My Sweet Girls

Two Little Darlings

"I think it is water"

"Something is up there"

What a Cutie.

Country Girl

Enjoying the outside.

Two Sweet Girls.

Butterfly Kisses

Happy 9th Birthday

Courtney,
I will never forget the day you was born. God gave us a precious gift. You have brought us much joy. The years are going by to quickly. It seems like only yesterday when I was rocking you in my arms. It seems like only yesterday when we was playing dolls, and you was feeding me fake food. Time has really went by to fast. I see my baby growing up. Even though you are growing up, you will always be our special, tiny, baby, girl.
As you celebrate your day, we wish you the best. May your day and life be filled with joy, peace, and happiness. We love you very much.
Mommy, Daddy, and Brooke

Happy Birthday Courtney

Happy Birthday Bro. Cornwell

Happy Birthday Bro. Cornwell. We love and appreciate you.

Bro. Cornwell is a wonderful pastor. So many times he reminds me of Jesus. I can just imagine how Jesus was, because Bro. Cornwell is so much like him.
Bro. Cornwell has compassion on people. Jesus had compassion on people. Bro. Corwnwell loves the little children. He takes time for the children. Jesus loved the children, and took time for them. Bro. Cornwell knows all the children's name is our congregation. We have a lot of children, so that is a lot of names.
He has been a Huge Blessing to us. He was such a Great comfort to us, as we was on our journey to Brooke. When Brooke first came home she was shy. Brooke has got now, where she wants to go say hi to Bro. Cornwell. She could not say his name so she would call him Corn. One day in church she said " There is Brr, Corn" She started waving at him. Of course he did not see her, because his mind was on other things at the time. Brooke started saying Cornwell the past week. Courtney ask Brooke who she loved the other day. Normally she says "Mommy" She shocked us all. She said " Brr. Cornwell" We thought that was really sweet.
Courtney has also always like Bro. and Sis. Cornwell. Children never forget how people treat them. (Good or bad)
Courtney has always been impressed with, Bro. Cornwell's sweetness. Bro. Cornwell has always been this way. LONG before he became our pastor.
Above all these things mentioned, he has been faithful to God. He has stayed saved.
Happy Birthday, Bro. Cornwell.
Denna, Kevin, Courtney, and Brooke

Book worms

Brooke and her Mamaw.

Brooke is really listening.

Courtney reading to Brooke.

Two Bookworms.

I thought these was some sweet pictures. Courtney has became a BIG bookworm. She really started showing a interest in reading this year. She will finish one book and start on another. She loves Mary Kate and Ashley Mystery's. Brooke has always loved books. Brooke is happier when you read to her, than when she just looks at the book. You can tell in the last picture, that she don't seem as interested in the book as the first three. We noticed the girls reading, so of course we had to grab the camera.
Brooke has also enjoyed her Ma maw being in our home. She has read Brooke so many books. Brooke is always going up to her, saying "Read me, Ma maw" Sometime we just have to say Brooke let Ma maw rest for a little bit.

Smiles

Hurry up mom, I want to play.

"Cheese"

When it rains it Pours.

You don't really think about the statement "When it rains it pours", until things are not the best. It seems like that is so true for me lately. My MIL had a knee replacement and she has been at our house for the past week. I am not for sure how much longer she will be here. It has not been bad, just very tiring. She has not been able to do much for herself. She is trying hard to do what she can.
Anyway, the past week has been a little stressful, just because it has been so different. I have not done school the way it needs to be done. I just have not had the time to do it. I am the type that if I know somebody is coming to visit, I want my house is perfect shape. You can not do that with children. I have cooked, washed more clothes, and dishes the past week than I think I have done in years. I have tried to keep things in decent shape, because I knew my Mother-n-law's friends would be coming to visit. Some of our friends fixed supper a couple of nights for us, so that was a great help.
I have been having terrible pain in my wrist and finger. I have tried not to complain much, because I don't want my MIL to worry about bothering me. If she needs something I want her to tell me without worrying about my hand. Honestly, I have had to hold tears back when I would move my hand a certain way, because of the pain. I went to my regular Doctor, Tuesday. She sent me to another Doctor yesterday. The results are........ I have carpal tunnel, tendinitis, and a cyst on my finger. :( The Doctor wants me to wear a brace on my hand at night and as much as possible in the day. He also wants me to go to therapy two times a week. I can't do that. I am to busy to go for that. I will wear the brace and see what happens. I spent $50.00 for them to tell me this. Thank the Lord for insurance. At least we did not have to pay it all.
On top of all this, My washing machine quit working. Now is not the time for it to quit working. Now is not the time for my hand to act up.
Brooke has not been sleeping the best. She had shots, and did pretty good after that first night. Courtney has been sleeping on a blow up mattress in Brooke's room. I don't know if the sound of Courtney turning over wakes her up, or what. She ended up in my bed, and it just don't work out. I mean this child can't be still. If it is just me and her in the bed, it is O.K. I can scoot her further from me and I don't get hit when she moves. When we have went through sleep issues before, we would let her cry for a little bit. Most of the time she would go back to sleep. I don't want her to wake my MIL up, so I can't let her cry. I know my MIL will be glad to be back to normal. I had to take her to the Doctor yesterday. They said things looked good. Of course she has a long way to go, but she will get there. I guess that is all for now. I finally got a few minutes to update.

