A Year of Her Sweet Face

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Happy Gotcha Day

One year ago today, this was Liliah's first real eye contact with us.  She was calm, but you can see the concern in her eyes and that her wheels were turning.  We never experienced any obvious grieving with her.  One of the traits her foster mother made in the notes was that she was easy going.   The above clip is our first meal together just a couple of hours after we met. 

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1 Year later . . . what a transformation

  

You finally settled on your pose

Happy, Happy Gotcha Day

Miss Liliah YingXia (yeen saw)

Daddy & Mommy love you to the moon and back

The Day Before We Met Liliah - 1 Year Ago

Last year on this day, giddy as can be at the couple's tree in the Forbidden City

  We were on the eve of stepping through the door to parenthood. It was a journey with many miles, but every step was worth it . . .to have the privilege to love 

this sweet face . . . .

Happy New Year!

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What an amazing and joyful first Christmas we had with Liliah.   Last year we waited with hope and anticipation of boarding the plane to China and bringing her home.  To have her here with us is often beyond words. . . . . our cup indeed runneth over!

 

Christmas with kids in the house is just plain fun and magical!  A few of her favorite things were the lights, the tree, snowmen and Santa Claus.  She is still pointing out lights on buildings and announcing Christmas lights!!!  When she sees a Jack-n-Box commercial she excitedly says, Noman.  Every morning as she came down the stairs she wanted to turn on the Christmas tree lights.  She never bothered any of the presents under the tree and thought it was a ball to hand out gifts and help open them.  

We spent Christmas in California with my family.  My parents & us started a tradition of eating out at a Chinese restaurant on Christmas Eve many years ago prior to ever knowing we'd adopt...let alone that we'd have a sweet little daughter from there.  It was so neat to have this tradition in place and to continue it with her.

Liliah also got to meet daddy's side of the family for the first time a few days after Christmas.  They gave her some sweet gifts to welcome her into the family.  

Liliah a year ago the week of Christmas (front row bottom left with her foster dad, turning around and looking at her foster mom

From Our Home To Yours . . . . .

I Made A Gingerbread House

I have looked forward to doing projects with my daughter.  Gingerbread houses are one of them.

Liliah was so happy to see all those little packages of candy dumped on the plate

Are we having fun or what?!

 

So. . . I can have 5 candies for each one I put on the house?

She stuck with me through the whole project and oohed and aahed.  

Daddy also joined in as the handyman to repair the broken tree & gingerbread man.  Thanks honey for being our photographer

 

 

I wonder if I can sneak another piece . . .

Our first creation together

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Liliah discovered her stocking once I put this doll in it.  She points at it and I tell her very excitedly, "Its for you, that's your Christmas present"....she puts her hand over her mouth to show her appreciation.  She has not asked or fussed about getting it down.  I purchased this sweet little yarn doll for her in Guangzhou, China.  It's a momma with her baby tied on her back.

P R E C I O U S

O' Christmas Tree

On Thanksgiving weekend we bought my first Christmas tree.

I love my daddy and am always happy to hang out with him!

 

Our official light inspector . . . you were so excited to see Christmas lights in the house 

 

You ran around the tree, giggled and danced about.  You were happy, your eyes were filled with wonderment as we unwrapped each ornament and hung them on the tree.  

We added two new ornaments to our tree.  One we purchased last year while we waited for you, the other we found in Beijing on our way to you.  Our eyes our often filled with liquid joy that you are now here with us . . . .

 

You are our most precious gift that we have received this side of heaven

My First Santa Shoot

My first time seeing Santa in person.  I was not going to sit in his lap, but was very happy in my daddy's arms and on the opposite knee away from Santa! 

Look at how brave I am after our photo shoot?  I was happy to meet him!

 

Mama, look what I found

 I LOVE watering cans

 

 

 Okay, Skeeter & I are done with the photo session and out of here!  

At night we headed to a HUGE Christmas light show and met up with Jordyn and her daddy & mommy. We had so much fun together......we froze our tushies off, but it was worth it for good company and a spectacular show. 

What a true joy & delight to have Liliah in our life. 
This week on December 12, we will hit 11 months together as a family.... A M A Z I N G . . . . God has truly been kind to us and blessed us beyond our wildest dreams

My First Thanksgiving

My first official holiday duty......learning how to mash up the roasted yams for mama

Up, down, splash & mash......

  

 Ta Da......'Voila....ready for the marshmallows

 

   I watched the Macy's parade and got excited when I saw ELMO!  I watched football and the big kids play games before eating turkey

 I am now the official ice cuber

  

Happy Thanksgiving  

(for some reason I wasn't too interested in actually eating

the meal....just smashing and practicing my stirring techniques)

 

 Words cannot express how full our hearts are at having Liliah home with us.  We remember last year how much we yearned for her and were so ready to just get on a plane to China and get her.  To now have her sitting at our table is still so amazing to us.