Yes, We're Still Here!

We are so sorry it's been almost a whole month since our last post, but hey, we're adjusting to life with 4 kids. Things have been awesome, but busy. Jayne Riley continues to be the first thing everybody in the family wants to see when they come home. She is doing great adjusting to life as an Edwards! She sleeps great, she eats great (not that you couldn't see that in the pictures), and she acts great!

HER FIRST SURGERY
I can't remember the date (it's all a fog), but a couple of weeks ago, Jayne Riley had tubes put in her ears because they were filled with fluid and causing her a good bit of pain.
Here she is waiting for the nurses to take her back. She is being held by her grandmother, SueSue.



The surgery was successful and she came out of it beautifully. She responded by talking (her version, at least) and smiling a good bit more. We could really tell it felt better to her because she had been constantly pulling on her ears and now was no longer doing it.

DOMESTICATED WOMAN
She has been home now for almost two months and I felt she was ready to take on some household chores. She was reluctant at first, but as soon as we told her we would withhold a bottle from her, she was ready to begin. She is a quick learner, as I think you will see:

Whether it's cleaning the kitchen cabinets


or helping Jake out straightening his drawers



My personal favorite is how she joyfully goes and gets Daddy a Dr. Pepper out of the fridge


As you can see, she is fitting in nicely at home!

Now back to reality, our family could not be happier. To see the boys love on Jayne Riley and to see her light up when they are around is a complete joy. She has totally taken to her mother and Meg is enjoying every second of being with her. I think it should probably go without saying that she already has her Daddy wrapped. I hope to put some more pictures on the blog over the next few days, but here are a few more before I say goodbye:

Cute As A Button!

Today was Jayne Riley's first trip to church. She stayed in the nursery with Meg, but of course we're taking baby steps. I look forward to the day when she sits in the sanctuary and hears her Daddy's voice through the speakers and what her reaction will be. Actually, I won't be able to see it from the front, so I'll have to go by what Meg tells me she does.

Anyhow, here are a couple of pictures after Meg got her dressed for her big day. Notice the tights on her. We weren't sure our "big" little girl would fit in them, but she was just as the title suggests, "cute as a button".





One of Jayne Riley's new toys is a stack of small buckets that fit inside of one another. We were sitting around playing with her this afternoon and Jake put the biggest bucket on her head. Being the biggest, it has a handle on it that conveniently held the bucket on her head. She looks like our toy soldier, doesn't she?

Daddy's Girl

A couple of short videos that help you understand how she is winning over her Daddy's heart.

Watching college football on Saturday, I asked her what she thought of Alabama football. See her response below:

Atta Girl!

Then we were just talking, you know, peekaboo language, and this is her response. She kind of gets a little choked up with her Daddy, but can you blame her?

Mighty cute, I'll have to say!

more pics!

Here is one of Jayne Riley and her mama...taken by an amatuer (4 yr old) photographer!

I just loved her in these PJs...

still so sweet...can you believe it?

We are just in awe at what a sweet little angel Jayne Riley is. She loves to eat, sleeps in her crib, laughs outloud at the boys, has learned to crawl and pull herself to stand...all in three weeks time! It feels like we have had her forever...everyday that I look into those black little eyes, I am amazed that God picked her out just for us. That just three weeks ago, she was living across the world with another family and that she was inside of another mommies tummy for 9 months, and now she is ours! It blows me away to sit back and think of the gift the Lord has given us. I am gonna try and post pics, there lots of cute ones. thanks again to all for following and being excited and praying for us!

Here is a pic of her room, well part of it. My sweet neighbor painted the two wallhangings for her!

here is a pic of our sweet girl in a darling little dress that was given to us.

... because we have been loved

I saw this video on a blog that I love to visit by Justin Taylor, Between Two Worlds, and found it very moving. Orphan Sunday is November 8, 2009.

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Here she is eating her first meal at the table with the family. I am going to post some of my favorites since we have now been home one full week!


despite what it appears...she does smile, it is just really hard to get it on camera. we are so in love with our sweetheart. i will try to post more when i can. thanks for all the phone calls, messages,and prayers, we are so grateful.