Birthday Pictures.

My beautiful Girl

How Sweet!!
Brooke and Mei Mei.

I think she wants some of the cake.
Making a Wish!!!

Thanks to Cindy, with Mitchells Photography. Cindy did really good with Brooke. These are Brooke's two year pictures. Brooke is not the easiest to take pictures of. Cindy did great. These are just a few of the proofs I am going to buy. I have several more, that I am trying to decide on. I am having a hard time knowing what to order. If you have a particular one you like let me know. If any of you locals would like some great pictures contact Cindy at 256-990-1669 or 256-498-2321. She has a Easter Special she is doing. Make sure you tell her that Denna refered you.

Shots

Brooke had her two year check up yesterday. She had to have shots, and she did not like that. She also had to have her toe stuck for a test. I felt so sorry for her. She was so happy and jumping around, until the shots. She cried and cried.
The Doctor said Brooke was doing GREAT. She is 75% on her height, and 10% on her weight. The Doctor said " She is skinny and tall." The area Brooke is from, the woman are very tall and skinny. The Doctor also said she should be putting two words together. We had to laugh. She is putting tons of words together.
Brooke has always had side effects from her shots. Last night after we got home Brooke could not walk. She would scream when she tried to put her leg down. She cried and screamed for a long time. I knew she was in terrible pain because she would hold the leg up that she got the shot in. She also said her "toesie" was hurting her. We tried to throw the ball so she would go get it, but she refused to walk. Kevin prayed and ask God to help Brooke with the pain. I was able to give her a warm bath. After the bath she did walk a little. She went to sleep and slept all night. Today she has just been laying in the floor or sleeping. I will be glad when shot days are over. My mother -in-Law is suppose to be coming to our house tomorrow. I hope Brooke is over all this by then. Normally Brooke will run a fever for days and be ill as a hornet. I really don't need that right now. My MIL had a knee replacement, so she is not walking either. She will be at our house for awhile. Hopefully everything will be back to normal soon.

Kids Kloset Again

I am so glad I worked kidskloset again this year. I was able to get Brooke some really nice things. For those who don't know about kidskloset, it is a consignment that comes around two times a year. People bring their kids clothes, and toys to the sale. If you volunteer 6 or 9 hours of working the sale then you get to shop before the public and before the consignors. I worked this year and I am so glad I did. I got to shop this afternoon. I loaded up on Brooke. Courtney is at the age where I really can't find much. I was not so lucky with her. When Courtney was younger I always would shop kidskloset for her. You can get some really nice things. I am not one to go pay $50.00 to $100.00 for a dress for my girls. They grow out of them so fast. I can go to kids kloset and buy them a $100.00 dress for $10.00 or $15.00. Many times I get things less than that. For casual clothes you can do very good also. If you want big toys, or furniture for the children you can get that also. I usually just shop for clothes for the girls. I also put my girls clothes in the sale. Basically it is like trading their clothes for more clothes. Sometimes I make more than I spend, and sometimes I spend a little bit more than I make. Over all I do great. It is so funny to watch the workers at the worker sale. Kevin said he would love to have a tape of how crazy we all are. Many people start lining up a hour or two before the sale. The owners have changed the rules to make it more fair. They pass out cards or popsicle sticks. They have like 4 colors. You get in line and then they draw a color. If it is your color your group gets to go first. I was in the second group tonight. People was running trying to get to a big item, or something they would like to have. If you have never been to one of these sales, you really need to do it at least once. It is so funny. My adrenaline is pumping so fast. I am so excited about what I might find. I am also nervous that I want find anything. It is so crazy and wild. It is really fun though. I also enjoy working at the sales. It is nice to see old friends, and meet new ones. Here are some pictures of some of the goodies I bought tonight. Don't ask me how much I spent!!!!!! LOL

I thought these two was so cute.

