My new Princess outfit!

This is Brooklynn's new princess outfit she got for Christmas from my Uncle Mark and Aunt Shelle. Brooklynn loves dressing up and twirling around in this. Brooklynn is the only girl on Clint's side of the family, so needless to say she is a little spoiled. I hope you all enjoy the pictures. I have some pictures I need to post of Davis and his friend having a tea party with Brooklynn. They are as Brooklynn would say, "too cute!"

Merry Christmas!

Well we have made it to Christmas. We started off the Christmas rounds at my Sister-in-laws house and Brooklynn got to open her first Christmas presents. She was slow to start, but caught on fast what you are supposed to do. Apparently we were going to slow for her, so she took it upon herself to open our presents to. She was so funny, every Christmas present she opened she would say "too cute". We all just laughed. Brooklynn went to Davis' Christmas party at school and big brother was happy to show her off. All the kids just had to give her their goodies. They were all very sweet to her. We are so blessed to have wonderful children. I love watching the excitement in their eyes and the joyful expressions on their sweet faces. Today, we received Brooklynn's Certificate of Citizenship in the mail. It was a great surprise, due to the fact I thought they had forgotten about us. I suppose it was just slow getting it processed like every other piece of paper we had to get or have. We hope that all have a wonderful and Merry Christmas!!!

More Pictures

Where does the time go? It is hard to believe that we have been home over 2 months now. We made it through the Thanksgiving Holidays with no problems. We all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It would have been better if Alabama would have won the Iron Bowl. We decided to watch it at home with just our family. It gets kind of heated when we are with those other fans.(LOL)
Brooklynn has healed wonderfully from her surgery. Her next surgery is scheduled for February 6th to repair her palate. This surgery will be a little more complicated and more painful than the lip repair. She is talking up a storm and learns new words everyday. She can say bye bye, thank you, please, Mama, Daddy, Davis, Brooklynn, hello, I love you, and of course Roll Tide. Pretty much anything you say she will repeat, so it is wise to choose your words. I know this to be true. I was watching the game and I said dang it and low and behold there was echo.
I will try to get better with posting. We have been sick here in our house. Everybody has a turn at having something. You name it we have had it. I hope we are getting it out of the way for the Holidays.

Happy Halloween!

Well we made it through Hallowee with out any trama or drama. The boys and Brooklynn had fun. Brooklynn liked getting all the candy and is taking candy out of Davis' bag to put in her princess pumpkin. We had to make a visit to the hospital to visit their MeeMee; she had to work. All the patients were looking at their rooms to see the kids. Brooklynn just waved her wand and said hi. It was so cute. She really is a joy to our whole family and it is amazing how one child from so far away can unite an entire family and spread her love. It really is a gift from God!!
We hope all had a wonderful Halloween!!

Brooklynn's Surgery

Well, we have been keeping busy or at least I have been trying to keep up with 3 kids. Really did not know that adding one more would make a huge difference. The boys enjoyed there fall break from school. I enjoyed it for about 3 days. Wow, is all I can say. I did not get anything I wanted to get done finished; you know with all my free time and all.
Anyway, now we are awaiting surgery for Brooklynn. She will go on Oct. 26th to Children's Hospital to have tubes put in her ears and her lip repaired. We are both anxious and excited for this to occur. She will have to spend the night at the hospital. We have bought new pajamas and slippers and tons of coloring books and books to read.
As far as adjusting to the family she is doing great! She is very curious about how things work. When she sees something new or hears something new she will say "What's that". It is too cute!! Recently she got mad at Davis and gave him a piece of her mind. I tried not to laugh and tried to correct her, but her facial expression was just to funny. Braxton has done a great job helping out and being a big brother. Davis is still getting used to his roll as a big brother and now being the middle child. The other night he just wanted me to hold him, so I did. I figured it would not be to much longer before he did not even want to be in the same room with me. I really enjoy hugging on my children. It reminds me of what a great gift from God they are!!!
Well, that is all for now. I will post to let everybody know how Brooklynn is doing after her surgery. I will have more pictures later!!! Davis wanted everybody to know that he is going to be a Ninja and Brooklynn is going to be a fairy princess for Halloween. Won't that make a pair. Braxton reports that he is too old to be trick or treating, but will gladly help his sister.

