Just back from Memphis and seeing that precious baby Paxson. She is perfect in every way. Above are just a few images of her. It was a challenge to photograph her because
1- she would not sleep for me
2- we had four little boys also wanting our attention

Anyway, you get the idea.

On Saturday night we took the boys out to a Halloween festival. Look how precious they all looked in their costumes..





Okay- having a hard time concentrating. I have not yet packed one item and we leave in one day. EEKKK!!! I better go get busy. I have worked really hard this month and now it is time to wrap it all up and take some time for me.

Yesterday we received a little more information and some updated pictures of Eliza. As of September 30th she is 19.5 pounds. Wow!!! I never expected that we would have such a big baby. Don't get me wrong, I am so happy that she is obviously well fed! Shipley is also a well fed, thriving baby. At seven months, he weighs 17 pounds. This discussion, however, brings me to Eliza and Shipley's big brother and his weight. Slaton went this week for his three-year-old check up and he now weighs 26.6 pounds. In one full year he has gained .6 of a pound. Oh my! Slaton best start eating more before both of his younger siblingss catch up to him!

Our report goes on to say that Eliza has two teeth, she is standing, not walking, and sitting on her own. She is now sleeping in a crib by herself and she is not talking.

In other news, our consulate appointment has been confirmed for November 11th and it looks as if we will be flying out of here on either the first or second of November. Our travel agency will be calling on Tuesday the 24th to tie up all final details. EEEKKK! We are finally so close to meeting our daughter.

In other news, baby Paxson (my new niece) needs all prayers sent her way. She is in NICU currently and today Jane had to leave the hospital and leave her there. Hopefully the blood transfusion that was done today will make all the difference and her levels will begin to get back to what the doctors consider normal. Prayer, hugs and kisses for baby Paxson.

Here is the news that arrived in our in-box today:




To: Jeffrey & Elizabeth Smith

Group: 1064





CCAI TRAVEL UPDATE 10/17/2006



Wonderful news! Today we received your Travel Notice!



We have faxed the U.S. Consulate - Guangzhou requesting appointments today. We have requested your Consulate appointment during the week of November 13th, which would have you leaving for China around November 2nd. The Consulate can choose to accept, decline, or counter-offer our requests.



The Consulate can take 1-5 business days to reply to our requests. We will email your group when the Consulate appointment confirmations arrive. Please keep in mind that we must have a confirmed Consulate appointment for your group BEFORE we can estimate travel dates, begin planning your travel, finalize arrangements with our China staff, or a networking travel agency can answer specific questions about your trip.



We appreciate your continued patience and understanding as you wait to hear from us. Please feel free to contact the Travel Department at any time with questions.



Have a great day!

There is lots of good news around here these days.

Yesterday the call came from Memphis that Jane (Elizabeth's sister) will be delivering baby #3 on Monday the 16th of October. Jane and Robert have chosen to use Jane's middle name for their baby girl- Paxson. It will be so wonderful for Eliza and Paxson to have one another with all four of the boys running around. This Christmas- well, it is going to be nuts. Six children all 3 and under- with only 5 adults to manage. We will be outnumbered and happy and a little nuts. Thank goodness for my Mom or the odds would really be against us. 5 adults with 6 little ones- WE CAN DO IT (okay, that sounded too much like Bob the Builder).

Today we received a bit more information on Eliza. This is not updated information- just a little more from the same June date. One of the first sentences is,

"Except for a blanket and a towel found with her, no other identifying objects were left with her."

She is not even in my arms and she is already breaking my heart! I read that sentence, put the paper down, and briefly cried. I really cannot explain all my emotions about this but being a mom already- my heart aches. I think about the woman who left this baby and how heartbroken she must have been. I think about my two boys and the thought of EVER leaving them. I love them and Eliza more then I could have ever imagined prior to having children. Most of all, I know one day Eliza might want to know more about her history and the information she will be able to find out will be so limited. She will most likely never know her biological parents.

On a happy note, here is a bit more:
"Eliza has her own preferences now. She likes to listen to songs. When she hears other children singing songs on TV, she will listen attentively with her head tilted to one side and sometimes make "ah ah" baby sounds. She follows them to sing songs."

It is great news that she likes music. I have already signed all three children up for music class starting in November. Slaton is VERY into anything musical and I know he will love that his sister can join in with him.

Tomorrow I am painting a chest I have bought for Eliza's room. I will try to take some pictures of her room and the chest tomorrow.

I am ever amazed at how loving and thoughtful Slaton is.

Today I took both Slaton and Sarah (our neighbor) to school. On the way to school Sarah asked Slaton, "What is your brother's name?"
Slaton said, "Shipley and Eliza is my sister."
THEN he said, "She is growing in my mommy's heart and not her belly. We are going to China to get her."

Now- he did not toally come up with this on his own. I had MENTIONED it to him about two months ago but at that point he was really showing minimal interest in Eliza. No kidding- tears welled up in my eyes and I immediately called Jeff. How did we create such a caring, smart little boy? He and Shipley are certainly my greatest accomplishments to date.

Then tonight I told Slaton that Daddy was on a plane flying a long way away. To this he answered, "Is he going to get Eliza?"

Slaton Smith makes my heart skip beats every day. It will be such fun (and chaos!) with Slaton, Eliza and Shipley all here.