6th Grade here we come! Yes, Olivia has passed Matthew in the height category or could it be the incline of the hill they are standing on??










3rd Grade - Chase and his new teacher, Mrs. Gantt. He's going to have a great year.















Stewart started Kindergarten today. Way to go, Stewart. Here he is walking into the building greeting everyone he sees.












No more walking them to their classroom. Just drop me off at the door and I'll see ya.













Our annual 1st day of school group picture. Yes, Julia got to be included because she did go for the first time to visit her daycare for an hour today(with Mommy and Daddy supervision).







Everyone had a great day today and hopefully a good start to a fantastic school year. Julia slept through the entire night last night without crying out once. Each day holds new changes and adjustments for all of us. We are just so thankful that she is doing so well. She no longer cries during bathtime nor when we set her on the western potty. She is so full of life and happiness. Carson says the jury is still out as far as he is concerned but I did see them playing together this evening without him pulling her hair. I think they actually smiled at each other and giggled.

Our thoughts and prayers are focused on those who are traveling to China at this time during the evacuations and bad weather.

No, this is not what you are thinking. Julia attended her first baby shower today for a woman that I work with. I work with a bunch of crazy people. The object, finish the "poop" (chocolate pudding) out of the diaper first and you win the photo album.












Didn't take too long to find two hungry guys to compete. Travis and John kudos for diving in.














Wait a minute, I think Travis is getting a little wigged out by the diaper smell.














Julia decides she likes Jason because....why, I still don't know.:) I think it's because he showed her the windows.













Julia learned very quickly how to make it to the top of someone's desk. Brittni was kind enough to watch Julia while I unpacked some of my office.













The honoree of the day, Baby Batchelor. We cannot wait for her arrival next month.














Julia had a busy day. She started off by visiting Ms. Maria, Auntee Nancy and Grandma Susan at her office. She had the opportunity to show off her obnoxious Chinese Barbie cell phone that our guide in Nanning said that all babies must have. WARNING: Do not buy that phone if you want to remain sane.



We had a busy day today but Julia was a real trooper. She started off by visiting her daycare that she will be going to next month twice a week. We will begin taking her for about an hour every other day and sitting with her next week. She then went and visited Grandma Susan at work and all the staff. She is not shy at all but still does not want to be picked up by anyone but me as a rule. I have noticed that she will go to most guys.

We then took off to attend a baby shower at my office. This was Julia's first party and she had to wear her new linen pink outfit. Too cute until she got pen marks and pretzel goo all over it. Oh, I forgot, she's not even two and still makes messes. She did great.

She has now gotten used to the bathtub. That took two weeks but there have been so many changes for her that we are glad of any obstacles overcome no matter how small or big. She has gotten a lot closer to Tim but still wants me when she is tired. Each day is amazingly better. Our house is so much louder now. It was loud, I thought, but is extremely loud with everyone talking or running around now. Just for me to stop and make a phone call is so hard.

I continue to think about the other children that were in our group and pray that they are all blossoming into their new homes as well as Julia is doing.

Cousins cooling off - Yes, there is one missing..Carson.

















Julia is going to be a water queen. She loves the water and her brother, Chase.









We found the missing cousin. Grandma Carol was hiding Carson.















I don't think the babies care who is holding them as long as they are playing in the water. Notice Julia is swimming with her drink in hand.

NOTE: Stewart has graduated to an Eel in his swimming class. YEAH, Stewart!!









Now, we are making progress. What a difference a day makes. Carson is trying to steal a kiss.














Okay, Julia finally decides to rub noses with him.

Aunt Cindy checks Julia's toes to see if that's where the bad odor is coming from. Nope, not on these piggys.

Today was a good day for everyone. Julia has now trained Carson to use his own fork and feed himself. Carson even took five steps in a row several times today. I guess he figures he better get with the program if this other child is going to be hanging around permanently. She's too quick for him right now. We took Julia to big church today and she was greeted with an overwhelming crowd. She did really good. We decided to sit up in the balcony where no one occupied and she fell asleep during the first song. Mr. Todd thinks she was just trying to tune out his singing. :-) Her Sunday School class had made her cards welcoming her even though she didn't visit with them today. We will slowly transition her into her class over the next few weeks depending on how she is doing. So far, I cannot believe how good she has done and how quickly she picks up on things. I have pictures of her in church but will have to grab those from friends over the next couple of days to post. We would like to thank those of you in the church and outside that have commented on the prayers they have lifted up for us during our trip and for her transition.

After lunch, everyone decided to come over and go swimming. Julia was a little shocked by her initial initiation into the water but then quickly decided this was the life for her...to be walked around in cool water while sipping on her white grape juice. After Aunt Cindy gave her a bath, dryed her hair and fed her, Olivia soothed her to sleep. I think we need to change her name to Queen Julia.

Julia looks at Meme wanting her to take Carson's cookies away and give them to her since she ate all of hers, of course.











Meme bought these cookies thinking that they would each focus on their own box; yeah, right.


















Julia has been introduced to Air Head candy by Grandma Kay.











Uncle Tony wanted Julia broken in right by taking her to his habitual 11:00 a.m. lunch at Hunt's in Kent. I think she gave her stamp of approval... green beans, okra and mac n'cheese.











Saturday morning breakfast Thomas style. Julia eats all on her plate and then stretches over to see what's on Carson's plate.








I have been so worried about Julia adjusting to our family but it has been Carson that has had the hardest time. Think about it, mommy left for 12 days and then returned with this other baby? He awoke Saturday morning looking at her like, she is still here. They both get really jealous when Tim and I are holding one and not the other but it is getting a little better. They are not actually spending a lot of time playing with each other but that will come soon.

After our luncheon at Hunt's, per Uncle Tony's request and which Julia thoroughly enjoyed, we took off to visit Meme and Granddaddy for the first time. Meme was well equipped with two boxes of animal crakers. Julia quickly dove into her box and then tried to find a way to dive into Carson's. Julia enjoyed playing on Granddaddy's bed and running around their house just taking everything in. I think Meme was very surprised at how active Julia can be. You expect her to be a little shy around new people and places but she does very well. She still just wants her mommy and daddy to pick her up but loves playing with her older brothers.

We are all slowly getting over this jet lag. I went to bed around 4:00 p.m. Saturday and didn't get up until Julia hollered around 1:00 a.m. She goes back to sleep after she sees me but does that several times in the night. I'm hoping that will end soon. We will try and go to church service Sunday but not Sunday school.