Our Day Out!

It has been seven months since we came home with our little "spicy" girl!  The Lord has blessed our family in so many ways and we have enjoyed all of the family time we have had getting to know our daughter and watching her fall in love with her brothers and sister... and aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents!  As much as we love our children and enjoy hanging out with them, Tony and I were ready for a day to spend with just each other.  We left all of them in good hands and enjoyed a much needed day away!  We did what we usually do and ran a bunch of errands and then went to dinner.  We enjoyed having a conversation without interruptions, not cleaning up a spill or keeping a toddler occupied while waiting for the food.  We do go out to eat with all of our kids, but we joke about how it isn't very enjoyable these days.  Even though we didn't have big plans, it was a great day just being together!  

"Home"

Bella Mei has come a long way since December about sitting in her car seat.  The ride home from the airport that first night was definitely the worst, but with three older siblings and running here, there and everywhere she has learned to be content in her seat.  I always tell her to look for the cows when we are getting close to the house.  Tonight when we pulled down our street I started pointing out the houses and asking her who lives in each house.  When I asked her who lived in the first house she said "Kay Kay"... meaning Aunt Kim.  Then she said "Papa" as we passed his house and finally "Ju Ju" when we passed Aunt Susan's.  When we pulled into our driveway I stopped the car and asked her who lived here.  Ivy was quick to answer for her and said "us"!  But what came out of her mouth brought tears to this mama's eyes.  She just said "home".  

Sometimes I wish I could get inside that little brain of hers and see what she is thinking.  I want her to always know that she has always had a home.  God knew even before she was born where her home would be.  He has a plan for her life and I am just thankful that I get to be her mama!

Blessed

I can't believe we are getting close to the sixth month mark.  Although it seems like it has gone by so fast, I feel like we have come so far with Bella Mei.  Her little personality has blossomed into a fun, loving, busy, always on the go two year old.

She is saying more words every day.
She is growing like a weed!
She watches everything the kids do and wants to do whatever they are doing.
She always has a smile when she wakes up and literally cheers when the kids get in the car after school.
She loves brushing her teeth and washing her hands.
She is getting better at putting her shoes on all by herself.
She LOVES babies and dogs.
She loves the pool and doesn't mind wearing her floaties.
She loves golf cart rides.
She has seen a whole lot of baseball games these last three months!
She has two brothers and a sister that still adore her... even though she can hit and pull hair like nothing I have ever seen!
She yells "DADDY" when he gets home from work.
She has to have her bear and blanket when she goes to sleep.
She loves me to rock her at night and loves singing with me.
Most of all... She knows she is loved!

She has come so far these last five and a half months... I can't wait to see what she will be doing six months from now!  Her little life has totally been changed, but we truly are the ones being blessed! 

It's been four months...

     We have had Bella Mei for four months now.  Wow... what a difference we have made in her life...but really what a difference SHE has made in OUR lives!  It is still so exciting to see her experience things for the first time.  Hearing the lawn mower for the first time or watching the kids splashing in the pool are things we forget she has never seen or heard.  I have been wanting to get a new picture of our family of six.  My brother was gracious enough to spend some time with us and capture some really special photos.  

We brought a lollipop to China with us and gave it to Bella Mei when we first met her.  She must have never been given a lollipop because she didn't know what to do with it.  What a difference four months will do.  She knew exactly what to do with this lollipop and enjoyed EVERY minute of it!

 Having an instant two year old in the house means there is never a dull moment.  She loves to play, loves to eat and even loves to sleep!  I feel like our routine has been set and it seems like life is getting a little easier.  The kids have done so well with her and they love her as much as she loves them.  She wants to be with them and do whatever they are doing!  
She still has a lot of spice to her.  She knows what she wants and can pitch a fit in true two year old fashion!  However, I must say she has learned to accept "no" much better now than she did four months ago.  It is amazing to us how much she has learned in such a small amount of time.  She is learning not only a new language, but the fact that she is loved unconditionally and that she can trust us.  There are still times that I look at her and just can't believe that I am holding her!  It is during these times I am reminded that I serve a God who is faithful.  He loved Bella Mei long before I saw her face and called her my daughter.  He has a special plan for her life and I am so thankful that he has allowed me to be a part of it.  I feel so blessed to be her mama!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.               James 1:17

Thank you Lord for all four of my children.  

They are so special to me!

A Day to CeLeBrAtE!

Our sweet girl turned two today!

As I woke up this morning and had my thirty minutes between the boys leaving for school and the girls waking up, I couldn't help but think about Bella Mei's birth mother.  Was there a woman half way across the world thinking about a little girl she had to give up two years ago?  As excited as I was to wake my little birthday girl up, my heart ached.  I wish I could let her know how loved Bella Mei is and how many lives she has touched in the short two months we have had her home.  I wish I could share with her how brave she has been and how our family will never be the same!  This woman loved and chose life for our sweet girl... for that we are eternally grateful!  She is not flesh of my flesh or bone of my bone, but she is miraculously ours!

What a happy day it was!  Despite the three shots and prick on her toe she ended the day with a big celebration! 

Then it was time to eat that cupcake...

She LOVED every bite!!

We missed your first birthday... but you won't celebrate another birthday without your forever family!! We love you so much!!

And yes... we knew just what to get her for her birthday!

Happy Birthday "Rootie Toot!"

Chinese New Year

We celebrated Chinese New Year with decorations, lots of family and food from Pei Wei!  We want Bella Mei to have an appreciation for her culture and some of their traditions.  The kids had fun too!  They were so happy to open their red envelopes with money inside. 

It's the year of the snake!  Happy Chinese New Year!

  

Blessing after Blessing

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.  Let every creature praise his holy name forever and ever.  Psalm 145:21

When I think about what our little girl has gone through these past two months, it just amazes me!  It really does seem like she has always been here.  The first two years of her life have been so different than what she knows now.  I look at her several times a day and still just can't believe that she is actually home and adjusting so well.  
When we first decided to adopt a special needs child we were a little scared.  There are so many unknowns already with adoption and we really had to trust that the Lord would prepare us for whatever lied ahead.  We prayed that the Lord would prepare her heart for us and feel comfortable with us.  From the first moment we met Bella Mei until Tuesday we never worried about her ASD.  We fell in love with her and knew that the Lord would heal her heart in his timing.  I can honestly say we were never worried or stressed out about what we would hear at our first cardiologist appointment.  This past Tuesday she had an echo done and the doctor said the words we were waiting to hear.... She has a perfect heart... the hole has closed!!  Praise the Lord!!  It is hard to come up with the words that really express how we feel!  Blessed... is about all I can come up with!  Blessed that the Lord has allowed us to be her parents... Blessed that she is learning to love her forever family... Blessed that our family has been forever changed by the gift of adoption and Blessed that he has given us four very special children!  We love each one of them so very much!  To God be the glory... Great things he has done!!