My baby girl is "3"

Look at that smile... does it get any better than this?

It certainly melts my heart everytime I look at this picture of Abbey on her 3rd birthday.

We celebrated on her birthday, September 14.

She is such a happy girl and smart as a whip!

Loves Minnie Mouse, puzzles,coloring and playing outside.

She is sweetest and happiest little girl. Says thank-you, yes mam, no mam, and please much to this mama's delight!

She keeps us on our toes with her climbing escapades and overall energy...

 but I have resigned myself to the fact this is simply God's way of keeping me young.

I am so thankful God brought her into our lives.

I am the luckiest mom in the world to be "Abbey's mom" 

I am forever grateful to Abbey's birthmom who brought this amazing gift into the world. I think of her often and wish there was a way she could see the beautiful and loving little girl Abbey has become.

 Especially on this day... her birthday.

School Already?

Yes, it came too fast this year. Come to think of it, it comes way too fast every year. You know... the back-to-schoool blues.
We love summer around here and the thought of schedules, homework, running from one activity to the other, etc. just makes me want to bury my head in the sand.

Don't get me wrong... there are days over the summer that I can't wait for school to start. You know the days when the kids have asked you one to many times "what can I do?" or "can you take us to so-and-so?" The days when I relish spending just one minute of time right by myself. Sigh... and then it happens.
Back to School is here.

Of course, Abbey had to get in on the pics for the beginning of school.

 She sooo wants to do everything the "big kids"  do!

Cody is a junior in high school...( I still can't wrap my head around this)

Matt is in the 7th grade--- in junior high

Madeline is in 3rd grade

And Abbey will be attending MMO this fall 2 mornings a week.

What will I ever do with all the time on my hands you ask?

Oh, trust me... I'll find something quiet and relaxing.

Hah!

Beach 2012

We had the the best beach trip this summer to Perdido Key, FL.

 I have been begging to vist the beach since we brought Madeline home in 2005. Mike is more of a "mountain" type of guy. He likes to hike, camp, explore.

 So we have visited the mountains several times.  

My idea of a vacation is lying on the beach, listening to the sound of the waves, eating seafood and just doing as little as possible.

 

So finally this summer I convinced the hubby to make the trp. Matthew was at church

camp this week with his friends. Cody had to work and really didn't want to hang out with his boring(?) parents. So we loaded up the girls and off we went!

 

And it was perfect! Just like I knew it would be. The smiles on the girls faces and watching them play on the beach was priceless.
There were no schedules. No plans from one day to the next.
The only decision to make was... pool or beach?

I could have stayed all summer long. We made some wonderful memories and even met some new friends. I have a feeling this wil lbe our new summer vacation trip... THE BEACH

Summer 2012

This is our summer in pictures... in no particular order. Hope you enjoy!

Mike and Matthew run 5K for adoption awareness.

That is quite a turkey leg Matthew! One of the many cook-outs of the summer

My fisherman!

Teaching Abbey all about baseball

Swim Meets at the pool. Go Madeline!

Cody gets his 'official' Drivers License. Watch out!

Madeline finally masters riding her bike and Abbey can finally reach the pedals on her tricycle. Biking on a hot and muggy evening!

Sink or Swim?

And we would rather swim... A LOT!

 Madeline decided to try

the swim team this summer and loved it!

We had practice every morning at 8:30 (ugghh). Here she is practicing diving off the board. By the end of the summer she was diving off the side of the pool, but still a little nervous on the board.

She only participated in the Home Swim Team meets and won 1st place in her second meet in the 25 yd freestyle. Boy, was I proud of her! I wanted her to do well to help build her confidence. She has always been a bit shy about trying new things, so I have really encouraged her to try this because she loves the water and swimming so much!

1st place ribbon in her event!

                                        Getting ready for the backstroke!

School's out for Summer!

Woo-hoo... it is official. The last day of school was back on May 23, but I am just now getting around to posting this. The pool opened that last day of school and boy was it crowded! Once again, Abbey is loving the water and Madeline is simply "the little mermaid".

We went to Memphis over Memorial Day weekend to visit the zoo and to visit friends/family. The Memphis Zoo is awesome! Of course, the China/Panda exhibit is our favorite and we love to watch the pandas. It was HOT... I mean 95 degrees hot! We survived with lots of water and breaks. Thank goodness for the double cart we rented for the girls. They were able to ride in it when they were tired of walking and it had a shade to keep the sun off.  It was a really great trip and Abbey loved seeing all the animals up close. We even bought a membership so we can visit more often and not break the bank account.. ha:).

Happy Mothers Day

I finally made a video of our trip to China to bring Abbey home.
I  am not the most computer savy person in the world, so it took me an entire day to complete.\
But, now that it's done I am so glad I took the time to make it.
I tear up looking at this sweet baby's face and see how far we have come since the day she was placed in my arms. My sweet Abbey... oh how I love you,

All I ever wanted to be was just a MOM.
I will forever be amazed at how God has "grown" our family and allowed me to be called "mom" by my 4 beautiful blessings. I am so grateful that HE placed the miracle of adoption on my heart and wouldn't let go.
I am humbled by the fact HE gave me the opportunity to carry my boys during two very hard pregnancies and experience the miracle of childbirth. I  am so blessed!

