Birthday Pictures

Baby you can drive my Car.
Played in the cake but would not eat it!!

We're Still Here

It has been so long since I have posted, and I have no excuse. I usually go straight to bed after Caleb goes to sleep. So I'm just going to have to make time. My time during the day is spent chasing him around the house. He is not walking yet, but it is just a matter of days now I think. We've been out of school a little over a week and he is already spoiled. I am so looking forward to this summer.

You'll have to be patient with my pictures. I can only get one or two to download at a time. And I'm not that great with the computer anyway. My only hope when we go to China is that Dr. Mintz is still around!!

His First Birthday was May 15th. We have such a wonderful family. He has so much stuff to play with now it's not even funny. My Mother got him the Cozy Coupe, Blake's Mother got him a red wagon that we have to take wagon rides in EVERY DAY, Blake's Dad and Step-Mom and Brother gave him an Owl Tunnel that he can drag around the house by himself.

Please keep us in your Prayers we have a Custody Hearing this Wednesday. What a way to spend our 15th Anniversary!!

Pre-Wash Cycle

I just couldn't resist putting this on here. I know he has a naked butt, but it was so cute. Caleb loves bath time and can not wait to get in the tub. Max one of our other sons has to be right in the middle of everything that happens in the house. I had just took off Caleb's diaper and Max had to make sure his hiney was clean. TOO CUTE!!!

More Spring Break

My Aunt Frances bought Caleb his first pair of overalls when we first got him. He is just now fitting into them. I Love how cute he looks in them. There is nothing like bare feet and overalls. I could just eat him up!!

Spring Break

Well I hate to say that Spring Break is over. We had such a good time this week. Except for the Stomach Virus Caleb had at the first of the week. But just being at home was peaceful and relaxing. It really has me ready for summer to hurry up and get here. The weather was so nice this year. You couldn't have asked for anything better. We stayed outside alot, went shopping, and spent some time with Gan Gan (Blake's Mother). It just makes me wonder and hope that we have Raeleigh by this time next year. Hope everyone had a Great Week. I missed our Meet and Eat. I hope we have another one soon!

Bath Time

The hat being backwards is the only way he will leave it on his head. Even then it was just because he forgot it was there. As soon as he realized it was on his head off it went.

Caleb has graduated to the big bath tub now. He loves to splash in the water. I can't wait until this summer so we can see how he does in the pool. I bet he will like it. Summer can not get here soon enough. This school year seems to dragging by. A.E.A will be a welcome relief.

Tina and Ms. Sophie

I always do my pictures backwards. I meant for the group pictures to be on the top, but I guess I'll learn eventually. Anyway Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Crafty Gina

Gina is so good with the kids. Once again they all crowd around her to have some fun making Chinese Lanterns.

More Pictures

Happy CNY

We went to our first Chinese New Year Party. What a blast! To see all the kids together and having so much fun was great. All the little girls in their Chinese outfits were just adorable. Caleb had a great time running in his walker. There was so much room for him to go he didn't know where to go first. Life is such a blessing, I hope that we get to enjoy Raeleigh's first new year with her next year.

Camo & Max

My Mother bought Caleb his Camo suit. Blake isn't really a hunter, but what man doesn't want his little boy to wear something camo. Max is also in a few pictures. He is our Westie who only gets jealous at bedtime. I have never had a dog who loves to lay in the bed as much as him. He would stay there all day long if we would let him. He is really good with Caleb. He stays right there with us where ever we are in the house.

Cheese Puffs

We have discovered Cheese Puffs. Caleb Loves them. He will talk and laugh up a storm when we give them to him. The pictures say it all. I can break them in pieces and it wouldn't be so messy, but he has so much fun with the whole one.

THANK YOU KENNEDY

Caleb's cousin Kennedy bought him this cute little t-shirt. He says thank-you Kennedy, he thinks it makes him look like a cool kid in it. It just fits him now. We had a good week. Caleb's cold is finally getting better. He doesn't have to have his nose wipped every 2 seconds now. He is getting so big so fast. He'll be going to college next week I think.

More Pics

I could not get all of the pictures on my first post so I added another. Tina please do not let me not get a picture of you and Sophie next time I see you!

We Missed You Kim!

We had a China get together Saturday at Tina and Bert's House. THANK YOU for having all of there to welcome Sophie home. She looks and acts so happy. All of the kids played so good together. And of course I think they are the cutest girls around. I can not wait for all of the play dates and watching them have a great time. We really missed our friend Kim who was at home sick. I hope you are feeeling better soon!! Gina was being the great teacher I know she is and helping Sophie learn a new trick. Roberta surprised us all again with the news they will be getting two boys when they travel in April or May. Wow! How wonderful. Robin the girls are just as beautiful as ever. And Lisa, Emma is the sweetest little girl. I LOVE spending time with all of you. Tracey I hope you hear from your LID date soon. Everyone have a great week and I hope to see you all soon!

It's the Weekend!!

Our brown envelope come in the mail today. I know it is still forever before we get to go to China, but it does make it feel a little closer. We have been looking at China Blogs all week at work. I think they like looking at all the babies as much as I do. Weekends are our favorite time right now. That is until summer gets here. Caleb had his first teething biscuit tonight. As you can see he liked it. He ate most of it and Max finished it off for him. He has two bottom teeth and three top teeth that are just now coming in. Needless to say he has been letting us know how much it hurts. We are venturing out more. Last weekend we went to Darby's Basketball game, and Kennedy's this weekend. He loves watching other kids play. Next weekend we get to see Sophie and the Pink Drangonette's. Can't wait to see everyone!!

