too much, but apparently he was a very well known professional wrestler back in the day.  I think that's pretty cool.  Your dad does too.  He knows who that is so he was excited to hear that! 

That's all I have for now.  Happy 30 weeks...and just for the record, you weigh about 3 pounds, which is like a large head of cabbage.  Love those comparisons!  And I love you!

December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas Bryson!  I have been thinking SO much of you the past couple of days and am so happy that at Christmastime next year, you will be here and we will be a family!  I can't wait! 

You got so many nice things for Christmas this year...I can't even imagine what Christmas will be like next year!  Your duffel bag arrived, Aunt Cindy bought you some books and bath products, Grandpa Z got you a gift card (that I used to buy your area rug).  Jill got you some really awesome clothes and a little car seat toy.  Grandma Rita got you clothes and some much needed receiving blankets. 

So I am thinking that in less than two months, we will all meet each other and become a family!  I can't believe it.  On Tuesday you will be 30 weeks!  That's your dad's birthday so it's a nice little gift! 

I love you, and again, Merry Christmas Baby Boy!

December 19, 2010

We had the Stronka Christmas yesterday since your Grandma Rita and Grandpa Bob will be off to Florida on Tuesday.  You received so many WONDERFUL things from Grandma Rita and Aunt Jill, but my favorite things were the outfits Grandma Rita gave you that used to be your dad's!  As you can see below, these will now be considered "retro" or "vintage" but they are adorable!  I even managed to find a couple of pictures of your dad wearing them!  We also have the blanket that you see in the picture of your dad in the crib!  How special is that little one??!!

 

 

 


So I think these outfits are the CUTEST and I can't wait for you to wear them!! 

And I also let your name "out of the bag"!  Bryson David Stronka...which I just think is so perfect!  Bryson means "the beloved son" and that couldn't be more factual!  We love you SO much!

Your Aunt Cindy is throwing you a Baby Shower on January 29th!  I am very excited!  There are so many people who love you so much little man!  I can't wait for you to meet them!  And they can't wait to meet you too!   

December 16, 2010

Baby Stronka, all I can think about is this time NEXT year when we are getting ready for your FIRST Christmas!  But, I will no longer be willing the time away come the end of February when you are born!  I will want everything to S L O W down!

Today you are 28 weeks along and your birth mom is in the FINAL trimester.  YEAY!  We have come along way in the past 3+ months since we found out you would be arriving!  I am certain at this point that your name will not remain a secret because I am the MOST terrible at keeping secrets!  I have slipped up twice already!  I do so love your name so I can't help it!

I am trying to make arrangements to get back to Indiana with your Aunt Cindy on January 14th so we can see your 4D sonogram!  That would be AMAZING to see.  I cannot wait to see you!  I am pretty sure I am going to get on your nerves once you are old enough to notice that I am staring at you ALL THE TIME! 

As you can tell by now, you are the center of our world already!  I am already planning play dates and all kinds of fun family things for us.  Your Aunt Cindy is trying to arrange a Baby Shower for you.  The timing is hard because of the holidays but we will work something out I'm sure!   

I love you little guy!  10 more weeks AND COUNTING!

December 13, 2010

Oh me...oh my!  I spoke to your birth mom today!  She had an appointment to be sure you are both doing OK and you are!  That's GREAT news!  She said you weigh about 2.2 pounds which is about the 50th percentile for this point in her pregnancy (27.5 weeks). 

Your birth mom is getting a 4D ultrasound on January 14 at 10:00am and I REALLY want to try to make it for that!  I am concerned about the weather though, since I would drive, but we will see what we can do.  We should have a REALLY good idea about how adorable you are once we see these pictures!  They are truly amazing!

Finally, your birth mom also agreed to a scheduled c-section for your delivery.  The doctor will schedule this around week 38, which would be around February 24th.  It looks like you will be a February baby!  And I don't think there is a single birthday on either side of our family in February so this will be your very own special MONTH!  This also means that your dad and I can drive down the day before so we can be there for your birth!  We were so afraid we'd miss it!

You might be a Pisces (the Fishes, which will make your Grandpa Z happy!). 
Love you,
Mom

Traditional Pisces Traits
Imaginative and sensitive
Compassionate and kind
Selfless and unworldly
Intuitive and sympathetic

On the dark side....
Escapist and idealistic
Secretive and vague
Weak-willed and easily led

December 9, 2010

Another busy week getting ready for your arrival!  We bought your crib mattress and ordered your dresser.  We also got your light, hamper, mobile and another blanket this week!  Your room is REALLY becoming the coziest in the house!

Grandma Rita bought you some wonderful things that we’ll need for you when you arrive:  sleep sacks, socks, mittens, sleepers, hats and bottles!  I REALLY hope you take after me and you’re “an eater” as your dad likes to say! 

