Free Day :)

We had our first free day yesterday.... It was SO great!  Naomi has really began to open up & let her personality shine :)  We ate breakfast & then went swimming.  We saw Naomi come ALIVE!  It was awesome.  She LOVES the water!  She splashed & played & laughed..... belly laughed even! It was absolutely a dream!!

The boys enjoyed ping pong

Jeb enjoyed the pool.  They required swim caps! lol

Naomi enjoyed splashing her brothers!! :)

Lovin the swim caps!!

Then we headed out on the town...

Had lunch at KFC!!

Playing with brother on the KFC playground :)

Then we headed to Wal-Mart

It was much the same... but very different...

Then, we rode the carousel & played in the downtown area

We headed to the park to play a while before heading back to the hotel.  We did a lot of walking, but really enjoyed being outside.

Then the boys entertained Naomi before bed

Jeb & Naomi :))  Sweet, Sweet

Today we are going to Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Kung Fu,  with another family.  The boys are really excited.  Then Friday, on Naomi's 4th birthday, we are going to Maria's Big House of Hope!!!!  Could not be more excited!  It worked out perfectly for us to go on her birthday :).... And what a birthday it will be!  Praising His name...great things He has done :))

Naomi's First "Family" Day :)

We had a wonderful first day with our daughter!! Very long, but wonderful day! Naomi slept all night & felt much better when we woke up.  Her fever was down & she acted like she felt better.  We went to breakfast & she ate any & everything!  She has a great appetite! She also LOVED her first bath!  I brought her a swim doll & she played & played in the tub.  She even bathed her baby :).... so sweet!  She also giggled & laughed for the first time.  She finally let Kevin hold her after her bath.  He was thrilled.  I had to snap a pic :)

At breakfast, when we sat down she immediately picked up the chop sticks & began eating!! Precious!!

On the way back to the room :)

After breakfast, we went back to the government office where we received her on Monday to sign the papers to make it official.  We had 24 hours to change our minds... :)  

On the bus ride there

Then we had to go to the notary to get everything notarized.  

On the way back to the bus.... loves daddy holding her now :)

After that, we had lunch then took a 1 1/2 hour bus ride to Hebi, the city where Naomi is from, to apply for her passport.  Hebi is a beautiful city. Not at all what we expected.  It is much smaller & seemed quaint.  The passport officials really liked Jeb (everyone here really does).... They wanted to take pictures with him :)

After that, we went to the Hebi City SWI where Naomi was taken when she was first abandoned.  She only spent 6 months there before she was taken to New Hope Foster Home where she received her cleft surgeries.  She was taken back there about a week ago to do the paperwork for the adoption.  So, this is where she was brought to us from & we were concerned that she would be upset thinking that we were taking her back. But we've heard from so many others that it is good for them & gives them closure  This is what we experienced with her and are so grateful!

This is the outside of the building

It had a nice playground

The man in the picture is the Orphanage Director. The lady is a volunteer at the orphanage who translated for us.  They were both very kind, friendly people.  They acted like they were very pleased with us adopting Naomi & for us visiting them.  When I picked up this precious one, Naomi grabbed my leg.... priceless!!!  I will never forget that feeling :)

I could've taken each baby home with me!!!

This was Naomi's room

She was unsure & didn't really know what to think

Our family with the Orphanage Director & volunteer translator outside the orphanage.  They both asked us if we would email them the picture!!!

This has been Naomi's usual response to the boys.... "the hand"  lol

In the van on the way home having snacks with brother :)

Then she began to come out of her shell & laugh :))  Made our day!!

Today, we have the day OFF!  We plan to go swimming, go to the park, & maybe venture out to Wal-Mart...... should be fun!  Our internet was not working last night when we got in & honestly, I was too tired to try to figure out what was wrong with it!  Today it seems to be working fine.  I'll try to post more later tonight!  Thanks for the prayers & encouragement!  We appreciate you all so much!  We are BLESSED!!!

Gotcha Day

I didn't have time to write about our day earlier, because Naomi has not been feeling well.  As soon as we got back to the room, we realized she had 102 degrees fever. She has a really bad runny nose & seems as if her throat might be sore.  Please pray she feels better tomorrow....

Our day went as wonderful as could have been asked for! (except for the sickness :)  On the way to the government office where we were to receive our children, our guide, Rita, told us & another family that our children were going to be arriving late.   We said ok & decided we'd help take photos & videos of the other 2 families while we waited on our kiddos.  However, when we walked in, the other family's child was there waiting on us! They were ecstatic & a little caught off guard...  We all started taking pictures of them & gathering around. About 5 minutes later, Kevin comes over & says, I think Naomi just came in!  I looked over & there she was! I about passed out..... It was so funny because she had told us both they would be late & so we were both SO caught off guard!  Naomi was with the Hebi Orphanage Official who handles all of their paperwork. She was a very nice young lady.... She took lots of pictures of Naomi with us with her phone. She seemed to really care about her.  Naomi never cried until she left. When she left, Naomi sat in the floor & cried & wouldn't let any of us hold her. I tried to put my arm around her & she turned around with her back to me.. (it was kinda funny... she showed her spunkiness I've heard so much about :)  After about 10 minutes or so, she let me pick her up.  We gave her some goldfish crackers.  She started eating those & hasn't cried since!!!

You can definitely tell she feels bad.... She has slept on & off all day & has just laid around in my lap.  So far, she hasn't let anyone hold her, but me :)  And she has been so incredibly cooperative with everything!  I've had to take her temp several times & she just lifts her little arm up for me.... We've given her Tylenol & cold medicine & she has just opened right up & taken it!  Not even a whimper!  She has eaten noodles & later even almost all of a McDonald's cheeseburger!!  The boys are crazy about her.  Several times today, they have said, "Mama, I'm so glad you decided to adopt Naomi" or "Mama, I'm so glad you had this idea" or "Mama, I'm so glad we did this".  It literally has brought tears to my eyes.  I have made sure to let them know that it most definitely was NOT my idea or desire... it was GOD's.  He knows how to give good gifts to His children.  We were just obedient & have reaped the blessings!!!!  There's a line in one of my favorite movies (Fools Rush In) where he tells his love..."You're the best thing that I never knew I always wanted"... That sums up my day!!!  Praise HIS Name!

Mama's girl :)

Big brother :)

My sleeping beauty :)

WE HAVE NAOMI!!!!!

Just pics for now.... will post info later!

She is doing AMAZINGLY well!!  Thank you for the prayers!!!

We made it to Zhengzhou!

We left Beijing around 10:00 this morning & flew to Zhengzhou. The flight was short & sweet. We have checked into our hotel, eaten dinner, & are about to hit the sack!!!  BIG day tomorrow!!! Only 15 hours until Naomi :))  Please pray for her little heart... that she will know how much we love her & have been waiting for this day for so long.  Please pray for us that we will know what to do & say to make her feel safe & loved.  We have been praying for this day for so long... we know God has ordained it & is going ahead of us.  We are beyond thankful for the work He has done & is doing in our family.  Thank you so much for the prayers! We will post pics just as soon as we can!!