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.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Celebrating

To celebrate 'Gotcha Day' yesterday, we went to the Chinese restaurant to eat last night.
It was just a small group - us, a little family, and a few close friends.
It's odd. Before we went to China, we used to eat Chinese a lot. But, we haven't been out for Chinese since we got back - year ago.
Maybe we had enough there that 2 1/2 weeks to last us awhile.

After we got home, we gave Leila a 'Gotcha Day' present.
It was a little jade heart pendant. It matches Mommmy's - just a little smaller.
I took it today and had it put on a chain (probably should have done that beforehand).
But here, it was still on the cord/string that they put it on that day in 'Donts' shop on one of those last precious days in China.


We had such a smooth and easy adoption. I'd be lying if I said we haven't considered going back.
It would be nice to even up our household. 2 blond 'homegrown' boys - 2 dark haired 'imported' girls.
We started talking about it in an off-hand way mere months after getting back the first time.
Then some events happened and unfolded back in August that made us have to make a REAL decision.
We discussed it and looked at all our options.
As much as we would all like to do it, we came to the difficult decision that we just CAN'T.
Financially it just isn't an option for us at this point in our lives.
Never say never.
But, I will say - probably never.
And I can say without a doubt - definitely, not now.

Instead, we decided to even up something else in our household.
We have 2 dogs, but only 1 cat.
Soooo, Leila and I went today and adopted a new cat/kitten from the shelter.
Now we have 2 dogs and 2 cats.
That's a pretty good way to celebrate an 'adoption anniversary' - don't you think?

2 comments:

Susan said...

Very cute! Wonder why you don't feel like eating Chinese food? We don't have it near as much either.

Kimberly said...

I owe you an e-mail re: decision! But also wanted to say congrats on the newest member of the family-- a very cute one too!

Love the pic of Leila in her matching necklace. If she's as much of a girly girl as AK she will LOVE her new fancy jewelry!