Merry Christmas

WOW! What a wonderful day! This was our first Christmas at home (that we didn't have to be or go anywhere in 21 years) Nothing but Family TIME! Christmas Eve we did go to the Parmer's and ate supper. Christmas day started around 7:45am. Jacob had been up an hour before he even tried to wake up his sister! What a trooper! Joleigh wasn't too excited about getting up until Jacob carried her into were Santa delivered their gifts. WOW! Her eyes glowed. Such a difference a year can make. Pictures from Christmas Eve and Christmas on this post! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS
CHRISTMAS MORNING

CHRISTMAS EVE at the Parmers

HO HO HO

Yesterday, Joleigh and I went to the mall to finish up our Christmas shopping. We had been before to meet Santa and talk with him, but this time Joleigh was hollaring at him from her stroller, so we went to see him and all she said she wanted for Christmas was CANDY! I think Santa can handle that. Cute picture~ I am really surprise she sat in his lap. Was a little hesitant at first, but warmed up quickly.

O' Christmas Tree

A little late posting, but here are the pictures of us putting up our Family Tree. This tree is the one with all our ornaments for the past 20 plus years. Joleigh really enjoyed hanging her ornaments on the SAME branch. It was too funny! Jacob and I have always enjoyed this special time, now Joleigh gets to enjoy the family tradition with us! Hope you enjoy!
Mendy

1 year ago today, we met our precious baby girl for the 1st time

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY TO US~
One year ago today a beautiful, petite and scared little 12 month old baby girl was placed into my arms. All the tears, delays and worries we had while waiting for her were totally gone. All I could do is stare into her beautiful brown eyes and tell her how much we loved her and she was now with her forever family. She immediately bonded with her Daddy and big brother, it took a little more time for her to bond with me, but that was okay. We had the rest of our lives for that. Within a couple of days, we had smiles, giggles and lots of personality coming out of this tiny, little girl that our travel group friends nicknamed, "wild thing". She is now so full of life @ 2 years old. She loves to dance, sing and make you laugh. She talks non stop with a Southern accent (really funny) She loves her brother so much as he was the first one to receive the words, "I love you" from her just before he was going to bed. My heart melted. It was absolutely precious and it totally melted her big brothers' heart, too. We are going to go to Chuck E Cheese for Gotcha Day tonight with a few family and friends. Thank you family and friends for all your support during this past year. Will post more later.
Mendy




(pictures of Joleigh in traditional dress by MC Photography)


LATER ON THAT EVENING:
We carried Joleigh to Chuck E Cheese for her Gotcha Day celebration! Special friends and family came and shared in the celebration with us! I think the adults had the most fun with the games, though. LOL Here are the pics from the night.
Mendy

Cabin Fever

Well, this has been a long, tiring week. Jacob was sick last weekend, so Monday I carried him to the doctor and he was diagnosed with Mono. We have teased him and ask him who he has been kissing on. He didn't think that was too funny. He stayed out of school until today and wasn't to thrilled to return to school today. Bless his heart. I pray he has a great day and trying to get caught up on school work. Well, we got Jacob better and now Joleigh is running temp of 102(at her highest peak)I don't know what is. Fever virus, mono (I hope not), teething??? We will watch her and see. You wouldn't know she is even sick, running around playing and turning flips and splits. Time will tell.
Mendy

Just gotta let you hear this one!

As most of you know, Miss Joleigh is full of life and is sometimes quite comical. Just a few minutes ago, I was checking the weather on the computer, in the office, and Miss Priss came up behind me to snatch some "halloween candy" from the shelf. When I started to turn around in my chair, (knowing it was her) she ran off as fast as she could, hollaring at Jacob, "RUN, MOMMY COMING!" making a successful capture of 2 tootsie roll lollipops. I guess you had to be here to think it is funny, but everyone that knows Joleigh bug, will get a great laugh.
Mendy

More of Joleigh's birthday pictures and National Peanut Festival

Mommy is finally getting around to posting more pictures from my 2nd birthday party. Thank you Aunt Kim for the great pictures! We love you!
Joleigh

On Monday night we went to the National Peanut Festival. What fun we had! This was Joleigh's first Fair I am so glad we were able to share it with Kim and Robert! Thanks guys, you're the best!

