Introducing . . .

Bleary eyed and a little out of it, we repack our stuff for our fast trip to Texas. Truth is, we learned the first go around, best to live out of a suitcase for a bit and be prepared next time we got the call. So we were ready. Dan fed the dogs, let them out while I finished
a load of laundry, called and cab and left a note for our dog sitter.

We were on a plane less then 7 hours later bound for Dallas, Texas. Thinking it was best not to contact friends or family yet, no one knew of our escape from St. Louis under the cloak of darkness. It was an adventure to be sure. One we were confidant would be the trip of our lives. 

We landed in Dallas at 8:33 am and grabbed a rental car bound for Waco, Texas - town our son would be born in. Now, let's check back in with the birth mom, shall we? She had not delivered yet. This is unreal considering she started labor earlier that night at 1am. Come to find out she was trying to hold out until we got there, wanting us to be there for the birth. Bless her.

Someone was looking out for us because we got to the hospital at 10:25am. Hunter Marshal Lutes was born 11:01am, Wednesday, June 20th, 2012. He was 8 lbs 2 oz, 21 inches long. Definately a big boy.

I won't go into detail about the experience when he was born since that is private between the birth parents and us. I can say it was one of the most amazing and beautiful experiences of my life. I could not wrap my mind around the fact that this was now our son and we were his parents. He opened his eyes and looked at us and I realized, this was exactly the plan that was meant for us. Nothing else mattered. Not the struggles we had gone through years prior or the heartsickness we felt when we didn't have a natural child. Barely remember those days now.

This child was waiting for us all along.