Love At First Sight

What a wonderful day July 9, 2010 was! 

We had chosen to take a huge step of faith and go where God had called us to go. 

We welcomed into our home, and family, a beautiful little foster baby. One whose future was unknown to us, but known by God.

We said yes to a 5 day old baby, born drug positive.  

We said yes to the fears that we may very well fall in love with this beautiful baby, and may have to let her go.

We said yes to the unknown of what the drugs had done. 

We said yes to late night feedings and days on a tight schedule. 

We said yes to adding to our already crazy household. 

And, oh. I'm so very glad we did!

Beautiful baby Annie when she was first placed in my arms. 

It was love at first sight. 

Only 4 more days and she's ours forever and ever!!!

An Adoptive Placement

A year ago, when this picture was taken, my heart was longing to know that this precious baby I had so fallen in love with, was going to be mine forever. 

A year ago, we didn't know what was going to happen. 

A year later, from the date of this picture, our sweet Annie became an "adoptive placement", and no longer a "foster placement". 

Not much longer baby, and you'll officially be ours for ever and ever!!!

Although, from the moment you were placed in our arms, you were already forever engraved on our hearts. 

Soon, you'll be our little Annabelle Alyse.

After the guests left...

...my kids had a blast out in the bounce house!

I'm sure I'm going to get in trouble for posting the following pics...but I just love the story they tell! Ha ha!

Poor Katie got stuck and couldn't get her leg over to the other side. :)

We were laughing pretty hard. 

And I was just snapping away at the camera. 

He he he!

Karleigh Mei helping. Almost got it!

Finally!

And what I missed on camera {cause it happened so fast} was Blakc flipping over to the bottom. TWICE! It was pretty hilarious! The poor "bigs" were such a great sport about it all though!

And let me take a group picture. Just missing my Lexie girl. :(

And down they go!

Annie was ready to tackle the slide again!

Sweet baby! Only 9 more days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Karleigh Mei jumping in the bounce house. 

Annie had too much fun in the bounce house too!

But, I think my boys enjoyed the bounce house the most!!

Karleigh Mei's birthday party was a success!! So many sweet friends came to help us celebrate our darling SIX year old girl! 

We had a fun "Pin the bow on Hell*o Kitty" game. 

My beautiful girl, as we sang "happy birthday" to her!

Time to blow out the candles!

I love this one of Libby helping from afar!! :)

Lots of sweet friends were here!

Time to open the presents!

We also had a bounce house. I've run out of time, but hope to post some super cute pics of all my kids enjoying that, tomorrow! 

Karleigh Mei turns SIX!!!

Today, Karleigh Mei turns SIX!! 

I can hardly believe it! She's growing up too fast!

Poor thing had to stay home from school today, though. She is sick. :(( She was SOOO looking forward to her birthday and celebrating at school with her friends and cupcakes! Praying she feels well enough to go tomorrow. 

Here she is this morning, trying to smile and not look sick {to convince me she could go to school}.

Still more than beautiful, even when she's sick.

I love looking back.

Here's my proud and confident girl when she turned 5 years old.

 And beautiful and joyous when she turned 4!

Her precious third birthday was spent in China. We sent her a cake for her special day. 

So thankful we can celebrate all of her birthdays WITH her from now on!

Can't wait to celebrate this girl tonight with some cake and presents! 

A Sweet Treat!

We enjoyed a super sweet treat this weekend!

Lexie came home AND she brought a sweet blessing of a friend with her!

You really MUST read how the Lord blessed my sweet Lexie with this precious friend, Kylee. You'll read the story and you will only be able to say, "only God!". 

Read the story of how the Lord brought them together here and here. 

Karleigh Mei and Kylee were instant besties. 

I mean, their first names do both start with a "K" and their middle names with an "M"!

Karleigh Mei LOVED having Lexie home! {we all did!}

The two sweet friends.

Kylee and Lexie. Both in college and both majoring in Social Work. 

Both with a heart and passion for the fatherless. 

Warms this mama's heart.

 

The groovy boys.

Gannon. 

and Garrison.

Oh.

And who is THIS precious little peanut?

November 18th is our special day!!

And even though it's not official yet, I just can't help but show off her whole sweet face!!

Go ahead. 

You can oooohhhh and awwwwwweee all you want! 

It's true. 

She's as adorable as they come!

A birthday is coming up!

Karleigh Mei's birthday is next week, and the excitement is building!

I've been asking her what she wants for her birthday, and she's been telling me she wants an ice cream maker. {???}

I kept asking her if she wanted a snow cone maker, thinking that maybe this is what she had seen. 

But she was adamant about it being an ice cream maker!

And so I checked on Amazon and found this sweet little soft serve ice cream maker! In pink too!!

I was getting ready to order this delicious little device (I was secretly very excited about this!), when I thought I would just make sure I was looking at what she was asking for. Just to clarify.

 I soon discovered that that yummy cuisinart ice cream maker, was NOT what she was asking for. 

She was asking for THIS!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!! 

So glad I clarified this with her!!

I'm only slightly disappointed though. I don't think I have anymore room in my cupboards for that sweet little soft serve ice cream maker. 

sigh.

Getting Closer...

...to at least a countdown!! 

So want to share this darling girl's face!!!

Can't wait until she is Annabelle Alyse "our last name"!!!

Breakfast Talks

"I like your big, round eyes". 

That is how she starts the conversation. 

The conversation that is coming up more often. 

The conversation that she asks when her eye is going to be big and round. 

And, no, this is not about her beautiful almond shaped eye. Although I believe she's thinking about it too.

Not only does my beautiful Chinese daughter have different shaped eyes than the rest of her family, she has one eye that is different from everyone else. Everyone else. 

I know that she is being asked by other kids about her eye. I saw it yesterday during her dance class. We have taught her to have a quick answer and say, "that is how God made me". But that answer is not really sufficing her or the others now. And so this morning, at breakfast, we talked some more about what her answer should be. 

Things she can mention is that she had surgery on her eye. And that she had an infection in her eye when she was a baby. 

Anybody have any other suggestions?

We are also in the process of making a prosthetic (sclera shell) for her eye. One that will be painted to look like her other eye (she has bad scarring covering her pupil). There are other reasons why she will have the prosthetic, not just cosmetic. 

I've not wanted to have it painted, because it will cover up the little bit of sight that she does have. There will be a small hole so that  she can still see light. I've been reluctant to have it painted, to just leave it clear, but the more she talks about wanting a "normal-looking" eye, the more I think we need to have it painted. Anybody have any thoughts? Experiences?

I love this beautiful, beautiful girl!! And I think God made her absolutely perfect!!

Let It Shine--Emily Riddle

So I have something fun to share! My darling nieces newest album! I've got it on the side to the right, up at the top. Take a listen to the whole album if you'd like! Just be sure to quiet my music by clicking on the "pause" button on the side. And tell me what you think! I think you'll like it!

And it will play through the album, going on to the next song, if you keep listening.