Welcome to the world, Gabriel Isaiah Taylor. Our adoption profile had been active less than a week when the agency called to say your mother had chosen us as adoptive parents. Hours later, we were on a plane to the Midwest. I’ll never forget the moment she placed you in my arms, only hours old. We are forever grateful to your selfless and courageous birth mother for making our dream of having a child come true. We’ve been waiting years for this moment and now we know it was simply because we were waiting for you. We will love you forever and always our sweet angel boy. This will be, without any doubt, our merriest Christmas yet.
Thank you, dear readers, for all your support, encouragement, and prayers these past few years. It has meant the world to our little family. Wishing you peace, love, and joy this holiday season.
Love,
Katie, Simon, Gabriel, Alfred, and Wilbur
So very happy for you, Katie. It was him all along.
Jennifer – It was indeed. Thank you so much for following along on this crazy journey of ours. xo
That is such wonderful news and the most wonderful Christmas gift I can imagine! What a blessed little baby boy and congratulations to you, new Mama!
CONGRATULATIONS! We all have a different path to motherhood, and I’m so glad to hear you’ve found yours. Your openness about IVF was very helpful while I was going through it so I’ve been rooting for you! Our baby girl is 3 months now, but we just lost our beloved dog so I’m rooting for your pup too. Squeeze everyone tight this Christmas!
Wow! I’m so happy for you and your beautiful boy! What a wonderful Christmas gift for your family.
Biggest blessing ever. He is perfect.
Congratulations!!!! I’ve been following you and your journey for years. So happy for your family!
Merry Christmas <3
I could not believe my eyes when I saw this beautiful baby on your blog. After reading of all your IVF trials I could not believe your baby adoption happened so quickly. Overjoyed for you, what a wonderful Christmas you will have.
All of our Australian family are enjoying a San Francisco Christmas.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Life, Katie & Simon!
So so happy for you!!!
The title alone had me in tears. : ) Oh Katie, we don’t “know” each other but when you’ve prayed for someone as I have you, you let them into your heart and spirit. This beautiful, blessed little boy is nothing less than an answered prayer. I am SO happy for you and Simon. You navigated this process with such grace and probably grew in ways you never could have imagined. Now…the story starts. What a happy ending and beginning. You have a darling little boy! God bless you all!
Wow. My heart is bursting for you. Congratulations and welcome sweet Gabriel! XOXO and Merry Christmas!
Amazing news! Congratulations!
How wonderful. Congratulations.
Oh this is just the best news!! Sounds like Christmas will be magical. Congratulations on your beautiful son!
Congratulations! He is a beautiful baby!!
Congratulations. You have found each other, and it was meant to be. I’ve been rooting for you and this is such wonderful news to have on Christmas <3
I am an older woman who just enjoys your curated lists of pretty things. I had some idea that you were struggling with having a baby, but when I woke today , this Christmas Eve morning, and started scrolling through my phone, and read the news. So many emotions rushed through my body. I am so happy for the girl that I don’t really know, who makes beautifully curated lists and now is a beautiful mother mother, with a beautiful baby boy. Merry Christmas!
What a wonderful Christmas! Congratulations, Mama!!!
Congratulations Katie. I am so happy for you and Simon. And, of course, Alfred and Wilbur.
I am beyond ECSTATIC for you and your family! I love that you opened your arms to this beautiful boy and wish you all a lifetime of happiness!!!! Love Liz
How absolutely wonderful for you and your husband…and the fur babies!
Gabriel is the angel that appeared to Mary, telling her about the birth of Jesus. And Gabriel is an archangel – an angel of a higher order. Such a perfect name for such a special child!
Congratulations! He is beautiful. Truly the best Christmas gift of all. May he bring joy to your home!
Dear Katie,
I’ve been your fan/reader since many, many years ago (matchbook since its beginnings)… I’ve loved your style, wit abd creativity. Also I’ve admired your openness about becoming a mother. I’m a mother of three girls but had fertility problems many years ago (so I totally understand you). But everything is worth it when you have your baby in your arms!
Welcome to the most amazing adventure in your life, motherhood!! I’m sure you’ll enjoy and excel in it!!
Please hug and kiss your baby a lot!!!
Merry Xmas!!!
Claudia
A fan from Guatemala City
The best gift of all! Happy Holidays.
congratulations! so happy for you.
Just so thrilled for you. Have followed your journey for years. What a gift. He is perfect.
Congratulations, Mom!
I am so happy for you and your family. Merry Christmas to you all!
Congrats! He is absolutely darling. Merry Christmas with your perfect bundle of joy.
The best Christmas miracle! So very happy for all three of you! He’s precious! Merry, merry Christmas!
Congratulations on your special bundle of joy.
