The Day Our Lives Changed for the Better

Oh, my word, has it been memory lane around here today. So, because we've been so caught up in reminiscing, I thought I'd bring you along, too. On this day twelve years ago Shiloh Elizabeth entered our lives, forever changing them for the better. Twelve years old seems like such a milestone! I'm so thankful for that little tiny girl who has grown into a beautiful young lady, inside and out. We chose Shiloh's name because it means "God's gift" or "God's rest." We were told by doctors at one point that it was very unlikely that we would have any biological children (boy, when they're wrong, they're REALLY wrong :) ). I remember one specific day in Colorado Springs when we had a possible birthmom pull out of an initial meeting for an adoption and that very same day I got a call from my college roommate telling me that she was pregnant. It was a hard day, and we cried out to the Lord. He comforted us with the knowledge that He was still a good God no matter what happened with our family. Little did we know I was already pregnant. Remember that call at 3:00 a.m. with the news, Mom?


Here I am THE MORNING of the 24th. Daniel liked this outfit, so he made me pose before church. My water broke AS I SAT DOWN TO CHURCH. Yes, I was one of those people you have heard about. :)Here we are as a family of three! I love birth stories, but many people don't, so I'll keep to myself. :) Here is the short version: we went to the hospital, I had to tell Daniel to turn off the football game on TV and stop talking theology with Jan Dragoo, then we had a baby at 6:07 p.m. and p.s. Daniel didn't faint. Then he went out and got me a Frosty with fries because that's what I wanted. :) Proud Daddy who missed being honor grad at his advanced course because Shiloh's early arrival (4 weeks) coincided with a major test. Sorry, honey - babies have their own schedule!

Even though Shiloh was only 4 lbs., 15 oz. when she was born, she was healthy and eating well so they let us go home on schedule. Notice our young, happy, alert faces? That would soon change when we realized that Shiloh never intended to sleep - EVER.

Daddy gives Shiloh her first bath. Up until she was six months old, she could fit into the basin that the hospital gave us. She loved that basin and would fall asleep in it at bathtime. Yeah - she slept in a BASIN and would not sleep in her bed. It's a good thing the Lord gives us amnesia about these things.

Shiloh meets Oma!!! Oma will tell you that it was a little scary seeing her for the first time because she was so little and I had her out in public. She was born to be a grandma.

Shiloh in all her cuteness. I loved it when we finally found some preemie girly outfits (we lived in Sierra Vista, which only boasted a Wal-mart at the time).Look how little she was! She was about three weeks old here.

This is when we started to realize that babies don't actually understand the whole "weekend" thing.When Shiloh was three weeks old, we went to visit Daniel's West Point classmate in Phoenix. His wife, Stephanie, was a much better photographer and took this great picture. The Crandalls had the first "class baby" about 9 months and 3 days after their wedding (on graduation day), so they had two children by this point. I'm pretty sure they just laughed at our ineptitude, but they were kind to our faces. :)

This picture represents the time that we started coming out of the fog of sleeplessness. Unfortunately, that was six months later, and she still wasn't a great sleeper. She had just found her thumb, though, so she was a much happier baby.

Shiloh Elizabeth, you have taught us so much about patience, perseverance, humility, joy, and most of all, LOVE. We are utterly thankful to be your parents. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of children, and today we especially thank you for Shiloh.