Our AMAZING birthmom!

If you would have talked with me at the start of this summer, I would have told you that I wanted to meet our future baby's birth mom, but I wasn't quite sure about the whole "open adoption" thing. After we first met our birth mom, my mind began to change. After spending that time together in the hospital when Landrie was born, we felt such a bond with her! It's kind of like when you come home from church camp or an amazing vacation. I could try to put it all into words, but it's just impossible to explain. How to you explain the way you feel about the person who gave you her daughter? She is such a blessing to us!!


Many of you have asked about our birth mom. I know I was so curious about what a birth mom might be like before I met ours. I asked her about the blog, and she said she didn't mind if I started using her name or posted pictures. Whew! Now you all get to see her beautiful face, and I can finally start calling her BRIANNA! :)

Now you can see why Landrie is so beautiful! Check this out. 2 DAYS after delivering Landrie, she was in size 6 jeans. Now, she's even tinier! She's one of those legends you hear about or read about in People. :) That's good news for Landrie when she has her own baby! (sniff!)

I've been emailing Brianna pictures, and we sent her pictures of her first month. She agrees that Landrie is just as cute as can be! Saturday was the first time that we met in person since the week Landrie was born. It was Brianna's birthday, and she came in town with her boyfriend Chet and daughter Brynn, who is Landrie's half sister.


We spent a LOT of time just oohhing and ahhing over Landrie. She's grown so much since they've seen her! Chet was with us in the hospital, so he and Landrie have a special bond too.

Of course I had to make her a birthday cake. Brynn loved blowing out the candles!

She also loved the chocolate frosting! Isn't she a cutie?? She doesn't usually have a lot of sweets, so she was in heaven! Brynn's newborn pictures looked a LOT like Landrie's. Believe it or not, Brynn had the same dark hair too! We'll just have to wait and see if Landrie's stays dark or turns lighter.

Then we all headed to the Cheesecake Factory for Brianna's birthday dinner. Brynn adored Mark, and dubbed him "Markers!" That's one nickname he's never had!

When we went to the adoption training for our agency this summer, an adoptive mom spoke. She had adopted both of her kids. She still spends time with one birth mom, 9 years later. The other birth mom she never saw again. Like I said before, birth moms can be anyone. We are so thankful for Brianna. We may have another birth mom who wants an open relationship, or one who doesn't even want to meet us. You never know!