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Well, Brooklynn is adjusting well with her new family. I was going to upload some pictures, but wouldn't you know it my battery is dead. I guess I have taken to many pictures. So, you are just stuck with my narration, but I promise that I will upload pictures soon.
We got a good report at the International Adoption Clinic and will be going back for our next visit on October 3rd. Brooklynn will go to the Cleft Lip/Palate Clinic on October 4th to see what we will need to do as far as surgery. Although she has this she is not at all bothered by it. In fact she weighs a healthy 28 pounds. She will eat pretty much anything you put in front of her, with the exception of Chocolate and Cake. I think I need to have a talk with her. A girl needs her chocolate. The boys love there new sister and always want to carry her every where. She loves the attention and when we go and pick the boys up her little face just lights up with joy in seeing them. Five weeks ago we did not have this precious child and now that we do I can't remember a time when we did not have her. All those frustrations in waiting and paperwork just go away. I know that this child was created for a purpose and was given to our family by God. We thank Him and praise Him everyday for giving us this special gift of life who brightens a room with her beautiful smile.

Last night in Guangzhou and yes more pictures

Getting our picture made on the famous red couch. For those that don't know all the adopted children get their picture taken on this couch at the White Swan Hotel.
Brooklynn smiling again.
This is Rebecca and she loves her sunglasses.
Rebecca with her Mom and Dad. This is for all the AFCC, since you have been waiting so long to see this sweet little girl.

This is a picture with all the children that were in our group. This was taken when most of them were waking up from their naps.

We are packing our suitcases and yes we had to buy a new one. Tommorrow evening we will start our journey back home to Athens, Alabama. Wow, you just don't know how much we miss home. Well some of you do. It has been a long journey waiting to get our daughter and now this part is coming to a close. We are excited to begin our new journey with our daughter and two sons. Brooklynn is adjusting very well and every day we see more of her personality. She loves to play and eat! This will probably be our last post until we get home. We can't wait to see everybody on Wednesday!!!

Pictures of Brooklynn and the Temple in Taiyuan

Brooklynn was singing a song in this picture.

I love my toys!!
Entrance into the Temple

Daddy and me

Hello from Guangzhou!

Well we made it to Guangzhou yesterday early evening and by the time we ate we were exhausted from travel. Brooklynn did very well on the flight over. She sat in her seat and played with some toys and looked at her favorite book.
This morning we went to get her medical exam and everything checked out fine. The doctor kept saying something about her hair and pointing to mine. It was funny. She weighs 29 pounds, which I had guessed 30. Clint went to fill out the paper work for the consulate, so now all we are doing is enjoying being with our daughter. Each day we see a little more of her personality. She is something else.
Tommorrow we get to go shopping, yeah!!! Really Guangzhou is neat our hotel is right next to the river, so when we eat breakfast we see boats going up and down. I will post pictures tommorrow when we have down time. We can't wait to see everybody! I think we will try the McDonald's tommorrow also. Both Clint and I are missing good old American food. By the way Brooklynn loves french fries!!!

Brooklynn's Day at the Park

She loves to be tickled. She has a beautiful laugh!

Playing with my toys before we go to the park.

This was in the Garden area of the park.

Flowers in the Garden area.

Mama and me at the park.

Taking a rest and a photo opp with my Mama and Daddy.

We went to the park and walked around. Brooklynn got some new shoes and seemed to be happy about them. She started bouncing up and down in them. The other shoes they had on her were to big, so it made it hard for her to walk. The park was beautiful and had so many different things to look at. Brooklynn enjoyed looking around. She held Clint's hand for the first time today. Alot of the Chinese people think that I am Chinese and will start talking to me. One man said that Brooklynn looked like me so much that is why he thought I was Chinese. Of course our guide had to translate. Even our guide has said how much Brooklynn looks like me and keeps saying that is your baby. Today we will take it easy and wait for our paper work to be dropped off. We will leave Taiyuan tommorrow to go to Guangzhou for the remaining of our time in China.

