Jake's 4th Birthday

Jake got his own chocolate malt, fulfilling his request for "a drinking birthday" :)

Five years ago today, we found out that the baby we'd prayed for & already had hopes & dreams for was not going to be ours to have & hold this side of heaven.  It wasn't the first time this had happened, but it's always hard to surrender hopes & dreams & plans.  We know Romans 8:28 to be true, and we trusted that God was working all things together for good.

Everyone really enjoyed the Gator Cafe

Four years ago today, we welcomed a bouncing baby boy into our family.  A lot can change in just one year!  It was a bit of a challenge wrapping my mind around the idea that we couldn't have had both babies--the one we never had the chance to meet and the one now in my arms.  We didn't exactly plan for him, but in his goodness, God gave us an incredible gift in Jake.  He was, in many ways, my easiest, least queasy pregnancy. Before our ultrasound, Shanan & Alyssa both dreamed they were getting a baby brother! In so many ways, he has been a surprise, from the moment I realized I was pregnant, to discovering we were in fact going to have a boy, to getting to experience what it's like to raise a boy after three girls! God knew it would take a very special boy to grow up with so many sisters. ;)  He is incredibly hilarious, incredibly charming, incredibly stubborn, and he's going to an amazing young man one day! He makes me laugh daily, and he also contributes to the growing number of gray hairs on my head!  I'm so glad you're part of our family, Jake! We love you to the moon and back again!

Jake was so excited to open his big present

The Build-a-ma-jig that we got for Jake was a big hit