Sunday School

Hope has moved up in Sunday School and she is doing very well. Last week her teachers gave her a beanie baby dog to take home because they studied that God created animals. We got out all of her beanie babies and have been talking about it all week. This week they learned that God created us. Hope did her first painting with a paint brush in class. I was showing everyone at church what my baby girl did. Of course it is on the refrigerator!

New Wagon

Hope loves her new wagon. She had lots of fun with Daddy last night riding around. Thank you Mrs. Gloria and Mr. Lewis!

Telephone

Hope has figured out what to do with the telephone. She is so cute holding her play phone, however she knows how to use the real phone, too. I didn't realize it would start so early!

The Air Show comes to Wilmington

Last weekend the air show was at the Wilmington airport. Fortunately, we can see a lot of the activity from our backyard. Our family enjoyed sitting outside and watching the planes. The Thunderbirds performed and it was amazing to see the powerful planes fly over us. Hope likes to walk around with Daddy and also play in the grass. I think Hope is precious in her little hat.

The Hayes

On our way home we were able to stop in and see Mr. and Mrs. Hayes (or should I say Memaw and Papa). Hope had fun exploring their house and eating fried chicken and mashed potatoes.

My friend, Robby

My friend Tammy and I have been friends since we were 12. Now we both have been married for 12 years and have children. Hope and I were able to visit with Tammy, Jimmy and Robby in Charlotte. Robby loves to play with Hope and he does a good job watching her and keeping her happy. Robby had an idea of something Hope would like to play with and it was a mirror about 4 feet long. Well the diva was thrilled. She and Robby played for a long time in front of the mirror. Robby also shared some of his toys he still had from when he was younger. He is a good buddy. Thanks Robby!

Maw Maw & Paw Paw's house

We were able to visit with Scott's family when we traveled home. I am thankful Hope is able to play with her cousins. As usual, Maw Maw fed us well and Paw Paw played with the girls. I think Hope liked playing in the backyard the best while Paw Paw blew bubbles and the other girls ran around chasing them. Hope sat in the grass and tried to eat it. Before, she never put anything in her mouth, but now that she has learned to feed herself, she puts everything in her mouth. We had a fun day.

Stay in Charlotte

Hope and I went to Charlotte to visit family and friends week before last. We stayed at Aunt Margaret & Uncle Jerry's house. They always take good care of us.

Visit to Gaston Christian School

Hope and I were able to meet the students at GCS that have prayed for us during our adoption journey. The students made cards for Hope on her birthday in October (before we even went to get her). They were so sweet and encouraged her to have a relationship with Jesus. I am going to save the cards for her to read when she gets older. We met one of the girls who Hope had her picture taken with and has been a sweet encouragement with her prayers and excitement about Hope's adoption. As we were leaving the school Hope found a mirror (you know my diva) so her Aunt Tina played with her a while in front of it.

Diva needs her sleep

I put Hope down for her nap today and she must have needed total darkness. Daddy was cutting the grass and we had been out earlier this morning, so this is what I found. She is becoming so animated, even when she sleeps. She looks like such a big girl. Yesterday we were riding in the car and she was dancing in her seat. She had never done this before, so it was so cute. Of course I can't get her to do it for again for Scott to see. We went to Lewis strawberry farm yesterday for some homemade strawberry ice cream. Hope likes ice cream and when she wanted another bite she said, "mmmm". Too cute! She usually eats pretty well, however when we go to restaurants she thinks she needs french fries only. I guess it is because she can feed them to herself. The trick is to feed her what I want her to have first, then show the french fries. It doesn't always work, so I try to slip in a bite of something else with the fries. Hope is now holding her cup consistently. This is a huge praise. The Lord is truly good to us.

First Steps

Hope has been walking with help for a while now, but tonight she took her first steps alone! Scott and I both were home and were able to see it. She walked from our endtable to our couch. It was only a few steps, but she did it. We took some pictures of her standing alone.

The Tyndalls Visit

Our sweet friends from Wendell came to visit yesterday and today. Sandy, Loni, Murphy and Roy came to check out how Hope is doing and to spoil her. Hope loved having friends to play with. She did really well with the teenagers except when they would hold her toys. She stared down Roy when he picked up one of her rings. It was so funny. Today we went to eat at a restaurant on the beach and Hope loved the ocean (I loved the flounder!). The pictures are of Hope snuggling with Murphy, playing peep-eye with Loni, smiling with all of them and Mommy smooching on her before nap time. We're thankful our friends came to visit. We missed you Barry and Lindsey!