New Additions in 2013

Exciting news, here at the Westervelt household...we're adopting a baby!  As our hearts have healed after loosing Noah, we have prayed about our desire to parent more children.  We have always been open to adopting, even before having Ethan, but there were also many fears.  While some uncertainty remains about the process of adoption and what the future will hold, we have come to see God as bigger than those things.  The choice to love always involves risk.





This past October, after spending most of the summer researching, we picked Family Connections in Cortland, NY to be our agency.  They are a small agency in central NY with a very good reputation.  Eric quickly led us through the big stack of paperwork required to complete our home study, which is needed to become an adoptive parent.  As of January 4, 2013 we became eligible to be matched with potential birth families (see our profile here).  We are full of anticipation for what God has in store for our family.  Ethan is excited about being a big brother, Mommy is "nesting" and Daddy is doing his best to keep everyone even keel :0)

As for the time frame, what our social workers said to us was, "domestic adoption is predictably unpredictable," though the majority of their families adopt in less than a year.  This means we could receive a call tomorrow from a birth family who has already delivered a baby and wants to make an adoption plan, to waiting a year or more. 

As we wait, please join us in praying for:

• the health and safe arrival of the little one who will join our family
• good emotional, physical and spiritual care for the birth family
• wisdom for us to parent well through this time of transition
• hearts that are open and prepared to love our growing family and others well

Our second addition is a new shed!  Eric has wanted to build one for a while and the growing pile in our garage required to fit a car in for winter indicates that it is time.  After reviewing plans, pricing lumber, and submitting our proposal, we now have our building permit from the town.  Ethan is eager to be Daddy's helper in the spring.

Ethan seems so grown up to us!  As we've started to think about "newborn" days again, the change in Ethan is all the more apparent.  Ethan and Daddy just started a parent/tot swim class, and as you can see from their smiles, they love it!

Ethan is most certainly an extrovert who loves and is energized by people.  He enjoys helping host friends in our home.  He loves making observations about his world, and is attentive to details, often surprising us with what he remembers.  He loves learning, and continues to enjoy "pre-school" that we do at home, though we are looking into more formal pre-school for the fall.  His favorite things currently are dinosaurs, sea creatures, firetrucks and trains.  He also enjoys family game night playing "Go Fish" or memory match.  The sledding picture was from our first big snow this year, (which has nearly all melted).  Once convinced to wear some mittens, he had a great time.

Eric and I are looking forward to a weekend get away to The Porches Inn on 1/26 to celebrate his birthday and before the arrival of our little one.  We pray that you are well and that 2013 challenges you to have a growing appreciation for each day.  John 1:16-17 "From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another...God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ."