Happy 3rd Birthday Stephen!

I didn't have this blog 3 years ago while we were waiting and hoping for you, so I want to tell you your birth story:

Daddy, Silas and me were a happy little family of three. One day, I felt God's tugging on my heart that we should try to adopt again. Daddy took a little longer to convince! But, in February 2006, we made our 1st call to Christian Adoption Services in Matthews, NC. We really felt this was the place for us. We did our preliminary application, then attended our first info session on March 16th. We completed all of the paperwork necessary, a little easier this time since we had already done it once with your brother Silas! Mommy was SO sick all that year, I had Strep Throat 5 times and was sick through most of our time trying to get ready for a baby. I finally had my tonsils out on August 17th, and we went active into the pool of waiting couples on August 22nd. And so the official wait began. We went to the CAS golf fundraiser in Sept, and then a pre-placement workshop in Oct. The first week of November, Doris called from our agency and said that someone wanted to meet us. WOW!! We were excited! We didn't know any details until we arrived at the agency on Nov 6. That's when we met your birth mom, Nikole, and her mom Barbara for the first time. We talked for well over an hour and we all had a good feeling about the match. Nikole had the priveledge of telling us that you were a BOY and that you were due in ELEVEN days! WOW again!! We left the agency and hoped that they picked us to be your parents. We didn't know for sure until the next Monday when Silas and I went to visit with them, so they could meet him and see what your big brother would be like! He and Nikole (and you too!) slid down the slide at Chick-fil-A. So then we waited. You didn't come on your due date, but 2 days later on Nov 19th at 5:00 in the afternoon. We found out about your arrival the next day around 11:30am, so I had to call Daddy at work and let him know you had finally arrived! He was so excited he cried in his classroom right in front of his students. We went to the hospital the next day at noon and met you for the first time. You were SO tiny! We met Nikole's grandparents, Jim & Willie, they had come in from Savannah GA for your birth. It was hard on the family to let you go, but we promised them that we would love you with all our hearts and take care of you forever! We left the hospital at 5pm that day, in the worst downpour you could imagine! I was so nervous driving with you from Salisbury to home on the interstate, but God protected us as he always does. When Silas met you for the first time, he wanted us to put you in a cardboard box so he could play with you! We had to tell him that you had to grow a little before that would be possible!! And now, playing with your big brother is your FAVORITE thing to do! We can't believe how much you've grown! You are so loved by so many people and we are blessed to call you our son! WE LOVE YOU LITTLE BUDDY!!