Big Brothers!

I wanted to post some new pictures of the boys because they are getting so big, and I am so bad about putting new pictures on here! Neither of them fully understands what is going on with the adoption, but they have been so sweet about Ava! We have her pictures around the house, and Ben loves to talk about her ("Look, Mama! Baby Ava!). Wil uses the most precious voice when he sees her pictures and says the cutest things about her. I love hearing him because he is imitating what he hears us do, and he seriously has the sweetest, most sensitive heart of any kid I know. I feel blessed beyond measure to get to be the mom of these boys. It's the hardest, most wonderful job in the world.

Ava - 6 weeks old

We got our monthly report and new pictures of Ava! Seeing new pictures of her makes it almost unbearable to have to wait to get her. She is the most precious baby!!! She is with a new foster mom named Mayra, who is married and has a 22 year old daughter. She is also fostering a 7 month old baby. Please pray that Ava would be surrounded by love and care in this new home.

She now weighs 7.7 lbs and is about 20 inches long. She eats and sleeps really well and has been in good health, according to the report. She also no longer cries when she takes a bath. :) We are so thankful for this good report!

Ava's name

Ava means "life" or "to live"
Elena means "light"

We found these verses that we think go along perfectly with her name:

For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth).
Ephesians 5: 8-9

Introducing Ava Elena Scott

She's here!!! We finally got to see pictures of our baby girl last Thursday, and she is beautiful and healthy!! We can't believe she is ours! She was born August 6, 2007 weighing 5 lbs 13 oz. She was 18 in. long with a full head of black hair, as you can see. :) We've named her Ava Elena... Elena is the Spanish form of Helen, which is my mom's and grandmother's name, and my middle name. In most of the pictures below she is 3 days old. We think she is just perfect.

Please, please pray for her and for her foster family. Her foster mother's name is Telma, and she's married with 2 kids... an 8 yr. old daughter and a 14 yr. old son. She's been a foster mom for 10 years. Please also pray with us for her birth mother, whose name is Ircia. I am struggling with so many different emotions in all of this. I am thrilled beyond words, but my heart is just broken for her mom, who happens to be exactly my age. There was no information given about her dad. Todd is thrilled, too, but is struggling with feeling helpless, and wanting to go down there today and bring her home.

We're told by Gladney that the waiting time is approx. 8 - 10 months. We're hoping we get her sooner than that, most especially before her first birthday!