She has tipped the scales....

HG had to make a visit to the pediatricians office yesterday for what turned out to be another ANNOYING ear infection! Bless her bones!!! She is doing very well and was quite the WILD WOMAN last night after the first dose of antibiotic. FULLY CLOTHED W/SHOES, she weighs in at a whopping 20 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally, she can officially sit front facing in a car seat. LOL! She is still in the 2-3% of her weight category *which means nothing because she looks very healthy...just little* She is tall so as she gets taller...you know the deal. We have completed her fall/winter wardrobe for the most part and she will be sporting a lot of dresses and tights because jeans are a joke for her body right now. 12 month jeans fall off the soon to be 2 year old and anything smaller is HIGH water city! LOL! She's doing great, has dance tonight and is loving school. They are learning the color red and about God's creations this month. Tomorrow they make PIG cookies? She has chapel on Thursdays (would love to be a fly on the wall for that...HAHAHA). She is 100% PRISSY! She loves to wear "dipstick" what she calls lipstick...she asks for it by name all the time. She loves to have her nails (fingers and toes) painted and will sit and blow them forever to ensure they are dry! She loves to play dress up...and she can sing "Miss America" perfectly!!! She's MISS MAGIC!! We are blessed! Busy rest of the week and weekend ahead...will post more later. Thanks for reading and leave Miss Magic a comment:)

"SO you think you can dance...Miss Magic can" Click here to see the cutest dancing queen!

She's got the MOVES

And the technique!

And a winning personality....LOOK OUT WORLD!

CLICK here to support Miss Magic's 1st 5K and her efforts to find a cure! SAVE THE TATAs

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Jason & Miss Magic's goal is $500.00. Let's help them BLOW it out of the water! They are running in honor of Mamaw Devine and Aunt Gloria.

http://charlotte.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/CLT_CharlotteAffiliate?px=5799631&pg=personal&fr_id=1230

DADDY, is this training fun or what??!!! COME ON, help me raise funds and save the TaTas

A BEE she will BE!

I have found Miss Magic's Halloween Costume! Where? You guessed it....etsy.com! Thanks M, I am SO addicted!!! LOL! Miss Magic will be the cutest little bumble bee EVER! The seller makes these adorable costumes. The only difference in the photo you see will be a long sleeve black turtleneck and her leggings will be yellow & black thin stripe vs. white & black stripe. Etsy is cool because you can have things made "just the way you want it"! Thanks to Paisley and Posies, they were GREAT to work with...below are sample photos of  the Bumble Bee! I LOVE the yellow and black tutu that is covered in HUGE black sequin disk (huge selling point for the BLING loving mama)! HG's cuteness will STING everyone come Halloween! Promise to POST tons of photos!

Photos from Paisley and Posies...check them out on Etsy.com

Pre-school ROCKS!!! AND mama's adoption day gift

Life with Miss Magic is always TOO much fun! She is really into coloring these days and she LOVES pre-school and is learning so much...she's like a sponge! She spends 4 hours at pre-school 4 days a week and during that time they do the following....table activity, saying "good morning to friends", free center time, snack time, bible story with an activity, music and movement, art time, outside play (or gym if the weather is not so good), lunch time and book/story time.....that's a LOT in 4 hours! The moment she is in the car, she is FAST asleep!

Final thought for the day.....Halloween will be here before we know it! So, what will Miss Magic be this year??? I have NO idea! Last year she was a skunk and she is still a stinker...but what will she dress up like this year? Have any ideas? She is a PRINCESS daily...so anything else come to mind????

OH...and one more thing, for Miss Magic's adoption day celebration, I was presented with the MOST beautiful necklace that has a pendant....it's a map of HG's birth place. On the back it has her adoption date engraved. I LOVE IT and I have had SO many curious comments about the necklace that lead to the best conversations...here's a pic of it. You can probably see it on me in the photos as well. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

Want one for yourself or for a special someone? M shared this link with me on etsy *the lady makes fabulous pieces...all so unique* the sellers name is DosBesitos.

Busy BUT Blessed....Get well Nanny cause Miss Magic will be TWO in TWO months!!!!!!

