ZOEY PLAYING ON HER BED

I JUST HAD TO CAPTURE THIS PICTURE, ZOEY LOVES TO SIT ON HER BIG GIRL BED AND LOOK OUT THE WINDOW. SHE LOVES ALL THE BRIGHT COLORS ON HER COMFORTER AND THE BRIGHT COLORS IN THE ROOM. SHE ISN'T SLEEPING IN HER BED YET :) BUT SHE DOES LIKE THE BED AND THE ROOM. SHE IS CO-SLEEPING WITH MOM & DAD RIGHT NOW. WE ARE LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT TOO !
I THINK THE BEST TIME OF THE DAY IS WHEN SHE FIRST WAKES UP. SHE HAS SUCH A SWEET LOOK ON HER FACE. IT MELTS MY HEART EVERY DAY.

ZOEY PLAYING PEEK A BOO

ZOEY LOVES TO PLAY PEEK -A-BOO. SHE WILL SQUAT DOWN IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I AM ON THE COUCH AND THEN JUMP UP LAUGHING. SHE THINKS BY SQUATING DOWN SHE IS HIDING FROM ME. IT IS HILARIOUS. WE HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN. SHE LAUGHS EACH AND EVERY TIME. :) THESE TIMES ARE WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD. SOMETHING SO SIMPLE BUT HAS SO MUCH MEANING TO HER AND ME. " THANK YOU LORD FOR THE SIMPLE THINGS. "

LUNCH WITH FRIENDS FROM FLORIDA

AFTER WE GOT FINISHED AT THE INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION CLINIC WE MET OUR FRIENDS, DAVE & JEN AND THEIR KIDS FOR LUNCH. THEY WERE IN TOWN FOR A DOCTOR'S APPT. FOR THEIR NEW DAUGHTER HANNAH. WE FINALLY GOT TO MEET THEIR OTHER TWO CHILDREN, JOSH & CALEB. WE HAD ALREADY SEEN PICTURES OF THEM WHILE WE WERE IN CHINA. IT WAS SO GOOD TO MEET THEM IN PERSON. THEY ARE BOTH PRECIOUS.
WE HAD A WONDERFUL VISIT AND HATED SEEING THEM GO HOME.
THEY ARE A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. WE HAVE REALLY MET AND HAVE FORMED SUCH SPECIAL FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH THE WHOLE ADOPTION PROCESS. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR EACH ONE OF THEM.

FIRST VISIT AT INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION CLINIC

WE HAD OUR FIRST VISIT TO THE INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION CLINIC. WE SAW DR. JENNIFER CHAMBERS. SHE EXAMINED ZOEY FROM HEAD TO TOE AND SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED AND SOUNDED GREAT. ZOEY HAD TO HAVE BLOODWORK DONE, AND I LET DOUG GO WITH HER AND HELP HOLD HER, I WENT AND WAITED IN THE WAITING ROOM. IT BREAKS MY HEART TO HEAR OR SEE HER CRY. THANK GOD FOR "DADDY" DADDY SAID SHE WAS A REAL TROOPER AND SHE DID REALLY GOOD, AND THEY EVEN HAD TO STICK HER TWICE. OUCH!
DR. CHAMBERS AND HER STAFF ARE WONDERFUL!! ZOEY REALLY LIKED DR. CHAMBERS ALOT. WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE CLINIC IN 3 WEEKS FOR THE LAB RESULTS.

GETTING READY TO GO TO THE INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION CLINIC

WE ARE GETTING READY FOR OUR FIRST VISIT AT THE INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION CLINIC IN BIRMINGHAM.
I LOVE BUYING CLOTHES AND SHOES FOR HER, THIS OUTFIT LOOKS SO ADORABLE ON HER I WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE. MY HUSBAND THINKS I AM CRAZY! OH WELL. :) I LOVE MY BABY GIRL!!!!

