Finally a Name!

Finally, we all 3 decided on a name for baby Xiang...

Melaina Paige

What do you think?

Isn't she precious?

How did we come up with this? 

Neil's granny's name is Elaine & his sister's name is Manda Page.

I really like Elaine or Lanie but that was vetoed.

So, Melaina Paige it is

The adoption process seems to be going pretty smooth.

Our I800a application was approved (after 70+ days!) recently which is a big step in this process.

This gives us the elgibility to adopt from a foreign country.

The next step is the I800 approval, which approves us to adopt a specific child=Melaina.

This will take approximately 3 weeks.

After I800 approval, we are technically waiting on TA.

There are a few little steps between I800 & TA, but things are much more predictable from here on out.

We hope to travel in 3-4 months, although my agency is saying 3-7 months! 

We'll see....

Fall Walk

We had a lazy weekend a few weeks ago & I really wanted to go hiking.

We loaded up the car with Harper, Baxter & the jogging stroller & went to Rockbridge State Park, not too far from our house.

The weather was splendid.

It was a bumpy ride for Miss Harper. 

The foilage was gorgeous.

Along the way, we saw an old, rusted car up on the ravine.

Neil had to photograph this.

Here we are at the bottom of the trail patiently waiting for Neil.



It was Harper's first hike in the woods.  The trail was a 3.25 mile loop, more rugged than we thought.  Next time, we won't take the stoller... too many bumps for her.

Halloween-Part 2

Harper hung out with Kolton on Halloween evening.  She was so hesitant the night before trick or treating that I thought she'd be standoffish.

Wrong....she was showing the little fireman the ropes!

The kids made it around the corner, barely 10 houses, & were wiped out.

Their favorite part about Halloween...passing out candy!

Our little princess slept like a baby that night!

Trick or Treating- Round 1

Harper went trick or treating twice, once on Sunday & again on Monday, Halloween night.

Sunday, we went to my cousin's house.

Harper was very intimidated & didn't really seem to enjoy herself.

She kept crying over everything.  That's also the day she took a 4 hour nap. Maybe she didn't feel good or she was frustrated that she couldn't keep up with all of the kids....I really don't know.

Two Mizzou Cheerleaders

Strawberry Shortcake & Mario

Lovely Ladybug

Three Stooges

And a creepy clown..

More Patch Time

Halloween weekend, Harper went to the another pumkin patch with some of the cousins.

Pony Rides

Who loves pony rides?

Pumpkin Rides 

Notice who's not in the picture

She was brave enough to ride the choo train with Cael & Ava

Harper was spent for the day.

All she wanted was to be at Mimi's house with a nice warm bowl of tomato soup!

She quickly went down for a nap & slept for nearly 4 hours!

Life Lessons

Regina Brett's Life Lessons

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Change the way you think.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month..

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. Release your children when they become adults, its their life now
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay cheque.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Todayis special.

22. Just because you believe you are right, doesn't mean you are. Keep an open mind.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26.. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.
34. Your job is to love your children, not choose who they should love.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43.. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield..
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

I received this via email today & thought I'd share.
So many of us get caught up in "image", "money"  & "materialistic" things that they think makes them happy.
Happiness is within yourself.

It's the little things in life that make a big difference in everyone around you.



Pumpkin Carving

I'm a bit behind on blogging these days...Please forgive me.

We had a beautiful day a week before Halloween & finally carved some pumpkins.

Hard at work

Don't you just wanna squeeze those lil legs?

We obviously aren't professional pumpkin carvers.

But hey, we had  fun & that's all that matters!