Christmas 2008

Sorry it has taken us a while to post our Christmas photos! Like everyone else we have been busy with family and friends. We had a wonderful Christmas. Sam really enjoyed everything.. from seeing everyone, to shopping, to eating, and of course Santa. Sam was so grateful for each gift he received... even clothes! He is such a sweet boy. Christmas morning he woke up and said "Happy Birthday Jesus".. then he saw the lights of the tree were on. He got excited and screamed.. "Santa come to see me"! He loved his Thomas the Train Choo Choo set and played with it for a long time before he realized he had other presents! Enjoy the videos and photos. The first picture above shows Sam wearing my reading glasses! The last video is him singing "Happy Birthday to Jesus" before he reaches for my camera because he loves watching and looking at his picture!!

Sam's Christmas Celebration at School

Sam's daycare put on a Christmas program today. We were so excited and couldn't wait to see Sam perform. His class was to sing three songs: "Happy Birthday Jesus", "Jingle Bells", and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". We had tried to prepare Sam by telling him that we would watch him sing his Christmas songs. When they walked into the fellowship hall Sam spotted us right away and yelled out loud "Mama.. Daddy"! Everyone laughed.. it was so funny. After he spotted us he would have no part in singing.. he wanted to come to us. It didn't take long before he started crying "mama... daddy" and reaching for us. The teacher had to pick him up and try and comfort him. After they sang the songs, he came and sat with us and was very happy!! It was a priceless memory and we cannot wait to share it with him when he is older... we have it all on video tape! He is a mama's boy!!

Ringing the Bell

We rang the bell for the Salvation Army at Sam's Warehouse Friday evening. We had a good time and enjoyed helping others. We want to teach Sam early about the importance of serving others.

Polar Express

Saturday evening we went to ride the Polar Express. It is a real train ride at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera. We had arranged it so several families who had adopted children from China would be on the same train. It was so great to meet other families and to visit with our friends. We arrived at the train about 4:15 and we departed for the North Pole at 5pm. Sam was so excited! Aunt Marcy, Isabell, and Grand Mary came up from Mobile to join us and to spend the night. Sam and Isabell wore matching "twas the night before Christmas" pajamas. They looked so cute and everyone thought they were twins. When the train started they read the Polar Express to all of us. Then we sang Christmas songs and looked out the window until we arrived at Santa's warehouse. Santa and Mrs. Claus was waiting for us to arrive. Some elves came on the train first and gave jingle bells to everyone. We rang our bells and continued singing songs until Santa and Mrs. Claus came aboard and visited with all the children. Sam saw Santa and was yelling at the top of his lungs "SANTA"! We had so much fun. Below is video of Sam ringing his bells.

Disco Elfs

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Sam and Santa

Friday evening we met Mary Grace and Leigh Ann for dinner. It had been a while for Sam and Mary Grace to visit. Sam is always very shy when he first gets around anyone, but after a few minutes he warmed up and him and Mary Grace had a great time of eating and playing. After dinner, we went to visit Santa at EastChase. We were thrilled to see it was the same one that Sam had visited last year right after we came home from China. Santa remembered Sam and was thrilled when Sam came right to him, gave him high five, and started talking to him. Sam was not shy at all with Santa and was very happy to let Santa know that he wanted a choo choo train for Christmas. I hate the video is dark, but I took it with my camera and there was not much light.

Roll Tide!

One Year Ago...

NOvember 26, 2007 Sam was placed into our arms. He was frightened and scared. He cried and reached out desperately for the Director of his orphanage to take him away. Director Gu and two other nannies had traveled with the children from ZhangJiaGang orphanage to the civil affairs office in Nanjing. It was obvious that Director Gu had a special relationship with Jin Hao (Sam) and he wanted to go back into the safety of her arms and the only home he had ever known. The first two pictures above show us with Sam on our gotcha day. It did not take very long until Sam adjusted to his new family and home. He is a very loving child who freely gives kisses and hugs. He knows colors, shapes, and can count to five on his own and ten with a little help. He can speak in complete sentences and loves Dora, Diego, Backyardigans, the Wonder Pets, and Little Einsteins. He also loves choo choo trains, airplanes, helicopters, cars, riding his bike and swimming. We celebrated our Gotcha Day by getting a new hair cut (check out the spike), going to the zoo and then going out to dinner. We are so thankful to our Heavenly Father for the miracle of Sam. "Do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them," says the Lord. Deuteronomy 4:9

Operation Christmas Child

We do this every year, but this year was special because we have Sam and we wanted him to start learning to serve others and to give to those less fortunate. We selected a boy two-four years old and filled the box with lots of goodies. We also included a picture of Sam and our address in case someone wants to write us back. By the way, we signed up to ring the Salvation Army bell at Sam's Warehouse Friday Dec. 12 from 6pm-8pm.... so if any of you are out and about that evening please stop by and give a donation to help those who need food and shelter.
Potty training is going very good. This is our third week and Sam has made great improvements. In fact, except for when he is sleeping, he goes every time in the potty!! This week is going to exciting for us because Wednesday we will be celebrating our one year "gotcha" day. We have a wonderful family day planned. We will post all about it later. I pray all of you have a very blessed Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for and we all need to pause and thank the Lord for His grace, mercy, and love for each of us.

Happy Birthday Mama!

Today was my 46th birthday and Sam really enjoyed helping his Nai Nai bake a birthday cake for me... then of course the best part was eating it (the boy loves chocolate)!! I was in New Orleans all weekend for a Crimestopper workshop. It was my first time away from Sam. He was so sweet when I got home. He hugged and kissed me and held me tight for a long time. After my homecoming we had a small birthday celebration. Sam has on the Mardi Gras beads I got him.. and he is playing with his yellow school bus. Enjoy the pictures of my birthday party with my wonderful family!

Tailgating at Troy

We went to Troy University's homecoming came last weekend. It was Sam's first football game. We had a ball tailgating with Aunt Sherry and Uncle Pat Pat. Nick is an alumni of Troy and it was exciting for him to bring his family to his old "stomping" grounds. The last picture is Sam after a long day of football fun. That is his penguin "Ping"!

Bye Bye Sweet Barney

Goodbye sweet baby boogie bear Barney. You were such a good boy and we loved you very much! Our hearts are breaking and our pain is deep but we thank the Lord and rejoice because we had you for 18 years and you gave us so much joy and unconditional love. You will forever live in our hearts.