Happy Gotcha Day and Forever Family Day Mari-Grace !!!

WOW ... that is all I can say. This time a year ago, I was blogging in the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, China.

Amazing to think that it has been a year already. I still remember that very feeble, unsteady little baby that was sleeping in the Civil Affairs office when I saw her the very first time. Now look at her. She has gone from baby to little girl in 1 short year.

June 21 marked our first Gotcha Day. The day that I actually got to see, hold, and kiss my baby for the first time. June 22 was Forever Family Day ... the day we finalized all of the paperwork in China, and Dang Yun Mian officially became Mari-Grace YunMian Krisell.

We celebrated Gotcha Day with a trip to Pei Wei Asain restaurant with Aunt Kelley and Hannah. I wanted dinner to be the 4 of us ... since that is how it was in China on that first night. We had a blast. Let me just say ... Mari-Grace LOVES Chinese food. We ordered bowls of wonton soup. MG at all of the wontons out of my bowl ... about 8-10 of them, and then finished off the majority out of her Aunt Kelley's bowl. MG proceeded to drink the broth out of a cup.
After the wonton soup was gone, she downed the chicken out of her Chicken Lo Mein.
When the waiter started clearing the table ... he picked up her bowl of noodles ... or Noon-nuls as she calls them. MG promptly told him "No No NO!!!" She wasn't done eating !!! She attacked the noodles with both hands.

After dinner ... we met the rest of the family at my house. We had home-made vanilla ice cream with hot fudge sauce. MG played with Uncle Greg and Caleb.

Kelley decided we needed to start tradition of taking a picture of the 4 of us (MaMa, Kelley, Hannah, and MG) every year on Gotcha Day. Well ... I can't say the pictures turned out great ... but we did snap a few.

It is hard to believe that the little frail, scared, unsteady little girl that I saw sleeping on the couch in the Civil Affairs office is the same little one that smiles at me every day. She has come such a long way in the last year. I am so blessed that our attachment has gone well ... her surgeries have been a success ... her speech is beginning to develop. She is happy and healthy.

I decided to send her 3 year old portraits to the orphanage in China where she was cared for the first 2 years of her life. I may never get a response ... but at least they can see that she is happy and healthy.

This MaMa ... is loving every minute with this little angel. It is funny ... when I have the opportunity to go out for the evening ... I'd rather spend it with MG. Ten minutes with her completely erases a bad day at work.

Our red thread definately connected the 2 hearts that were supposed to be together.
The wait was worth every minute ... and more.
God created this child for me.... and HIS hand was what guided the forces that be to bring us together.

THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS GIFT !!!! I pray that I raise her to bring glory to you. I am thankful that she has the best family in the world ... and that she is in the greatest country, where her birth defect doesn't limit her possibilities.

Happy Gotcha Day and Forever Family Day !!!

MaMa, Aunt Kelley, Hannah, and Mari-Grace ... 1 year later !

Hannah ... you hold my stinky feet !!!

Hurry up Caleb ... take the picture !!

Gotcha Aunt Kelley ... giggle giggle !

RRRRR ... are you scared yet?

Yep ... I'm queen of the castle.

Soup Mama ... I love this Wonton Soup !!!

Ok Hannah ... you can hold me a minute ... but just a minute!

Yummo ... Chicken Lo Mein.

I love Chinese food ! Especially those little dumplins in the wonton soup!

Just let me drink the soup straight from the bowl !

He He He ... Ma Ma and I both look a bit surprised.

YUMMY ...."NOON-nuls"

Forget the chopsticks ... let me use my hands !

Mari-Grace went to Delight, AR today with Uncle Greg and Aunt Kelley. The family down there was celebrating Kinleigh's 4th birthday. Apparently...MG has had a great time playing in the country!!!

1 year ago tonite...at 11:30 pm...3 very tires gals arrived in Beijing. I remember the trip so well. The sights and sounds. As we rapidly approach our 1 year gotcha day, my heart misses China. I long for the day we can go and visit Mari-Grace's Birthland. China will forever be a part of our hearts.

1st Preschool Artwork (gotta love those little hands !!!)

Mari-Grace Portraits

Almost 1 year

I'm sitting here tonite...remembering what life was like a year ago. At this time last year, I was a complete basket case. I had a living room full of luggage...a stomach full of butterflies...and a heart filled with excitement.

