An Ava Sized Hole

We are almost at the month mark since we first saw Ava's picture.  In many ways the last month has sped by but on the other hand I wish anything that we could speed up time to get to our baby girl.  I CANNOT wait to get my hands on our sweet baby girl!!

We are still so excited and happy and anxious but all with a sense of "something's missing"...Ava.  The only way I can explain it is I miss her.  Matt's mom said it best, our hearts were instantly filled when we saw her picture and got to know her by reading her information and now that we have to wait to get to see her we are left with an Ava sized whole in our hearts.  The great part is though, we now know who is waiting for us at the end of this journey.  And we know who will be able to fill that whole...only Ava.

In the meantime, we are busy getting ready for our little girl to come home.  We have been cleaning out her room and organizing all the gifts we've received so far.  And believe me, I have been shopping ;)  

Blessed & Humbled

Wow!!  I can't even put into words how touched we are with all the outpouring of love and support from our family and friends since learning about Ava.  And honestly through this entire process of adoption.  

My first shopping trip for Ava...the night we first saw her picture.

My first day back to work after being matched with Ava, I was so overwhelmed by the generosity of my coworkers and friends.  I came into work with gifts already waiting for me on my desk, Panera bagels for breakfast, and lots of hugs and excitement.  It seemed like every time I came back to my desk there was  something new waiting for me or Ava.  In the afternoon, we also had a giant Eileen's cookie with the saying "it's a girl" written on it.  I felt like the luckiest mama ever!!!  I have to be honest, I haven't gotten a lot of actual work done this last week~I've just been simply too busy telling everyone about Ava and showing off her picture.  And when I am at my desk I find myself just staring at her picture I have at my desk and wondering what she might be doing in that moment.  :)

All our gifts from my co-workers.

This weekend was our first KState football game of the year and that means lots of family time in Manhattan.  Matt's side of the family was in Vegas this weekend so luckily we get to see some of them next weekend.  We were able to spend all day Saturday with my parents and brother.  Ava received some goodies and lots of Wildcat Purple this weekend from her Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle.  We HAVE TO make sure she's dressed appropriately when she comes home!! ;)  The boys even smoked their celebratory cigars!

Opening gifts from my family.  Below was our loot from the day :)

The guys with their celebration cigars!

Ava has no idea how much love she has waiting for her when she gets home.  Matt and I are overwhelmed by how much we love her already.  She has grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, extended family, and lots of friends who are anxiously awaiting her arrival.

More gifts keep coming all the time.  We are so blessed. 

The part of this whole experience that has me the most overwhelmed and humbled is how many lives our sweet Ava has touched already...and we haven't even met her yet.  So many people who haven't had any personal contact with adoption have learned about adoption by listening to our story and now her story.  People have heard her story and are amazed by the strength of our little girl.  I've talked with some of my friends who didn't even know where Shanghai is until hearing about Ava.  Hoping that conversation opened some eyes to the fact that there is a big world out there beyond our borders.  I have a feeling that our sweet Ava has much more to teach us in the coming years.

I can't believe we have known about our daughter for over a week now.  Matt and I want to sincerely say "Thank You" to everyone of you for your hugs, phone calls, gifts, prayers, and support.  We are truly blessed by your love.