ZOEY MIMICING OUR DOG "BAILEY"

ZOEY IS SO SMART SHE IS WATCHING EVERYTHING AROUND HER, ESPECIALLY OUR DOG "BAILEY" SHE TRIES TO MIMIC HER. WHEN YOU ASK HER HOW THE DOG GOES, SHE STICKS OUT HER TONGUE AND MAKES A NOISE (SIMILAR TO THE ONE A DOG MAKES WHEN IT IS HOT). IT IS HILARIOUS. THEN THE NEXT THING SHE STARTED DOING WAS PICKING UP HER TOYS WITH HER MOUTH, AND CRAWLING AROUND HOLDING THE OBJECT. I WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE A PICTURE WITH ONE OF HER STACKING CUPS IN HER MOUTH. TOO CUTE!! SHE KEEPS US LAUGHING.

ZOEY'S FIRST DRIVING LESSON

Look at my big girl !! Can you believe her up in that big hummer acting like she can drive. :) Our dear friends & State Farm Insurance Agents, Herschel & Janet Jones helped us bring home all of our gifts from the shower on Sunday. Well Zoey let Herschel hold her when he was getting ready to leave and she grabbed onto that steering wheel like she had been doing it all along. She was so funny!! And was really enjoying herself. I just had to share these adorable pictures. Zoey is such a huge blessing for our family. We are just amazed how she is becoming more "Americanized" each day. Look out world. :) Thanks to our wonderful friends for helping us home with the shower gifts.

WHAT A GRAND TODDLER SHOWER

OUR CHURCH FAMILY & FRIENDS GAVE US A "TODDLER" SHOWER ON SUNDAY JAN.14TH. WHAT A GRAND SHOWER IT WAS! THEY DID AN ASIAN THEME, COMPLETE WITH CHINESE LANTERNS, PANDA BEARS, CHINESE FANS, FORTUNE COOKIES, AND LADYBUGS. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! ZOEY RECIEVED BEAUTIFUL OUTFITS AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER WONDERFUL GIFTS. WE WERE SO OVERWHELMED BY SUCH GENEROSITY AND LOVE WE WERE SHOWN. ZOEY DID REALLY GOOD AT THE SHOWER, AFTER WE WERE THERE FOR ABOUT 30 MINS. SHE CAME OUT OF HER SHELL AND VISITED WITH SOME OF HER GUESTS. HER CUTE PERSONALITY IS COMING OUT MORE AND MORE EACH DAY. WE ARE SO THANKFUL SHE IS HAVING A VERY SMOOTH TRANSITION. THANKS TO ALL WHO HAD A PART IN THE SHOWER. IT WILL ALWAYS BE CHERISHED.

OUR LITTLE CHRISTMAS "DEAR"

LOOK AT OUR LITTLE "DEAR" (DEER) THESE ANTLERS WERE SO CUTE ON HER. OF COURSE SHE DIDN'T LEAVE THEM ON LONG. SHE DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR, BUT I THINK SHE ENJOYED IT. SHE WAS UNSURE OF ALL THE PEOPLE THOUGH.. SHE IS STILL ADJUSTING TO PEOPLE SHE HASN'T SEEN.

OTHER ADOPTIVE FAMILIES WE MET IN CHINA

THESE ARE TWO WONDERFUL ADOPTIVE FAMILIES WE MET WHILE WE WERE IN CHINA. DAVE & JEN WINEBRENER & KEITH & SHIELA HOWARD. WE HAD A GREAT TIME VISITING WITH THEM AND THIER NEW DAUGHTERS. WE HAVE MET SOME OF THE BEST FAMILIES THROUGH OUR ENTIRE ADOPTION PROCESS. WE WERE EATING LUNCH AT THE FAMOUS "LUCY'S" THEY ACTUAL HAD FAIRLY GOOD AMERICAN FOOD.

SILLY GIRL SHOWING OFF HER FROGGY JAMMIES

I BOUGHT ZOEY THESE NEW FROG PAJAMA'S AND SHE LOOKS ADORABLE IN THEM. OH BY THE WAY LOOK AT HER FEET, SHE REFUSES TO WEAR SOCKS INSIDE THE HOUSE. SHE IS FASCINATED WITH LOOKING AT HER FEET. I HAVE TO PUT SOCKS ON HER FEET AFTER SHE GOES TO SLEEP AT NIGHT TIME SO HER FEET DON'T GET COLD. I BOUGHT HER A PAIR OF ROBEEZ SOFT LEATHER SHOES AND NOW I PUT THEM ON HER AROUND THE HOUSE, SHE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE THESE YET. :) NEEDLESS TO SAY SHE ISN'T TO HAPPY ABOUT NOT GETTING TO SEE HER FEET. :)

PROUD DADDY

Look at this "Proud Daddy" Doug is totally in love with his little girl!! She has him wrapped around his little finger. He says I have her spoiled. Ha! We both do. Zoey is blooming each and every day! She is a pure joy and delight to be with. She has the funniest expressions and loves to mock what people do.

