Happy Birthday Lilly!

Happy 2nd Birthday Lilly! We started the celebration at breakfast. Lilly loves grits and eggs. I had never put a candle in a chunk of cheese before but it worked! Lilly's trying to blow her candle out, but she had to have a little help!

We had already had cupcakes at playgroup last week. We had an Elmo cake at her birthday party so tonight we simply baked some cookies. Lilly loves to hear everyone sing "Happy Birthday".

One last celebration before bed time. The Bryant bunch had a BLAST all day in honor of Lilly!

Lilly loved playing with Tickle Me Elmo when we visited Lainie and her family back in August. Now she has her very own. She gets so excited watching him fall to the ground laughing! She also likes to cuddle with Elmo when he isn't laughing hysterically. Here she gives him one of her "tisses".

October 13: Lilly's first birthday party. Lilly really enjoyed opening all of her presents. Thank you to everyone for the wonderful gifts.

Brinley, Bailey, and Ethan helped Lilly celebrate too. Here they took a short break from jumping so that I could take a picture. Sharon, Bailey and Brinley's mom, made the dress and the shirts that the girls are wearing. Her web site (My Little Pretty) is in the link section of our blog (at the bottom, I think!)

It's Lilly's birthday party! Shelby and Katie had a great time helping Lilly celebrate her second birthday. The party was in the morning which was such a blessing because after her nap, she woke up with fever and did not feel well at all!

Shelby and Katie had a great time playing "baby" with Lilly. She was a good sport for a while.

Lilly went to visit her great-aunt and cousins in NC back in September. We had to go welcome home our newest cousin, John-Parker Dills. He just arrived home in early September from Guatemala. Congratulations Sheri and Jim!

Celebrating the Autumn Moon Festival at our local Chinese restaurant- We had a great time with our friends, the Millenders. They have 2 cuties adopted from China too. Brinley on the left and Bailey, their newest addition. L to R: Keith, Brinley,Shelby, Lilly, Katie, Fulton, Brice, Bailey, and Ethan in front.

Saying goodbye to our dear friends, the Sylvias. Have you counted the cuties yet? Yes, there are 10 children between our two families. And what a success- all but 1 of them was looking at the camera. Sweet Abigail is only 1 so we will let that slide!! Good luck Sylvias! We miss you lots!

Getting ready for football season. Lilly is a little Gamecock already and her daddy is so proud!


Wow! How do I put into words the blessing that Lilly is to our family? She is a little ray of sunshine, a pure joy, a miracle, a sweet spirit, a bundle of energy, a blessing from God. I am amazed each and every time I think about the journey of Lilly's first 18 months in China without us. She has been through so much yet here she is today-healthy and with her loving family celebrating her second birthday. Our God is indeed a God of miracles, mercy, and grace.