Introducing EVIE BAKER!

Welcome, Evie!

Evelyn Marie

Because so many of you have invested in Evie's life through prayer, phone calls, emails, and visits, 
and because so many of you have followed our adoption story from day 1,
and because many of you have helped rehabilitate my body and spirit,
and because we want to share Evie's life as part of our family's testimony,
and because she's just so dern cute,


We share Our UnbelEVIEable Story with you!


We wanted a way to share pictures, stories, milestones, celebrations, and challenges with those who care for us and Evie, so this is it.


Evelyn Marie was born July 27, 2011 at 3:10am in Fayetteville, Georgia. Lauren, Evie's biological mom, texted us at 1:46am (funny how details just stick) saying that her water had broken and that she was on the way to the hospital. Brad was still up watching the longest Brave's game in history with his brother Alex who happened to be in town. Brad and I got dressed, threw a few bags in the car, and headed south. We were on the road by 2:00am. 
The drive was exciting-manic-anxious-terrifying and filled with lots of prayer. Amid the excitement of the moment and the emails/ phone calls/ text messages being transmitted every second, Brad and I prayed often and with anticipation. 
"Lord, protect Lauren's body and give her courage..."
"Lord, be with Lauren's family..."
"Lord, touch this child's life..."
"Lord, bring us peace and wisdom..."


And He did just that. We arrived at the hospital at 3:20 to learn that Evie had just been born! By the time Lauren got to the hospital, she was in the final stages of labor and barely had time to push. What a labor champion!


It's times like these that I think about TLC with all of their Baby Story episodes. Lots of women on that show prepare for 6-8 months to experience natural childbirth. They have personal coaches, labor coaches, birthing coaches-- so many coaches-- to withstand the pain and intensity of labor. Then, by the time they are starting labor, all the coaching goes out the window and (at least sometimes), they opt for the drugs. (I'm not belittling the epidural-- I would totally have one if I was birthin' a baby.) But not Lauren. That was my first thought-- that she had done this all naturally. When we got to see her, I asked her how she was feeling. She said (no exaggeration):
I'm feeling good. The contractions were kind of uncomfortable until we got to the hospital. And then they kind of hurt.


Kind of hurt? Seriously? No teeth gritting, white knuckle, I'm-screaming-so-loud-they-can-hear-me-in-Bejing kind of pain? No. Not Lauren. What a hoss.


Lauren brought Evelyn Marie into the world, all 8 pounds and 4 ounces, all 19.5 inches of her. After we said a quick hello, Evie was taken to the nursery to have her first round of tests and her bath. She told us what she thought of that.

Evie's First Bath

Lauren gave me a special band to get into the nursery, so I was able to help with her first feeding, her bath, and her first magic-sleep bringing swaddle. Brad got to watch from outside the nursery, taking pictures like the paparazzi. Evie was, after all, already a star. 

Tina, our first nurse, washing Evie's hair

That was all Tuesday night/ early Wednesday morning. Late Thursday afternoon, both Evie and Lauren were discharged from the hospital. Prior to going to the hospital, Lauren decided to let us take Evie home with us, and so, we made the trek to Athens. After figuring out a car seat and pulling off in Conyers to change a poopy diaper, we made it back and introduced Evie to her room.

Evie's Room, in progress

By Georgia law, biological mothers have 10 days to revoke the Surrender of Rights signed in the hospital, and Monday, August 8 finished our 10 day period. The adoption won't be complete for about 6 months or so, as we have a few more hoops to jump through, but there is no reason to believe that there should be any problem. Therefore, the Brad and I happily introduce you to Evelyn Marie Baker!

We are thrilled that Evie is in our home, that we continue to build a lasting relationship with Lauren, and that after almost 2 years of an emotional and physical rollercoaster, the Lord has blessed us with a perfect little girl.

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 5:5