Passed!

Off To Take My Boards!!

Mother's Day

A dream come true...



My Mother's Day gift, come to find out...good things do come in small packages. :)

I have had an incredible day from the first moment I opened my eyes. My wonderful husband brought me Starbuck's in bed and Lauren shared a hot cocoa with me in bed. She then took my hand and brought me to the dining room to show me the roses she and Daddy picked out. As we dressed, I pulled out a matching necklace to the one that I wear often, but just a little smaller version. It is Mother of Pearl and has the Chinese character's of "Daughter and Mother" engraved on it. I put this on Lauren and she thought this was so, so special to be wearing a necklace like mommies. It was such a special moment and she wore the necklace all day today. We then went out for breakfast at my favorite, Mimi's. After breakfast we walked over to Border*s and I got a book from one of my favorite authors, Francine Rivers, "A Lineage of Grace". We then went to church and I enjoyed every minute of being with my precious daughter on my first Mother's Day church service.

Tonight, my mom, Lauren, Bailey, and I enjoyed a nice walk together through the pretty Sierra Verde neighborhood where there are waterfalls and wildlife throughout. Now, I am off to get Lauren into her jammies and I into mine and we are going to snuggle together until Danny comes home from work. (right now, I look down from typing and she is naked and has just strapped herself into her doll stroller and is putting on her sunglasses...better go!) :) Happy Mother's Day everyone!!

Let me not forget...

147Millionorphans.com

Truly Blessed~

As Lauren sleeps, I thought I would take the chance to post our morning. Lauren and I enjoyed breakfast with friends at "Lucky Acres" Farm. Suz & Dan invited us all and it was so fun and another event full of memories I will always hold dear to my heart. As I drove home and Lauren talked to "pretend Kailahni" :), I was just filled with such appreciation of all that God has given me. The friends who we have met on the journey to Lauren are so incredible.

It's funny, I am reading a "90-day renewal" devotional right now that I had done 6 years ago as well and as I read my prayers 6 years ago I see that I have been given so much more than I had ever imagined. My prayer 6 years ago today was that I would become pregnant this month...I thank God that I didn't or I would not have my precious Lauren. God truly blesses abundantly beyond anything we can dream. Below are some pictures of this morning and also of our time in Prescott a few weeks ago when the infamous Zoey was in town!! Love you all!

Our First Family Vacation!

We just returned from our first family vacation. Thanks to my wonderful mom who reserved a cabin for us as my graduation gift last December, we enjoyed time away in beautiful Oak Creek Canyon. The weather was perfect and we had the time of our lives. We hiked, spent an afternoon in Sedona, grilled, hiked some more, played in the ice cold creek, slept in, had a picnic in Flagstaff, laughed... and took in each minute of our time together. I've created my first movie to share our trip (you may need to mute the pink playbox on the bottom of the blog page), enjoy...

April 3rd

Last Saturday, April 3rd, marked our one-year anniversary of our referral call for Lauren. Wow, what a day I will never forget, the day I saw my sweet Lauren's face for the first time.

We celebrated by enjoying a breakfast with our friends. Over the 4 year wait, Mary, Terri, Suz, and I became friends and enjoyed spa days, etc. while we dreamed and prayed for our daughters. Denise is a friend who we met on our trip to China. She and her husband were in our travel group. Lauren and Emma (Denise's daughter) are from the same province. Pictured above from left to right: Caroline (Suz's daughter), Kailahni (Mary's daughter), My Lauren, Emma (Denise's daughter), and Gwyneth (Terri's daughter). This is our version of the "red couch" picture. :)



Suz made these awesome "carrots" made with goldfish, the girls loved them! Thank you Suz!!



Terri, Gwyneth, and Lauren



Emma, Kailahni, and Lauren enjoying their prized Easter gifts.



Lauren and Emma



In this picture, I think Lauren is saying, this is my peep, Kailahni...

We missed all of our awesome friends we have met through this adoption process, who mean the world to us, but don't live nearby. You are always in our thoughts and discussions whenever the Arizona Adoption Mama's get together..

Easter Weekend

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend! I'm a little late posting this, but wanted to share Lauren in her Easter dress singing her favorite song "Hosanna". Last weekend was filled with cherished visits with friends and family. I will post pic's soon...Lauren and I just returned from a night run and she is wanting some ice cream, so I'm off to scoop up a bowl for my girl!

Weekend Fun!

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Springtime & Backyard Pedicures

Yesterday Lauren, Danny, and I enjoyed hanging out in the backyard blowing bubbles, barbecuing, playing tag, and soaking up the sun. I gave Lauren her first pedicure and we had so much fun together! Gosh, can I just say I LOVE being a mommy to such an incredible little girl!!

We're off to our community's carnival today, birthday dinner for mom and Kristy, and the back home for a "movie in the park" that our community his putting on tonight!

Happy Weekend everyone! :)

Approval For My Boards!

Lauren and I just returned from a night out with one of my good friends I met long ago and went to nursing school with. I was just discussing with her how long it is taking to get my approval letter to take my boards...I then come home and I have an email stating I've been approved and can schedule my date! woohoo! (I guess I'm going to have to get serious about studying now) :) I have been so glad to be done with graduate school and able to spend time with my little Lo that I have not been very diligent in preparing for the big exam...time to gear up!

p.s. March LIDers you will find this funny, the reason the AANP took so long to get me a date??...they had moved buildings..sound familiar! :)

Impromptu Visit To The Zoo!

Lauren's Haircut

Yesterday Mommy and Lauren had haircuts together! Lauren did great and we were pleasantly surprised to find that Grandma also was getting her haircut at the same place and time! Next time I think we'll all schedule massages and make it a spa day!! :)

Happy Birthday Mom!!

I can't imagine my life without you..I am so blessed to have been given such an incredible, strong, beautiful person as my mom. As a mom myself now, I appreciate even more all the sacrifices you made for me. I love you with all of me.

Saturday Morning Zip Line

Tea Party and Fireflies

Lauren woke singing this song today, then dressed herself and invited Mommy, Daddy, and Bailey to a tea party!

Hiking With Kai and Mary!

We just returned from a fun morning out with Mary and Kai! We went hiking with the girls at a mountain near us. It was so nice! The weather is perfect right now! Again, it was serious business for the girls, but they had fun! :)

Lauren in Action

I have been having trouble posting video from the start, but thanks to Mary, I have a live action shot of Lauren for you! I'm working on getting our Family Day video posted as well.

Fun Times!

2010

Good morning and Happy New Year everyone! Yesterday was a day like no other. It was the first day that I fully felt like the weight of school, clinical, etc. had been lifted and we here at the Davenport home had a magical day. We started the day by watching two beautiful people get married after waiting for so long. Congratulations Terri, your wedding brought tears to my eyes, you and Ed are such special people.

After the wedding we headed home, threw my hair up in a pony tail, put on some old scrubs and for the next 5 hours Lauren, Danny, Bailey, and I sang, danced, put away Christmas decorations, organized, cleaned, kissed, held hands, and felt like "us" again. Survival mode is finally over.

I also put on my ipod and went for a run by myself which I haven't done since last June. This was an awesome time with God. Just thanking Him for all He has done, the miracle of Lauren in our lives and in our arms. It was also a time of prayer for my family and extended family and asking, so..what's next. Medical missions has been in my heart since I was five and cried to Jesus while sitting behind dad's recliner with my big headphones on listening to Keith Green. I know my trip to India 16 years ago was just the start and I am excited to see where God takes us next.

It's going to be a great year! :)