G.O.A.T.

You might not understand why I would name this post GOAT.  Because I don't really understand it.  It was Dave's pick.

And I know David's ENTIRE family is shaking their heads in shame that I didn't know what GOAT was all about.  Because one thing I do not share with the Stefanich family is knowledge of all things sports related.

You would think I would have some sports knowledge, having two brothers.  But I do not.  I've resisted the opportunity to be sports savvy since a young age of barbie dolls and awkward feet.  I don't like watching sports on TV, and I like talking about professional sports and athletes even less.

I do know some things though.  Or at least 'heard' of some sports things.  I do a basketball bracket each year - but I sort of have to.  I know that Duke and NC are rivals, and I better cheer for Duke or face the Stefanich wrath.  I know there is such a thing as the Fab Five, and movies have been made about them. The Stefanich's may have even made one themselves.  And I know that LeBron is despised in Cleveland.

So I think I'm doing pretty good.

So lets fast forward to Monday.  David's parents came over, and since last Thursday they have been physically unable to come to our house without bringing gifts for the boys.  They shop non-stop.  And Monday was no exception. They came over with a box for us, and being the humble and patient daughter in law that I am, I tore into it.

A splash of red and black caught my eye.  I quick shut the box and told David he better open it first.  (Because I might not know much about sports, but I wasn't born in a box.)  Here is what he saw.

Oh my WORD did that daddy smile.  Its like he was imagining the pickup games in the driveway, and the late nights watching final four basketball games.   And coaching whatever the basketball equivalent to little league is.  He was so excited.

And the booties!  Two pairs for four tiny feet.  My boys are going to look SO stinkin' cute in these little outfits.  Or uniforms.  Or whatever.

If you are like me, you know Michael Jordan is pretty amazing.  David has so MANY times said that 23 is a number associated with greatness.   (Our boys were born on the 23rd by the way…)

But did you know he is the greatest of all time?  I mean, I guess I knew that.  Apparently Jordan is kind of a big deal, so greatest of all time seems appropriate.  And if you are a true sports fanatic, you know that greatest of all time (Michael Jordan) can be acronymed into G.O.A.T.

To me, that's dumb.

But to my husband and his family, it's iconic.

Proud Mama Moment

I've had a few already. Like EVERY time I share their pictures with somebody, or tell them our good news.  Or look at their pictures myself.

I am a very proud mama.

But today something super cute happened at Walgreens.

I went to pick up some new photos another AGCI mom emailed me from her trip.  And they are ADORABLE.  So the guy hands me my pictures and says, do you want to look through them?

Um, yes.

so I'm looking through them, and there is this 50 something guy peering over my shoulder.  Peeking at my photos.  And here is what happened next...

Man:  Twins?
Me: Yes.
Man:  Good job.
Me: Thanks.

and I BEAMED.

Twice as Nice

 We Got Our Referral!!!

Yes, its true.  This day has FINALLY arrived!

David and I were babysitting on Thursday for some friends.  They have a 6 year old, a 4 year old, and a 2 year old.  We had just walked to a school close to our house to play, and were on our way home.  David's phone rang, and the caller ID said AGCI.  He looked at me and I was like, "Well, answer it."

We both expected this to be our monthly update call.  As you probably know, we just got the email that we were #5 for siblings and boys and #10 for girls.  We always get the email first, and then our caseworker calls us a couple days later to see if we have any questions and to check in.

I listened to David go through the usual "hellos" and "how are yous".  Then he looked up and said, "Nooo!" (Like the surprised kind, not the mad kind...).

I momentarily considered tackling him to the ground and ripping the phone from his hand to hear what was going on.

But I kept my cool.   Sort of.

Instead, like an annoying child, I said, "What? What? What?" until he answered me.

He looked up with tears in his eyes and said, "Boys....  TWINS!...  3 months old!"

I was stunned.  I couldn't move.  I couldn't believe it!  This was seriously our referral call.  That I had played through my mind again and again.  And it was here.  And we got SIBLINGS!  What we hoped and prayed for all along, and were mentally prepared not to get.  But somehow we were so lucky and these boys could be OURS!  And I wanted to know more... Like RIGHT now.  But Dave was hanging up the phone and saying we had to call her back when we got home and had access to the computer.  WHAT?!

That's when I remembered there were 3 children with us that we were taking care of.  Who were also incredibly confused by what was going on.  So instead of explaining it to them (which might seem logical to you - but somehow didn't even cross our minds) we raced home as fast as we could - children in tow.  Meanwhile, David and I have the silliest, biggest grins on our face, and tears in our eyes just laughing and saying, "Twins!  Boys!  Babies! We're parents!"

Thank goodness David's dad was at our house, and after we shared the good news with him, he took the kids to the basement to play while we learned all about our beautiful boys.

God is so great.  All along he had these boys chosen for us, and they could not be more perfect.  The wait was SO worth it.  The are amazing.  Absolutely perfect.  And I wish so much that I could show you their beautiful little faces and tell you their names, but I can't. (We are not allowed to post pictures or names online anywhere including Facebook and blogs.)  That will have to wait until they are home with us.  In the meantime, David and I keep looking at each other and saying their names.  Their beautiful Ethiopian names.  And smile.  And think about how amazing our life will be once they are here in our arms.

SINGLE DIGITS!!

 Yes... that is right.... SINGLE DIGITS!!!

I have the biggest... dorkiest smile on my face right now.  I just got the email with our July numbers, and I'm THRILLED!

So while I throw a little party for myself (and David) in our living room... here are our numbers.

For girls we went from 17 to....

For boys we went from 11 to....

For siblings we went from 11 to....

I know.  This is HUGE.   Single digits make a referral seem SO close.  I'm so excited.  I ran right outside and interrupted David's lawn mowing to share the great news :)

Happy Tuesday Everyone!!