We’re David and Lois McBeath. We live in Point Pleasant, WV – a small town along the Ohio River on the western side of the state. We have 2 sons. Austin is 15. He’s a sophomore at Pt. Pleasant High School. Darrell is almost 12. He’s in the 6th grade at Roosevelt Elementary.
We actually began our adoption journey more than 10 years ago. I saw an ad in the newspaper about Chinese babies. We called about it, but it just wasn’t even feasible at that time in our life. All these years, it was always there, stuck somewhere in the back of our minds. I don't know why exactly – it just was. The thought never completely went away.
We also talked off and on about having another child. Our house was only 3 bedrooms, and we know the boys could have been in a room together, but we didn't want to do that if we didn't have to. In the spring of 2006, for some reason (I don't recall exactly what) - it came up again. We started thinking and talking - why not? So we started checking into it more. We did a lot of research online. The more we found out, the more we felt a calling, a desire and even a need to do this.
We started the adoption and added onto the house all at the same time. It took about 6 months to get the paperwork together. Then about another month after we sent it to China for them to translate it and 'log us in' (11/6/06). That's when we started to officially wait.
We finally got "THE CALL" on 7/13/08. It was a Sunday afternoon! After 2 ½ years, we are finally going to get our baby!
Leila Ann McBeath, formally known as Shun Xi Yi, was born on Oct 29, 2007. She had a cleft lip and cleft palate. The lip has been repaired, but not the palate. (We'll have to do that when we get her home.) She's in the Children's Welfare Institute of Shunde District of Foshan City, which is located in the Guangdong Province, in the southern part of China.
Shunde, the hometown of flowers, is one of four cities under the jurisdiction of Foshan City. Covering an area of 806 sq meters and with a population of 1.05 million, Shunde City is situated in the middle of the fertile Pearl River Delta, between Guangzhou and Hong Kong. It was set up as a county in the 3rd year (1452 AD) of the Jintai reign of the Ming Dynasy (1368-1644), and conferred with the administrative status of a city in 1992 by the State Council.
Foshan City is also where the actor Bruce Lee was from.
Leila took her 1st steps! Up until now, she's only taken 1 or maybe 2 at a time, so I didn't think they really counted. Tonight, she was taking 3, 4, and even 5 at a time. So I think it's really official now.
Gosh, she's grown so much in the last 2 months. She's changed so much in such a short time. She's filling out. (She's gained about 4 lbs.) Her hair is getting thicker. Most of the time, she's a very happy baby too. She loves to play rough. She still throws up some, but not nearly as much. She will eat any and everything we give her. And she has her Daddy wrapped completely and totally around her little finger.
On another note, Austin got his first deer with a bow last week. It was a 10 point, so he was pretty happy about it.
Darrell has started basketball practice already, and Austin's wrestling practice starts tomorrow. We're moving into our 'busy' season.
Today was not a very good day for my baby. She had her 1st doctor's appt here in the States. We got a shot record from China. They recommend however, that we have her blood drawn and tested to make sure that she's really had what they say she's had and that it's up to the US standards. Also, she's had a few that US does not require (encephalitis) and has not had ones that US does require. Basically, she's behind on her shots. But what it meant today - was that she had to have blood drawn, and still get 2 shots too. So she got stuck with a needle 3 times. Poor baby. She was not happy.
We went trick-or-treating on Thurs night, and then went to the block party. It was a little bit cold, but Leila seemed to be okay. She loves being out with people, and being on the go. Have you ever seen such a pretty bunny?
Darrell also had his birthday this week. He turned 12 on Friday. He's such a good boy, but he's growing up on me.
