I'm a Winner!

I thought I'd tell you that just in case you didn't already know! hahaha! Actually, though, I am a winner...I entered an essay contest sponsored by one of our local shops (Rare Pair)...they have really cute shoes, clothes and accessories...anyway I saw in the paper a couple of weeks ago that they were holding an essay contest...you were suppose to write about a pair of shoes that made a difference in your life...and when I read that I all of a sudden had a 400 word essay in my head! :) hahaha! So...I decided that since I had this in my head I should write it down...you could only use 400 words...and so guess how many I used...403...so I had to get rid of a couple! :) You know...'cause I like to overwrite my thoughts sometimes :) Anyway...I decided to enter and I got a call that I was the 1st place winner! Yea! I was on Cloud 9 all last Thursday...I didn't know winning this contest was going to be such a big deal to me...but it was. She said that they voted and that they liked my story the best and it was the most well written...I don't know about that but...anyway...my prize was $150 gift certificate for a pair of shoes...so last night Jon, Natalee, and I went pick out my shoes...do you want to see them? Okay...here they are:

Cute right? And yes...they are UGGS...I would have never bought myself a pair otherwise so I thought I might as well get them ;) I did end up paying a little bit for these pair 'cause I wanted the ones that had the leather on the outside so that they would stay nicer for a little longer...but they are so soft and warm...I guess that's why people buy them, huh?!?! So anyway...I just thought that I would share my happy news with you all. And oh...if you want to read my essay...well I'll put it on the end of the post...just for you :) In other news...all is good with us...can't believe that Thanksgiving is on Thursday and that Natee will be 10 months then! She is really growing up on us fast. She is into everything now...she has figured out the crawling thing and she is moving at a good pace on her feet when she is holding onto anything...the table in the living room is her favorite. I think she's getting to the point of being done with baby food but she still doesn't have any teeth so I don't want to give her too much table food...even though I know she can gum it with her gums. And that's about it...oh...and check back here sometime this weekend so you can check out what my sister-in-law and I have been up too...once you see them I know you're going to want some made for you too! :) But I don't have time to get the pictures of those up right now so you're going to have to wait :) Sorry! Okay...have a great day and here's my winning essay (I just love saying that! Sorry...I know that it's annoying!!):

Pink Shoes

by Ali Feldman

A pair of tiny pink patent leather shoes has made the biggest difference in my life. They are a reminder to me of my journey in becoming a mommy. Ever since I was little, I have dreamt of being a mom, and after many years of trying my wish came true on April 10, 2008, when my beautiful baby girl, Emmalee Ann Pearl, was born. A girl! The dreams of all the clothes and shoes I could buy for her started dancing in my head. But our little girl was born with a heart defect and after open heart surgery and 13 days on earth; Emmalee had to go home to heaven. Little pink shoes would never be bought for her. After Emmalee, we also had twin boys, Owen and Cooper, that were born prematurely and they joined their sister in heaven after only a few short minutes with us. After their death we were crushed but we were not going to give up on our dream of becoming parents (and me becoming a mommy!) and so we decided that we were going to adopt. In September of 2009 we were approached about adopting a little baby girl and of course said yes. The papers were signed, and so of course I needed to go shopping and buy cute little clothes and a tiny pair of pink patent leather shoes for her. They were way too cute to pass up and leave in the store! Shortly before we were to take her into our home, her birth parents changed their minds and kept her. Devastated, I took the clothes back to the store, but not the shoes (or the pink sweater that matched them)…I was going to have a daughter to wear those someday. And that day came on January 25, 2010 when Natalee Ann came into our lives. Her birthmother picked us and never looked back. She chose life for Natalee and she chose us to be her parents, and we are so grateful. The first time I put those tiny pink shoes on Natalee I beamed. They were way too stinkin’ cute on her! And now as I sit here on this snowy afternoon I think of that day and those shoes, now too small for her, and I smile. Those pink shoes are a reminder of our journey and a reminder to me that I am…a mommy.