Congratulations Chris and Kelly

Congratulations Chris and Kelly. A new little boy. Gabriel Micah Morris. I am not for sure on the weight and all that yet. I just know Kelly will be home soon and she wants a welcome home party. If not before church then after church tonight. I am not so sure we can arrange that with this short of notice.

Brooke Counting

Opening Gift

Time with Grandaddy

Christmas

My two beautiful Christmas girls.

Brooke opening her gift really slow.

"Is this for me?"

A great Christmas present. Daddy did the wrapping.

Courtney with her doll house. She was very surprised.

I think she is very excited about something. (digital camera)

Brooke enjoying her gifts.

Christmas was really great this year. Brooke really enjoyed herself. She would rip the paper off very slowly. She was so excited when she opened her baby dolls. She said "two babies." Brooke liked to tear the paper off and then go to another gift. When she was through she wanted to open everybody else's gifts. She got very upset when we told her no. She cried and kept saying "Pres" Which means present. She had a great time.
Courtney enjoyed it also. She had no idea what she was getting. Her favorite thing was a digital camera. She was so shocked when she opened it. Her other favorite thing was her doll house. It was wrapped in this huge box. I did not put a name on it. Courtney wanted to know whose gift it was. I said " oh no I did not put a name on it. It is either yours or daddys." I told Courtney she could open it and see. Kevin played along and said " wait, what if it is mine" I said ' go ahead and open it Courtney" When she opened it her eyes got as big as saucers. She screamed " This is not daddy's this is mine" We told Courtney that was a toy she would have to share with Brooke. Right now Brooke is not to interested in it, but give her a year or so and she will love it.
We all had a great time with our family. I am so thankful for another year together.

Alabama Adoption Final

Miss Alabama

Fun After Court

Proud Daddy

Proud parents, with Judge Day

We are finally through. After one year of having Brooke home we are finally through with the adoption process. Brooke's adoption was final when we left China. Living in Alabama we had to do a re-adoption to be able to get Brooke a Alabama birth certificate. We started the process a couple of months ago and things just went crazy. We had a really hard time with the probate Judge. Living in the county that we do, the judge wanted everything done "legal." The judge made us get a lawyer and he appointed Brooke a lawyer. (Guardian Ad Litem)
God blessed us in so many ways. I can't even begin to tell you how great God has been to us. One way that God blessed us, is through our attorney Jeff Dean. Jeff and his wife Kaye was a blessing to us. Kevin, knew Kaye from work. They was very good to us. We can never thank them enough for their kindness to us through this time.
The past few months have been a little hard trying to get things together for today.
Tuesday I had a nightmare come true. Brooke's attorney calls me at 4:00 in the afternoon and said he needed to come to our house. He does not say anything about coming to check on Brooke. He says " I need to come to your house tomorrow to see if your house is clean and suitable for a child" I literally about had a heart attack. I was in tears. Kevin had to work. I was up until 12:00 at night cleaning my house. My house was NOT dirty, but I did not know if this man was coming to check my closets or cabinets or what. When he did come, he only looked at Brooke and Courtney's room. He was a very nice man. When he started to leave he said " I hate that I had to come to your house, but that is just something we have to do. Oh by the way your house is really clean"
I was thinking "You only looked at two rooms and I was up all night making sure there was no dust anywhere."LOL
Anyway things went super today. Judge Day was very nice. We did not have a good experience with Judge Day a few months ago. He was really rude and ugly to us. Today he was a very kind man. He did not even seem like the same man, that we met months ago. It took us about 30 minutes today and everything was done. We don't have to deal with social workers, lawyers, or paperwork anymore. Brooke is our wonderful daughter that we love very much. Our social worker was great to work with. She became our friend. We had our last meeting with her, in November 2006.
I am so thankful for the blessing that God has gave us. We love both of our girls with all our heart. I am looking forward to another wonderful year with my children and wonderful husband.

Busy Busy Busy

FCC Christmas Party

Chinese Santa

Brooke wanted NO part with the Chinese Santa.

