Lily has been a very smiley baby from the very beginning. Lots of people have said that it was "just gas" or some such nonsense but really its just that Lily is a very happy little girl. One day, Mommy was looking at Lily and suddenly, Lily smiled the biggest smile and the happiest smile that Mommy had ever seen! It was February 16, 2006 and being only 2 days after Valentine's day, Mommy thought that was the BEST belated Valentine she had ever gotten in her whole life. Daddy was at work just then so he didn't get a chance to see the prettiest smile of Lily's which made him feel a little bit sad.
Just a few days later, though, Daddy got his chance. It wasn't the usual thing but this week Daddy had to work on a Saturday. When he was done working, he called Mommy so she would know he was on his way home. Mommy knew that Daddy would want to see his girl and so she wanted Lily to be very clean and good smelling for her dad so they could cuddle lots. Lily was having her diaper changed when Daddy walked in. He said "Hi" to Mommy and gave her a kiss. Then he looked down at Lily and said, "Hi there little girl!" Daddy smiled at Lily. Then, Lily looked at Daddy and smiled her beautiful and lovely smiley smile. Daddy was SOOOOOO proud and SOOOOOO happy that he just about busted at the seams. His eyes got a little bit teary because his girl had smiled at him and he was very glad.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Aunt Lynda's House
Our first week with Lily was spent at Aunt Lynda's house. We could not return to our home in Kansas even though it was was only 90 minutes away because we had to wait for the paperwork to go to the state Interstate Compact for the Protection of Children (ICPC) offices in Topeka and Jefferson City. Essentially they had to say it was OK for us to have our daughter and to take her across state lines.
Aunt Lynda was gracious to open her home to us. She let us stay in a spare bedroom on the second floor. We had our own bathroom and could use the other spare room up there as well. We would spend our daytime hours in her living room with Lily and try to sleep at night in two twin beds upstairs. We had purchased a porta-crib for Lily which we set up between the two beds.
We picked up Lily on a Friday (January 20, 2006) and had to work out a routine as best we could for when we were at Aunt Lynda's. Because Lily was certainly not sleeping through the night, Laurel and I would take turns in feeding, changing and holding her.
Laurel had to go to work on Monday because she was responsible for planning a major event that would happen that Thursday. I had to let her sleep as much as possible so that she could get up and be on the road by 7:00. She would get back each evening at about 6:30. Aunt Lynda helped out lots during the day and was always doing laundry, fixing a meal or holding Lily so that I could take a nap or a shower.
Lynda explained to Laurel and I how to use the remote on her television. It was not working correctly so she had figured out what combination of buttons to press to make it work. On one of my shopping trips for diapers, I bought her a new remote and programmed it for her. She was thrilled that she could just push a single button to change the channel or raise the volume.
Laurel and I also noticed that her doorbell didn't work. I told her about our doorbell and she thought that it would be fun to have a doorbell that would play songs. I went to the local Lowes store and bought her a new doorbell and installed it. She was so excited that she had to show it to everyone who came to the door.
Lots of people came to visit while we were at Aunt Lynda's house. Many relatives visited to meet Lily for the first time. Lynda and I spent lots of time talking and getting to know one another.
On Thursday, January 26, I got the call from the social worker that the ICPC paperwork had come through. Grandpa L was already on his way when I got the call to take Lily and me home. We packed everything in the van and made our way home.
Thank you, Aunt Lynda! We couldn't have done it without you. You will always hold a special place with our Lily Rose.
Aunt Lynda was gracious to open her home to us. She let us stay in a spare bedroom on the second floor. We had our own bathroom and could use the other spare room up there as well. We would spend our daytime hours in her living room with Lily and try to sleep at night in two twin beds upstairs. We had purchased a porta-crib for Lily which we set up between the two beds.
We picked up Lily on a Friday (January 20, 2006) and had to work out a routine as best we could for when we were at Aunt Lynda's. Because Lily was certainly not sleeping through the night, Laurel and I would take turns in feeding, changing and holding her.