VISIT TO ZOEY'S ORPHANAGE

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES FROM ZOEY'S ORPHANAGE.

THE NANNIES AND ADMINISTRATION STAFF WERE VERY NICE. THE PART OF THE ORPHANAGE WE TOURED WAS VERY CLEAN AND ORGANIZED.

IN GOOD OLE' USA

WE ARE FINALLY BACK ON AMERICAN SOIL, IT FEELS WONDERFUL, CHINA WAS NICE BUT IS SURE DOES FEEL GOOD
TO BE CLOSER TO HOME. WE ARE SITTING IN THE AIRPORT IN LOS ANGELES, WAITING TO CATCH OUR FLIGHT. ZOEY IS FEELING MUCH BETTER. THANK GOODNESS. SEE EVERYONE SOON!!!!! YEAH!!

CONSULATE APPT TOMORROW

THANK GOODNESS WE ARE ON THE DOWN SLOPE! OUR FINAL APPT. IS TOMORROW ON DEC. 19TH WHERE WE WILL MEET AND RECEIVE ZOEY'S VISA, SO WE CAN BRING HER INTO THE UNITED STATES.
WE HAD TO TAKE ZOEY TO THE DOCTOR THIS MORNING AT OUR HOTEL, SHE HAS A THROAT INFECTION.
SHE HAS BEEN STARTED ON MEDS, AND WE PRAY SHE FEELS BETTER REAL SOON. WE CAN'T WAIT TO GET HOME AND GET SOME SOUTHREN COOKING!! WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH CHINESE FOR AWHILE. :)

WE ARRIVE IN BIRMINGHAM DEC. 20TH AROUND 1:00PM. ZOEY SENDS LOVE TO ALL! :)
PRAYING FOR A SAFE AND SOUND RETURN TO THE USA!

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

WE ARE BACK IN GUANGZHOU NOW. WE WENT TODAY FOR ZOEY'S MEDICAL EXAMINATION, AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WE HAVE BEEN REALLY BUSY WITH PACKING AND UNPACKING, WE LEFT NANJING AND CAME TO GUANGZHOU. OUR TOUR GUIDE HAS SEVERAL THINGS LINED UP FOR US TO DO. WE ARE GOING SHOPPING ONE DAY AND THE NEXT DAY WE WILL GO TO THE ZOO. MONDAY NIGHT WE ARE TAKING A RIVER BOAT CRUISE ON THE PEARL RIVER. THERE ARE ALOT OF ADOPTION FAMILIES HERE AT THIS HOTEL WITH US, AND OF COURSE WE ARE LOVING SEEING ALL OF THE BABIES. ZOEY IS BEING A REAL TROOPER WITH ALL THE NEW ACTIVITIES. SHE IS STILL HAPPY AND A BUNDLE OF PURE JOY. SHE ALREADY HAS DADDY WRAPPED AROUND HER LITTLE FINGER. HERE ARE SOME PICTURES FROM THE MEDICAL EXAM AND IN THE HOTEL.