Our First Full Day with Brooklynn!!

Getting ready to go to Breakfast.

I love my book!

Smiling for Mommy

Playing with Daddy. Clint got her to laugh for the first time today and that was the best sound ever!

She likes to play. I can't say it enough she has a beautiful smile!

Today we went to the Civil Affairs Office to complete our paper work. Wow, what a relief that is to have that finished. Alot of answering questions I know we have completed in paper work leading up to this day. We signed our name to alot of paper work. Our guide was very helpful and was good to explain what we signing. Her name is Mary (that is what we call her anyway) and she explains the history of the city as we ride to where we are going. Shanxi province is the oldest in China's History. We drove down a street today that had alot of vendors on the side of the road. It reminds me of China Town in NYC except they lay their food on the ground to sell. Brooklynn seemed nervous as we entered the Civil Affairs Building today, and did not want to let go of me. Once we left she seemed at ease and more peaceful, almost as if she knew that we were her new family. Words can not explain the emotions we felt as they told us that everything was done. Tommorrow 9-5-07 we will be going to the park with our guide Mary.

Gotcha Day 9-3-07
Eating Cheerios
We made her laugh!! That is the most beautiful smile!
I love my telephone!
Daddy and Brooklynn

Sorry it took so long to post, but we have been busy loving on our daughter. Things are going well and she seems to be adjusting fine. We will go today 9-04-07 to do our paperwork!! I will post more later with pictures.

Braxton and Davis Mommy and Daddy love you very much. We will be home soon with your new sister.

Some Pictures so Far of the Trip

Hey Braxton and Davis this is a Coke can that is in Chinese! Thought you would like to see that!

Love you!

Tonight we ordered a hamburger for dinner. It came with a piece of ham on top of the beef.
Thought that was fun ham-burger.

This is Billy and Emily they traveled with us to China.
We had a long lay over in LA so we went to do some sight seeing.

Here we are at Venice Beach.

Don't I look excited to fly. Clint made me smile, but I really did not want too.

Venice Beach, Braxton and Davis this is the Pacific Ocean.

Santa Monica Pier

We Made It To China!!

We finally arrived in Taiyuan today Sept. 2nd. Feels a little weird to have skiped a whole day. The flight from LA was fine, but very long. Our guide Mary said we will be going tommorrow afternoon to be able to get and meet Brooklynn for the first time. We are excited but exhausted from the travel. Mary our guide said it is a 4 hour trip from the orphanage to where we are.
Our ride to the hotel was very interesting I will have to say. People just walk out in the middle of the street and drive on both sides of the road. There are lines painted, but I think they are just there for looks. Oh, and really there is no speed limit and I don't think I saw one traffic light the whole time we were in the van. I have to say now I feel much safer riding in a NY cab in the streets of Manhattan than here any day. I ride with my eyes shut. We will post more later with pictures.

Love,
Diane

Traveling to China!!

We started off this morning before the sun was up; around 5:00 am. We left Huntsville with no probelms what so ever and arrived in Atlanta. We fly from Atlanta to Los Angeles with only a 30 minute delay. One of the compartments fell open, so we had to go back to the gate. We are currently waiting for our flight for Guangzhou which will leave here in LA at 11:55 pm. It is hard to believe we are actually traveling to get our daughter. So many thoughts cross our mind. How will she react? Does she know we are coming to get her? We are very worn out from travel and are ready for some sleep. Maybe we will be able to rest on the flight to China. We can't believe we will soon meet our daughter for the first time. We will post once we get to China.
Braxton and Davis Daddy and Mommy love and miss you very much!!! Can't wait to see you. Please be good while we are gone.

Love,
Diane

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