And we're off!!!

Yes, you read right... this little family of 3 is soooo anxious for their first vacation with Katherine Grace!  We didn't think it would happen this year with all of the other expenses, adoption fees & such.  But, after a few months of SAVING and not eating out, and using some serious coupons... we've managed to save up & pay for a week long vacation at the beach (& we even got beach front!)!  I promise I'm not bragging, I'm simply reminding myself how a little "doing without" can be so rewarding later on!  :)  Plus, it definitely helped, because we planned the week prior to Memorial Day - we managed to get an incredible deal & afford beach front.  Amazing how dramatic the prices get just one week later!  So thankful we planned this way and didn't have to settle... instead we got way more than we could have hoped for in a vacation!

So... you ask... "where are you going?"  Well, this charming little beach house is where we're off to first thing Sunday morning! (excuse the quality... I borrowed it from the website)  Its a 5 bedroom little house, with a large front porch, and AMAZING back porch that extends the entire back of the house!  Incredible views from the house and even allowed us to bring our sweet dogs!  You might wonder why on earth we needed a 5 bedroom house - well... my parents are coming down for a couple of days.  Then, Richard's parents are planning to come down for the last part of the week.  Allowing us time with our families, and a little down time with just us!

And this... well... this is the beautiful beach outside our back door!

And that girl you see walking along the beach at sunset (possibly sunrise, not sure)... well, thats not me.  However, this momma WILL be out there every evening & EVERY morning walking the coast & reflecting on His beautiful creation!  The beach is by far the most relaxing place on earth for me.  I cannot possibly explain the way it makes me feel & reminds me how BIG our God is!  I am excited to spend the time off really getting into the Word, and digging deep into what it is God has for us next!

You may be curious what packing for a week long trip with a 4 1/2 month old might look like... or maybe not... but here you go anyway!  This is the result of JUST Katherine Grace's stuff.  Everything from clothes, swim suit, sandals, bumbo seat, travel swing (thank you Amy!!!), formula, rice cereal, bowls/spoons, dishwasher basket for bottles, cleaning spray, beach tent, towels & play matt!  Amazing!  This should be fun.  Not to mention we still have to include our own items in the packing, plus our two dogs!  Oh my, what have we done!  haha

And a little side note:  THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!  I won't lie... a little tear jerker.  But my baby girl loves for me to read to her and we found this book at Target the other day!  Its called Someday!  You must check it out!  Its now a tie between this book & Shoey & Dot... both are my favorites currently!

I'm so excited I cannot stand it!  But first things first.... we're off to photograph a wedding out of town, then drive back (probably won't be home until almost 2am), only to leave the following morning at 7am sharp!  How crazy are we???!!!

Well, there you have it!  The crazy life we live.  I wouldn't have it any other way though!  Hope you all have a fabulous week and I cannot wait to share with you pictures from our adventure!  Wish us luck!

Until then... Brantley

Tuesday, Oh how I wish you were Friday!

This morning has been very hard for me.  To be perfectly honest, I have NO clue why.  I have just been an emotional wreck the past couple of days and today was the breaking point for me.  I cried the entire morning and on the way to work.  I'm doing a little better now, but still emotional.  I'm not asking for sympathy, just being honest with each of you.  The reality of having a baby is really exciting to me right now and for some reason, I feel so incredibly homesick.  I'm so ready to meet our precious child!  We've been photographing a LOT of babies lately and it makes me think of how wonderful the day will be when we can finally hold ours in our arms and call them by name!  

I appreciate the encouragement in yesterday's post from some of you who left comments.  I have made a promise that I won't be shopping for our baby anymore for now.  I'm okay with that, really I am.  I'm just having a hard couple of days.  I've been praying so much for our sweet baby, our birth mom and lately our social worker.  I think the reality of getting assigned our social worker any day now is making me anxious! I'm praying that our personalities will mesh well with one another.  I won't lie, I can be a tough cookie work alongside!  ;)

Anyway, sorry for such a depressing post.  I just needed to get that off my chest.  I am so anxious for Friday to get here.  Not only is that our Training Day with Bethany, but it is the start to a long and relaxing vacation!  Much needed one might I add!  :)

Until then, Brantley

Yippeeee! Vacation is calling my name!

Yep, hard to believe we are actually going to get a mini vacation in this year!  I really didn't think it was going to happen with work, our adoption and just expenses in general!  But... because my wonderful husband travels some with his work, he has built up quite a few Hilton Points!  And even though they're through his business, he is able to use them for personal use.  :)  So... we get to use all 73,000 points for a whopping 2 night stay at the NEW Hilton at Biltmore in Asheville, NC!  YAY!

I will say though, it stinks that with ALL those points, that's all you get!  Oh well, I won't complain... its FREE!!!  Nothing beats that, and after the year we've had... those 2 nights will be well worth the getaway!

So.. check out some of the pics I pulled off their website.  Sorry for the quality, they're from the site!

Hilton at Biltmore

The beautiful rooms!

So... while there, we will RELAX.  And anything in addition to that will just be pure luxury! 

Can't wait!  Until then... Brantley