LEAVING NANJING TODAY

WE LEAVE NANJING TODAY AND RETURN BACK TO GUANGZHO, TO THE WHITE SWAN HOTEL. WE CAN HARDLY WAIT.
THEY ARE ALOT MORE FRIENDLIER TO AMERICANS WHO HAVE ADOPTED AND SPEAK ALOT BETTER ENGLISH.
WE VISITED ZOEY'S ORPHANAGE ON THURSDAY AND ALL THE STAFF AND NANNIES WERE VERY NICE AND FRIENDLY.
THE AREAS WE GOT TO TOUR WAS CLEAN AND ORGANIZED. I WAS SO GLAD WE WERE TAKING ZOEY AWAY FROM THERE ONCE IN FOR ALL. ZOEY SEEMED UN-EASY THE REST OF THE DAY, JUST NOT HER HAPPY GO LUCKY SELF.
WE WERE SO UPSET TO SEE HER LOOK THIS SAD. SHE FINALLY GOT BETTER THAT NIGHT AND SHE IS BACK TO HER OLD SELF TODAY. I HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD AFFECT HER THAT WAY. WE HAVE JUST BEEN DOING ALOT OF BONDING WITH HER IN OUR HOTEL ROOM. WHICH HAS BROUGHT ALL THREE OF US GREAT JOY!!
SHE WILL "MOCK" HAND GESTURES AND NOISES YOU DO WITH YOUR MOUTH. IT IS SO FUNNY. SHE IS STILL EATING GOOD AND SLEEPING GOOD. SHE CRAWLS ALOT AND CAN STAND WITH HELP AND CAN TAKE ABOUT 4 STEPS BY HERSELF. I WILL POST MORE PICTURES SOON. THE INTERNET HERE IS REALLY SLOW ON UPLOADING PICTURES.
WE WILL BE HOME SOON, AND CAN'T WAIT!! PLEASE CONTINUE TO REMEMBER US IN YOUR PRAYERS.
LOVE,
KEMP PARTY OF "THREE"

GOTCHA DAY PICTURES

NOW WE ARE THREE

WE WENT TO THE CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICE ON DEC. 11TH 2006 WHERE OUR DAUGHTER WAS HANDED TO US! THIS WAS COMPLETE HAPPINESS! SHE IS JUST AS BEAUTIFUL IN PERSON AS SHE WAS IN THE PICTURES. SHE IS TINY, VERY SMALL HANDS AND FEET, REAL DAINTY. WE HAD TO DO SOME PAPERWORK AND THEN WE TOOK HER BACK TO OUR HOTEL AND DID ALOT OF BONDING TIME. WE PLAYED IN THE FLOOR WITH HER FOR HOURS. SHE LOVES THE TELEVISION ALREADY. THEY GOT TO WATCH TV FOR 2 HOURS EACH DAY WHEN SHE WAS IN THE ORPHANAGE.
SHE LOOKS JUST LIKE DOUG WHEN SHE WATCHES IT TOO, SHE IS FOCUSED ON THAT TV AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS. ONE OF THE GUIDES HERE SAID ZOEY LOOKED ALOT LIKE DOUG. WE ALSO WERE TOLD THAT ZOEY LIKES HER MILK SWEET AND LIKES SWEETS IN GENERAL, "JUST LIKE HER MOM" :) AFTER WE TALKED TO TWO OF THE OTHER FAMILIES ABOUT THEIR FIRST NIGHT TOGETHER WITH THEIR NEW DAUGHTERS, WE FOUND OUT THAT ZOEY WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT. WE ARE TRULY "DOUBLE" BLESSED. THE POWER OF PRAYER, WE HAD BEEN PRAYING FOR A SMOOTH TRANSISTION FOR ZOEY AND SO FAR SO GOOD. WE WERE ABLE TO GET PICTURES FROM YESTERDAY AND I WILL GET THEM POSTED. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS, THEY HAVE BEEN HEARD.

LANDED IN NANJING

WE ARE IN NANJING NOW, SAT. DEC. 9TH 2006. THIS IS THE CITY WHERE ZOEY LIVES NOW. WE WILL BE RECEIVING HER ON MONDAY. DEC. 11TH. JUST 1 1/2 DAYS. WE HAVE A VERY NICE ROOM IN THE MANDARIAN HOTEL. THE GUIDE WHO MET US AT THE AIRPORT, HIS NAME IS SHANE. HE IS ADORABLE, LAUGHS AND JOKES ALOT. WE ARE GOING TO DO SOME SIGHT SEEING ON SUNDAY, NOT SURE WHAT YET. WE ARE STILL TIRED BUT WE SEEM TO BE ADJUSTING SLOWLY TO THE TIME CHANGE. WE SURE DO MISS ALABAMA.