Dazed and Amazed...

Dear Family & Friends,
If there was ever a catalog from which to choose absolute "dream babies", I have to say that little Miss Gianna Elyse would have to be on the cover. She turned three weeks old yesterday and as "normal" as everything feels for us, we are still dazed and amazed....not to mention: blessed beyond belief.

Life is good in Lewisland these days, and although Gianna has yet to jump on the new trampoline, swing on the new swing set or float around in the new pool.........she's gotten to be taxied around several times in the brand new mini-van. (Praise God...we finally feel like we're "legitimate" van owners!) Like most new parents, we sit and watch her in wonder and delight and marvel at the miracle of a newborn - as well as the super-amazing miracle of adoption and our own phenomenal adoption story.

Gianna is doing beautifully and after two weeks of being the perfect sleeper, she has graduated to the world of confusion of when daytime and night-time actually occur. On top of that she's a champion eater and is becoming a little more demanding when she is hungry (there's absolutely no doubt this baby is a Louisiana Lewis!) It took about two weeks for us to finally hear her cry, and although she has a healthy set of lungs, she typically doesn't cry for long and is easy to console. She is very alert, smiles fairly often, eats like a little piggy, burps like her Daddy and seems so content and peaceful the majority of the time. (What an absolute gift.)

Her first doctor appointment went really well and the doctor was thrilled with how much weight she put on - a whole pound in three weeks and almost two inches. Yet another sign that this baby is 100% ours. :)

Gianna's very first outing was to the Calcasieu Parish Sherrif's Department (how many kids have THAT written in their baby book!!!) in order for her parents to get fingerprinted so the FBI could check us out. (All part of the hoop-jumping process.) Next, we had been awaiting a courtdate in order to petition for "placement" which makes official our intent to adopt her. We actually just found out that if we signed an affadavit testifying that the information in the petition was correct, that we may very well avoid court and the judge would just sign the placement papers....which is really good news considering who the judge is (same one as last time.)

So, hopefully in the next few days we'll get the news that weve received placementl, that she is in our custody and then we're as good as gold. Adoptions in Louisiana aren't completely finalized until a year after "placement" (July of 2009), but it's a done deal....no changing minds of birth parents, etc. Yet another reason to give thanks.

We are so grateful for all of the prayers, good wishes, generous hearts of so many of you. Every child born into this world should be so celebrated, wanted and loved by so many people. What a great prayer to offer and challenge to live.

Before I close, here's the link to the website with more shameless pictures. www.lewisland.shutterly.com/pictures. (Once you click on the folder, you can hit "slideshow" and view pictures that way.)

I know pictures are coming at a much slower pace than some people would like, but it takes time to edit and upload and frankly, I'm pretty stingy with my time these days. I'd rather spend these precious first days engaging with Gianna than messing around at the computer. As new parents, we are drinking up every little moment with much joy and very little guilt. So, enjoy the pictures, continue to keep us in your prayers of thanksgiving, and know that we value your presence in our lives.