We will pay it forward

A retired postman called Mike and wanted to come meet Wade. He had retired before Mike started at the post office but like most small towns they knew each other and had heard we adopted. His wife and him stopped by on Saturday morning and gave him a book, a little truck and some pj's. But as we visited they told us a story of how the local hardware store owner showed the mailman a lineup of new tricycles one day when he was in the store. He said "which one do you like best"? He selected one and the man got it off the shelf and said "here I heard you adopted a boy, and I want him to have it". The mailman's son is now 43 and he had told his wife then he would do the same for another adopted boy someday. Wade got to be that boy. And yes we can't wait to do it for another!!!

New items in the sewing room

The little quilt shop in Hahira Ga is named Sew Blessed. When I saw this sign I knew I had to have one for my sewing room. 

And how perfect is this growth chart?  It was my first purchase off Zullily. It even has his name printed on the top. My side walls aren't tall enough to hang it at the right height but we will find a spot soon. 

Last Year at Christmas

Here is Wade with his friends in Kaifeing last Christmas. He is in the arms of the second lady sitting from the left in gray. She did the best she could to love on him but his family and friends are really going to show him the love this Christmas!

Another week zips by....

We had our company party and a church covered dish and the ski club party all this week. 

The international Krispy Kreme stores have more freedom when it come to customizing doughnuts.  As a part of our all team meeting they made these Santa's for each employee. Wade thinks Mommy has the best job ever!

We also got to eat with Landon at his school this week since we were done at the ENT right at lunchtime. Landon helped show Wade how to sit on the big boy stools. 

Christmas

Wade doesn't want anything bro do with Santa. We had a pancake breakfast with Max at his preschool. Santa was all set up in the corner and Wade watched Max climb up in his lap and discuss his Christmas wish (some Mickey Mouse cookies). When it was Wade's turn he burst into tears. But luckily a big plate of pancakes made him feel better.

Next we stopped at Mrs Hanes cookie factory and he didn't mind Mrs Clause handing him a cookie. 

He has left the tree alone pretty well but likes to point out the truck and bike ornaments. This boy likes wheels. 

Mom gave me a resin nativity set years ago so we just set out the main players this year. He likes to put all the animals inside the stable and will tell the baby night night each evening. 

Tonight we are having Caroline come stay with him so we can do some shopping and have a dinner out!

Thanksgiving with Cousins

Wade got to spend four days with his cousins as we all visited Grandaddy and Teenie for Thanksgiving.  He had a ball trying to keep up with all the big kids.  Even the nine hour car ride was made easier on him since there was a boy on each side with a game or movie always in hand. It doesn't seem like very long ago that Marshall (now almost 17) was learning to swing on this tire swing. 

Fall is flying by

Between getting our house in WS on the market and keeping up with life it dawned on me that Thanksgiving is in a few days!  Wade is doing great and saying almost a new word daily. 

We met a couple from Lexington this weekend that will be bringing their son home from China in January. Another future buddy for Wade and Max. 

Tomorrow cold forecast has me thinking a crock pot of pintos and a nap time spent sewing , I have a Christmas stocking to finish. 

Another sign it's Fall.....Uncle Kenny is in the woods hunting deer this afternoon and I can see at least three deer in the field right in front of the cabin!

Can you see Daddy in this photo?  Wade didn't think it was fun until Daddy jumped in too. 

A date with Harry Potter

I have to go to a conference in Orlando this week so decided to leave a few hours early while the guys are in church so i can go to The World of Harry Potter at Universals Island of Adventures.  I already find myself turning my head at every toddler at the airport. In only seven months I have become accustomed to thinking about packing toys and sippy cups. For this trip I actually grabbed my needlework. 

I know Mike and Aunt Mary will take good care of Wade in my absence but have to believe that three nights away from my guys will be a little tough. 

But Harry will help me this first night. Can't wait to relive the books through this theme park. And I will get to have a pint of butter beer!

Happy Birthday Wade

It was a big week for the Brendles. Wade experienced his first Halloween and then had his second birthday. It was on his first birthday that Mike and I wrote our letter of intent to China asking to adopt him. 

His favorite stuffed animals are all monkeys so that's what I made his cake look like. He got new trucks and books and bath towels from his Uncles, Aunts and cousins and finally fell asleep that night about 10pm. 