I have had one busy week and weekend. Thursday Night we went to the FCC Christmas party. There was about 4o or more Chinese Children at the party. They all looked so cute. They had a balloon man come and do balloons for the kids. They also had a Chinese Santa to come and give the children something. As you can see Brooke wanted NO part of that. It did not matter that he had candy for her. She was the only child there who sreamed and cried over Santa. I guess it is a good thing we don't teach her there is a Santa. She would be scared to death of the man. We had a great time there.
Friday night we had a Christmas party at my moms house. I have not had time to load the pictures. Saturday we had Christmas at our house with Kevin's family. It went well. Kalie and Darcie did not get to come becaue Kalie was sick. Jacob started feeling really bad at our house. He ended up having about 103 temperature. Over all it was a fun day. I am so tired. This has been three very busy days. Post more pictures later. (maybe)

Merry Christmas

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Happy Birthday Dad

Happy Birthday, Dad. We love you.

Sleep Issues

The past week Brooke has really had some sleep issues. It started last week when Brooke had 103 fever. She was so ill and would not sleep in her bed. The only way we got any sleep was for me to sleep with her. For two nights she slept with me. BAD MISTAKE. She thinks she has to every night now. I had just got to the point where I could give her kisses and lay her in her bed to sleep. Brooke would sleep through the night. She has been sleeping throught the night for months, but I always rocked her first.
Last week she refused to go to sleep on her own. Of course since she was sick I let her have her way. I was afraid she would need me and I would not hear her. Saturday and Sunday night she got in her bed on her own. Saturday night she slept all night. Sunday night she woke up and wanted in my bed.
Now for the funny part. Last night Brooke went to her bed without complaining. She got her blankie, passey, baby bop, and Barney. About 3:00 she woke us up crying. Kevin went to her room and she would not go back to sleep. She cried and cried wanting her mommy. Kevin finally brought her to our bed. Of course she slept so good. We did not sleep good. I finally took her back to her room. Of course within no time she was crying again. Kevin said to just let her cry. After about 15 minutes of screaming and crying for mommy, I could not take it any more. Kevin and I was not sleeping with her crying, so we might as well let her sleep with us and get a little sleep. I go to Brooke's room and try to talk to her. She grabs me and want let go. She says "ROCK BABY" "Rock baby" The whole time she is saying this she is sniffling. I tell her that I can rock her, but she needs to sleep in her bed. Brooke starts crying really hard and says "rock baby in tree top" ........How could I not rock a sweet voice like that? I tell her that I will rock her. I stand up to go to the rocker and Brooke then says "daddy's bed"
I rock her and she is like totally quite. I say "will you go to your bed now" Of course she starts crying and saying "rock baby tree top" Kevin felt sorry for us and told me to bring her back to our bed. Brooke slept so good. Kevin and I did not sleep good at all. Oh well maybe better luck tonight.

Play time with Sadie

Sharing Cookies

Little Cooks

Sadie

"Would you like some Tea?"

Two Pretty Princess

Trying on their Glass Slippers.

Gotcha Day 2nd post

Brooke's Cake

Giving her baby loving.

Cup and Panda gift.

Brooke loves her little Asian Doll we bought her.

Some of the Children that celebrated with us.

Brooke love this cup she got. It had pictures of her and some of her friends on it. She did not want to put the cup down. She was wanting to show everybody her cup.

This was suppose to be some type of cake that the people at the restaurant brought Brooke. It was onions, and peppers. It had cake in the middle of that. It then had brownies with sprinkles and jello on the side. Brooke ate some jello and I think brownie.

Brooke wanted to get into the cake really bad. She did lick some icing off. (SHHH)

Enjoying her noodles and rice.

