I love this kid!

And they wonder why you act so wild?!?

The "sweet as pie" face...that's Halle-Grace


Today was one of those "story book" days with Halle-Grace! We had so much fun playing dress up in her room (I think I had more fun than she did). She is such a fun-loving, hilarious child! She will allow you to do just about anything (as you can see from the photos). I just can't get enough of her and that magical personality!


SO...earlier today, Jason was yelling from our master bathroom for help! I ran to see what was going on and I immediately saw water shooting as high as the 13' ceilings (scalding hot water)! He was in the process of changing the facet covers when something obviously went "not as planned"! He told me to hold a towel over the "FOUNTAIN" and he would crawl under the house to cut the water off. I put Halle-Grace in her pack and play and she LAUGHED out loud at her mom getting soaked with scalding hot water! I would yell "ouch, ouch, ouch...HURRY JASON" and she would just yell with laughter! Luckily, an EMERGENCY plummer was at the house in less than 20 minutes (NO hot water left) but the problem was fixed! Just the Devine way of "MAKING MEMORIES".

While Jason cleaned the mess, we played more and had a "bow show"! I am telling you, Halle-Grace totally cracks me up! We played "I am your agent" and made commercials/ photo shoots for various products (Carters Diaper Bags, J&J safety Q-tips and more silly/made up things)...she would nod her head like, "yeah mom I am with ya on this one, let's make some college money for this shot". The photos tell the rest of the story!

"Yes, you can fit your baby inside the Carter's diaper bag"
Carter's Bags are incredibly durable! Buy yours today!


I LOVE THIS KID!!! ENJOY the BOW show!

On a more serious note:
Simply Angelic!

Halle-Grace woke up with a happy face this morning after a rough night of MEAN teething!
I was on "duty" which means for me, I have to stay awake, otherwise, Jason will not wake me up to help out and trust me, I can sleep through a tornado! So, to stay awake, I watched the election coverage. As I was watching the acceptance speech from our newly elected President, I found myself covered in goose bumps with tears rolling down my cheeks! I felt a sense of pride for the FIRST time since enduring so much RED TAPE during our journey to our tiny miracle. To know Halle-Grace, who lived in an orphanage from her birth on Nov. 19, 2007 until she was placed in our arms on September 1, 2008, NOW lives AND is a citizen of the best nation in the world...has the opportunities and freedom to do and become whatever her little heart desires JUST did it for me! The emotions, I could not hold back! I reflected on all that Jason & I and our entire family endured during our fight for our daughter and ALL of the TQ families who went through the same feelings, disappointments, sleepless nights, hitting "check mail" 1000 times to see if maybe, just maybe HCM Adoptions had responded, pleading/begging with our representatives to help...and NOW, FINALLY, the end result that is SO story book perfect! Angels from a Northern Province in Vietnam are being placed/or have already been placed in the arms and care of their FOREVER FAMILIES! I had a renewed sense of "I can do it too". If nothing else, it gives me, a new parent, hope for tomorrow and hope for raising Halle-Grace to know that nothing will hold her back...unless she allows fear to rear its ugly head... and from what I can already tell, this little one has the will, determination, personality, and charm to be the first asian, female President if she wants to be!! Seriously, if we don't have hope, we have nothing and I choose to press forward! Who cares about "party lines" especially when you have lived through the "journey of adoption"...it's a miracle and nothing less! The TQ families know what I mean!

Jason and I are incredibly blessed to call this beautiful, tiny miracle...OUR DAUGHTER!!!