Our 12th wedding anniversary!

Lily and Danielle
Lily, John Christopher and Maddie

Lily dancing with Papa Jim

the happy couple

Today is our 12th wedding anniversary! It is hard to believe! Two days ago, we watched Danielle (my Godsister) marry Lucas in a beautiful ceremony in the same church that we got married in 12 years ago today. It was surreal and emotional for us. It was also wonderful because it was Lily's first wedding to attend and she was their flower girl. We have had a wonderful anniversary visiting with some of our dearest friends!

Lily and Mary Grace

Mary Grace and her family were the first family that we met when we started the process to adopt Lily from China. We had lots of fun times with them as we waited for Lily. They also decorated our house and were at the airport when we arrived home. We still love to spend time with them when we are in Baton Rouge. This time was no exception. We shared a wonderful meal cooked by Kim (thanks!) and David and Wes really caught up while the girls played. They had so much fun. It only made us wish that we lived closer!

More fun with family

Pretty as a Princess
Our family, we sent this pic to Graeme

Luke, Jodi, Rodney and John Christopher

Lily showing her new China Girl jacket (thanks littlelanterndesigns.com)

Granny and Papa Jim

all of the cousins Anna, Luke, Ashley Grace, Alex, Catherine, John Christopher and Lily

Lily and Alex patiently wait to open their gifts

Luke, the LSU Tiger Fan

Opening gifts with family!

Lily and Mom
Jodi, my sis and Lily's Nanan

Luke loved the paper more than the presents!

Wes, Granny and Papa Jim

Christmas Cookies Continued!

These cookies are just for Santa!
Got Sprinkles!

Now this is what I call fun!

Lily is so focused on getting her cookies just right.

So we did finish the cookies before Santa arrived. I would love to show you a picture of Lily biting into her decorated cookies but alas, these were all for Santa! (Lily does not like icing at all except for use in an artistic way!). This was a lot of fun. Thanks Nanan for getting everything together!

For Christmas, we got PA!!!!

We are so excited to report that we have PA or prior approval. It is a small step in what is the next phase of our adoption. It means that the China Center for Adoption Affairs acknowledges our desire to adopt Graeme and will now move our paperwork to the appropriate place to be matched with his. The letter is dated 12/25/07. Someone wants our son home soon because we seem to be on the fast track so far. I hope it continues. For those of you keeping track, our info is Log in Date 4-20-07
Medical Checklist to our Agency 10-18-07
Date of Referral 12-11-07
Letter of Intent 12-17-07
Prior Approval 12-25-07

I couldn't ask for anyting better. I have tons of Christmas pics to post as soon as I can. Lily is in a wedding in few days and we are having a ball with family and friends. Life is so good!

Baking for Santa

Just getting the dough ready!!
John Christopher was driving the train cookie cutter through the flour!

Here we prove the saying, "Anyone can cook!"

Lily Wen getting a little messy with Santa's cookies

John Christopher too!

Back to business!

Baby Luke had to join in the fun!

John Christopher, Lily Wen and Luke

Lily had so much fun with her cousins, John Christopher and Luke. She is practicing becoming a big sister and is so helpful!!!! They had so much fun making Christmas Cookies for Santa. We decorate them later today so stay tuned!

Just Waiting!

We are waiting again and it is so much harder with Graeme's sweet face looking at us from the pictures. I think of him often throughout the day but most intensely first thing in the morning when he is going to bed and last thing at night when he is beginning his day. I pray for him to be happy and healthy until we can bring him home. We thought we would most likely travel in May. However, April 2007 paperwork is beginning to move quicker so it could be anytime from March to May. We of course want him home as soon as possible. Wes, Lily and I are in Louisiana for the holidays and are having a wonderful time with family. Lily has loved playing with her 2 year old cousin and I am hoping this is preparing her a little more for Graeme. We are currently waiting for PA which is prior approval and then we will wait for LOA which is letter of acceptance. There is a family in China right now that adopted a little girl from Graeme's orphanage. I e-mailed them as they are visiting the orphanage tomorrow. I am hoping that they get to see him and maybe even take a picture of him. The referral pictures that we have are months old and I would love to see a newer picture. Their daughter seems to be transitioning well which is such a blessing. We hope that their trip will be a safe one. All I want for Christmas is a new picture of our SON!