We end this week with a note that today is orphan Sunday .... Kicking off November as adoption month. Not everyone can adopt but many if us can support them through sponsorships or prayers. If anyone knows someone who may have questions, we are willing to share. It has been a blessing far beyond what we could have expected. We feel God's hand guided us to Wade and can't believe in just a little shy of seven months  how he has moved right into our hearts  

http://youtu.be/uZ6dTYH09hc

Fall festival time!

Wade got a few more NC boy firsts tonight. He had his first chicken stew and a hay ride!  And with Halloween and a birthday soon to celebrate this boy will get plenty more firsts to record. 

Yes I will honk!

I never really was one to use my horn a lot while driving. And I have been driving now for thirty years. But in the last few months I find myself honking to get through a light. You have probably been there too.....the person in the car ahead of you looks like they are praying at the red light. We know they are on their phone. The light turns green....one second, two seconds, three seconds pass. A lot of lights stay green based on the traffic that is passing over a magnet in the road. Well the first driver may look up just in time for their car to speed through the yellow leaving all behind to sit through another cycle. Thanks a lot. 

So yes I will honk now. I give you two seconds then here it comes. Most will give a apologetic wave, yesterday a lady mouthed something at me....like I was the one being rude. 

6 Months as a Family

We were handed a scared Xiao Ran six months ago today. But how quickly he learned to trust. Today our days are full of hugs and smiles. We love you Wade Michael. 

Busy Week

Mike and I slipped away to Morganton last Tuesday night and caught the Blues Brothers revue. A fun night of music even though the audience must have averaged about 70 years old. I got us there a little early but what a nice surprise....there was a quilt show going on in the performing arts building. I thought their yo yo clothespin was a neat way to attach the information card. They were celebrating a 25th anniversary. 

Saturday it was Carrowinds and Treehouse winery then Sunday we helped celebrate a friend's 60th birthday with an afternoon cruise on the Catawba Queen. Wade had fun and became quick friends with Lynn (it didn't hurt that he let him eat his entire piece of birthday cake)

Wades gets an Eye Spy!

All of Wade's quilting Aunts surprised him yesterday with a quilt they had been working on since before we travelled to China. Mrs Goodneedle took a video and I am sure she won't mind if I share. 

http://youtu.be/do5RISsGJ2E

It is so special, has all the peanuts characters...and his name. Quilters are the best....and he will treasure this I know. 

Two cultures....two Holidays

Today was the Chinese holiday of the Harvest Festival where families share "moon cakes". They are pastry with a bean curd filling sometimes also including a hard boiled duck egg to represent the moon. Needless to say our friend Sam had a hard time finding these here...so the boys shared a Moon Pie instead. 

It was also "talk like a pirate" day and if you dress like a pirate at Krispy Kreme you got a free dozen glazed doughnuts   Aaarrrgghhh

As much as I would like to share some Chinese culture with Wade we may have to wait until he is old enough to help us research where/what he wants to learn about. In the mean time he will learn all about what it means to grow up in America...with all our silly materialistic celebrations that are often fueled by lots of sugar.  Pirate Day complete next up....Halloween followed by birthday cake on Nov 1st. 

Joe is home!

Wade got to meet his oldest cousin finally. Joe has been serving a tour in Afghanistan and we are so happy he is back at Ft Bliss now. He will get to move to Va in February so he and Wade will have more chances to get to know each other.  We will try to overlook that he is a Texas Longhorn fan in light of his service to our country!

Wades first non family babysitter

We were more concerned about Caroline than we were Wade!  The two hit it off and we will call her again. Mike and I were able to attend a very nice fundraiser at Sanders Ridge to raise money for a scholarship fund for Meme Brown. 

Camping!

The new pop camper did great. We got rain both nights and we all stayed nice and dry. Wade slept great but he also ran hard all day having cousins to chase him around. We went out on a pontoon boat Sunday afternoon and he enjoyed watching others tube but was scared when I took him on a slow ride. We had fun swimming in the lake but had to make a quick return trip to the marina when a shower set in. 

I only biked about half of the right loop (4.5 miles) at Tsali on Sunday morning. I hadn't been in the woods since March and that along with a doughnut about every day contributed to my poor fitness level. But for just a few moments on the downhills ....my inner she beast came out and reminded me how much fun it is on these trails. They are just very unforgiving. You alternate between climbing from the lakes edge up the banks then to long rolling descents back towards Fontana lake. 

