Meeting Kelsey

Today was the big day and it went better than we could have ever imagined. Last night we had talked to Brittany our social worker and talked about where we were meeting. At around 10:40 she texted me saying Kelsey had just texted her asking if there was any way we could bring Mikey. So Mikey got to miss his first day of Kindergarten and thankfully was in a great mood and was so good! He got a little antsy but did great considering how long we sat there.

We met at a little diner and right from the start it was very easy to talk to them. Kelsey, her mom and stepdad, and her real dad were all there. It was so nice to see that they all got along and all supported her in everything she was doing. Kelsey told us that she wasnt' talking much because she was so nervous and I told her I was talking too much because I was nervous!! Her mom did most of the talking.

They loved our profile book and Kelsey said she loved that we had a big family. She is an only child. She loved the fact that we had a dog. She loved that we talked a lot about our faith!! That was nice to hear that they were so concerned about that!!! They asked a lot about the cakes I make. Phillip told them he was an adjuster for an insurance company and her mom talked to him about her bumper (she had just backed into something a couple days before!) and asked Mikey what he was into and what he was excited about with the baby. The conversation the whole time was very easy and mostly just about what we like to do, our church and our family.

When it was getting time to go meaning when Mikey couldn't sit any longer, they asked us if we wanted to come over to the place they were staying (her mom doesn't live in Ocala so they brought their RV). We ended up stopping at Walmart to buy Mikey a bathing suit and then went with them and talked around the pool while Mikey swam! I am sooo thankful he could let out some of that energy that stored up so much from the restaurant!! There we talked about what Kelsey's thoughts about the hospital were. She said she honestly did not know yet and was still thinking about it. I loved that she told us her honest answer. We told her we were ok with anything and wouldnt' get offended if she did not want us there. Later her mom was talking to us while Kelsey had walked to the RV for a minute about how hard of a time Kelsey was having with all of this. She said that she has always wanted children but know that this isn't the best time and she can't give this baby a father. She understands this is what is best but her mom is worried for her and how she will deal with this. I told her I was nervous about how its going to be the happiest day of our lives when it will be the hardest day of her life. Her mom agreed with me but then followed it by saying our joy is the only good thing coming out of this and they are thrilled for us and don't want us to feel bad or upset. We loved how she told us that and was open about how they really felt because now we don't have to wonder. Could she still change her mind? Yes. But Phillip and I are both very condfiden that she won't. And if she does then we will have to lean on God to understand but we know 100% that we will get through this with Him and He will comfort us!

We talked about the name... Lane Matthew... and they said they loved it! We discussed how she could actually name him and then later on his birth certificate would get changed to the name we have for him. She said she really wanted to leave his name up to us and didn't think he should have 2 different names. I was excited to hear that!!

Before we left, Phillip had asked if we all could pray together. We got in a huddle and put our arms around each other (with Mikey in the mush pot :) ) and Phillip prayed.. I have to brag a second and say that his prayer was amazing! He prayed for Kelsey and their family, he prayed for us, for our relationship to grow close with each other, for baby Lane that he would grow up into a stong godly man. When he finished, Kelsey's mom had tears in her eyes and said that she was so glad he did that and that they really needed it. She said that it just showed that he was a great leader for our family and pointed out again that we were the right family for their baby! Insert chill bumps here!!!

As we were leaving we told them we set up an email account so we could keep in touch and Kelsey's mom asked what all we had for the baby so far. She said that they would really like to get us something for the baby (as if the actual baby isn't enough!!!) and said she wanted it to be one of the bigger items. Maybe the carseat or something! All of them are so sweet and I am so thankful this is the family God has put into our lives.

One more main thing that was talked about that I somehow forgot to mention earlier was that we are going to do an open adoption. This means that she will be able to see him a couple times a year. We can set it up however we feel comfortable and if it gets to be too much (which I really don't think it will) we can step back some. We were both nervous about this when we first start this process, but after learning more about what it means and especially after meeting them we are comfortable with it!

We are hopefully going to meet up again with Kelsey before she has the baby. They might come to Lakeland and maybe meet our families. We'll see. That is a lot of peoplle to meet! Oh and... she went to the doctor earlier today and everything was looking great. Doctor said she probably won't be early but the baby is healthy and measuring between 7 to 8 pounds!!! Can't wait to meet our preciousbaby boy, Lane!!!!