Back Into The Groove

The first week of January is already gone. We have our count down to the end of school up and going. 94 working days! I hope they fly by like the first half of the school year. Caleb is doing well and we hope to have full custody of him in the next few months. Having him with us will surely make time go by faster. I just hope that the wait stays shorter than 2 years. I can not imagine having to wait that long. Time will only tell. Hope everyone has a great week! I am gong to try to at least post once a week. That is one of my New Year's Resolutions, we will see how long it lasts. We passed a Church Sign today that said " May Your Troubles Last As Long As Your New Year's Resolutions" I thought it was cute.

End of Year

Where do I begin. So much has happened this past year. We are on our way to CHINA. If you would have told me ten years ago I would be adopting from China, I wouldn't have believed you. But now all we are doing is waiting. I can not tell you how excited we are about Raeleigh. We have waited fourteen years to have one child, and it looks like we are going to have two! Caleb has just been a dream come true for us. So much in our life has changed for the better since February. I can no wait to see what next year has in store for us. God has been so good to us this one. We have been truly BLESSED!

Adoption Gang

We had our monthly get together last Thursday night. I always have so much fun at these things. I love getting to see everyone. They have all become such good freinds. Emma was the hit of the party! Lisa I don't know if you keep up with our blogs. I'm sure you don't have much time on your hands with four kids and all. Anyway she was precious. It just makes me want this next year to fly by. Tina I hope you hear some good news this week. It is past time. I'm putting your gift in the mail tomorrow. I still can't beleive I forgot it. I'm having a hard time getting my pictures to load so I'll just have to post with out one.

Long Week

Hey Everyone just wanted to give a little update with Caleb. Last Monday Blake carried Caleb for his visitation with the dad and he tried to carry him home with him! DHR had to take temporary custody of Caleb so he couldn't. We had to have an emergency hearing Wednesday. The judge ordered DHR to have legal custody and us to have physical custody until April. The dad has until then to prove he can be a good parent(as if). You have no idea how frustrated we are right now. Just knowing that there is a good chance that it could happen makes me sick to my stomach. All we can do is PRAY that he does something BAD between now and then. Please keep us in your prayers. Caleb does not need to be subjected to his madness! Thank Goodness we will not have to worry about this with Raeleigh. I hate talking about bad things. Tina you are going to have to hurry up and get your TA's so I can talk about something good!! Gina maybe we'll hear about our LID's soon. There was someone in the October Group with the same DTC as mine who's LID was October 27th. So that would be three weeks from DTC to LID.

DTC

We finally got our e-mail last Thursday saying we were DTC October 6. So excited are we. Now we just have to wait for our LID date. I think the process will not be as stressful now we have passed this hurdle. Having my China Adoption Friends really helps a lot. I love being able to have close friends who are in the same boat as me. It makes this journey so much fun and a heck of a lot easier. Several are much further in the process than I. You know who I mean, and are going to be able to give a lot of helpful advice. I can't wait to see our first Adoption Meeting when we all have our beautiful and handsome China Children.

P.S. My Rug Looks Great in Caleb's Room. Blake said it's his favorite part of the room!!

IT'S HERE!!!!!

I can finally say we have our GOLDEN TICKET. Now we just have to find the time to take it and have everything done. We are so excited to be one step closer. Everything seems to be coming together at one time. Talk Soon and God Bless!! Tina Sophie is Just a Doll !!

Any Day Now

It seems like I've been writing about our GOLDEN TICKET for months. Wait I have been, but we are nearing the end. But we have had something to help us pass the time. Blake's sister gave us custody of her 4 month old Caleb. She has signed adoption papers too, but we have to wait for the father to make the right choice. We have had him for almost 3 weeks. He is just a doll and I can not wait for him to have a baby sister from China. It could still take awhile for his adoption to go through, but so far I'm LOVING every moment I spend with him. Please keep us in your prayers. We've waited for fourteen years to have one child and now we will have two in less than a year! God is so Great!! Talk soon

And Then There Was One

One more document and then we are good to go! I feel better now that we do have them back, just knowing that they are done is a weight off my shoulders. Now that school is back in session maybe it will help the time pass too. I think this was the shortest summer we've had. Hope everyone has a great year!!

Patience is the Key

Still waiting.....We did send the rest of our documents for Authentication. Then all we will have to do is the 797. I know it has to be soon. We hope to have them to mychhinadocs by the first of the week. Hearing others good news is what keeps me going. I'm so excited for the Pierce Family. I pray for a fast TA. And for the Abston Family getting to see their baby's face for the first time. It's something I can't even imagne what that feels like right now. It will happen I know In God's Time. Thanks again to Kim for the idea of naming the birthparents. Anything to make the whole process seem real. Talk Soon!!!

Still no 171

Just a little update. We have moved on to Atlanta with our HS but it looks like it might take 5 to 6 weeks. As far as I know we went on June 15th. I know I've said this before, but this part of the waiting is so hard. I'm trying to learn how to do all this fancy stuff on the blogspot so just bare with me. Maybe by the time we have Raeleigh I'll be a pro! I don't think so. This picture was from last summer but it was the most recent of us together. We have got to take some more. Yes Kim I've got to take some for you too. I'm always the one doing the taking. I took 241 pictures when we went to the beach, but none of me. Well I guess I'm just listening to myself talk now so I'll cut my chatter box off.