carmen fable

I'm a little (okay, a lot) late posting this to the blog. We've been busier than I think we've ever been before, but for good reason. For the best reason.

Our beautiful daughter Carmen Fable joined our family eight days ago.

Last week I received a call from a friend urging me to speak with her friend who worked in adoption law. I did, unsure of what to expect and realizing how much work (and time and effort) we'd already put into the agency route. However, as I listened to my friend's friend speak, something tinged in my heart and I knew. I just knew. We submitted our application and family portfolio and received a call the next day letting us know that we'd been chosen by a brave, beautiful birth mama to parent -- and that our little girl had come five weeks early. Carmen weighed in under five pounds but was healthy and happy and, after a short NICU stay, we got to bring her home on Thursday evening.

When we began the adoption process, everyone warned us that it could take months -- years, even -- but instead we had under a week from start to finish.

I've been rehearsing perfect announcement posts over and over in my head, trying to do justice to the level of joy and hope and peace that Carmen has breathed back into our family. Of course, there's life with a four year old and a preemie and a husband with no time off of work and I'm learning that perfection has to slide by the wayside. Sort of like laundry. And washing dishes. You know, priorities.

I couldn't wait any longer to give sweet Carmen her blog debut. Slowly but surely we'll figure out a new normal and a new dynamic, but bear with me as we all revel in this new, tiny (so tiny!) human who has swooped in and completed our family, healing our hearts and bringing with her more love than I ever imagined possible. Seeing Ethan get to actually be a big brother is magical in itself and me? I am so filled with peace and love and joy. And lots of espresso, too.