Thoughts from a 3 year old...

We've watched the video of our time in China a few times recently and we have also looked through a scrapbook that TCH gave us that has pictures of YouMei from 11 months on. She loves looking through that scrapbook, she asks for it by saying she wants to see pictures of "me when I little bitty baby". I think she's trying to figure things out in her little head. It's a lot to process, and we're trying to talk about everything on a three year old level. My SIL also had a baby this week, so there has been lots of baby talk in our family for many months now. She has wanted me to wrap her up in her blankie a lot and rock her "like baby", and not just at night. Of course, I have obliged. I wonder sometimes where this desire comes from, is it from all of the baby talk or is it because she somehow knows she missed out on something...the cuddling and rocking that most children receive when they are infants. What matters really though, is that the desire is there now. She WANTS me to rock her and snuggle with her. It has been a process to get us to that point, but it has been a process I'm thankful for.

Several times this week YouMei has told people, somewhat randomly with pride in her voice that, "When I baby I in China". It's neat to be at a point where she can communicate things like this.

And then...this conversation took place.

Y: I wan go back China
Me: You want to go back to China?
Y: Yes, I wan go back China
Me: Why do you want to go back to China?
Y: Because I wan go back China
Me: Why sweetheart?
Y: Because I wan go back China be little baby and you come get me!



Yes, my love, I would come get you.

Tonight.

Dear YouYou,

Tonight as I held you I thanked God that you clung to me like a little monkey and didn't want to be put down. You see, last year on this night I wanted so badly for my arms to comfort you but my arms were not what you wanted. But over this past year my arms have become one of your favorite places to be...and I'm so grateful for that.

Tonight was a night of celebration! We ate lots and lots of Chinese food, we sang "Happy Family Day to you" and you blew out a candle on your cake, and we watched some video of our time in China. I'm not sure you understood the significance of the day but we celebrated none the less!

You have changed so much this past year. You have gained almost 7 pounds and grown almost 3 inches. You have learned a new language, had heart surgery, been to the dentist more times than I can count, learned how to aggravate your brothers and weaved a special little place for yourself into this family.

You are such a brave little girl and I am so happy that God allowed me to be your mommy.

One year ago today...

Right now it is January 12th in China, although it is still the 11th here in the States.

One year ago today...I can't believe it has been a whole year.

I got to hold, smell, touch and cry with my daughter for the first time...one year ago today.

We signed some papers and became a family of 5...one year ago today.

My family and friends back home were sitting anxiously at the computer, refreshing, refreshing, refreshing...one year ago today.

My life was forever changed...one year ago today.

The Dentist today

I'm taking YouYou to the dentist this morning for the first of many dental procedures she needs. Their goal for today is to put in 3 temporary fillings. She'll be given nitrous oxide and demerol to help calm her so that she cooperates. Will you pray for her? Her appt. is at 8:30 am CST.

And on a more exciting note...on this day last year we were boarding a plane to GO TO CHINA!!!!! I can't believe it has been a whole year!!! I'll be posting several times over the next 2 weeks to celebrate this occasion.

Thank you all for your prayers and support over this past year, and even today :)

***UPDATED***
Ms. YouYou did GREAT at the dentist. He was able to put in the temporary fillings and they look wonderful. She had chipped her front tooth back in June of last year and since then more and more of that tooth and the one next to it, which also had a cavity, had been crumbling. The dentist was able to "fill" in the two front teeth and you can hardly tell there was ever anything wrong with them. I'm so pleased. And YouYou was so cooperative...definitely the prayers!!!

The Best Ever

So I know I'm late, but I just had to post a few pictures from YouYou's first Christmas. I can honestly say I think it was the best Christmas we have ever had. Not at all because of the number of presents under the tree (b/c there weren't that many), but because of lots of other little things...like hearing YouYou sing "Happy Birthday Jesus" and listening to the boys recite the Christmas story. We sat around the tree Christmas morning and it was so nice to not feel like someone was missing. It was a beautiful day spent with family and celebrating the birth of our Saviour.

Look for several posts in the next few days...there is a one year celebration coming up!!!!

Joy

This time last year my heart was aching. We were so hopeful that we would travel to China before the end of the year but it just wasn't His plan. I tried to put on a happy face, but all I really wanted was to hold my little girl who was still on the other side of the world.

It's different this year. She's here...I can hold her, kiss her, listen to her laugh. It's almost been a year now that she has been a part of our family and now we are getting to celebrate the birth of our Saviour with our daughter. What an amazing gift that was given to us and what a wonderful gift she is to our family.

Merry Christmas to you all!

The Princess is in her own bed...

Little Ms. Princess decided that she was ready to sleep in her own bed for the first time Saturday night after a fun time "Trunk or Treating". She has been talking about it for several weeks and we decided she was finally ready. This was a a big step for her (and for me :) And she has done great!!

I do wish, however, that the whole daylight savings time thing could be explained to her so that she would go back to sleeping in until around 8:00 am. She's up a little earlier now that she's in her own room, it's a little brighter in there which I think also helps her to wake up earlier. So since she's been waking up earlier she has been falling asleep in the car most days while we're on the way to pick up one of her brother's from school. On Tuesday of this week she actually fell asleep on the way to pick up the brother that goes to school for half day...so this was around 11:15 in the morning! I guess this will always be a part of our life, but I actually started to get a little concerned and wondered about why she was falling asleep during the day so much now. Could it be heart related? I kept a close eye on her while she slept and for the rest of that day, but her energy level was completely normal after she woke up from her nap and her breathing was fine. So I eventually just chalked it up to our extra busy weekend and her getting up earlier than normal. I did mention this to my husband though and he assured me that he would have been concerned as well (so it makes me think I'm not just over-reacting :) I wonder if little things like this will always make me think of her heart. Probably so. This is our life...and I'll rejoice in every healthy day we have!