One year ago today I walked into the civil Affairs Office in Chongqing China with 13 other families. We was all so excited because we was going to get to hold our babies for the first time. It was a wonderful day. One that I will never forget. I remember walking in and seeing Brooke sitting in a walker. I wanted to hold her then, but I had to wait. I thought she was so pretty. Even with a chapped little face, I thought she was a doll. When our name was called to get Brooke, I was so excited and happy. I did not care that her nose was running and that she was soaking wet. I held her, kissed her, and loved her. At first Brooke just looked at me I can't remember the exact moment she started crying. I know she was scared. I think Brooke knew that we was somebody special. She bonded right away with us. Once we had her back at the Hotel, and had all those thick clothes off of her, she was happy.
Today Brooke is full of life, happiness, laughter, and love. Yes, there is some days she is sad, when things don't go her way, but she quickly gets over it. She loves to sing and dance. She loves to gives kisses and hugs. She thinks her sister is the grandest in the world (besides me)
Brooke is still a mommy's girl. She loves her daddy also. Brooke is talking so much now.
We celebrated today at a Chinese restaurant. There was about 25 of our friends there celebrating with us. Brooke is loved by many people. God has blessed this little girl in so many ways. God has also blessed us, by allowing us to be Brookes forever family.
We love you Brooke. Happy Gotcha Day Sweetheart.
Mommy, Daddy, and Sissy.
I have so many more pictures I could post, but I am so tired. I am going to bed.

Happy Gotcha Day Brooke

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For all my waiting friends. (Lisa, Tonya, Angela,Karen)

Merry Christmas

Happy Anniversary

Happy 14th Anniversary, To the most wonderful man

in the world. I love you.

We look like kids here. (We was)

A ride in the firetruck, to the reception.

I can't believe it has been 14 years. I love being married. I am thankful we are still together, and that our love is still strong. I am not going to post much, because I just did a post awhile back about us dating. You are welcome to read that. Things are the same, except I am married to the most wonderful man in the world, instead of dating him.

Sad Mommy and Little Girl

Last night was a really hard night for me. We made plans to go to the play "The Christmas Carol" My parents, and Kevin's mom wanted to go also. I had bought these tickets back in the summer. Since our parents was going with us, I did not have a babysitter for Brooke. I have never left her with anybody, but my mom or Kevin's mom. (That has not been much)
Brooke loves the Ary Children. (Brent, Brannon, and Brianna) We had went camping with them, and Brooke adored the children. I had also went to their house a few weeks ago and Brooke went right to Brent and did not want to come back to me. I thought it would be perfect for Brooke to stay with them. This child is to smart. I had ask her during the day if she wanted to go play with Brent and Brannon. Brooke said " NO" I did not say she was staying with them. I ask her several times during the day, and she always said "no" It was almost time to go and I told Brooke that she was going to get to go play with Brent, Brannon, and Briannna. Brooke looked at me and said " No" She then reached out her arms and hugged me and said "I stay mommy's house" I knew I was in trouble then. Sure enough, Brooke cried and did not want to stay. As soon as I pulled up at their house Brooke was clinging to me and saying "Mommy" I had to sit in the floor with her. She was not interested in playing. She knew something was not right. I finally had to just leave. I was about in tears myself. I called Cindy about 5 min after we left. She said that Brooke was not crying, that she was just saying Mommy, over and over. I felt sick for leaving her. I could not enjoy my food. To make matters worse once we got to the play these people walk in with a beautiful Chinese girl. She looked just like Brooke, except she was 3. I wanted to go get my baby so bad. I called Cindy during intermission to find out that Brooke had cried on and off. We enjoyed the play, but I don't think I can leave Brooke for a long time.
Kevin and I was acting like two kids when we got to Cindy's to pick Brooke up. Kevin had done said that he was going to hold Brooke first. I said I was. Of course Courtney said she was. I thought to myself "We will see about this" I was sitting in the back of our van with my mom. About the time we got to the Ary's house I slipped to the middle seat and was ducking behind Kevin's seat. I was ready to open the door and run to my baby. Kevin spotted me. He took his seat belt off and prepared to run. I quickly put his seat belt back on him, so he can't get out as fast as me. We was all laughing.
When we got to Cindy's I was out of the van first, but Kevin has longer legs than me so he beat me to the door. Brooke was asleep. We started talking to her. She looked so confused. Guess what ? I got to hold her first. LOL Of course she had wanted mommy all night.
We came home and I held Brooke for a long time. I rocked her to sleep and just held her for a little bit. We have a Christmas play tonight. Brooke is going with us. If I have to stand and hold her the whole time I will. I will not leave her. Last night was terrible for me. I was a sad mommy.