Thank you Wise Family! Our Wonderful Secret Pals!

We received our final gift from our CCAI secret pal and we got to find out who are pal was for the swap. THANK YOU Grant, Janelle and Chloe Wise. I did my best to not find out who you were so I was totally surprised when I got the last package!!! I also cried when I opened and pulled out the Columbia pull over and socks....the first clothes officially purchased for Graeme!! We love the vehicles and ball. It really is strange to have boy toys in the house. We also loved the books, earrings and photo book. The only thing not pictured is Lily's book. She has called it her homework and carried it everywhere since we opened the package last night. This has been the most amazing experience. I love their blog too...www.wisetales.blogspot.com. Chloe is just precious. Words just don't seem adequate. THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU!

CELEBRATION!!

I haven't posted much since we got the news. We are excited and shocked to say the least!!! My Mom put together the following to show what we have all been up to the last few days! Enjoy! Wes, Margaret and Lily are at http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1414903219
Then there is Lily and her cousin John Christopher....Lily's favorite http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1408368619 Next, my sister, Jodi and her family http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1415182482 Last but certainly not least are Granny Mary and Papa Jim http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1407667961.

As you can see, we have all been pretty busy celebrating Graeme. We can't wait until he is home to dance with us all. Have a wonderful day!!!

IT'S A BOY!!!!!

We would like to introduce our son!!! Graeme Wilder Li Miracle

The Best early Christmas present in the world!!!! Big sister, Lily Wen is very excited. Date of Birth is October 13, 2005. He is at the Bengbu City Social Welfare Institute in Anhui Province. His Chinese name is Ling Li Jun and his paperwork states Li Jun is a happy little boy and we often hear his happy giggles coming from his room. He loves riding the rocking horse and is described as Talkative and Energetic. His special need is cleft lip and cleft palate (he has had his lip surgically repaired).

We are thrilled beyond belief and a little freaked because it is so soon after our checklist was turned in to our agency.

Well the Journey to Baby Becky has evolved to the Journey for Toddler Graeme and we could not be happier! Woo Hoo!

I have a new April 2007 Secret Pal

I have not blogged about it at all but I have been participating in two secret pal swaps. I am participating in one with my agency and another with my Log in Date group - April 2007. I have loved shoopping for my pals and sending their gifts. I also love opening the gifts with Lily each month as we talk about our baby Miracle. Well after the first month, my secret pal for the April group just disappeared. After the second month, I contacted the owners and swap organizers so they could check on her. I was worried and still am...as we have heard nothing back from her to my knowledge. This month I was reassigned to another pal who sent me my first gift today and boy did she make up for the last few months. She did more than her share and sent gifts for October, November and December. Lily and I had a ball opening the presents. She sent Halloween socks and cookie cutters for October, scrapbook paper and chopsticks, travel cheat sheet for November, books, advent calendar, chinese take out ornamen and the cutest little Santa bib for December. This was amazing to come home to!!!! I LOVE MY NEW SECRET PAL!

Thank you Secret Pal!

Thank you CCAI secret pal!!! It has been a crazy week and we just checked mail for last week. I think your gift sat at the post office for a few days! Sorry to just now be posting. Lily loves her advent calendar and is more interested in opening the doors than eating the candy…not like her mother at all. I love my James Taylor CD and the candles. I listened to the CD all day yesterday while getting things done around the house. It really put me in the mood for Christmas. Thanks also for the sweet toy for our baby. We can’t wait for that referral but your gifts are helping the wait go by quickly.