Even more birthday pictures

Here are more birthday pictures, this time from Evette.  Thanks to everyone who make this celebration of Hannah and Aaron so special.

More birthday pictures

Here is another picture from Hannah's birthday.  She had a blast with her cupcake!  Thanks for the picture Katie!

Hannah's 1st birthday party

Here are a few pictures of  Hannnah's 1st birthday party held on Saturday.  Lots of other people took pictures of better quality, but these are the ones I have right now :)

The party was busy and fun- lots of people coming and going and celebrating Hannah.  She was given so many presents- even though the invitations asked for No Presents!  I am not sure where we will put them all. . .

In other news, Hannah went to the doctor for her 1 year check-up.  She is a whopping 24 1/2 pounds!  That puts her in the 95% for weight.  And she is 29 inches long.  She also got 5 shots and blood drawn (everything is normal).

Happy Birthday Hannah! (One year ago. . .)

Today is Hannah's first birthday!  Where, oh where, did the time go? 

As I reflect on our life just one year ago, I have to tell you friends, I am amazed.  Around noon this time last year, I was at home probably sitting on the floor reading and petting Molly.   I was probably putting off chores and trying to plan dinner.  I had no idea that the biggest, best, most overwhelming surprise of my life was about to happen.

Around noon this time last year, Hannah's birthmom was not feeling well- having some tummy trouble.  She thought if she just took it easy her stomach cramps would go away.  A little later in the afternoon, her sister noticed that the cramps were coming 4 minutes apart and suddenly asked, "Could you be pregnant?"  After a run to the drug store and a positive pregnancy test, an ambulance was called.  Labor and delivery and surprise: Anna Elizabeth was born at 7:54 pm, all 5 pounds 8 ounces of her.  Her grandmother called her best friend to ask for prayer and advice on anyone she might know who could adopt this baby girl.

This best friend was at a Bible study with my friend Sabre.  Sabre said, "Aaron and Leslie are going to adopt.  They finished their home study.  I think they are just waiting.  Let's call them."  And so they did.

Around 9 pm, our phone rang.  Aaron and I were working on our adoption profile for prospective birthmoms to choose us.  Aaron looked at the caller id, saw the name and gave it to me thinking it was about book club or babysitting for Sabre.  I answered the phone and stopped breathing for a minute or two.  Sabre went on talking and giving me the few details that she knew.  She asked if we were interested.  I gave the phone to Aaron who looked at me like I was crazy (he still thought it was about book club).

So, of course, Aaron wanted to know more details.  We talked with the best friend and her daughter off and on until midnight.  The birth family had decided that we sounded pretty good and wanted to meet us.  We finally decided that we better look at some names!  Then we took some tylenol pm so that we would get a little sleep.  We would have to get up early to have a phone conversation with the grandmother around 7 am and then hopefully head to Memphis, Tennessee, to meet this precious baby.

And that is how our new family started.  Everyone shocked.  Everyone over-whelmed.  Everyone wanting the best for this little girl who came so unexpectedly. 

As I reflect on the miracle of Hannah's birth, I am also a little sad.  Aaron thinks I am too sentimental, but everytime I see a sonogram picture I get sad.  Hannah never had a sonogram picture.  She didn't have pre-natal vitamins or a doctor's care.  No one anticipated her birth with wonder and joy. 

At the same time, I know in my heart and my head that my Heavenly Father knew Hannah from the very moment she existed.  He knit her together in the womb- she was fearfully and wonderfully made.  He protected her and cared for her.  And He orchestrated all the details and events that led to her safe delivery.  And He planned everything according to His purposes to bring her into our family and what it would take to make her Hannah Catherine Gentry.  I am so so thankful and I praise God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost for all of his loving kindness towards us.

I will continue this wonderful story tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Aaron!

Aaron is celebrating a birthday today.  But here are a few shots of his 20th birthday that we celebrated at Belhaven College.  Mark and Evette came in, we ate at Red Lobster with Collin and Amanda, then we held a surprise party.  Happy Birthday Aaron!

More silly faces

We took these pictures after church one day.  There are not too many smiles but the pictures are silly!

Hannah in hats

During our recent spell of cold weather, Hannah wore a few of the hats that her Nana and our friend Rebekah from Roanoke knit her.  It is pretty hard to take pictures of this always moving girl, but here are the results of Hannah in hats :)

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to my two sweet loves!

Crawling

Here are a few action shots of Hannah crawling. . . and she can crawl fast!

Exploring

Hannah is really in the exploring mode lately- exploring every where and all the time!!  She loves pulling up at the tv and touching all the av equipement- oh no!  But that is one of her favorite places and we just have to be super watchful.  :)