Monday we drove back through Cherokee since I had never been there and picnicked with some Bojangles along a river. We stopped for some caffeine about an hour from home and I got Wade his first Starbucks albeit a kids hot chocolate. 

No longer a land lord

Our renters have moved on and now we are working hard to get my house ready to sell. They were so kind to leave us an entire bedroom with these stickers on the wall. It took 5 of us about 2 hours to get them off. Now we repaint and have some carpet replaced....   Never thought a family of three could age a house quicker in two years than the cats and I did in 17. I hope I never have to do this again. 

Oh and yes feel free to leave things behind you don't want like the toilet brushes and hangers and bath mats....I will be happy to clean up after you. 

The good news is it goes on the market with a brand new roof!  

First Night in Camper

Ok so it was in the barn but we wanted a dry run with Wade before heading out on a three night trip  He woke up several times I think just sensing he wasn't in his own bed. Banjo wasn't thrilled to share his space either I don't think. We all left the barn at 6:15am. But all in all not a bad start to what I  hope will be many years of camping with Wade. Banjo you don't have to come. 

My fist pair of Nikes

Ok so they are a little Michael Jacksonish but they were on sale for half price!!!

Watching TV

I am glad Wade has started to sit (even if it is only ten minutes max) to watch some tv. Unfortunately of the shows is PBS he has chosen Barney as his favorite. 

He does like some of the baby Einstein videos too. Not looking to make a couch potato of him, but a few minutes still for Mommy to put clothes is the dryer or unload the dishwasher is most appreciated. 

And the picture is blurry because even though he is sitting he still must be rocking!

Disappointing

That was Dr David's assessment of Wade's palate surgery. Most of the hole has healed but the lower section where the soft and hard palate meet is opening back up. 

Thankfully she said it was nothing we could have done, she was puzzled I think a bit too and she does a lot of these surgeries. So it's another week of soft foods and the casts to insure nothing gets worse.  Then sometime next Summer she will do another surgery. 

This small opening shouldn't affect his speech which is good, and by next Summer he should be talking up a storm. 

Giving Thanks

Wade is impatient when he sees food being prepared and he isn't eating it. 

Mike and I decided we would say a quick blessing through the crying or we would never make it a habit for him. The act of holding hands seems to settle him. 

We were out to eat with him about a week ago and I'll admit I have never been too good at saying the blessing in public spaces, but as we were about to start....he reached out his hands to us as if "don't forget to give thanks". 

I hope I can pause often and give thanks for a great husband and such a sweet boy. 

Home Sweet Home

Our second night in the hospital was much better. Wade didn't have to have all the monitors attached and was eating. Aunt Mary found us a wagon and gave us a tour of some of the other floors. 

I think Banjo was even happy to have Wade home!

Saturday after along morning nap I drug the boys to the mall. Wade rested in his stroller with Daddy while Mommy got him new shoes and some clothes on sale for tax free weekend. We picked up some long sleeve tshirts because we find his casts are pretty abrasive and need to be covered. 

We are going to church this morning as its my turn to keep the nursery so can keep an eye on him. We had our first bird bath o the kitchen counter and I know it made him feel better to get his hair washed. 

So far he is tolerating baby food but I bet later in the week Mike and I will have to eat behind his back to avoid meltdowns. We just have to make it until Friday when we see Dr David for his follow up. 

Looks like we will stay another night

Wade was in a lot of pain last night (his heart rate stayed elevated) and took a lot of morphine. He still will not eat or drink for us this morning so we will have to stay another day. He was slipping out of the arm restraints...or no no's so the Dr ordered casts. We think he will be more comfortable in them anyway because he can use his hands. Jedi Monkey is modeling the no no's now.  We have seen a smoke or two already today so hopefully he will feel like eating and drinking soon!

Surgery Day for Wade

Our first hurdle was not getting anything to eat this morning until his surgery which was scheduled for 11am. He didn't go back until 11:30 but we were able to keep him distracted with all kinds of toys in Brenner's play room.  The second photo shows him getting groggy with the medicine he was given right before they took him back. 

All three surgeons were happy with their results and we were blessed to have Aunt Mary and several from church wait with us. 

He was a little combative in recovery and the first several hours in the room was very tough for him. He finally has gotten some longer lasting pain medicine and is sleeping at 9:30. Hopefully tomorrow he will feel like eating as he needs to eat 75% of normal before he can go home   

We pray we will see our Happy Wade soon!