Update on Maddie Cardwell

Maddie & Mommy

Maddie in her plane

Maddie - 1 year old

Maddie - 1 year old

Maddie & Daddy

Maddie - July 4, 2007

Maddie in her jammies

Maddie - 1 year old photo shoot

Maddie - photoshoot

Maddie "flying" like Daddy

The Cardwells - Aug 2007

Maddie letting Daddy smell her flower - Aug 2007

It's been a while since I've updated everyone on Maddie! She is doing fabulous!!! We couldn't ask for anything more. She is adjusting well to not only us but to everyone in our family. She loves her MeMama!!! She cried last time it was time to leave the farm!! At her last doctor appointment in late September, she weighed 21.7 pounds. She is eating everything in sight. She is a bottomless pit like her Daddy. She loves ALL food with the exception of peaches!! She HATES peaches. But, she loves her vegetables above all else. She had 6 teeth (4 on top and 2 on bottom) and it seems like more are trying to come in...she's slobbering EVERYWHERE!!! She majorly attached to her purple blanket. She can't go anywhere or to sleep without it. She loves all her toys and is not attached to any one specifically. She goes from one to the other in a blink of an eye! She is not quite walking yet but is getting really close. She will let go of your hands and stand there for a minute or so then take a step or two before landing on her bottom. It seems everyday she is saying something new. She says Mama, DaDa, Bye-Bye (and waves), Uh-Oh and a few other words like that. Yesterday, however, she said "Okay" just as plain as day when I told her not to do something and she said "Thank You" when I gave her the sippy cup. It came out more like "Tank Ew" but it was clear as a bell to me. Ever since yesterday she's said it every time I give her a toy or juice. The other day at work she was playing and I was talking to Josh on the phone before he went to fly. I told him I loved him and she said, just as plain as day, love you too...but it came out "Lub ew too". Had it just been me I would have thought I just heard her wrong but my boss was standing in my office and when she said it he looked at me and I looked at him and we just dropped our mouths in amazement. After I got off the phone with Josh, my boss said, "Did she just say what I think she say?" I said I thought so. He said if he hadn't been standing there and heard it himself, he wouldn't have believed it. On the way home the other day, she saw me snapping my fingers to the music. She watched my hand intently, put her middle finger and thumb together and actually snapped her fingers to the beat about 6 times. I made such a big deal of it that she does it all the time now. Her birthday party was fantastic and everyone we know and love was there. MeMama spent a small fortune on her a pink airplane so she could "fly like her Daddy" and she LOVES IT!!! Pictures are attached. I've put a bunch of pics on this blog so forgive me if I've gone overboard. I'm working on our own blog where I can post updates and pictures but I've not had the chance to put a lot of effort into it yet. When it's up and running, I'll let you all know the site address. Also, one little tidbit, Maddie's hair is curly...not straight like all the other babies. Kind of different but it's beautiful in it's own right. Anyway, I could ramble on and on but she is just a blessing to our lives and we are having a ball traveling on this journey called parenthood! We miss you all and love you all so much!!! Teri, Josh & Maddie Cardwell

Update on Kylee Hope

Kylee turned one on August 29th. We had a pool party for her with friends. She actually had 3 chances to try cake...at her party, on her actual birthday at home and at a family reunion the next week. She loved it when everyone sang to her. The cake she wasn't too thrilled with. But she did do a great face plant in the first one. She still isn't quite walking but is taking a few steps here and there. We know she will take off soon...no worries. At her 12mo ped appt the doctor was very pleased with her development. She weighed in at 19.2 lbs....just shy of being able to turn around the car seat. She is in the 60% for height, 23% for weight and 7% for head circumference. In all she has increased or stayed in her growth curve. The Dr was especially thrilled with her verbal skills. She expected her to have 2 to 3 words at this age. But Kylee had at least 7 and has since added a few. She trys new words it seems almost daily. It is so fun. Some of the words she says are: Mama, Dada, uh-oh, up, Hi, ball, bye-bye, baby etc. She also has become nurturing with her dolls. She talks to them, holds them, pats them and feeds them the bottle. It is adorable. We just can't get enough of her, if you couldn't tell. She is so happy and is such a joy to us. We have had our share of bad nights of sleep. But we have also had good nights. We have gone through cycles of each, which we know is completely normal. She has 4 teeth now and seems to be working on the next. We traveled quite a bit this summer & she is a wonderful little traveler. We made it to the beach a couple times and to see & meet lots of family. We are settling in to fall now. She is doing wonderfully as we have recently begun leaving her in the church nursery, Kids program at Mom's Bible study & nursery at the gym. She has cried very few tears in being left, but is always so excited to see Mom or Dad coming to get her. We look forward to the holidays as we know they will be full of wonder with a little one. As all of your babies are to you, she is our little miracle! Isn't God amazing!?! We miss you all! Hope you are doing great!

