Gotcha Day 2014

2 years ago, on March 29th we brought this little peanut home. 

That day. Oh my stars. It doesn't get any better than that. 

A precious baby placed in your arms. 

I never knew I could feel love like that. 

This boy is a daily reminder of God's love for us. Of his faithfulness.
And we still can't fathom that we were chosen to be his parents. 

He is ours. And it still blows our minds. 

Each year for his "gotcha day" we like to go out for a treat. 

This year we went to our local ice cream shop. 

And we went at almost the exact same time that we happened to stop there on the day we brought him home.We were super hungry after our morning of meeting him and doing the amazing placement ceremony. So we had stopped at Charlie's to grab some food quick. 

It was crazy to think back to that moment. That tiny new buddy in his little car seat. Us, his mama & daddy. New to the roles, excited, terrified, and just blissful. 

The memories make my heart want to explode. 

Gabe was here this weekend, so the whole Masters family got to help us celebrate. 

And we cheered, ate ice cream, and just soaked in the beautiful fact that Liam is part of our family. 

I am humbled and amazed by the fact that God knew this boy. Knew that he was the boy who should be our son. His plans are SO much greater than our plans. And when we let him have control such beautiful things can happen. Thank you Jesus for leading us to Liam and thank you to Liam's birth mom for making the most selfless decision imaginable. 

We are so grateful. 

We are so in love with our energetic, smart, loving, tough, and sweet little buddy. 

Chief

Liam Wayne,
Your daddy LOVES Eric Church. He listens to him ALL DAY LONG. Throughout the day while daddy works, you will randomly walk by and touch the screen so you can see the picture of the cover of the album he is listening to. And just to jam out with daddy for a little bit.
On Thursday night we went out to eat with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Deb. And we were sitting at a table right by the jukebox. You would randomly look over at the pictures on the screen but weren't really paying attention. So we were all surprised when you got really excited, started pointing to the screen, and yelled "Chief"! Sure enough, there was a picture of Eric Church. I don't think I have ever seen your daddy look more proud. He told me today, that he could have died happy at that moment.
I love seeing your daddy look like that. He is so proud of you ALL the time. You are so smart little man.
I am sure as you grow up, you and daddy will have lots of fun listening to your favorite songs together.
Especially Chief. And when you are much, much older your mama might let daddy take you to an Eric Church concert too. As long as promise to take your mama along too.

Liam turns 2!

Liam turned 2 on Sunday.

It is still hard to believe!

I seriously don't know how time can possibly pass so quickly.

When I think about it, my heart aches a little. 

I am so in love with this little man. Our whole world changed the day he came into it. 

I know I say it ALL the time, but I thank God a million times a day for choosing us to be his parents.

And for his beautiful birth mama. 

There are just no words for the way she has changed our lives and our hearts. Forever. 

I cried again last night as 11:19 pm rolled around and I thought about how beautiful he must have looked coming into this world. And how precious those first cries must have sounded.

Thank you Jesus for his birth mom and the love she gave him before he came to us.

I pray everyday that she continues to know how very loved and cherished she is.
And that our baby boy is happy, healthy, and so unbelievably loved. 

Gabe colored some special wrapping paper for Liam's present. 

We had a Daniel Tiger party this year. 

We celebrated with everyone on Saturday. 

He took each card to the person who gave it to him, after we read it.
And then he took each present around for everyone to look at. 

We loved reading birthday messages from everyone! 

This was Liam's last night as a 1 year old. 

On Sunday morning, he got a basketball hoop from Mama & Daddy. 

And we had a doughnut breakfast.  

He also got a bat and ball from mama & daddy. 

We spent his birthday playing and visiting a friend's farm. 

These two boys are such gems. 

And of course, we had some birthday ice cream! 

Gabe loved the ice cream too!

At his 2 year check up, Liam weighed about 31 pounds and was 35 inches tall. He gained 4 pounds since his 18 month check up. We were NOT surprised to hear this, since we have had to buy lots of new clothes and have some serious arm muscles from lifting him lately. He talks ALL THE TIME now and loves to sing and dance. He loves to tell everyone, "I two". He loves to tell you what all of the different animals say and to shout out what letters he sees everywhere. Playing with any car or ball is his favorite. And he loves "cop cars" and got a special treat today, when we went to his check up, and the police car he saw turned its lights on and pulled over a mini van right in our parking lot. He also insisted on holding his mama's hand the whole time he was in the car today and all through lunch. Inconvenient, sometimes painful, and blissfully wonderful.  

Liam Wayne, these first two years have just flown by and we can not believe how big you are getting. We adore being your parents. You make us laugh a million times a day. Thanks for making us a mama & daddy.

We love you so much buddy!

Hard Work

We have been busy getting our basement finished. As the business continues to grow, we need our bigger office more than ever and as we wait to be picked again for adoption, we hope to need room for a new nursery soon too! 

So Liam and Daddy have been busy working to get things done. Liam ADORES his daddy. Watching Liam study Max's every move and try to imitate him is one of my favorite things in the whole world. And it makes me SO darn grateful for a husband who models faith and hard work so beautifully for our son. Every. Single. Day.

I love watching and helping these two every chance I get. 

Liam & Gabe's 1st Sleepover

Gabe weekends are always SO much fun and Liam is always SO excited for his cousin to get here. 

But this weekend was extra special because Gabe got to spend the night Saturday. 

Since we are stuck in eternal winter here in South Dakota, it was FREEZING cold and snowing. Of course.

So we found lots of fun ways to keep the boys busy.

Liam had been wanting to show Gabe his Dot Paints.

Gabe LOVED them...we sent a lot of pictures home with him. 

Of course, we played A LOT of cars.

And we had to have a pizza party.

A favorite for both boys!

(Notice the mattress in the back ground: when you can't go outside, they turn into trampolines 

for burning energy out of little boys.)

Then we went in the basement and let them go crazy! 

We brought the cars in from the garage and the drove them all around. 

And pushed them at a 100 miles an hour...it was NOISY. 

And so very worth it.

We tried to calm down a little with some tubby time. 

And then we watched a movie and had a popcorn party. 

Liam was excited for Gabe to sit and listen to Bible stories with Daddy with him. He kept looking to see if Gabe thought it was as awesome as he did. So precious. 

So thankful for cousins. So thankful for these beautiful boys who make our hearts so full. 

And thanks to all of that running downstairs, 

they both slept perfect all night long. 

A perfect first sleepover! 

The first of many, I am sure.