You are 27 weeks today and they say you weigh as much as a head of cauliflower (2 lbs now).  You are getting bigger now, but not big enough so please stay in there awhile longer!  Your birth mom has another doctor’s appointment on Monday to make sure you are both doing OK.  She said they’ll do another sonogram.  I can’t wait to see the pictures!  You are beautiful!

I also bought you a Christmas present yesterday.  I told myself that you had to have your own bag so we could pack all your stuff to bring you home!  This will have your name on it but I thought it was SO cute!

We might be getting together with some couples from our adoption class on Tuesday December 14.  It would be SO nice to see them! 

December 2, 2010

Your birth mom is 26 weeks along today...and this week they say you are the size of an English hothouse cucumber (?????)!  The important thing is that you are another week older!  Your birth mom is still doing well, and that is GREAT news!

We also narrowed your name down to 4 this past week.  What we couldn't do was decide which of those 4 names we would choose...SO we talked and decided we would ask your birth parents if they would want to select your name from those four.  We weren't 100% sure of how they would react to that, but they were so happy to be involved in selecting your name and we love them all so we sent them the names and they selected yours!

The three "runners up" are:
Grayson
Jackson
Ryder

We will not be revealing your name until you are born, but we LOVE it and it's meaning fits you perfectly too! 

We're also in the process of getting your room ready!  We have the crib, changing table and glider (compliments of your Uncle Joe and Aunt Anjali).  Grandma Rita and Grandpa John are going to get your dresser and your mattress.  We have your bedding so we just have to put it all together and then wait for your "letters" to come in for over your crib and your room will be ready and waiting for you!

We got this little shelf for you too and think it is SUPER CUTE! 

We can't wait until you are here!  Could be as soon as 10 weeks (but try not to make it any sooner than that little man)! 

December 4, 2010 - Just a quick addition to let you know we FINALLY got your dresser ordered and your crib mattress is now here SO we are going to put your crib together, with your bedding too!  I can't wait to see it!  Hopefully it will be nice and cozy for you!

November 26, 2010

Bought your first Yankees outfit today!  Your dad was SO happy about that purchase!  I am not sure how much of a choice you will have on which baseball team you will like, but with the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo Sabres playing so badly, we may open football and hockey up to you!
Your birth mom sent over more sonogram pictures of you!  You look amazing!  Your dad got to see the "It's a Boy!" shot so he was happy!  I met a future buddy of yours today!  His parents were in our adoption group!  Everyone from our group has had or adopted a boy!  That will make for some fun get togethers soon! 

November 25, 2010

Today is Thanksgiving and we have SO much to be thankful for this year!

A lot has happened since I last checked in!  On November 5, I met your birth parents in Indiana so I could view your sonogram.  It was an opportunity of a lifetime!  We found out that day that you are a BOY!  You are also healthy and growing right on track!  It was a great day! 

On Thursday November 11, however, your birth mom was admitted to the hospital for seizures.  She has epilepsy, which means that you could too.  She went into pre-term labor on Monday morning, November 15.  They were able to stop labor (THANK GOODNESS).  The doctors took great care of your birth mom and altered her meds and she has been OK since.  So we are VERY thankful about that! 

On November 20th, your Aunt Amy and Aunt Devonie put together a fundraiser for us to help cover some of the adoption expenses!  It was a wonderful afternoon and the outpouring of support for you was AMAZING!  We were and are truly touched by everyone who supported the event.  Adoption is really an amazing thing, little one!  I don't ever want you to feel that it anything less than the miracle that brought us all together!  We found you and you found us! 

I read a post on Facebook today that really hit home:  "Having a common bloodline or DNA doesn't make you family. A family is tied at the heart, not by blood."

Today your birth mom is 25 weeks along.  Every week we get an update and today we were informed that you weigh about as much as an average rutabaga...I think I might miss these weird correlations!  This also means that we could meet you in less than 3 months! 

We are ready to really get started on your room.  All the flooring upstairs has been replaced and now it’s time to get ready for you!  We love you little peanut!  We are still having a bit of a tough time coming up with your name because we can’t seem to agree on the perfect name for our beautiful boy!

I did the Turkey Trot today and thought about the years to come!  I think it would be such a great family tradition to do that each year!  I saw so many families this year and could help but think of how incredibly cute that would be!

November 1, 2010

Yesterday was Halloween and I couldn’t help but think how much fun next year will be with you!  I will make sure you have lots of happy memories on Halloween and always!  It will be nice to be a family.  You are loved so much.  We are more than halfway to meeting you and that will be the best day of my life!

October 26, 2010

I am missing you a lot today.  Actually, I am missing you a lot lately.  I want to know more about you but I don’t want to bother your birth mom.  I really want to see you.  I am waiting to hear when the sonogram will be so I can drive out and see you for the first time. I want to feel you kicking and I want you to hear my voice and know that I am out here waiting to meet you.  I love you little one! 

We found out yesterday that another couple from our adoption group received their little miracle today.  You have SO many playmates not just from our adoption group, but also from our friends and family too!   You will be so happy!