Happy Birthday, My Sweet Girl

Today is Joleigh's 2nd birthday. We had her Dora party at the local park yesterday afternoon. Friends and family came and enjoyed the special day with her. Some of her special friends includes: Jacob, Carter, Jonathan, Abigail, Stephanie, Charity, Noah, Daniel and their parents, along with Aunt Kim and Uncle Robert, Pat (the best Dora cake maker in the world) and Mr.Randy, and the 2 best set of grandparents in the world attended. She loves Dora, especially her new Dora pillow. I will post more birthday party pictures later.

I also can't help to think about Joleigh's birthmother. Wondering what kind of day she may be having. The sacrifice she made, at a difficult time in her life, was one of the biggest blessings to our family and friends.

Fall Break @ Stone Mountain, Ga.

 

What a blast, but didn't get to stay long enough. Chip said we will have to go back for more than 2 days so we could go to Coke Factory and Aquarium in Atlanta. The L's and our family had a great time. Angie and I even survived the ride up and down the mountain. If you look closely, you can see a picture of us with our "wind blown" look. It was a windy day. We had a blast in The Barn, where you shoot nerf balls at each other on different floors. If you look closely, again, you will see a purple, curvey slide. Yes! I did it! I went down that slide like I was 8 years old, hollaring the whole way. Chip and Angie were laughing at me, but that was okay, they hollared too! Can't wait to go back. If you ever get a chance to go! GO!

Rocky Top (sideways version)

Sorry for the side view. If you can tell me how to fix it, email me. LOL
Mendy

Go girl, Dance!

Here is Joleigh's debut in Stone Mountain, Ga.

Jacob performing @ "Mad Science Show" @ Stone Mountain, Ga

Can you believe Jacob acted the craziest to be able to go on stage to help with the Mad Science Show. I told him, his Aunt Cindy would be proud of him. It was too funny! Enjoy the clip

Steph and me

I love my Steph. Everyday I want to stop and see her, but Mama doesn't always let me. I finally talked Mama into stopping by to see her and look how happy I was.
Joleigh

All in one day!

THE PICTURES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!

Move over Emeril, here comes Jacob and Joleigh

Jacob has been wanting to bake a cake or really to EAT one, so we broke out the mixer, cake mix and icing and went to work. Joleigh had to help, too. When it was "lick the beater" time, Jacob took his beater and licked away, while Joleigh played in the water with her beater to make bubbles. Chip came in and helped with the icing. Jacob's cake was delicious! Enjoy

Introducing Marina Elise

My new neice was born this morning around 2am in Nashville, Tn. She weighed in at 8 lbs 12.5oz and 20 3/4inches long. She has 4 brothers and sisters. Stacey, Mark, Maddy and Miles. I can't wait to hold her and get some sugars! We love you all!
Mendy
p.s. this makes #13 neices and nephews we have and 1 great-neice. Boy am I getting old.

A look back.....will this be the day?

