The Birds and The Bees

I caught this conversation between Jaida and Xin as I was making lunch. They were looking at a photo album of when Julia was born.

Xin: Jaida do you kiss after the baby comes, like after you get married?

Jaida: Well Xin, after you get married you decide if you want to have a baby in your tummy or you want to adopt a baby.

Xin: So you kiss then?

Jaida: The Mom gives the Dad a kiss after the baby comes because you know, the Mom doesn't really know what.....well, the Dad knows....and the Mom waits for the Dad and then the baby comes and they kiss. *(At this point they are looking of a picture of me coming off of general anesthesia-very hard delivery- and hugging and kissing Will who has newborn Julia in his arms)*

Xin: So Jaida they kiss like after they get married?

Jaida: Yes Xin that's what you do!

These two crack me up! At least they have the marriage before the baby part right! There is also a picture my Mom snapped of Will and I kissing after we got Xin in the orphanage as well as some wedding pictures of us kissing of course. They LOVE to see us kiss. They giggle and laugh and chant "kiss on lips, kiss on lips"....whatever floats your boat!

Happy 4th of July!

We always celebrate 4th of July at my parent's lake house. It is a tradition. We had a much smaller crowd this year but had a great time! We swam, went tubing and water skiing, ate...ALOT, played games, painted rocks and ate some more, did a few fireworks and then got rained out as a huge storm blew in.Thanks Nana and Poppy for hosting! And Happy Birthday America!

Time For Some CUTENESS!

Ok, so I just can't stop thinking about my baby way across the world. She had a bad heat rash and I so want to go snatch her up and give her a cool bath and slather all kinds of good cream on that little body. Then snuggle her in a rocking chair and sing to her and rock her to sleep. All while I inhale that sweet freshly bathed baby smell. Oh.......the waiting is so very hard! I keep hearing "things" about the long wait times for approvals and LID and TA and.... oh my! Why? Why do I do this to myself? I can't control any of this, especially when you have 2 different governments involved. So why don't I just trust in GOD? Why don't I let Him have this and know He loves Louisa more than I do and He will bring her home to us when His timing is perfect? Why? I will keep praying. I will keep giving it to Him. And then I am sure I will try to take it back again because in my human mind and heart I think by researching dates, and reading blogs and charts, etc, that I can do better than God. So for now, I will pray for my little Lulu and gaze at her cuteness in the pictures we have received so far! I thought you might want to share in that cuteness too!

Yes It Is Us!!!

WoW!!!!! Ashton did a great job on our blog didn't she! It looks wonderful!!!!! And she did it so quickly!!!! If you need a face lift/makeover check out her site! Thanks so very much Ashton you did awesome!

Face Lift!!!!

I am getting a face lift! No, not for me....for this old ratty looking, "uncute" blog. I am NOT computer savvy so this plain old template from blogger was a HUGE step for me to do by myself. HOWEVER, there is a very talented teen, and adoption advocate, who is going to make over this sorry looking site! Stay tuned......I am so excited!

Friends

Through adoption we have met so many wonderful people. It is a blessing I never anticipated but am so grateful for! We had such an awesome and BIG travel group with Jaida. We have all stayed in contact and have tried to get together each year. One of the families was passing through so they spent time with us this weekend. The kids had a blast as did the parents. This sweet family also welcomed home a new little one just a few months ago so we got to meet her for the first time. The really neat thing is... she has the same beautiful hands and feet that Louisa does-I mean almost IDENTICAL. I watched in awe and joy as this little peanut did anything and everything she wanted to do with those hands, and the feet were a non-issue! It was so encouraging!!! We had another family join us for dinner Friday night too. So with a house full of 10 kids, 6 adults, 2 dogs and 1 bunny we ate, talked, swam, played and of course took pictures. Thank you Lord for unexpected blessings!!!!

Baby Break and Other Stuff

The kids wanted to celebrate Ollie's 2nd birthday! He looks so happy!?
Celebrating Father's Day. We love our Daddy so very much and are blessed by his love and sacrifices for us. And I can't forget my wonderful Dad too!!

My sweet "princess" heading to Princess Ballet Camp.

Pizza with cousins Zeke and Ezra.

Well, as much as we have consumed ourselves with the photos and dreams of our new little one, we have also been very "busy" with other stuff! I love summer and it's lack of a schedule. I like the down time. I NEED the down time, as do my kids.

So what have we been doing? We have been conditioning a few days a week with the Augusta Eagles (home school sports league),Princess Ballet Camp, celebrations, reading, swimming, playing with friends and cousins,grilling out, doing puzzles, thinking about Lulu and praying for a speedy approval (oops...see, we can't get her out of our minds!) watching movies, sleeping later, well some of us, and just enjoying each other's company. Hope your summer is going well too and you are treasuring these moments with your little ones, as they go by oh so very quickly!