Thank you Lord for bringing these 4 precious people into my life and making me a better person simply because they love me as their Mom...nothing more, nothing less.

Easter 2012

What a beautiful sunny day for a Easter egg hunt!

Abbey loved our hunt at the church this year. She ran (of course) from egg to egg  and showed me her basket of treasures. Prior to the egg hunt, we were having story time inside the church and lo and behold...

Abbey dear has a nose-bleed. She has these occassionally, but was totally unexpected on my part.

So...

the red splattering on the front of her shirt is from her nose-bleed. I gave up long ago trying to dress up the kids for events, because it never lasts. They either find mud, chocolate, markers, cheetos, or in Abbey's case: a nose-bleed, to mar their precious clothes. Thank heaven for Shout!!

Sunday was also a beautiful day. The boys actually put on ties without me having to beg them to do so.

A miracle within itself.

The girls were precious in their PINK dresses. Madeline is getting so grown-up and loves to accessorize. The Easter Bunny brought her a necklace with a Bunny on it with a pink stone. She wore it to church and showed everyone. Abbey was her normal, bubbly self and loved the attention from all.

Our pastor and his family joined us for lunch at our home, as did mom and dad. Swinging, jumping on the trampoline, and hiding and finding eggs filled the afternoon. Before we knew it, the day was almost over and we had 2 tired girls, 2 restless boys and an exhausted mom. Dad was fine.

And yes, that is another cast on Abbey's arm this Easter. She had her 3rd hand surgery on March 29.

Maybe it is the fact that we have done this now 3 times now that it seemed to be less traumatic for all of us. We were able to control her pain much better this time. Bathing is no fun since she can't put her arm in the water... and this girl loves the water!

Enjoy the pictures of our wonderful Easter weekend. We are so blessed. Thank you God for dying on that crosss so that I can live for you and be the mom I always wanted to be.

Chinese New Year 2012

Our Chinese School group enjoyed lunch at a local Chinese restaurant.

I love seeing the girls in their outfits! My mom made this pantset for Madeline. It turned out beautiful!

Happy Birthday Madeline

 A year ago at this time we celebrated Madeline's birthday in China..

This year my baby turned "8" and celebrated with her friends at Pump It Up!! She had a wonderful time and loved her cake! Mom loves you so much my Princess Madeline

Thanks to my dear friend Janie for taking this picture of the 4 of us. I am always taking the pictures...never in them.

ONE YEAR home with Abbey!

I  

 I really cannot believe this little squirt has been with us for one year already! It seems like yesterday she fell asleep for the first time in my arms in a hotel room in Zhengzhou, China. Oh my how time has flown.

I can honestly say she has "rocked" our world in more ways than one! I know I've said this before, but....she never stops!! She has one mode all day long: GO. She has climbed, jumped, slid, crawled, lunged, wiggled and twisted her little self into every corner of this house over the past year. Any not all of them were pretty!!
This little munchkin has given me more 'near-death' heart attacks than my other 3 kids combined. But, the kicker is... when she is done pulling one of her dare-devil stunts she usually turns around and gives that amazing smile and says ''ook mama, me do it"
So very proud of herself she is!
I took this picture of her yesterday holding one of her babies. She loves her baby dolls and playing 'momma'. She has even mastered putting real diapers on all her babies. So cute!

 I truly believe God knew exactly what he was doing when he placed Abbey-girl into our family. HE knew this mom needed a little "kick" in the behind to keep her up and going. Sort of like an anti-aging serum in a size 2T. Abbey is definitely keeping me young and I wouldn't change it for the world!

HE also knew what he was doing when HE gave her the the most compassionate heart I have ever seen in a child so young. Many a time Abbey has had to "dry" big sisters tears over a squabble the two have had. Anytime she sees someone is crying, she runs and gets a tissue for them to dry their tears, she kisses boo-boo's for  everyone, she loves to give out band-aids(and does a great job at putting them on correctly I might add), she pats and loves on her friends at MMO if they fall down or if they are upset. It really is amazing. I know she is able to show this kind of compassion in part because of the love and compassion she was shown at her foster home in China. But God has given this little one a gift for CARING!

HE also knew that I needed to be reminded that the dishes in the sink can wait, the house can be a mess, toys can be strewn all over the house and yard, dust can just get "dustier" and no one cares if I have it all together or not. See....

HE knows I am a control freak about certain things.

HE knows I try to make things happen that I really have no control over to begin with

HE knows I want a plan, a schedule, a graph, a list to make things all nice and neat

HE knows my heart and the things I dwell on  

So HE sent Abbey to remind me....to STOP. SIT DOWN. ENJOY. LAUGH. SMILE. LET GO.

Enjoyy being a mom, listen to the stories they tell, play on the swing, let them go outside without a jacket on (ha)

The wallpaper can be fixed, the DVD can be replaced, the jewelry wasn't THAT expensive, the table looks just fine colored with markers, walls can be repainted. 

Just BE there for them no matter what.

Abbey is one of the happiest, most  loving, caring, energetic little girls I have ever known. She is so many things to me and I thank God she is in our lives. Happy Gotcha' Day my sweet girl. Momma loves you in "all" ways for "all" my days!