October 12, 2010

I spoke with your birth mom a few times since I’ve updated this!  Her procedure on October 6 went well, and it was needed.  Her doctor will remove the stitches at 36 weeks and he said you may be born shortly there after!  They will remove the stitches on or close to February 10.  Your birth mom says that she is feeling pretty good.  She also said you are really an active little baby!  She said your dad might be disappointed that you may turn out to be a soccer player instead of a bowler based on how much you are kicking!

Your birth mom had a follow up from the procedure yesterday (October 11) and said that they did a sonogram because they were having trouble with the Doppler machine when trying to hear your heartbeat.  They could see your spine and said that everything looks great!   You are 15 cm (about 5.9 in.), which is right on track!  She told me again that the stitches will come out around February 10 and that may trigger labor.  Your birth mom is thinking around Valentine’s Day…you would be the best Valentine EVER!!! 

Your birth mom will see the doctor next week and we’ll find out when the sonogram will be where we can find out if you are a boy or a girl!  Some parents wait to find out, but I can’t bear to wait!  I want to get everything ready for you and go shopping!  We will also have to figure out your name.  We have been trying to come up with your name for a couple of years now, but we can’t seem to come up with a name that we think is as perfect as you will be!

September 21, 2010

I am SO excited to meet you!  I have a friend who is pregnant right now and we have both wanted to start our families for so long now.  She is due a couple of months before we are expecting you but her little guy will be a good friend of yours!  We are going to do so many “mommy” things together!  I can’t tell you how many people are so excited to meet you!  You are going to be SO loved by so many!  People have been praying for your arrival for many years!  I am sure you will live up to all their expectations, and then some! 

September 18, 2010

We are ready to paint your bedroom already!  We picked out the color and your dad taped everything last night (Sept. 17, 2010).  We hope you like your room.  Your birth parents mentioned that they loved the bedding when they saw our profile book and we want to get everything ready for you.  You’ll come to find out that your mom really likes to have time to prepare things and your dad has the patience to let me do this.  I keep thinking that it will be perfect if you are a little boy and still neutral enough if you are a girl…But either way, when you are ready to move into your bed, we will make it "all boy" or "all girl"! 

We told your birth mom that we want to find out your sex.  Your dad and I are going to speak with your birth parents today.  We are truly blessed to be so included in the pregnancy!  Your birth mom sent us a video of your heart beat on September 16, 2010.  You were 15 weeks that day!  Your heart rate was 154 beats per minute, which is really great! 

We just spoke to your birth parents.  I can tell that they love you very much and want what’s best for you.  Your birth mom also mentioned her upcoming appointments; Oct. 4^th cervical cerclage pre-op; procedure on Oct. 6^th and then a follow up on Oct. 14^th.  I think we will be able to find out if you are a boy or a girl around Nov. 12^th.  Your birth mom feels like you are a boy…she also said your birth father was able to feel you move for the first time. 

You are getting bigger – about the size of an apple is what I read today.  I will hear from your birth mom again around Oct. 4^th to let me know what to expect from the procedure.  I will pray for you all until I know everything is OK!  I think you will be a little early…just a feeling.  I am thinking around mid-February.  We can’t wait!

September 9, 2010

Today is your Aunt Cindy's birthday. 

We spoke to our agency and they told us your birth parents really connected with us and we said we felt the same way.  By September 10, 2010, the match was confirmed.  Now we are just anxiously waiting to meet you!  We hope your birth parents keep us posted on you as you grow over the next 6 months!  We have already seen two sonograms and with think you are beautiful!

September 8, 2010

We received another call from Adoption STAR.  I knew the instant that I saw the number that your birth parents had liked our profile book.  Sure enough, we were told that they really liked us and wanted to speak to us.  We arranged to talk to your birth parents that night!  We were very nervous because we wanted you to be part of our lives.  I told your dad that he was going to have to do most of the talking because I was so nervous!

We spoke to your birth parents and by the end of the call, I think we all realized that you were going to become our little baby!  We talked about your birth parents decision and how they love you so much that they wanted you to have the chance to have a better life.  They also said that they felt that they wanted to provide a couple like us the opportunity to become a family.  This is one of the most gracious and unselfish decisions a person can make.

Your birth mom wanted to include us in the pregnancy, wondering if we wanted to find out if you were a boy or a girl.  They both wanted to be sure we were there on your birthday too.  They are wonderful and thoughtful people.  We truly felt blessed this night.  This is when we knew our dreams of you would come true!

We found out when you are expected to be born, which at the moment is March 10, 2011.  We hung up the phone and everything felt surreal!  We already love you and can’t wait to meet you!

September 1, 2010

We received a call from Adoption STAR that there was a couple in Indiana who were looking to place their baby for adoption.  We were selected as one couple for them to consider as potential parents.  We said we were interested in being considered. 

Immediately thoughts of becoming a family filled my heart and I felt at peace with everything.  So we waited to hear from the agency to see what, if anything would come of this call…