Caught ya!!

O Christmas Tree!!

Yesterday was the day for ALL Christmas decorating in our household. Matt worked on the icicle lights on the house, I put up the Christmas tree while the babies were napping. Then I put out our new spiral trees that light up and our snowman and snowflakes were added to light up our walkway. I will post a pic of our house lit up as soon as I can.

Cody and Carleigh decided the tree was too irrestible. I have already had to rehang MANY ornaments!!

Cody and Carleigh Candids

Thanksgiving night, I went into Cody's room and this is what I saw....

Thanksgiving 2006

We had Thanksgiving dinner at Matt's sister Michelle's house. Cody and Carleigh loved the mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and stuffing the best! On the way home, they konked out and took a nice nap while I went shopping with my sister and mom. I love getting the good deals!!

A girl and boy with their glasses

Cody is wearing his glasses better! This is a big improvement. Today he has kept them on the majority of the time. I just have to keep Carleigh away from them! She wants glasses because her big brother has them so she put on the Mr. Potato Head glasses. She is soooo funny!

Changes

Alot has happened over the past several weeks. Matt was hired for a part-time job working evenings Monday - Friday with an occasional weekend night when the holiday season starts. He is working with a company that processes orders for a home shopping network. He is getting used to his job and it is extra income that we can definitely need. We are now in the mindset for Christmas shopping. I usually do the majority of my shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Yes, I am one of those people who are at the stores at 5am!! I love the madness and I love getting DEALS! Carleigh is walking like a pro now!! I am amazed at her progress. She has already mastered skills that Cody just learned a couple of months ago. She can bend down and pick an object off the ground and stand back up without falling. She is also getting up from the middle of the floor and does not need assistance to get up. She is starting to walk faster also. Boy, I am exhausted every night!! I am just amazed at the progress of both! Tonight, I was talking to my mom and I gave the phone to Cody and he said "He-llo Ma ma!" (Hellow, Mamaw!) Hello is his new word and Carleigh says "-lo!!" It is so cute to see them both learn language!!

My handsome little man!

Such a sweet smile!

Carleigh modeling her dress and wearing shoes!

So Sassy!

She loves to self feed!

She loves to self feed!

Bigs news is coming next week...

We had our monthly visit with the caseworker and Cody's adoption worker. We should be hearing about Carleigh's permanent custody trial verdict next week and Friday is the deadline for an final appeals in Cody's case. So next week will be a big week in our family! It seems like adoption finalization is VERY close for Cody! Praise the Lord!! And Carleigh will be moving into the adoption unit and out of the foster care unit this month if the PC verdict is in our favor (which we are almost positive will be).

I am just so thankful for my two precious miracles from God. If it weren't for infertility, we would've never adopted. In a way, I am thankful for infertility because I wouldn't be blessed by Cody and Carleigh if we didn't struggle with IF. November is National Adoption Awareness Month and I wanted so much to finalize Cody's adoption this month, but the timing didn't work out. I just want to encourage everyone that adoption is such a loving way to build your family. I have been touched this year in my classroom with two families who are in the process of adopting internationally. One of the families have adopted two of their children from foster care and now will be adding a child from China. I am just amazed at how God placed these students into my classroom at the time in which we will be finalizing our children's adoptions.