I have been training my replacement for work. I start my new position on Monday and I cannot wait! Daniel has been preparing for the busy part of tax season. 

With as crazy as life can get we try to have date night, at least a couple of times each month.  We received lots of gift cards for Christmas, as well as for our wedding, so this month, we have had more date nights. As hectic as things have been, this month, it is so nice to slow down and be present with each other. We had an Olive Garden date night a few nights ago and just caught up with each other. 

We both believe that the process of adoption has brought us closer together, as a couple, and as friends. The process of adoption has encouraged us to grow as a team, as well as express our individual strengths. 

Waiting has always been hard for me. I am the type of person that works hard for the things that I want. I think that one of the best feelings in the world is seeing the result of something that you worked very hard to obtain. This year has been a year where I have seen many results of things that I have worked hard for. I have a wonderful marriage, with the most amazing man, I have a job that I have always dreamed of having, we have a beautiful home, Daniel is a co-owner of his business, and he also got a new truck last year.

Things have been crazy at times, and boring at times, but in the best way possible. For that reason, I really struggled with blog topics and updated pictures. Daniel and I used to be the kind of people that did not enjoy sitting idol, however, during our time together, we have focused on creating our life together. This has led us to spending more time at home, at camp, or catching up with friends and family. 

We have been fortunate to have the support of our friends and family. We are often asked about the adoption process and how things are going. A close friend of mine had a still birth a few years ago. She provided us with all of the baby items that she had, as she wanted us to use them for our baby. We have been offered child care assistance from friends and family members. My co-workers have reported being excited for me to bring a baby into the office to visit. They have stated that he or she is already well loved by my co-workers. One of my co-workers has a daughter that gave a child up for adoption. They have an open adoption and still see the child sometimes. My co-worker has talked with me, in depth, about their experience, what they looked for in a family, and has also assisted with putting my worries at ease, regarding the process. Daniel's family members, that have adopted children, have shared their experiences with us. 

While waiting, I have found myself focusing on the gym, nutrition, reading and crafting.

We are excited to meet you!

It is super cold out today! The beginning of our week of freezing temps. I worked out from home this morning, as it was wayyy too cold to leave the house. I do my morning workouts at 4:00 a.m. I have weights, a yoga ball, yoga mats and a walking pad that I use for my at home workouts.

I am off work today, due to it being MLK day. I am spending the day with the pups, watching the movie 42, and reading. I enjoy doing my nails with Colorstreet nails, and I plan to redo my nails today also. There is nothing better than a good self-care day! 

This weekend was a weekend of quality time for me and Daniel. We went to the movies together, and used one of our Christmas gift cards to get dinner at Bob Evans.

This is my last week in my current position at work, Monday I begin my new position. I am very excited for a change, and to meet and network with new people. I am excited for professional growth, in a field that I am very passionate about. 

Cheers to change!

This week has been super busy and chaotic.

I went without a vehicle for the week, as my car was being worked on. I am also training her replacement for my current position, and work has been crazy. I cleared my cube out, at the office, as my new position will be fully remote. I have been working hard to set up my home office the way that I want it to be.

Daniel was ensuring that I had rides to and from work. He also stepped up by making dinners, being the primary caretaker for the dogs, and taking my car to and from the repair shop.

Daniel is also preparing for his busiest season at work, tax season. 

With the weekend finally here, Daniel went to the golf simulator with some friends. I am spending a quiet night in, playing repair woman with my cricut maker, watching movies, and reading before bed time. We also plan to spend some quality time together, as the chaos of this week prevented us from spending much time together.

We continue to look forward to welcoming a child into our lives. 

All the best,

Nicole & Daniel

Life lately has been lots of preparing and planning. Nicole cleaned out her work office, and has been putting her home office more together. Nicole begins her new position (for the same employer) at the end of the month. This position will be fully remote, and will offer more opportunities for professional growth.

With tax season coming up, work for Daniel has been quite busy, as well. Daniel and his co-workers have been doing a lot of preparation, and have hired additional staff.

As a couple, we have been continuing to plan for what life with a child will be like. We are fortunate and have had lots of friends and family members provide us with baby items. We currently have everything that we need to create a nursery for baby, which has fueled our excitement.

We have also enjoyed our time as a newly married couple. We have spent lots of time with friends and family, as well as downtime with each other. We enjoy having relaxed days, spent watching movies indoors. We also enjoy going to spend time with friends together. Daniel's winter golf league has started. He goes once each week. On those nights, Nicole gets dinner from her favorite Mexican restaurant, and watches t.v., or reads books. 

With the cold weather, Daniel loves snuggling with the dogs, and with Nicole, as he is a big cuddler.

We continue to receive a lot of love and support in our adoption journey. Our friends and family ask for adoption updates often. Nicole's co-workers have already expressed love and excitement for baby.

We look forward to meeting you.

As a New Years Eve tradition, we get together with Nicole's parents, at their house. Nicole's dad loves the old Twilight Zone, and there is always a marathon on New Years Eve and New Years Day. This year Nicole's nephew joined us. We order pizza, have snacks, watch the Twilight Zone, and watch the ball drop (if we are all still awake at midnight). 

November and December of 2024 were filled with lots of family, holiday fun!

We had Thanksgiving with each of Daniel's parents. We also had Thanksgiving with Nicole's family.

The first weekend in December, Daniel's extended family had their family Christmas. Daniel has a large extended family. Every year they rent out places around the state of Michigan, in order for the entire family to get together in one place. They play games, eat lots of food, exchange gifts and the children play together. 

We then had Christmas with each of Daniel's parents, as well as his sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephews. 

Christmas with Nicole's family happened on Christmas Eve. Nicole's parents, sister, brother-in-law and niece and nephew were all there. Nicole's family exchanges presents with one another. Nicole's family also plays Bingo every year. Everyone supplied wrapped prizes and the family played Bingo for the prizes. Nicole's dad has a microphone and speaker that he uses to call numbers from a Bingo  ball cage. Nicole's family has stuffed cabbage, every year for Christmas, as a Romanian family tradition. At the end of each Christmas, Nicole's dad plays, "The War is Over", by John Lennnon, on his record player.

WOW what busy months August and September were!

Our adoption profile was finalalized in late August, we then decided to get married on our anniversary, which was in September. 

With just three weeks to plan, our family and friends pulled together to help us plan the most amazing wedding and reception that we could have ever imagined having. Our wedding and reception occurred at a local golf course. Although we decided to keep the ceremony small, we both had friends and family, from all over, in attendance. We both also had friends and family all over the globe, send us cards and gifts. 

Daniel and I had a mini-moon, at a local hotel, not far from the golf course, where we were married.

Over the years, spending one on one time with my parents has become more and more important to me. My mom and I go to Florida, every year, and stay in Daniel's dad's condo.  In 2021, my dad and I went hunting, on my parents' property (camp). It was my first time ever. We saw lots of deer, but I did not shoot at anything. This year, we decided to go again. It was an oddly quiet morning, and we were debating leaving when two bucks walked in front of the swamp. My first deer was a buck and my dad got to experience it with me. He was so excited!