MY BIG BROWN EYED GIRL!!!

We have been non-stop!!! Some of the things we've been up to lately.....we celebrated Family Day

Lulu celebrated Family Day as well! Lulu looking SO darn adorable in her WINK BABY!!!

 I traveled to Arizona to watch a great friend compete in the Mrs. America Pageant... who made it to the TOP 6!!!

SO PROUD OF YOU JULIE!!!

HG started dance/gymnastics and she loves it! The first week she was VERY interested in the lollipops!!! LOL! The video is priceless..but when Ms. Jada pulled the trampoline out, Miss Magic was READY and was excited to show off her flips!

We celebrated Mamaw Verna's birthday...she is 84 years young:) HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMAW!!! We love you!!!!

We went to watch Hannah cheer and Hunter *the quarterback* play football and that was a lot of fun!!!

 Hannah &Miss Magic modeled in a fashion show...

I traveled AGAIN, this time to Rhode Island for a two day business meeting....Newport/Goat Island was BEAUTIFUL!!! We are going to have to go back as a family and meet up with T, M & Lulu for dinner:)

Sunset at Newport

Nanny had surgery (she is home recovering, thanks for all the prayers), and J is cycling 2 centuries back-to-back (yes, that is 200 miles on a bicycle)! He's a machine!
As you can tell, we have been busy but we are incredibly blessed! SO many photos to come..

GET WELL NANNY, WE LOVE YOU!

Meeting my HEN face to face a year ago today!

OUR TQ BEAUTIES!!!

Exactly one year ago, I met my HEN friend M. She & T made their way to Hanoi and prepared for the long trip to TQ to adopt their beauty! I just want M to know how much I love their entire family and how much joy Lulu has brought everyone....to include Nanny! Hannah & Hunter still ask about Lulu! We love you guys and want to wish you a BLESSED FAMILY DAY!!!!

LUAU Family Day....and so much more! CLICK here to see all photos from Luau & Family Day!

Miss Magic has so much going on in her life! She is one busy and HAPPY little girl! The Luau was a HIT! We had a wonderful time. I promise to attach a link of ALL the photos I took asap....busy week. She started dance and gymnastics this week and LOVES it and she also started "parents morning out" at a local church. The program they offer is TOPS! Last spring she attended two mornings. She is now attending four days (9-1pm) She LOVES her teachers and playing with the other children. She'll be two in November and it's time for the "interaction" and to begin learning all she can. She is like a sponge and is SOOOO smart! Her vocabulary amazes me! She talks ALL the time and is a SMART cookie!!!

Miss Magic's story continues......

FUN times with Miss Magic

Tomorrow is our Family Day Celebration....A LUAU!!! Nanny has worked SO hard and our pool area looks amazing! Can't wait to post photos after the celebration!!!

Miss Magic has so much going on in the next few weeks...she has a fashion show that's she is modeling in with Miss Hannah!!! And this Tuesday will be her 1st night of DANCE/GYMNASTICS!!! She's going to love it! If she hears music...she gets to moving!!! Here are a few pics...I think she's ready!

Daddy helping to "point those toes" LOL! She is TOOOOOO much fun!!!

Swimsuit by http://www.winkbaby.net/

 Lucy is the BEST!!!

Family Day Invitations featuring "MISS MAGIC"

HAPPY FAMILY DAY! 1 year ago today, God placed Miss Magic in our arms...

Celebrating our 1st Family Day! God is GOOD!

It's really hard to believe that one year ago today, we met our daughter face to face! Words can't describe!!! A year has flown by and you will be able to tell by the photos, Miss Magic has GROWN from a baby into a beautiful little girl! She is absolutely the most amazing blessing! Thank you Lord for blessing us with our "tiny miracle"!

                     She is such a daddy's girl! She has him wrapped more than she'll ever know!

She's laughing at the baby in the photo that mama is holding...that's you MISS MAGIC!

Kissing the photo taken September 1, 2008. Daddy holding HG on the drive back to Hanoi

She loves her elephant! Aunt Krista gave me this elephant at a baby shower for HG. On one ear it has her date of birth, when we returned home, she took the elephant and had HG's adoption date placed on the other ear. HALLElujah!!!