Laurel had to go to work on Monday because she was responsible for planning a major event that would happen that Thursday. I had to let her sleep as much as possible so that she could get up and be on the road by 7:00. She would get back each evening at about 6:30. Aunt Lynda helped out lots during the day and was always doing laundry, fixing a meal or holding Lily so that I could take a nap or a shower.
Lynda explained to Laurel and I how to use the remote on her television. It was not working correctly so she had figured out what combination of buttons to press to make it work. On one of my shopping trips for diapers, I bought her a new remote and programmed it for her. She was thrilled that she could just push a single button to change the channel or raise the volume.
Laurel and I also noticed that her doorbell didn't work. I told her about our doorbell and she thought that it would be fun to have a doorbell that would play songs. I went to the local Lowes store and bought her a new doorbell and installed it. She was so excited that she had to show it to everyone who came to the door.
Lots of people came to visit while we were at Aunt Lynda's house. Many relatives visited to meet Lily for the first time. Lynda and I spent lots of time talking and getting to know one another.
On Thursday, January 26, I got the call from the social worker that the ICPC paperwork had come through. Grandpa L was already on his way when I got the call to take Lily and me home. We packed everything in the van and made our way home.
Thank you, Aunt Lynda! We couldn't have done it without you. You will always hold a special place with our Lily Rose.
Who is Opal?
Lily had to spend several days in foster care after she was born because of the laws in Missouri. After she got out of the hospital, the social worker took her to Opal's house. Opal is a wonderful woman who has been taking care of babies in foster care since the 1970's. She showed so much love and devotion to these children. She will always hold a special place in our hearts as the person who so lovingly took care of Lily during her first several days of life.
Thank you, Opal!!!!
Thank you, Opal!!!!
So why Lily Rose?
Lily picked her own name. I know what you are saying: "how does a baby pick her own name?" Laurel and I had picked two possible names before we met Lily on January 16. Was she going to be Lily Rose or Eleanor Abigail? We liked both names. We especially liked Eleanor Abigail because it was such a strong name. She would be named after two first ladies who we respected. We liked Lily Rose because of its family ties and that it was such a pretty name. (Lily was Grandpa L.'s mother's name and Rose would be after my Aunt Rosella who I loved so much.)
As we drove to Opal's house, we thought that we were going to name our daughter Eleanor Abigail. When we got there, we got to hold Lily for the first time. We had to decide. Laurel immediately said that she thought she was more of a Lily.
We asked her "Do you want to be Lily Rose?" She was asleep but still gave us a little smile. While it might have been gas, we took it as a sign. We then asked her "or do you want to be Eleanor Abigail?" Still asleep, she gave us a frown. Was this just a coincidence? We tried again. "Is your name Lily Rose?" Again a smile. "or is your name Eleanor Abigail?" There was the pouting face again. This cinched it. She will always be Lily Rose.
As we drove to Opal's house, we thought that we were going to name our daughter Eleanor Abigail. When we got there, we got to hold Lily for the first time. We had to decide. Laurel immediately said that she thought she was more of a Lily.
We asked her "Do you want to be Lily Rose?" She was asleep but still gave us a little smile. While it might have been gas, we took it as a sign. We then asked her "or do you want to be Eleanor Abigail?" Still asleep, she gave us a frown. Was this just a coincidence? We tried again. "Is your name Lily Rose?" Again a smile. "or is your name Eleanor Abigail?" There was the pouting face again. This cinched it. She will always be Lily Rose.
Lily Rose is Born!
On January 10, 2006, Lily Rose Opgaard was born in Missouri. The next day, Laurel and I got a call from the adoption agency that our new baby was waiting for us to come and pick her up. On January 16, 2006, Laurel and I, along with Grandpa L., went to meet Lily for the first time. On January 17, 2006, our petition for adoption was filed with the courts. We would have to wait until January 20, 2006 for the court to grant us custody. As soon as we had custody, we rushed Opal's house where Lily was staying to pick her up and take her to our temporary home with Aunt Lynda in Independence. Our family was started!
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