Lady bugs and bees.

Two diaper bags, I got for $5.00 each. I have always wanted the ladybug one, but did not want to pay $40.00 for it. ( That was the price in the shops)

I love the Smocking on these.

Three of my favorites.

A couple more.

Praying Brooke

How Sweet.

Brooke loves to pray. Sometimes we can't understand her. It is so good that God understands us. God know exactly what we are saying and meaning.
We could not help but laugh at Brooke. Brooke hears us pray for our food, but I don't know if she understands why we are praying. The other day Brooke's food was very hot. I told her it was to hot, to wait a few minutes. The moment I said that she bowed her head and said. " something and then said Amen" She has done this several times when her food is hot. I guess she thinks we are praying that God will cool the food. Courtney did the same thing when she was younger. We think it is sweet.

Oreo's and Milk

Discovering the fun of dipping your cookie in you milk.

What a mess.

Oh My. The messy Oreo girl.

Brooke has always loved Oreo's. Oreo's was the first cookies we gave her in China. Brooke just figured out how much fun it is to dip the cookie in milk.

Decatur FWCC

We have some cute kidos.

Brooke and Katie Lin
I think this is the first picture I have ever saw of KL not smiling. I call KL Miss Smiley, because she is always smiling in the picture's on her moms blog. I tried to get a closer picture of these two together, but this is the best I could do. Brooke was wanting me, so I could not get a good picture with her and her friends.

I think this is a Chinese yo yo.

Brooke and Grace, looking at something.

Brooke getting her money from her RED envelope.

We met our Decatur Yahoo Group at Golden Phonix. We had a nice time. Our friends Denise, Bill, and Anna met us there. They are in the process of adopting from China. Courtney adores their daughter Anna. They play so well together.
We enjoyed meeting the new families. There was three families who just got home in the last 5 months. It is so GREAT to see more children finding their forever families. It is also great to see Decatur have so many Chinese Children in the area. I think they will all be great friends.

Rodeo

Little Cowgirl

Courtney

Emily and Brooke

I am trying to catch up on some post. I have to many to catch up on. This was the night we went to the rodeo. The girls loved it. Brooke had been excited all day. If you ask her where she was going, she would say "I go see cowboys"
Brooke would scream and yell "go, go, go" She would clap. She loved it. The only part she did not like was when they roped the calf's. Brooke would say "that mean."
I know we will be going again.
Courtney also loved it. She took her friend, Emily with her. They was screaming and yelling. Kevin said to them " Hey girls, if you don't calm down we are going to send you back there with your parents." Of course he was teasing. I am glad they had fun.

Happy Birthday

Friends

Loving the Rodeo

Brooke had fun at the Rodeo.

A few Sentences

Brooke has been talking for awhile now. She has been saying sentences very well. In fact she pretty much says anything you tell her to say. She has been saying small sentences for months now. She is saying long sentences now. I can't even keep up with all she says.
Here is a few of the things she says.
"Get out of my way, SISSY."
"let go of my ____" (arm, doll, shoe, toy, shirt, or anything she wants.)
"My eye hurts real bad, momma"
"I want to go outside"
"I want my crocs on"
"Wheres my crocs at Momma?"
" I hungy momma" ( I love to hear her say that. She don't say hungry. She says Hungy) When she said that for the first time, I got a little teary eyed. I am not for sure why. Many things was going through my mind. I was glad she could tell me that she was hungry. I think the thing that made me cry happy tears, is I always said once Brooke was home she would never have to be hungry again. So many times as I waited for her, I would think about what she was doing. I would wander if she was hungry or cold. I prayed every day for God to protect her. When she told me she was hungry the other day, I thought, I am so thankful that she is home with us and that she can eat anytime she is hungry. I am not sure she got to eat anytime she was hungry, when was in the orphanage.
"I sleepy Momma"
"I thirsty Momma"
"Get up Daddy"
"That's peanuts sissy"
"That scared me to death, sissy"
"I want more ______ momma" (cereal, peanuts, what ever she wants)
As you can see, Brooke is talking so much. There is so much more she says. I love to hear her little voice. For those of you wondering. "YES" she is a little country girl. She says "Y'all"

Her conversation yesterday.
Brooke "Mom"
Me "What Brooke?"
Brooke " I pooped"
Me "Brooke, if you can tell me that you can use the potty"
We have been working on the potty, but we are getting no where. Hopefully it will not be to long.