Eliana loves Grandaddy and Grandmother Wheeler!!

This past weekend Eliana's Grandaddy and Grandmother Wheeler came to visit us from Tulsa.....we had a blast!! Eliana got so excited the second she saw both of them. She absolutely loved spending time with them. They read to her, played with her, held her, sang to her.....and loved her well. She is so blessed to have them as her grandparents. We already miss them so much and can't wait for their next visit. Thank you both so much for investing in Eliana like you do. It means the world to us.

Love you all,
Lindsey

We love our Harper Ann!!!

INTRODUCING: Harper Ann Pardue (born on March 11, 2009)

My sister, Corby and Harper.....aren't they the cutest family?!! Also, how in the world does my sister look that good after just a few days.....she is AMAZING!!!


Sweet little Harper Ann Pardue in her cardigan and jeans.....a lady at Target called her a "he"....does she not know that boys don't wear ruffle cardigans?!


I am a very proud AUNT!!! I love it.....I spent a lot of time whispering in Harper's ears that I will be her favorite aunt!! :-)


She is so precious when she is asleep.....but this little girl can scream!! She has the "Daniels" drama for sure.


Corby is the proud daddy!! It was so fun to watch him with her....he is so in love.


Someone who wasn't so sure about the entire thing was Eliana!! When I was holding Harper, she would say "no" and get really upset. She was a little bit jealous.....and she wasn't sure why her Aunt Laloy was in the hospital bed.


Papa G chased Eliana up and down the hospital halls and read to her. She did a great job!!

......Chris and I are so excited to now be an aunt and an uncle!! We will take this new role very seriously. We will send Harper singing chipmunks and feed her lots of candy!! Seriously, we love you sweet thing. Lauren and Corby, we are so proud of you!! My sis is an amazing mom.....such a natural (I knew you would be). I hate that we don't live closer.....we will have to skype all of the time. We are praying for the three of you.

Love you all,
Lindsey

So tired....but so grateful!!

I haven't written a lot lately for a lot of different reasons.  We have been traveling a lot....and then have had company for the last week.  Honestly, y'all are probably sick of hearing me say this.....but I have been really struggling.  There are probably many reasons why.....but I am so tired of it.  I am suffering with a fatigue problem, which is right now attacking me in full effect!! Please pray for my health.  I am sleeping a lot right now (and when I am not sleeping....I am chasing sweet Eliana all over the place).  In the loneliness and fatigue, I often forget how many things I have to be grateful for.  

Today we got a package from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  It was all of the original documents from Eliana's adoption file.  I have just spent the last hour reading each word on each page....and can't stop crying.  I am so grateful for this child God has given to us. There is a new picture I have never seen of her when she was tiny.  Oh, I love her face.  I am grateful that her biological mother selflessly gave her to us.  Honestly, I forget that I am not her biological mom (that might sound weird).....but she feels like she has ALWAYS been a part of Chris and me.  After I read through everything.....I started looking at pictures (lots of crying again).  Thank you Lord for choosing us for her.  I can't imagine my life without her.  

Even though the fatigue is great.....the Lord has given me just what I have needed for Eliana and Chris.  I wake up begging God for enough energy to be a good wife and mom.  And every single day, the Lord gives me the strength.  I love laughing with Eliana.  I love tickling her.  I love running along side of her through the house.  I love chasing her.  I love kissing her.  I love giving her tons of hugs.  I love telling her "I love you" a thousand times a day.  I love brushing Dora's hair with her.  I love watching Handy Manny with her.  I love playing outside with her.  I love jumping on the trampoline with her.  I love putting her hair in pigtails (even though her Tia Leah says it makes her sassy).  I love watching her love her daddy.  I love watching her hug any kind of animal.  I love teaching her words.  I love reading to her.  I love praying with her.  I am so thankful for our sweet girl.

I am so grateful.

Love you all,

Lindsey

Happy Birthday Papa G!!

Papa G, I hope you are having the greatest birthday!!  It was so good to get to hang out with you at the hospital when Cousin Harper was born.  Thanks for playing with me and chasing me up and down the halls of the hospital.  I already miss you.

Love you,

Eliana

The Big Apple!

This is right before Leah's interview with Seventeen Magazine!! We are so proud of her!!


We decided to go on a carriage ride in Central Park at night....it was SO COLD!! I think we had more fun laughing at how many ways we could look ridiculous in a scarf.



This would be Chris's dream come true.....Dylan's Candy Bar.....it had every candy you could ever dream of!!


I am pretty sure every single tourist goes to Serendipity to get the famous Frozen Hot Chocolate.....we did it and were not disappointed! It was incredible.


We woke up one morning super early so that mom could see her "best friends" from the Today Show! Look closely at this picture.....mom is right behind Matt!! She made it on t.v.!


Look how close I was to Al Roker.....this picture makes me laugh!


My mom's dream come true......an entire store of M&M's!!


We were able to go and see "Wicked" on Thursday night.....Glenda the good witch was so much fun!! WE LOVE NYC!!


Love you all,
Lindsey

We miss the beach.....

They have NO fun together.....can't you tell?!!


She likes to walk around with her eyes closed....it makes us laugh! She is a ham!!


Um, she really thought she was driving this car....she was so serious about it!!


Eliana fell on her face in the sand.....it didn't phase her at all! She would just walk around with handfuls of sand.


We had such a blast at the beach!! I can't wait to take her when it is actually warm!! We are now gearing up for Cousin Harper's birth....we are so excited. Pray for my sister Lauren....that her labor would be easy and that Harper would be healthy. I will keep you posted!

Love you all,
Lindsey

P.S. I will post NYC pics soon!

NYC....and other news!

The last week or two have been crazy....do I always say that?! Last minute, we decided that I was going to join my mom and sister Leah (we missed you Lauren) for a weekend in NYC. We found a super cheap ticket....and I packed my bags. Leah was going to interview for an internship this summer. Chris really wanted me to go....and he kept Eliana (it was the first time I was away from her overnight)!! The weekend was unbelievable....so much fun. I am pretty sure we walked at least 20 miles (no joke). We used a lot of Tylenol during our trip. We got to see SO MUCH....we made the most of our short trip!! I will post some pics soon. We are all SO PROUD of Leah.....she walked into the Seventeen Magazine offices for her interview....and they HIRED HER ON THE SPOT!! My sister is going to be a Seventeen intern this summer. I felt like we were in an episode of "The City" (a show on MTV). Leah is going to have a blast....and we are so proud of who God is creating her to be....she has so many talents!!

I am back.....Eliana is sick (again)....Chris is recovering from a week-long flu!! A lot is happening in the next few weeks. Lauren (my other sis) is due to give birth in less than a week....YEAH!!!! We are so excited to meet little Harper Ann Pardue!!!!! We all can't wait to see Eliana with her new little cousin. Then, our friends Erika and Chris are getting married in two weekends......um, pretty much the most incredible couple EVER!! We love you guys so much.

Love you all so much,
Lindsey