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We are Erik and Jennifer Lankford...married for 11 years! We are the proud parents of Isaac Joseph who was born June 15, 2007 and Hadleigh Jane who was born July 15, 2007. They were placed in our home when they were 10 days old and adopted SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. On November 2, 2010 we welcomed Libby Louise into our family and we couldn't be happier. In July of 2012 we welcomed Isaac's biological brother to our family. Jaiden's adoption finalized on Feb 14, 2013. On November 21, 2012 we welcomed Mollie Ryan in to our home to bring us up to 5 children. We live in Aspermont, TX. I have been doing photography for 9 years. I shoot with the CANON 5D Mark II in hopes of buying the 1D eventually. My favorite lenses are the 70-200 2.8 IS and the 85mm prime! I LOVE LOVE LOVE photographing families, children, newborns, high school seniors and maternity!!

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Issac's New look

Well last Tuesday we went in for Isaac to get his hair cut for the 2nd time at the salon! He did so good! Don't know that you can really tell in this picture, but we cut off quite a bit more this time than last! This same day after Erik got off work we went to our friends Chad and Kerri's for dinner that night! After dinner we went down stairs to get our adjustment! While Kerri was adjusting me, Isaac took her activator ( a metal instrument used to adjust with---NOT PAINFUL) and was walking around with it! Well apparently he had it in his mouth (not surprising....since EVERYTHING goes there) and tripped and fell and hit the treadmill! Well he cried for a few seconds and we laid him down to do his adjustment and I noticed that he had bit his lip AND CHIPPED his FRONT top tooth!! IT WAS AWFUL!!! Well for me anyway! I was obviously more traumatized than he or anyone else for that matter!! So the next morning I called our dentist and friend Dr. Kendra Wren. She recommended that we see a PEDIATRIC dentist because they may have to "PUT HIM UNDER". Okay so I was fine until she said that! I pretty much lost it after that! She gave me the name and # to a dentist in Boerne called Little Smiles.
So I call and talk to the receptionist and as soon as she started asking me what happened, I lost it again....needless to say Erik had to take the phone away and finish the conversation!
Here is Erik and Isaac signing in! This place was so cute!

The damage is done! This was before we went back to see the dentist.
We saw the assistant first and they had to take an xray of his tooth so they could determine what to do next. The doctor came in and said they would need to pull it. The tooth was cracked VERTICALLY and HORIZONTALLY! The nerve was also showing! They informed us they would have to give him a little bit of gas and the procedure would take about 10-15 minutes and he would come out of it immediately when they were done and that we could not be in the room when they did it. So we went out to the waiting room and waited!
Right before we left this little guy with COMPLETE STRANGERS...he is still ALL SMILES!! He is such a trooper! He hasn't been bothered by it one bit! I love this boy!!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

CALIFORNIA!!!!!

Hadleigh and I took a LAST minute trip to Sacramento last week to visit Erik's mom and take some pictures of Erik's cousin's new baby! While we were there we visited all of Grandma's friends and Erik's Aunts and Uncle's and Cousins and their kids. I am actually starting from the end of the trip b/c that is how I loaded the images! oops! This was Hadliegh on the way home on the plane! She did so AWESOME!!


We went to San Francisco for the day and walked up and down the streets and Hadleigh played with Grandma in the ocean! It was much colder than the gulf, but she loved it none the less.


Golden Gate Bridge


This was Hadleigh's FAVORITE place to play at Grandma's! In the tupperware drawer.

At Mike and Shirl's eating with Leland and Madeline.


With "Uncle" Mike



EVERY morning, Grandma would come in and get Had when she woke up and take her down stairs to have breakfast and play! This particular morning Hadleigh got up extra early and was pooped out already by the time I woke up.


Our first morning in Sacramento we got up and went to church and met Uncle Tim (not pictured) and Aunt Teresa and Alex (not pictured) for lunch at Mc Donald's. Then Aunt Teresa (far right in green shirt) suggested we go to the mall and play on the play ground! It was so fun! Uncle Jerry and Aunt Judy (in the middle) met us there too! It was so nice for them to meet Hadleigh!


Digging in Aunt Judy's purse and "reading" the coupons!


Sunday evening we went to Kim and Jeff's to take pictures of Avery. Aunt Becky (above) came over and played with Hadleigh while I took pictures!