Happy, happy Christmas to you blessed by baby angel Gabriel.
Wishes for the happiest new year.
Heart exploding!!! It’s all perfection- the story, the name, the timing, HIM. Over the moon for you and your entire family for this longing fulfilled. God is good and so faithful. The merriest Christmas indeed!
I am so happy for your darling family! You have a handsome baby and a well executed swaddle! I look forward to seeing your style evolve with mothering.
Is there anything better than life!!! And so, you all have just gotten the very best gift of all. May your lives be blessed with good health always and much laughter, joy and pride.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.
Blessings and congratulations! What a Christmas gift! So happy for you all….
I’ve loved reading your blog since the beginning, and although we’ve never met, your story is beautiful and filled with so much love! You will be a wonderful mother, and Gabriel is blessed to have found you!
Oh my gosh–what happy, happy news!! Merry Christmas to the five of you!!
What a true Christmas blessing!! Congratulations on your beautiful baby boy. He is absolutely perfect!
I cannot imagine a sweeter, more perfect Christmas gift. My heart is filled to the brim with joy for you and your beautiful family. Congratulations, dear Katie!
This is just wonderful news! Merry Christmas!
Congratulations!! This is the best news ever! I am so happy for you. Enjoy every moment.
XOXO, Suzanne
So happy for you! Enjoy this special time together.
Congratulations Kate! I hope you, Simon and Gabriel have a magical first Christmas together! Love Kendall and Lizzie
Twenty-four years ago I found myself the mother of a two-year old from Guatemala. Our first Christmas came two weeks later and our precious boy knew nothing of trees, Santa, family members, or toys! He has made my life so significant in these intervening years. A couple of day ago, my husband and I were picking him up from an appointment, and even though he had been gone about two hours, I felt so incredibly happy to see his face again. He brings joy and profound love to me every moment of every day. Congratulations to your and your husband. Your baby boy is beautiful.
Oh Katie and Simon , we are SO HAPPY for you! What wonderful news and it was all so clearly meant to be! What an amazing Christmas gift! We are thinking of you and Alfred and Wilbur and sending you so many good wishes! I can’t stop using exclamation points! :)
So happy for you!!! How perfect! This was meant to be.
Thrilled for you and your family ! This is the best Christmas ever! Thankful !
Such joyful Christmas news! Congratulations!
A Christmas miracle! Congratulations and the very merriest of Christmases yet!
I am a huge fan of your blog.
I am over the moon excited for your great news about baby Gabriel. What an exciting and memorable Christmas. Enjoy every second with that precious child. They grow up way too fast.
Wishing you peace, love, and JOY this holiday.
Belgian congratulations on this Christmas day.
Katie,
So happy for you and Simon, what a wonderful gift you have received. He is one very lucky little boy!!
The best news – an amazingly generous birth mother; a sweet baby and very lucky and loving parents! Our baby’s birthday is tomorrow- the 27th (he’s a senior in college) You’re in for some wonderful years!
Beautiful!!!
I missed this joyous news until this morning! New baby blessings to you, with a beginning exactly as it was meant to be. Soak up every second, it’s such an incredible journey. This story was always meant to end and bein with a sweet, perfect baby in your arms. xoxo
I have goosebumps and tears of joys in my eyes! What a wonderful, wonderful happy moment for your sweet family! And what a beautiful little angel! I wish you all the joy and happiness this precious little blessing will bring to you!
The most wonderful news for the most wonderful people! So excited to see your next chapter!
This post gives me so much hope. I’ve long followed your blog and I’m so glad to see the ups and downs life has thrown you were all a part of the journey to this sweet baby boy. I hope to someday be as fortunate (and diligent, because you have worked hard to get here) as you! I wish you continued blessings for your family in 2019 and beyond. Thank you, Katie.
As a long-time reader, I was so happy to see your Instagram post. Congratulations on your beautiful addition and thank you for sharing your journey with all of us! Enjoy these newborn days!
Hugs,
Julie
Beyond thrilled for you and your family! Such a perfect Christmas present!!
Xoxo,
Ashley || Sed Bona
Oh my goodness – the merriest Christmas indeed! Congrats! I have followed your journey for years, and it brings me joy to read this news! So so special.
Yay yay yay!! He’s perfection and was meant to be yours. Love to you and your family.
Ah! So exciting. Congratulations to your sweet little family! :)
Congratulations on your wonderful Christmas present! Now the real fun begins❣️❣️❣️
So over-the-moon happy for you both (I cried reading this). What a magical Christmas gift and the most wonderful way to start 2019!
Good luck with the new mama skills and cannot wait to meet him!
Briony xox
Dear Katie, congratulations on your new life! From now on will be a sweet journey. Just enjoy it!
Salud!