Another Milestone

For the past week Sophie has not been sleeping all night. At first, I thought it was those teeth that were waking her up and it just evolved into some bad sleeping habits. When she woke up, I would give her some Tylenol and put her in the bed with US. She would lay there wide awake tossing and turning. After a couple of hours of that I'd take her back to her room where she would either play in her crib for a while or cry herself to sleep. A few nights ago I decided something had to change, so instead of putting her in the bed with us, I put a mattress on her floor and laid by her crib. This seemed to work alot better. Well, last night after William took her to bed, she started crying. So he decided to leave the door OPEN to her room wondering if maybe that would help. She seemed to have fallen asleep. (this is about 9ish) We were in the living room watching one of those movies that just made you mad. And about 10ish we started hearing a "bump,bump". Real quite like, every couple of minutes. Earlier we heard a "THUMP", but thats normal in my house at night. I mean, usually Razz is getting his bed ready upstairs or something...no big deal. And the bumps, we just tossed that up to Sampson wagging his tail in his sleep. Then all of the sudden I see William JUMP out of his chair like he had seen a ghost....a very small one! Yep, that's right Sophie has now crawled out of the crib! Funny thing is she was standing in the hall with blanky in hand for like ten minutes...when William got up she didn't move..I think knew she was suppose to be in bed but just couldn't figure out how to get back in there! Oh...I LOVE being a parent!

A Day at the Fair!

Qian Jiang Jian!

ONE YEAR LATER.........

Celebrating this past week.....

Sophie just loved the circus. The first picture was taken before it started. She was taking it all in, wondering what in the world we were doing. The first act were dogs and that just set the mood for the entire evening..clapping, laughing, jumping, pointing. SHE was a thrill a minute. Can't wait to see her reaction at a "real" circus. This was one of those small traveling ones, but I'd take her again in a heartbeat....we might be seeing one at the fair tomorrow.




The next day she enjoyed making her cake, and later that evening eating it. Thursday we had our last placement visit with Mrs. Susan. Everything went great. I sure wish we had her in the beginning. She just makes you feel at ease r from the time she enters your door. Tomorrow...pending William feeling better, we are hoping to go to the fair in VA. Different kinda fair for me. They've got lawn mower racing, rooster crowing contest, puppet shows, a small circus, bull riding...man I could go on and on....sure hope we make it.......

Conference Room

It's so hard to believe a year has already passed. We have had sooo many "firsts" in this last year, so much to celebrate. But September will always be special to me. For me it was the first time ever on a plane, first time out of the country, first time getting air sick......first time being a mother!
I was so nervous. There were so many "what if's" running through my mind. I mean come on ....after THREE years of waiting for this precious child. It was finally happening. As we were anxiously sitting in that big ol' conference room waiting for that angelic face to peak through the door I can remember thinking do I have everything, bottle, thermos, gifts, envelopes, toy....will she be crying and scared or quite and shut down. You see I had done alot of reading in those looong three years and of course the worse case scenario's stick in your mind. As we are trying to listen to our guide Marie instruct us on how to fix their bottles...her cell phone rings. "Some of the babies are here." Here, really, where! The next thirty minutes felt like hours! I can vividly remember Alyzabeth An coming through the door. The look on her mommy and daddy's face was indescribable joy....I can still see them giving AA that adorable doll. Next a few more start to trickle in, oh wow the emotions in that room were just overwhelming. Finally, there she was! Her group trying to get into the crowded door way, while I was fighting my urge to go grab her. Thank goodness for the awesome families we traveled with, for by that time I was not even thinking about our first moments being captured on tape, I just wanted her in my arms. Then I heard it "Qian Jiang Jian's parents!" Music to my ears. My nervousness faded as this beautifully happy little soul was placed in my arms. Her personality shining through. My heart's ache was finally healed. She completed us! Some of the happiest tears ever were shed in that room that day.
This month as I relic those days over and over. I am so thankful to those wonderful families we traveled with. As we stood there in that conference room with these people we had just met. We made connects that day will last a lifetime. With everyone going through their own little moments, it was still not hard to get a smile or a knock on the door. (that coke was sooo good) I miss you all sooo much. The experience of a lifetime!

Redirecting

Humm...how do I start. I've been seeking the Lord's will. I have to be obedient. Still, so I can hear. Is that my will or yours?
Small things....today, out of a bookshelf full of books, my daughter hands me a book, already turned to the page she wants me to read.....Chapter One page 17... FOR THE PARENTS WHO CHOOSE A CHILD. I began to read, tears filled my eyes. This was not a book about adoption, but yet she hands me this book turned to the only page that addresses it. This is NOT the first of many small things as of late. I would like to have more children...so is this Him or me. It's been almost a year since I held my precious daughter for the first time. She is everything I could have ever asked for. So is He telling me that I have another child out there? Or is it me? I guess time and prayer will answer that question.

Wonderful Weekend

This weekend started off....lets just say with alot. Sophie spent Friday evening with her Uncle Vernon, which whom she has totally wrapped. He introduced her to her first battery operated bike...don't have any pictures yet, but she got the hang of it really quick from what I hear. (do we have a future motocross pro on our hands)Then after only 3 hours of sleep, it was time to get up for our yard sale. So I get up at 5am and NO water!!! Our pump burnt up and we have one of those systems where our central heat and air runs off water....no wonder it was so hot in the house that night. Anyway Mr. Termite was there in a flash, he is just awesome! And a new pump and tank is in our future. Back to the yard sale....good turn out, spent more than I made, well worth it. Sophie is sporting just one of our many finds that morning. (thank you Penny!)Got home around 1:00, jumped in the pool for a couple of hours. That evening we attended Brandon's fourth birthday party. Sophie had a ball. Sunday was church in the morning, with a relaxing afternoon. And today....home cleaning, watched Miracle of 34th Street, and just enjoying the day. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.