We also went with grandma to her friend's house and they gave Hadleigh strawberries and sent her home with a souvenier teddy bear! So sweet. We also met Grandma's friend Joy (who was at our wedding and best friend of Linda's) one day! She had never seen Hadleigh before. We just stayed busy meeting people and eating and having SO MUCH FUN!! Thanks Grandma for a WONDERFUL time!!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Adoption Update

Today Erik and I went to CPS to read Hadleigh's case file! One of the last steps before we can finalize the adoption. Wooohoooo!! Very very sad story though. If you don't know here are a list of some of the things we read:
1. Hadleigh's mom (Aisha Burns) is only 22 years old. She was placed in foster care when she was only 5 years old d/t physical abuse.
2. She suffers from bipolar disorder, sees people who aren't there and never tells the same story twice. She is mentally ill. In the hospital she told the Dr. that she had several other children, but didn't know where they were. She said she had a C-section, but there were no scars.
3. She was positive for Syphillus when Hadleigh was born, and so was Hadleigh. Hadleigh was treated for 10 days with antibiotic and was clear when she was discharged from the hospital when she was 10 days old and placed in our home.
4. The dad is no where to be found. There were 2 different birth dates in the file for the "Alleged" dad. We believe he is in state prison. He also tested positive for Syphillus and was arrested in the hospital for trying to get in the nursery to see the baby and refused treatment.
5. At one point Hadleigh's mom said she was a singer/songwriter in Florida and her husband had been run over by an 18 wheeler. Only later to say she didn't know who Hadleigh's father was, then said his name was Frank, and then said she looked like her dad- David Medina.

These are only some of the things we read, but they were all VERY sad and very disturbing.

On a positive note, we have tentatively set the ADOPTION date for Hadleigh and Isaac on September 12. Don't set that in stone though, b/c you NEVER know how long this paperwork will take to complete.

We have also scheduled the babies DEDICATION for October 19 and an Adoption Party to follow that afternoon!!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Birthday Party Pics: FINALLY!!

FIRST of all we want to say another BIG BIG BIG THANK YOU to this family right here! These are our GOOD friends The Abell's: Mark, Karen and Lauren! They made Isaac and Hadleigh's FIRST Birthday a HUGE success. They live on a gorgeous piece of land by the river and have the COOLEST tree house ever to play in. Mark helped cook all the hamburgers and hot dogs along with the help of some other GOOD friends Mart and Pat Hanna! So glad you could celebrate this day with us!!
Pig and Horse cakes made by John and Melissa Whitworth!! Thanks a million, they were a big hit!


Cow cake made by Judy Brooksher of Sonshine Weddings. Judy doesn't just do weddings, she also does Birthdays and other events!

Hadleigh's FIRST baby doll, given by Nana and Grandad (AKA: Mike and Ann Rose)
Thank you Grandma Jo and James for coming ALL the way from PAMPA, TX to celebrate! We love you!






Our classmate Brandt Gatlin (one of 4 ONE YEAR OLDS in our Sunday School Class)
Our other class mate Anneliese Bacon
"TIO" (AKA: Nick Novosad) swinging from the rope swing
Uncle Chad, Aunt Kerri, Rhett and Chance came to play as well. So did Oma and Opa and Aunt Kendra, Tucker and Sydney!! THANKS YOU GUYS!


My good friend Becky and her daughter Jorja came from Frisco!! Thanks for turning around and coming back 2 weeks later after you were just here! Means so much to have you here.

The Arthur Clan: ZIZI, PAPA, Madison, Payten and Jayden came from Burleson and UNCLE NICK came from San Marcos and OF COURSE Mema who lives here! We are so thankful to have all of you in our lives! Thanks for coming to celebrate our DAY!!
Grama and Gramps (Jenn's Dad and Stepmom) Flew in from Nebraska. WHAT A TREAT!!! This was the VERY first time they got to meet Hadleigh and Isaac. We haven't seen them in about 4 years I guess. It was so AWESOME that they could come! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

And this is our "TIA" (Aunt Tawny) and best friend KYA!! We just love them so much! Thanks for driving in from Corpus and staying up late blowing up balloons and making potato salad and yummy dip! Thanks for tying strings and changing diapers and sleeping in the same room with the babies and all the dogs! Thanks for helping set up at the party and for tearing everything down and then driving ALL the way to Houston in one day! YOU ARE THE BESTEST!!!


To EVERYONE that came and played and CELEBRATED with our TWO precious babies we owe you a big THANK YOU!!! I know I didn't mention everyone and I didn't have pics of each one of you to show, but we are so VERY VERY VERY THANKFUL to have so many special people in our lives. We are TRULY BLESSED!! Thanks to Teri, Leighanne and Molly for taking pictures that will last a lifetime so that we will have great memories!!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Our First Trip to the Dentist

We took our FIRST trip to the dentist yesterday for a checkup. Dr. Kendra Wren looked at all their teeth and said they looked healthy and clean. She just counted them and they each have 8 teeth!! She said Isaac should be getting some more in the next couple of months.

Dr. Wren said that Isaac had GREAT spaces between his teeth. She said when they are young, spaces are good....more room for permanent teeth to grow and less likely for braces.

As for Hadleigh, she said she could definitely use some more space!! You can't have it all right?

They did pretty well and THANKFULLY Mema had her appointment right before us so she could help since Daddy was away at camp!

So now we have to start BRUSHING and FLOSSING!!! So far it's going pretty well. We tried our first flossing tonight. They weren't too sure about it, but didn't complain! YEAH!!!!









Isaac Joseph Lankford

Lilypie 2nd Birthday PicLilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

Hadleigh Jane Lankford

Lilypie 2nd Birthday PicLilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker