Trying to Crawl

Karis is having a really great time moving across the floor. I can't believe she is getting so big. We don't know what we are going to do when she actually starts crawling. She is already getting into things she is not supposed to, like my computer cord. She likes crawling towards me and her Daddy and all things shiny. Christmas should be a lot of fun!!

Gotcha Day

Karis's Gotcha Day went really well. We began the day by having a good breakfast of formula and cereal and then we went to visit some friends at North Greenville University. We went back to our friends home and Karis took a nap while Mom and Dad ate lunch. We then got into the car and went to the court house at 2pm and waited until 3pm for the judge to hear our case. While waiting, we talked with the Guardian et litem and he played with Karis. He commented many times that she seemed to be a very happy baby. Mom and Dad signed a load of paper work and then we walked into the court room. The judge heard both mine and Page's answers to our lawyer's questions and was about to award us custody when he remembered that he had forgotten to allow the Guardian et litem to "earn his money". The guardian was a rather funny man and said that "who was he to tell a Marriage and Family Therapist whether she was doing a good job or not." The judge then declared that Page and I were the legal guardians and that the adoption was granted.

Both Page and I were a little choked up at that weight of the decision that was just granted to us. Most parents do not have parenthood granted to them because once a person becomes pregnant, that person is then a parent. With us it was a little different. We were chosen for this child by God and we were given the opportunity to be obedient to God by choosing Karis before she was even born. However, that obedience did not make us her parents immediately. We were very aware of the fact that our adoption was not final until the judge gave us those rights and priveledges. We were very aware that something could go wrong and she would no longer be in our home. God taught me a lesson through this process. Our children are not ours but Gods. He allows us the awesome opportunity to raise them and love them, but we are never promised tomorrow with them. We are to raise them each day as though it were the last. We may only have the few months prior to delivery, a few months after, years, or even a life time. Only God knows.

I encourage each of you parents to fight the good fight when it comes to being parents. Page and I may be new at this, but we are very aware of the fight that Satan puts up for our children. We must be willing to take the time and energy it takes to graciously raise our children for however long God allows them to remain in our home.

Soon to come.... "Gotcha Day!"

Karis' adoption will be final on Monday around 2:30pm. We will take pictures and let you all know about this wonderful new adventure we will take at the court house on Monday.

We are so excited about Karis' "Gotcha Day!"

We promise to post pics soon after the hearing.

Karis's Enjoying Her Cereal

I have tried cereal several times before today, but it never tasted this good!

This was supposed to be the last picture of me all cleaned up, but Mom is still trying to figure out how to work this thing called a blog.

I know that the cereal is supposed to go in my mouth, but is was so much more fun to smear it on my face and.....

my toes added so much flavor to the cereal, I couldn't stop myself from sucking on them.
We had a great cereal day today. Looking forward to many more days of cereal to come.

Karis Talking

I taped this a few days ago. Karis has a tendency to get loud right before she gets fussy and ready for bed. This morning was no exception. I thought I would get her on tape and let everyone hear her. Hope you enjoy.


She has started doing some new things. As you saw in the video she enjoys spitting and screaming. She also enjoys playing with toys while laying on her stomach. She is rolling over from her back to stomach and stomach to back. When she wakes up in the mornings (if she has had enough sleep) she will lay in her bed and talk to her hands. I walked in one morning and she was laying with her head in the corner, on hand was hanging out the front of the crib and the other was hanging out of the side of the crib. She was facing the hand at the front of the crib and she was waving to her self and studying her hands.

She went this week to the doctor for her 4 month check-up (even though today she is five months old). She weighs a hefty 16 lbs and is only 25 inches long. The doctor said it was nothing to worry about, but that she was in the 90th percentile range for her weight. We are so proud!!! We are saying that she needs to grow into all those rolls. She is a very healthy baby.

She is also extremely happy. During her awake times she laughs and plays, talks and sings. She likes to read with me while we read her books. She will make what I call the "uhhhhh" noise in different pitches while we read. She sometimes does this while we are singing too and it is absolutely precious. The first time she did it I cried because I realized, in her own little way, she was singing with me. I kind of wonder if that is how God feels (in a small way) when we sing to Him. He must have this amazing voice which makes our voices seem like "uhhhh" noises to Him. It's just a thought. All I do know is that it touched my heart in a way that nothing else has.

Okay, this posting has gone on long enough. Hope you enjoy the update on our munchkin.

NEW PICS

I help Dad with his dissertation. He sure can use it!!
I get a little bored though! :-)

I am a very strong girl. I am scooting all over the place.

These cousins love each other very much! They are also big Georgia fans!!
GO DAWGS!!!

Karis slept at the beach. She had a good time though.

I am such a big girl sitting in my bumbo seat!

Karis and Mom getting ready for bed!! We enjoy cuddling!

I am finished writing!!

I am writing to let everyone know that I have finished writing my dissertation. I have a few revisions I need to make, but for the most part I am done. I cannot tell you how good it feels to not have that thing hanging over my head. I will turn it in on October 1st and hopefully defend sometime in the later part of October.

Page will not be graduating this December so I will actually get to be a Doctor before he is. I will be enjoying the title of Dr. and Mr. Brooks!! I think it will be the only time I will be first in the title.

We are getting adjusted to living back in New Orleans. I am sitting here watching the Saints play. I enjoyed watching the Dogs beat Alabama on Saturday better. I have really enjoyed being able to watch a little football rather than being so busy writing.

Karis is doing really well. She is getting so big. She will be 5 months old on the 28th. Her mother can't believe she is so big. We will be going back to SC for the final adoption hearing on the 29th of October. Please keep all of that in your prayers. We are expecting everything to go well, but Satan likes to play with things that look easy sometimes.

I am adding some new pics of Karis. I hope you all enjoy them.