Our DEVINE Miracle on her 1st Family Day

Maa & Papa's 50th Wedding Anniversary (click here to view photo gallery)

Maa Maa & Papa are celebrating 50 years of marriage! Congrats!!! We love them very much cause they love and care for Toosie Belle!

Miss Magic at Ragan's 2nd Birthday Party (photos by Wink Photography)

WINK BABY

YUMMY dirt cups for Ragan's "bug party"

Miss Magic

Delicious goodies by Katie's Creations...

Little Miss Magic and her friend, Ellie

HG talking..."Ellie, your mouth is a MESS child, you know the boys don't like that...hurry, my mom has some lipstick, I will fix you back up. Your curls are WAY to cute to have a mess on your face."

The pretty birthday girl, Ragan!!! HG had a lot of fun at the party!!!

To Miss Magic's Birthmother.....

You gave her birth
We’ll give her life
You gave her todays
We’ll give her tomorrows
You gave her race
We’ll give her identity
You gave her heritage
We’ll give her future
You gave her possibilities
We’ll give her potentials
You gave her up because you loved her so
We’ll have to let go
You dream of her future
We’ll work hard for your dreams to come true
You gave her hope
We will too.
(author unknown)

God Bless you, whoever you are, wherever you may be. I pray God blesses you in so many ways! Thank you for the most amazing gift...our precious daughter, Halle-Grace!

"The key to change....is to let go of fear" Rosanne Cash

Speaking of fear, last year at this time, I was SCARED to death! I had signed a form saying, "I will not re-enter the US for two years if Halle-Grace does not receive a visa"! WOW!!! I would do it again in a flash!!!!

So much has changed since this time last year. Last year at this VERY time, my bags were packed, I had checked the "CAS list" twice, all of Halle-Grace's clothes were packed and perfect, diapers, bottles, medicine, you name it...and we were headed to Vietnam!!! I cannot believe it has been a year!!! Where did the time go!!!

As we prepare to celebrate our 1st annual FAMILY DAY on Sept. 1st, a special day with so much meaning...I can't help but become emotional each time I think about that day, the trip, the long drive from Hanoi to TQ, the anticipation of meeting my daughter face to face....I was so in love with Halle-Grace before I ever laid eyes on her in person, but when God placed her in my arms outside of the TQ orphanage, he blessed me with the MOST amazing gift and responsibility ever! Even though she responded with her fish lips (silly girl) after starring at my hair for at least 4 minutes...my heart was COMPLETE! At that VERY moment, God took all of the burden off my back! I had endured a lot of heartache on my journey to Little Miss Magic. BUT, I thank GOD for everything that didn't go as planned. Somebody wrote a song about thanking God for unanswered prayers...well, if anything else would have went as I thought I wanted it to go...I wouldn't have my girl and that thought makes me want to cry! WHEW...thank you Lord for the most BEAUTIFUL baby girl with the most magical personality on earth.

Change will continue...but we will embrace it...Miss Magic has big plans in her journey!

Miss Magic is 21 months old....on the 19th

One of my new FAVORITE photos of "my loves"
At 21 months old, HG can turn a flip and this is how she comes up...she's TALENTED!!!



She's my baby girl...who is growing up, talking in phrases, loves wearing lip stick and now PONY TAILS!!!

Her Family Day Celebration is planned (thanks Nanny) and tonight we finalized her "Luau Attire" that she will wear during the party with Lucy at Wink Baby!!! It's going to be PRECIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also set a date for her 2nd birthday party (boo hoo), lined up Wink Photography and secured the Carnival Place...it's a surprise....so as HalleGrace would say...Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh. You may think I'm a little OCD, but with my job, I have to do it all at once to make sure I don't miss any details! BUSY BEES we are!

She's MISS MAGIC for sure! We are BLESSED!