Love,
The Oswalds

Yang Xi Social Welfare Institute

These are pictures that Jodi was able to find of the Yang Xi Orpahange where all of our girls are. I can't wait to go get them and bring them home to be in our FAMILIES!!!!!

Maps of China & Information

We are heading to China to get our precious girls! When we do travel, I think we will be flying into Bejing first for a few days of sightseeing, then on to Guangzhou for the rest of our trip.

We will be heading to Guangdong province for the biggest part of our trip b/c our girls are located there and this is where we would need to end up anyway to complete our paperwork. Guangdong has a subtropical climate. Summer can be sweltering hot and wet. Typhoons hit this province frequently in summer and autumn. Annual rainfall averages nearly 1500-2000 millimeters and annual temperature averages 19 C - 26 C. So the best time for travelers to Guangdong is in spring and autumn. (Whoo hoo for us!)
Guangdong is famous for its fine Cantonese cuisine. Guangdong is graceful and charming. It is full of bustling markets, brightly lighted night fair, the Cantonese restaurants and tea houses.

Guangzhou, the South Gate of China, is a prosperous metropolis full of vigor.
Guangzhou is the capital city of Guangdong, and the center of its political, economic, scientific, educational and cultural life.

Guangzhou is located in the middle south of Guangdong Province, north of the Pearl River Delta. It lies close to the South China Sea, Hong Kong, and Macau. Zhujiang (The Pearl River), the third largest river of China, runs through Guangzhou and is navigable to the South China Sea. Situated in such an excellent geographical region, Guangzhou is called China’s South Gate.
Guangzhou is home to more than 11 million people, including a 3.7 million transitory population.

Tim & Lynne Copeland

Name: Tim & Lynne Copeland (43 & 48)
From: Suffolk, VA
Children: Maggie (age 4; adopted from China in 2003)
Occupation: Lynn – school teacher, Tim – owns real estate firm
Baby’s name: Annie

Baby's chinese name: Yang Xi Zi Tao

From Guangdong Providence - Yang Xi Social WelfareInstitute

Birthday: September 5, 2006

Weight: 11.4 pounds as of December

Description: Short spiky hair just as our Maggie had!

Brad & Glenda McMath

Name: Brad & Glenda McMath (35 & 31)
From: Huntsville, Arkansas (NW Corner)
Occupation: Pastors of Assembly of God Church
Children: Macy (4, biological child born 2003)
Fast facts: Married 10 years, graduated from Central Bible College, Springfield, MO,
Pets: 2 Havanese puppies named Max & Maggie, 2 cats (outdoor b/c Glenda is allergic) named Copper & JoJo, & 1 hermit crab named Tweety
Hobbies: Brad-video editing, Glenda leads a moms group, teaches young adult SS Class, & is currently coordinating children's ministry for their church
Baby’s name : Mia Grace

Baby's chinese name: Yang Xi Zi Zhen

From Guangdong Providence - Yang Xi Social WelfareInstitute

Birthday: August 21, 2006

Weight: 12.1 lbs, 23.6 inches

Description: Lots of short spiky hair

Joel & Shauna Oswald

Name: Joel & Shauna Oswald
From: Occoquan, VA (25 mi from DC) / originally Joel from NE, Shauna from TX
Occupation: Joel– law/govt relations Shauna-custom framing/art gallery
Children: This adoption will be first
Fast facts: Married 8 years, met at Evangel University in Springfield, MO
Very involved in our church: National Community Church
Pets: 4 year old Pekinese named Chuy
Hobbies: Home improvements, movies, walks, visit family, small vacations
WEBSITE: www.babyjellybeans.com (f. name: baby, l. name:oswald, password:china)
Baby’s name: Kylee Hope

Baby's chinese name: YangXi Zi Xuan
From Guangdong Providence - Yang Xi Social WelfareInstitute
Birthday: August 29, 2006
Weight: 13.45 lbs.
Description: She has little hair and kissable cheeks