Lunch with old friends...

Today Kaylee and I went out to lunch with Jennifer, Vicky, Linda and Maggie to Ruby Tuesday's. We had a great time catching up and I (of course) brought my handy-dandy camera...lol. It was really nice getting to see them again. Next time we may go out for drinks and leave the kids at home! 

Then and now...

Kaylee has changed so much in the past year. I have been looking at all the pictures of Kaylee that we have taken over the past year and she has grown so much. I think back to when she was first put in my arms and she just looked at me. There was no squirming, fussing...Before the end of the night she smiled and we could see the bonding between us take place. Now Kaylee has blossomed into a beautiful, friendly, energetic, funny and sweet-natured little girl, who LOVES books, dolls and anything YO GABBA GABBA. I have been so blessed with two wonderful kids and a husband that treats me better than I could have ever imagined. 

Here are some photos of then and now...

Our Future Rock Star...

Mark took this video of Kaylee in Dylan's room playing the drums. I know she is not wearing a shirt, but actually she looks like the drumers in bands now who go shirtless. My sister Trudy was at the house and she just loved watching her.

Happy Gotcha Day to our spicey girl...

Happy Gotcha Day to Kaylee! This is a very special day for all of us. We received Kaylee in China one year ago today. She was waiting for us in Nanchang, China in a big, tall building on the 26th floor. I will never forget what led up to that day in our lives. Mark and I gone to a fertility specialist and I even came home with the liquid med that I would inject into myself. We at that point just said no. It was not just the money, pain of needles, and also not knowing if this would even work. We decided that IVF was not for us. Mark and I had had many conversations about having children, adopting...I have always thought that I would have atleast three kids. Well that did not happen the "normal" way. So we have no problems in making it happen ANY way we can. Now of course we went in debt with our adoption of Kaylee. There are NO regrets. I talked to our social worker today and she told me there was a girl who is pregnant with her fourth and she is supposedly going to give that one up for adoption. Now the old me would be screaming of joy, but I am not at this point. She is about 3 or 4 months along and Michelle (sw) told me, Mark and I are top of the list. I do not know anything about the baby-race, gender...We would be happy with a healthy baby with polka dots...LOL

Our Gotcha Day was nice. We went to Chen's Chinese Restaurant, and had a very nice dinner. Instead of  a cupcake, we ordered "chinese doughnuts" Kaylee loved them! I took a lot of pictures but they are not the best. Kaylee has been somewhat of a whiney-baby today. She has more teeth coming in and I would rather blame her fussing on that then on her being a spoiled little princess...LOL We will have to work on this. When we got home, I put the pajamas that we bought Kaylee in China on her. She was actually happy after that. I bought her a lot of small items in China so I could give her something every year on this special day. This year she received a hand carved wooden comb. She likes to play with her baby dolls hair and maybe I can train her to play with mine too! LOL

Tonight was also our Church Board meeting and I have been voted in as the new Secretary and Trudy is the new Vice Chairman. 

GOTCHA DAY is Tuesday...

Last year at this time Mark, Dylan and I were in Beijing, China. We went sightseeing, and shopped. I will never forget getting physically ill in the Forbidden City. All I could think about was the next day we were getting our precious Kayleebug. Thank you God above, I woke up the next morning and felt better. This had been a LONG time coming. Our wait was a week shy of two years. I know that families are now waiting three years. It just does not make sense with all the babies, toddlers and children living as orphans in China that this process can't go faster and if families are wanting more than one, why not let them do that at the same time?!!?!?? I will NEVER understand this. OK I will stop complaining...

Today Kaylee and I went to Church. She had on one of her Chinese dresses and looked absolutely adorable. I had her hair pinned up too. We are going out to Chen's Chinese Restaurant Tuesday to celebrate our special day. I am going to post a pic of Kaylee then and now so you can see the change in her in just a year.