Family of Four!

We are having a lot of fun with our growing family.  Brandt is an amazing big brother and loves to talk to Hunter and tell him all about what we are doing. They have many 'conversations' and it makes me so happy seeing them together. It has been fun to share with Hunter some of our favorite things.

 Brandt has had a thing for dragons the past few months.  Santa is pretty cool and got these two brothers matching dragon pillow pets.  A big one for big brother and a little one for little brother. 

Still one of our favorite times of the day. Brandt loves when Hunter joins us for story time together before bed!

Everyone in Alabama can thank Brandt for the snow we got in January.  He had been hoping and praying for some snow to play in.  We got about 4 inches up on our hill. He was one happy boy to get to make a snowman, snow angels, and go sledding (alabama style: on our boogie board for the beach).  He was in HEAVEN!!!!  Hunter, on the other hand, just thought it was cold and windy.

 Hunter's personality is really starting to show. He is somewhat serious at times and will look curiously at new things around him.  He has the warmest smile ever and is a very happy little guy!  He loves talking to his daddy!

 While at the science center, the boys got to meet Clifford. It was a fun surprise!

 The science center and the zoo are two of our favorite places.  This was Hunter's first trip to the zoo. That is the alligator's swamp behind them. Best friends and cousins Rachel, Sarah, and Abigail came too!

 Brandt loves his Start Smart Sports he has been playing this fall and winter.  He has done soccer, flag football, and now basketball.  Daddy gets to play with him and Mommy and Hunter cheer them on every week. 

We recently went on a nice hike in the woods. Brandt loved finding walking sticks and running with his cousins Ian and Cali.  Hunter enjoyed a nice warm ride in his front pack on mommy. It was a good day exploring.

Hunter Andrew Lee!

3days old

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

We are all in love with our boy! Our cute little Hunter is 4 months old now.  He is so much fun, and such a wonderful baby boy.  His sweet smile lights up his whole face. He is happy, laid back, and loves to watch what is happening around him. He will coo and goo and blow raspberries and squeal. He really only fusses when he is hungry and tired.  We are so very blessed to have him in our family! 

Christmas 2012

We had fun at the Christmas tree farm picking our favorite tree to cut down and bring home!

Acting out the Nativity with family.  The sweet 'King' loves 'baby Jesus'.

Daddy and Brandt getting the milk and cookies ready for Santa on Christmas Eve.

Santa was amazing and spent a lot of time with our boys talking and listening. Brandt loved it!

Christmas morning was so much fun! Especially because Brandt got to open all his presents and all of Hunters!

Hunter is enjoying all of his presents....what a loved little boy!

What a Blessing!

After several years of trying, we have been blessed with the birth of our son, Hunter Andrew Lee Stevens.  He was lovingly placed in our arms through the miracle of adoption on October 8th, 2012.  His sweet birth mother, Stacey, has truly blessed us.

Here are a few pictures of our journey these past two months:

 We met Stacey for the first time about 2 months before Hunter was born

Leaving the hotel for the hospital on the day Hunter was to be born

Only a few minutes old

Happy Daddy!

Mommy holding Hunter for the first time.

There has never been a big brother more excited!  Brandt stayed at the hotel with Grandmom during our time at the hospital

Hunter was born on October 8, 2012, in Pensacola FL, with a birth weight of 5 pounds 14 ounces.  We left for Pensacola a few days before he was born to spend time with Stacey and to make sure we were there when it was time.  After he left the hospital we settled in for our stay in Florida while we waited for ICPC to clear and we could go back home.

We didn't know it at the time, but we were not going to make it home until a month later due to complications with the ICPC process.  While it was not the ideal situation, we were so happy to be together as a family and to love on our new son.

Our first family picture together

Brothers

Brandt was a big helper, always wanting to hold Hunter, feed him a bottle, or help change a diaper.

Brandt is such an awesome kid.  He found such joy in sleeping in/on his sleeping bag for the duration of our stay in Florida.  Always a smile on his face even with such big changes.

He wanted his little brother to sleep with him.  We told him that when Hunter is bigger, they can have bunk beds together

During our month stay, we took several opportunities to visit with Stacey and let her love on Hunter. 

We ended up being in Florida for Halloween, so we found a neighborhood close by for Brandt to Trick or Treat. 

Beach Trip Fun!

In May we headed to the beach and got to spend four days enjoying the sand, sea, and cousins. Rheanna's sister, Deborah, and her brother, Mark, and their families went too.  Going to the beach is a family favorite for vacationing.  

 Brandt and cousin Spencer looking for critters. 

 The mom's even got adventurous and for a spur of the moment girls day out, we went parasailing. We all loved it, and felt accomplished by the end of our quick 8 minute trip up in the sky.  The banana boat ride, pulled by a jet ski, out to the parasailing boat was almost the most adventurous part of the trip.  We were hanging on for dear life and thought we were going to get tossed out to sea.  Hanging from the parasail was a breeze after that.

 Brandt and cousins Rachel and Sarah jumping the waves. 

 

Spring Campout

 We love camping and always try to go a couple times a year.  Brandt is always happiest when he is outdoors and free to run and play, so camping is a great experience for everyone.  Brandt also really loves 'sleepovers'. Which basically means he doesn't have to sleep in his bed.  It can be on the floor in our living room, at a hotel, at grandma's, or camping.  Just as long at he gets to use his sleeping bag he is thrilled! 

Easter Time

We had a fun Easter.  We had a great time together, getting to spend so much time with family.  Brandt loved all the egg hunts he got to do and of course playing with all the cousins.

 

Getting into the spirit of spring and playing with baby chicks!

Decorating easter eggs takes a lot of concentration.

The crew at Grandmom and Grandpop's house (Rheanna's side of the family).

The Crew on Andrew's side. (missing a couple)

 Dixie and Brandt (best doggie ever!)