Been a while!

My little girl started kindergarten. Hard to believe! She's growing up too fast!! She loves school. She's still a nature lover. Learning so much! Love her to pieces!

Fun Times

We have so much fun with Mia. We are very blessed in many ways. Here are some recent pics. She got a bunny recently that she calls Bubbles. We went roller skating, sat on the big turtle at the nature center, and did some bird watching. She has become quite the artist. I posted a pic she drew of me skiing with skis and ski poles lol. Just looked at the info for kindergarten registration.... Hard to believe!!

Update

Here are some updated pics of the princess. We are all doing wonderfully here. Much love for the holidays from our family to yours.

Birthday pics

Here are a few pics of mia today

4th Birthday

Today is my daughter's 4th birthday. Maybe I am just being sappy. but my new husband asks me this morning why I am crying uncontrollably... This morning, Mia jumped into bed with us early and fell back asleep. At one point she looked up at me with her big almost black eyes and said "Mama, I love you so much!" and fell back asleep. I sat there staring at her beautiful black hair and olive complexion with a very full heart. This little precious bundle was given to me. I feel so very blessed beyond words to be her Mama and I wear that nametag like a medal of honor (God knows the fight I went through to get that medal!). But this day always brings mixed emotions to me. I think of all she has been given in her life, but at the same time, all she has lost. Her culture, her birth country, her birth family... Do they think of her today? What is a birthday but a celebration of your birth. Most biological mothers I know celebrate the birth of their child on their birthday. They reminisce about the day they were born, giving birth to their child. I don't have those memories with my daughter. Which is why families who adopt celebrate their "gotcha day" -hard for some to understand who haven't adopted... but to me THAT is her birthday. That is the day I remember that sweet precious bundle being placed in my arms. What a beautiful moment THAT was!!!! Her birthday is special to me, don't get me wrong. But it brings so many mixed emotions. Is it really even her real birthday? It's the day China officials estimated she was born. It could have been yesterday for all I know. But in the spirit of it all, I will put on my happy face for my daughter and rejoice in the beauty of who she is and that someone out there in the huge country of China was selfless enough to give her life. I wish I could meet that woman one day and let her know how very thankful of her I am. Without her strength I wouldn't have my precious Mia today. This little girl means the world to me. I don't think she quite knows that yet, maybe she will never really understand the depth of my love for her, especially when she is a teenager I've heard, but I can't imagine a love any deeper than what I feel for her. She was not born from my tummy, but she sure was born and captured in my heart forever. In China everyone said she was a lucky girl.... In reality I am also the lucky one! I love you Mia!

Update on the princess

Recent pics , she got glasses a while back and has done excellent with them. She's growing up easy too fast!

A new year

We've had a great start to the new year! Mia has two new pets that she absolutely loves... two bearded dragon lizards. She loves those things, always wanting to pet them and feed them, and even singing them a lullaby! I added some current pics. I got a new tattoo as well, chinese cherry blossoms. I love it! Mia want to sure about santa this year, as seen in the picture! Haha.  Hope you are having a great year like we are!

Fall Fun

Dancing to German polka music in Herman, playing at Fisher Farms, and raking (brooming) leaves at home. Loving the fall fun!

Updates

Here are some more pics of Mia. And a pic of the tattoos I just got. The one on my foot is the symbol for "destiny" and the one with the red thread is Mia's gotcha date and her Chinese name. Her Chinese name has the meaning of a bird so that's why there is a bird carrying the red thread.