WINK...is now more than designs for Miss Magic...photos too! www.winkbaby.smugmug.com

When I win the lottery...I know exactly what I am going to do!!! I will take pictures of Little Miss Magic DAILY and post them! I am SO inspired and LOVE this blog www.vietnamlucy.blogspot.com The mom is amazing with her camera! I love her work and she has now turned it into a business...you go girl! Speaking of LUCY...I have an amazing friend, Lucy Parker Randall who is the MOST creative person I know!!! And since I will never win the lottery *ha ha* she is officially HIRED for life to capture HalleGrace's most amazing moments!

Lucy owns "WINK BABY"! I know you have seen some of her fabulous clothes/bows and designs on HalleGrace! Well, she has started a photography business & she is SUPER fabulous! Check her out!!! But don't try to book the days I already have!! LOL! I AM SOOOOO excited to get all the winks we can get! www.winkbaby.net

BLESSED to hold my baby girl...even if it means NO sleep for mama!

~Little Miss Magic~


HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAY KAY!!! We are praying HG feels better so we can celebrate with you...it's not looking very promising at almost 2am...but you know she'll make it up to you!

Little Miss Magic has not been feeling 100% this week. She has a nasty ear infection and has been very clingy and just wants to be held. I can’t blame her and like the doctor said, “when little ones are sick, they cling to what makes them feel safe and secure”! That statement has made me think deeply and brings a huge SMILE to my face (even though its almost 2am and I am sitting on the couch with a snoring little one…HAHA) and warms my heart like NOTHING else! It takes me back a year…around the exact same time. WOW, I can’t believe one year ago, we were preparing all necessary paperwork *against the USCIS/DOS wishes* (if you can guess their TRUE wishes you can quit your day job -they don’t have a clue!

Last year, I remember traveling to the Atlanta Apparel with my two of my dearest friends, Jamye and Heather Shaw. Jamye makes FABULOUS swimsuits...check her out www.jamyeshaw.com AND they are coming to see Little Miss Magic this week before heading to work the apparel mart! How things ALL come together!!! Pretty COOL!

At that time, the nannies at the orphanage had been notified that we were coming to adopt HalleGrace via Vietnamese law (without a I-600 approval). I remember Heather & I checking email in a café inside the apparel mart and receiving the below photos.
HalleGrace at TQ last August.




I was SO upset because Halle-Grace seemed so wobbly and her hair was completely GONE! Little did I know the “true conditions” inside her orphanage…something the USCIS obviously could give 2 cents about! GOD bless the babies/children who are still there and the amazing nannies who provide LIFE for these angels!

Seems like yesterday….. making plans, packing, making sure we had everything we could think of (on top of having NO idea how long we would be living in HalleGrace’s birth country!) Was it scary? YES! I remember before we left, my dad hugged me in my kitchen and it was a hug of reality!!! I knew that he knew he may not see his daughter for 2 years…but he also knew I HAD to get my daughter out of the orphanage, WAY OVERDUE!! My heart was content and God was pushing me to GO! He’s Awesome and has a way of knowing when families belong together….have you been around Little Miss Magic? Looks like her daddy…acts like her mama…sad but true! HA HA

I can’t begin to imagine life without LITTLE MISS MAGIC? Oh my, how boring it would be! She has changed every person who comes into contact with her. She truly has a “magical” personality!

As we prepare to celebrate our 1st Annual Family Day (September 1, 2009) exactly ONE year since we adopted our daughter, my emotions are OVERWHELMING to be completely honest! My prayer is the US Gov. will get things straight when it comes to HELPING others…just like this crazy idea of reforming health care that makes NO sense GOSH, give me a break!!! WHY are there still babies/children in TQ without forever families? WHY? They are precious little angels….like HalleGrace, Lulu, Saige, Matthew, Samantha, Abbie, Kate, Isabella, Quinh and so many others who I had the pleasure of holding on September 1, 2008…I will NEVER forget that day! It’s etched in my heart forever!

Thank God for our tiny miracle. As I sit and type, she is sleeping on my chest…she is so little *not even a full 19 pounds at 21 months* I pray her ear infection and “yuck” will be gone soon!!! BUT, at least this year, this day…I know I can hold and comfort my baby girl…

A BIG celebration is coming up...Devines 1st Annual Family Day! We plan to celebrate Family Day for many, many, many years to come!!!

God Bless!