One year ago today...

we saw this sweet, sweet face for the first time on our computer screen! I can't believe it's been a year already that we first saw our beautiful daughter...she looks like she's grown so much in only a year...to think we traveled around the world to China, the countless plane rides, the hotels, the enormous amount of paperwork...to think how far we've come in the past year....amazing....

AAAHHHH...

Gymboree....you had me (and my credit card) at hello.....

Fall Family photos

Loved this pic even though I then realized "A" was clutching a Nerf ball in his hands

My kiddos

Ok, so "A" has the goofiest smile sometimes ;), not fake or anything...

Love me some black and white photos

Even though it was 70 degrees outside, we forgot how cold the water was, as the expression on Chloe's face





So, it's no secret that I love to take pictures, and that's why I am such an avid scrapbooker. I took charge of our BEAUTIFUL, WARM Sunday afternoon, rallied the troops and told them we were headed outside for some pictures. It wasn't the easiest of tasks, but we manages to get a few that are able to be developed...

For my daughter....

Many of you in the adoption world have heard of the book "Motherbridge of Love". This is one of my all time favorite adoption books, and I wanted to share this special poem to those who might not have heard it. I came across the book while cleaning Chloe's room the other day...



Once there were two women who never knew each other
One you do not know, the other you call mother.

Two different lives shaped to make you one,
One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.

The first one gave you life, the second taught you to live it
The first one gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it.

One gave you a body, the other taught you games,
One gave you a talent, the other taught you aims.

One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears.

One found a home for you, that she could not provide
The other prayed for a child, her hope was not denied.

And now you ask, of course you do, the question others ask me too,

This place or your birth place-which are you a daughter of?
Both of them, my darling-and two different kinds of love.

6 months....

Our first face to face ....you can only imagine the level of our emotions right now!

This is her foster mother...I wish we would have had more time to spend with her

Her foster mom, the orphanage director, and an overjoyed set of parents with

a heartbroken little girl....

And here she is today....

Just lovin' life, without a care in the world

I am a day late in posting this, seeing as how Dan is in Florida for work all week, helping kids do homework, suppers, etc. so I have had little time to get much else done!

I can hardly believe I am typing the words "6 months" since we met Chloe and she became a part of her forever family... We could not imagine having any other child, as she is such a PERFECT fit for our family. Her brothers absolutely adore her, and call her "honey or honnies". She truly is a spoiled little girl! (and I'll be the first to admit enjoying doing so!)

When I first held her 6 months ago, my heart truly broke for her as her foster mom said goodbye to her, and Chloe just kept arching her back, trying to get back to her, and it is even painful for me to this day to see that picture...we have come so far in such a short period of time. We are just so blessed to have such a wonderful, beautiful adorable daughter and sister in our family.