hey annie j: Baby Kove

I'm not really sure where to begin with this post, or where I want to end up with it, but I know it needs to be written. Even though Kove is not my child, his birth and his existence in his birth mom's belly before then have had a very big impact on my life and my spirit. Most of all, I guess I want to convey what great trust I have in Heavenly Father for aligning our lives as they should be, and what great love I have for Him for doing that for each one of us. I also want to put down in words how much I love little Kove.

It's not my place to over-share all the details of Hil and Matt and Kove's story. But I do want to remember all the times it has been confirmed to me (me! Even though I'm just an aunt!) that Kove is supposed to be a part of our family. From the beginning when Hil told me they had been chosen, I felt like it would work out. There are always variables in adoptions, and so I would be lying if I said there weren't times I was nervous. But honestly for the most part I felt peace for them. That peace was reconfirmed each time Hil forwarded a meaningful text from Kove's birth mom to me. They talk often and she is truly an angel. She is not LDS, but she is close to the Lord and she knew that Kove was to be Hil and Matt's. I'm so thankful that she paid attention to those feelings, and trusted in Heavenly Father to place her baby in the right hands.

As soon as I saw the first picture of Matt, Hil and Kove together, I knew again, that they were supposed to be together. They have different skin colors, but I can't explain it - as soon as I looked at that picture I just got an overwhelming sense of family. They looked like a family unit, and my heart felt like they were and always had been together.

The tender love Hil and Matt have for him, shows me that they treat him as completely their own. I love to watch them interact with him and talk about him.

One moment that I will never forget... My mom and I stayed with Hil and Matt for a few days after they returned home. We gave Kove his very first bath in their kitchen sink. When he came out of the bath I had my arms outstretched with a towel and that tiny, clean baby came right to me. We laid him down on the floor to dress him and as we laid him down, Hil said, in a voice like she could hardly contain herself, "Oh I just love you!" I will never forget how impactful those words were! They were the sincerest words, she was saying it in the kindest and most loving way. It was like her heart was literally bursting with the love she has for that tiny boy. My heart felt the same for both of them as I heard her say that and watched her reach for his tiny hand.

The timing and the events that took place for Kove to be with us can only be explained by divine intervention. Heavenly Father prepares us, provides for us, and purposefully places people in our paths. There is no other way that Hil and Matt would have been in touch with who they were in touch with, when they were, except with Him.

Their sealing in the temple was the cherry on top, the most real confirmation. Oh how I wish I had a camera to capture a photo of Hil and Matt's hands grasped together, with Kove's tinsy brown hand resting on top of them. It was the most tender moment in the world! To see Hil and Matt's pure joy and love at that sealing was irreplaceable. The room was filled with the most amazing spirit and rejoicing. :)

Lastly, I want to say what incredible examples Hil and Matt are to me. They are adaptable and flexible and calm. They are the perfect examples of gratitude and love. Hil is the perfect person for this adoption and its open characteristics. They have so many hopes for their little family, as any parents should. They are gracious as people talk with them about their adoption, and patient as they learn new things. They share the bundle of joy that is Kove with all who ask to hold him.

I love Hil, Matt and Kove beyond what words can say. My heart bursts just thinking about them. I hope Kove someday knows how genuinely he is loved and accepted into our family and community. I hope he feels the same confirmations that I have felt about his existence here. I hope he knows how many prayers were said in his behalf, and how wonderfully Heavenly Father answered them. We love you Baby Kove. So much more than words will ever describe. And we'll love you forever, long after we can no longer call you "Baby" Kove. But for now, you're stuck with the most adorable nickname there ever was.

Now, onto pictures of the cutest baby to ever exist. :) Lots of pictures. Like usual. Sorry if loading takes forever.

AIRPORT ARRIVAL!