This Is Our Life: sixth months with a baby

We have been looking forward to January, the start of a new year, and Brielle's sixth month mark of life! With adoption in Utah this also means we were able to go to court and officially change all documentation making her legally ours. It was a very emotional day, one we will never forget and we are so thankful to have had surrounded by friends and family. We were each asked to say a few words surrounding our feelings for Brielle before the judge, easier said than done. Tyler expressed the long awaited feeling of being her parents having struggled through years of infertility and how lovely it has been to have her as our daughter. I expressed our immense love for her and for the eternal gratitude we will have for her birth mom's decision to place with us. Brielle is a very special girl to us and we are aware of her willingness to bless not only our family's life but her birth family's as well. She has been a light in our life and we anticipate she always will be. I didn't think things would feel any different after that day, but there was something so official and so complete about the process that made it very unique and memorable. We look forward to her sealing in a month and know that will be the most special of all when we can bind what has now been done on earth, to heaven.

She also got her helmet this month, which she has adapted to like a champ, it's just become another part of her head and she's adorable in it, she nearly struts around as to say, "I know I look good." Tyler and I are also adjusting to the change, mostly were just grateful for technology that can help round her little cabesa.

A little cousin of Brielle's was born just yesterday, Atlas Emerson Gardner, he's a sweetie and we're so excited to share the experiences of parenthood with my brother and his wife they are already amazing parents, and we want to send all of our congratulations to them!

My own pregnancy is going well, but half the time I really forget that's even going on because this sweet Brielle-elelelle. My pants are getting tighter and the tummy is sure getting squishy, I'm afraid I'm a person that going to get pregnant all over not just out front. It's all still an incredible miracle to be a mother, everyday is a blessing, and I'm so glad it will only get more "mothery" from here.

Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks.