Picture Update

This is a picture of our rental house...2736 Cypress Head Trail, Oviedo, FL 32765

Jayden loves Curious George...which will be his 1st Bday party theme!

Don't mess with me I'm workin' on my laptop...I mean DVD player!

A little bottled water anyone?

Jayden continues to believe Demetrius "hung the moon." I love it.

A Place to Call Home

Wanted to let everyone know that our house-hunting trip to Orlando went really well. Demetrius, Shane Black and I left on Wednesday night to drive down. We saw several houses but only a few would actually work for both families to live in together...that's right we are living with another couple! It's going to be quite a journey...four adults and four children (once our baby is born in October). The kids will be 16 months and younger...YIKES! We are getting really excited about the move.

Back to the house...it is really ideal for all of us. It was an answer to our prayers as we did not think we were going to be able to rent this particular one. After being invited over to the homeowners other home, he decided that he would allow two families to live there together. At first he gave an absolute "NO" and we really just prayed that God would change his heart...and He did! Our babies will share a bedroom and the Black twins will share a bedroom as well. That leaves a bedroom for each couple, a playroom, a multipurpose room (for a desk, couch, futon, etc), and a very large open kitchen, dining and living room area. We are thankful that we can put bouncers, swings, toys, etc in one room and keep the living room mostly toy free. We will have a two car garage and a screened in back porch. This house is beautiful and it's in a great neighborhood.

So, the plan is to move down on June 14th-ish. We have a lot to do before then and could of course use some help loading the UHAUL...hint hint. We also have a coffee table we are trying to get rid off. And we are selling our washer and dryer so if you know anyone who needs them let me know!

Please pray that our house would sell quickly and that Demetrius would receive a scholarship for school. We are also starting to raise monthly financial support and are looking to build our prayer team as well.

Keep you posted...

That's Whatz Up!

Five hundred million fun, exciting and challenging things are going down all at once. I'm gonna try to hit the high points, throw in a few pictures and call it an update. I wonder if people even check my blog anymore since I never keep up with it. So, here's to hoping someone's out there listening (looking?)!

We celebrated our 3rd anniversary...at my ob-gyn (by the way we were there last year on our anniversary when I was preggie with Jayden...tradition maybe?)

Took Jayden to the beach for the first time...he cried when we walked to the shoreline

We spent a week in Nashville with Demetrius...Jayden's first swim in the pool and he loved it

I celebrated my first Mother's Day...so thankful for the privilege to be a mother

We put our house on the market...praying we'll sell within a month

Began raising financial support and a prayer team for seminary...any takers?

Started my second trimester...10 more days til we know if baby is a boy or girl

I've been working on a couple adoptions with work...I love this

Jayden started walking a month ago...now he's running, climbing and hiding in small crevices

I started my Mary Kay business...Yaaayyy

I lost all of my numbers from my old cell phone....booooooo

Demetrius got a new guitar...now he just needs to learn how to play it

Here We Grow Again!

Here are two pictures of our newest addition! We were quite surprised (and happy) to find out that we are expecting another baby. I am about 10 1/2 weeks and due on October 31st! Yep...you do the math, that will make them about 16 months apart. So, we are obviously excited and a little nervous at the same time. But, we know the Giver of life and we rest in that. We will keep you posted!

Oh, and I have never been a fan of the 4D ultrasound because the baby's always look weird. But, they are pretty cool. These two pics were taken at the same visit...it is so neat to actually see what the baby looks like this early in the pregnancy.

Our Firstborn

Secretly you came-

Stealthily

By night

You crept into my rounded cove

And bedded down.

I didn't know

It was determined

That a seed

Dividing, multiplying,

Taking what was "mine"

Would rob selfishness

In order to enrich me.



-Janet Carlton

Nine Month Stats

Jayden just turned 9 months! He is cruising along the furniture and walks behind a push toy. He just got his first two teeth last week and is learning what "no, no" means. After I tell him no-no, he will go around singing, "na, na, na, na." He was 21lbs 3oz (50th percentile) and 29 inches long (75th percentile) at his appointment. He is so funny and entertaining. Oh, and best of all, he has begun sleeping 11-12 hours at night!

Things I Love About My Son

his amazing smile...the way it feels when he falls asleep in my arms...his soft skin...his belly button...the funny noises he makes...his eyelashes...the dimples in his hands...his excitement when he sees his daddy...the way his cheeks reach down to his chin to form a perfect square...his curls...his unconditional love for me...the way he smells after a bath...the way he still looks like a baby when he wears pjs...his laugh...seeing him accomplish a new milestone...knowing he is the Lord's creation...his naked bottom...his silly faces...his determination to never give up...the way he examines his own hands...the noises he makes when he is dreaming...the way he smiles at me when he is nursing...the significant meaning of his name, "God has heard"...the way he notices everything...his ability to make a complete strangers day by flashing a toothless grin...how he has increased my heart for the unborn...the way he has taught me to be unselfish...how he excitedly kicks and raises his hands when I enter his bedroom...his trusting eyes...

Our New Normal

Wow, Jayden turned 8 months old yesterday! I have to admit that I am just now "settling in" to my new life. Each month of his life with us has brought new joys. Each month seems easier and more joyous than the one before. It has been a challenge for me to forgoe all of the good feelings one gets from being in the business world. Sometimes my new life has seemed pretty insignificant...changing diapers and playing with baby all day every day. However, I am learning more than ever that my job is incredibly significant and my consistency in Jayden's life is invaluable. I have really been embracing each moment with him (yes, friends even the middle of the night ones). Sometimes at night I hold him extra long because I know that soon he will not fit on his mother's lap. I want to cherish each prescious moment he is here with us. Thankfully I am learning to do that more and more.

My new-mother advice for any new (or old) mothers is this...hold, cuddle, kiss, rock and love your baby as much as you can. They are only babies for a season and it's a short one. I hope to take my own advice much sooner next time around!

Peek-A-Boo...We're Back!

Hey Blogger-ific world, the Summerville's are back! I'll try to be a better bloggie-mommy this time around.

One Family

I just realized that I somehow mangaged to put the slideshow up three times. As I looked at them (all three of them) I felt a really overwhelming sense of completeness as I saw my family and Demetrius' family as one. We have spent the last three Christmas' together under one roof. No Christmas Eve with yours and Christmas day with mine. What a huge relief and a sweet togetherness we have found.

It's funny because people often ask us how our families feel about our interracial marriage. I think a lot of people assume that our families couldn't possible approve, much less like (and might I say "love") one another. Praise God that we have found much acceptance and support. I really think our marriage has been a testimony of what God can do when we trust him with our lives. Along with that, comes the beautiful picture two believing families...a single representation of one new race.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. Ephesians 2: 14-16

Check out my Slide Show!

New Year's Pictures

These are just a few of my favorite pictures we have taken since the new year began. Jayden is growing so much and it's amazing to watch him learn new things...almost daily. He loves to clap his hands and roll to his desired destination. He remains toothless and somewhat stationary. He is beginning to scoot along a little (mostly backwards). He has started to pull up to a squatting postition and sometime to a full standing position. He's still so cute and cuddly but is getting "busier" as the days pass. He is always checking out the scenery and never seems to sit still. He's still not the best sleeper ever but he is getting so much better!

Check out my Slide Show!

Check out my Slide Show!

Six Month Reflections

Jayden is now six months old! I am amazed at how fast he is learning new things but even more amazing is what he teaches us about ourselves. I have learned that I am so selfish and at the absolute same time I am crazy about this little guy. I am reminded constantly that he is a gift from God Himself. We are so thankful that we have been entrusted to raise him. He just spent his first night away from mommy and daddy and I must say we all did quite well! Thanks Gram and Pop! Jayden just had his six month check up and all was well with him, even the shots were okay. He is 19lbs. 10oz. (75th-90th percentile) and almost 27 inches long (50th percentile). A "healthy chubby" as I like to call it.

Work has been going pretty well. Again, I am learning so much. I am working with two families who are adopting from China and one who has just adopted from the Ukraine. I have completed one domestic adoption and have had one fall through at the last minute. I am also working with two other young women who are facing a crisis pregnancy. The last couple of months have challenged me to look at adoption in a different way.

I now understand at least one purpose in God allowing couples to experience infertility. I have seen so much pain in their empty arms and have seen a glimpse of their years of heartache that I will never know. However, the truth is that these couple are fulfilling the mandate to look after "orphans in their distress." My question is...are these couples the only ones that are mandated to do this? I think the answer is a loud "no!" After all, we don't just become parents to meet a need of our own. We are entrusted to care for children and to raise them in the training and instruction of the Lord. Needless to say, I am challenged and am challenging you to consider the call to care for the abandoned orphans oversees and even the babies in the U.S. who will be placed for adoption by a loving and indescribably selfless birth mother.