I was eagerly waiting to meet my daughter for the first time. This time a year ago, I was wondering how Mari-Grace would react to me.

Here we are...almost a year later...and I have the most wonderful daughter sleeping peacefully in the room down the hall.

God brought us together. He has blessed us both in so many amazing ways.

I am both thankful and humbled by His gift.

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Photography Studio Pictures 06-12-2011

Where did it go?

I love my MaMa !

MaMa's kisses are the bestest !

WEEEEE ... do it again !!

The Thinker

How long do I have to sit here?

Ok ... I'll sit in that chair ... I don't want to ... but I will.

I LOVE playing in the water !!!!

This playing is exhausting ... think I'll rest a minute.

First day of Preschool

That backpack is as big as she is !!!!
My Lunchbox, backpack, and my special piece of home ... Rabby !!

Seriously ... you want me to carry the backpack AND the lunchbox???

Sleeping beauty awakes ... excited about preschool !

Hmmm...just lounging in MaMa's bed

My Baby is Growing Up .... WAAAAAA !!!!!

Well ... today was a big day for Mari-Grace. After a year of spending every day with her Omaw ... MG started Pre-School. MG need's the socialization with the other kids. She also needs to know that it doesn't matter where she is ... MaMa will always be there. She also needs the interaction with the teachers and other students to help with her speech development.

We have a FABULOUS preschool here. We've known the owner for 40 years ... matter of fact ... She was Kelley's (my sister) first grade teacher. Caleb and Hannah both went to preschool there ... so when it was time for me to decide on a preschool ... there was no choice in my opinion ... hands down ...this was the place to be.

We started visiting the school about a month ago. I'd take MG up in the afternoons ... to see the room ... the playground ... the other kids ... and the teachers. This was a great idea to get her acquainted with the school before it was time to leave her there.

She met all of the teachers ... and other kids ... and loved our visits.

Well ... this morning ... miss sleepy-head popped awake when I kissed her on the forehead and told her that today was the day she started to school. She had the widest grin ... and nodded yes ... and said "school". She was up at 6:40 am ... which is EARLY for her. She ate breakfast and let me get her lotioned, dresssed, and all ready to go.

We snapped some photos and headed off for school.

When we got to the preschool, Miss Thang hopped out of her carseat ... grabbed me by the hand ... and in she marched ... like she'd done this 100 times before. She took her teacher's hand ... and was off to play. She returned to me for a hug ... and a little reassurance. I told her that she was at school and would stay while I went to work ... and that I'd pick her up when I got off ... just like I do every day at Omaw's house.

In her big girl manner, she said ... Okay ... and off she went to the corner to play. No tears .... no whining ... just a bye and my baby became a little girl !!!

Now ... MAMA cried ! I waited until I got in the car ... but I teared up when I called Omaw to tell her how proud I was of MG.

Her speech therapist went to the school today to visit MG. Lauren called to say that the ST visit went very well ... that MG went right to her ... and did her work just like she was supposed to do. Lauren even got a hug and kiss today !!!!

I went to pick her up at 4 pm. Her teacher told me that she had a pretty good day. She didn't whine and cry for me. She played well with the other kiddos. She even laid down and took a nap on her own ... she was one of the first kids to get all of her naptime gear put away. When I walked in ... MG was playing with a birthday cake puzzle, with a little boy. She wasn't ready to leave. She motioned for me to sit beside her and play.

I asked her if she liked school. She nooded yes, smiled and said "schoo-ul" which is southern for school. I asked her if she would like to go again tomorrow. Her eyes lit up and she said YES !!!

She was hungry when she got home ... she ate a bag of cheetos and a bowl of strawberries. For supper, she had shrimp and baked fries. She promptly announced that she wanted "SPITE" for sprite and she was a happy camper.

After a long day, dinner, and a bath ... she climbed up on my bed and promptly fell asleep on her own.

WAAAAAA .... my baby is growing up !!!!
Yes ... I knew this would happen ... but just don't want it to happen so soon.

Mg playing in water

MG in pool

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AWESOME !!!

I know this has nothing to do with Mari-Grace ... but I just figured out how to email and text posts from my i-phone !!

HOORAY

Oh ... the other thing I am really excited about ... Blogger now has a way to order a book version of your blog !!! SO EXCITED that I can order MG a copy of every thing that I posted on the blog during the wait.

It is kind of pricey to get the first 2+ years published ... but then I can do a yearly update thereafter for her !!

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