Last year, to this day, was a very tense day. The CCAA had matched babies thru August 9th LID and we were LID on the 8th. We were so excited! It seemed that everyone had received the long waited phone call but us. Pictures of babies were all over the yahoo groups and Rumor Queen I was pacing the floor and jumping everytime the phone rang. All I could think is "is this the call?" Then finally at 10am, Bonnie, our China Coordinator with our agency called and all I could ask was, "IS IT A GIRL?" She said yes, a beautiful girl! Her name is Hua Ru Yan (pronounced "Hwa Ru Yen") from Yulin 1st SWI in Guangxi, China. Her DOB was 11-5-05. I cried and cried. I immediately beeped Chip to come home and he did, just as we received the email with the MOST BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL in the world. We opened the email and said, "Thank you, Lord for your blessings" It is amazing to see God's hand at work and the miracles He still does today.
I immediately called Rochelle and told her. (My right hand and new precious friend thru this adoption) She fixed the pictures so we could email them out to everyone and then, it was mass email and put in on my journal. The servers didn't know what hit them. LOL Then I hit the phone and my beep beep (Nextel) alerting everyone to check their email. After the rush, I printed Joleigh's picture and went to the school and pulled Jacob out of class and showed him his new baby sister! He was so proud and excited and had been such a trooper thru this whole wait and never once asked, "how much longer" He knew in his heart that when God was ready, she would come. Oh, the faith of a child. He immediately went and showed his classmates and you could hear all the hollaring from their room.
Then we would fill out more paper work and would wait for our Travel Approval so we could head to China to get our baby. It is hard to believe that it has been a year since we saw Joleigh's precious face. She will soon be 2 years old and is so full of energy and life.

Are you ready for some football?

Jacob is playing Pee Wee Football this year for the Cottondale Hornets. These pictures are from the Jamboree. Boy, was it ever so HOT! I don't see how those boys did it but they did. Jacob is #48 and is playing offense and defense. On offense he plays flanker and wide receiver. On defense, he plays corner back. Now, to all you football people, you know what that is. To me, I haven't a clue. Jacob is enjoying playing and so far they are 2-0. (means we have won both games LOL) GO HORNETS!
Joleigh also loves football, as well. She will holler for her big brother and say "Touchdown" and "Go Boys" everytime someone is running, even if it is the other team. She is a good cheerleader all ready. So sweet.
Enjoy the pictures. Mendy

Aunt Dorlene's Visit to Florida

Recently, my Aunt from Tennessee came and stayed with Mama and Daddy. She had a great time spoiling Jacob and Joleigh and me, too. Andrea (my cousin) and her son, Grant and Donna (my cousin) and her daughter, Cassie came down to pick Aunt Dorlene up and they went to PCB for a few days. We had a great time talking and catching up. Can't wait until they come back. Enjoy the pictures.

My 5th Grader

Sniff, Sniff.......Jacob is now a 5th grader. He is growing up so fast. He wasn't very excited about school until he found out that he will have a school locker this year and then he was a little excited. Seems like yesterday, that I was taking him for the first time to K4. Enjoy the pictures.Mendy

Here he is....Help Name me!

Here is Jacob's newest pet. The guinea pig. He is so sweet natured and already has bonded with Jacob. I didn't need the red-eye reduction turned on my camera, because he has a brown coat and red eyes. Kinda rare for a guinea pig. So, Jacob was afraid that we wouldn't find a home because of his red eyes (sales girl said that....and we fell for it). So introducing..........???? still trying to figure out his name.......

"TGIF" Day

Every year we celebrate Jacob's Adoption Day with "TGIF" Thank God it's Final! Well, the first weekend in August is that day and on that day, Jacob choose our Family outing. Whatever it may be. This year, all he wanted to do is go to Dick's Sporting Goods, Beef O'Brady's for supper and Petsmart. Well, we did all mentioned and at Petsmart, he said he wanted a fish. We said, we don't have tank, but can do Beta. Well, we walked a little more and he said, "Oh, a hermit crab." Okay, I thought, we can do a hermit crab. Well, as you see in pictures, we are all "thumbs up" for a hermit crab.....UNTIL we saw the Guinea pigs. Long story short.....we went in after $5 beta fish, or $8 hermit crab and came out with $95 Guinea pig (supplies added with that) He is a cutie pie. We are still trying to name the little rascal. I will post a picture of the new family member soon!

Mendy

Happy Birthday Bubba James

One of my best friends'(Kim C.) "baby" just celebrate his first birthday. Isn't he adorable!
We love you, Bubba James!

My Favorite Pictures

Look at these beautiful children! A Mom has to brag on her children! Sweet pictures.