Wordless Wednesday

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas 2009!  This year was a great year and we have double the blessings this year.  We are so thankful that Madison was home with us this Christmas.  Both she and Samantha have had two days filled with more Christmas cheer than they know what to do with.  Both got what they wanted from Santa and all is right with the world!

I hope each and everyone of you had a very Merry Christmas!  We cannot wait to see what 2010 has in store for our family!

Happy Birthday Angela!

I just want to wish my niece, Angela, who is no longer with us, a happy birthday today, which would of been her 21st!  We love and miss you very much!

Happy 3 Month Forever Family Day!

Three months ago today, in a very hot and stuffy room in Guangzhou China, we met Madison for the very first time and our lives have been changed forever since that moment.  I remember it very clearly.  There were 47 families in a very HOT room at the Civil Affairs Office in Guangdong waiting to meet their newest family members for the very first time.  I remember seeing Madison sitting on her nanny's lap in the "holding room" crying and we could not wait to hold her.  We had all been up since 1:00 a.m. and were very, very tired, but the anticipation of finally meeting Madison was so strong that nothing could of stopped us!  Madison was handed to me and we were ushed out into a very stifling hot hallway as the room was so chaotic that you could not find a place to sit and children were screaming and crying all around us.  Madison cried for about 15 or 20 minutes and was not able to be consoled and then all of a sudden she stopped crying and became fixated on her big sister, Samantha!  Shortly after that she was walking around with Sammie and smiling at momma, dadda and Sammie!  It's been a glorious and at times, rough three months.  We would not change anything that has happened over the the past three months and thank God each and every day for bringing Madison into our lives.  We are truly blessed this Christmas season!

Here are some pictures from Forever Family Day (9-14-09) and throughout the past 3 months!  Hope you enjoy them.

Happy 3rd Forever Family Dad Madison!  We love you very, very much!

Mommy, Daddy & Samantha


P.S.  A Huge Happy 3 Month Forever Family Day to our fellow travel buddies, the Womble, the Eckert and the Guarino Families!  We miss you guys!

Samantha's New Hairdo

Samantha has been asking her dad and I if she could get her haircut short.  Those of you who know Sammie know that her hair is down to her patootie and is very beautiful.  She's been on this kick of wanting it cut for sometime now and even though she wanted it short, her dad and I did not.  Well, the other day she said how about a compromise . . . I want it short, you want it long, how about some where in between.  Well, today I asked her if she still wanted to get her hair cut and she said yes, so Dale and I both agreed and took her to Kids Hair in Woodbury.  She had 7.5" cut off the back and they did some layering/framing of her face with the front/sides of her hair.  I turned out really cute.  Her hair is now just below her shoulders.

Here's a couple before and after shots:

Side shot before haircut

Back view before haircut

Back view after haircut

Front view after haircut

She really looks more grown up now!  Luckily, her hair is still long enough to put up or leave down and we got some groovy  new barrets to use too!  Sammie was simply glowing as she was having her haircut!  I'm glad we let her do it.  She said, my hair can always grow back!  Sometimes kids are just so right!

A Hug Means So Much

Tonight was the first night that Madison actually gave me a real hug before I put her to bed.  She would always give kisses and I'd hug her, but sometimes she was really not into hugging and would pull away or turn or just not be interested.  BUT tonight when I tucked her into bed and kissed her I asked her to give momma a hug and she laid her head on my shoulder and wrapped her tiny arms around my neck and hugged me back.  It was the most awesome feeling in the world and let me tell you this momma cried her eyes out and her little girl hugged her!  Oh, what a blessing and an awesome feeling!  It's been almost three months in the works and I am just so thankful that Madison is finally here with us.  Hugs are great!

Merry Christmas by Third Day

The lyrics to this song are totally amazing and totally fitting to our adoption journey to Madison.  If you get a chance, please watch the video and listen to the lyrics closely. The last paragraph is especially fitting for this year!!!

Merry Christas by Third Day 

There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn

Crying for Momma's arms

At an orphanage just outside a little China town

Where the forgotten are

But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire

And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine

It's Christmas time again but you're not home

Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone

And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms

And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas

As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights

I'm warmed by the fire's glow

Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white,

Make angels in the snow

But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears

And hope that heaven's angels come to carry you here

It's Christmas time again but you're not home

Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone

And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms

And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas

Christmas is a time to celebrate the holy child

And we celebrate his perfect gift of love

He came to earth to give his life

And prepare a place for us

So we could have a home with him above

It's Christmas time again and now you're home

Your family is here so you will never be alone

So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms

And I'll tell you from my heart, and I'll tell you from my heart

I wish you Merry Christmas

First Urgent Care Visit!

Madison had her first visit to the urgent care clinic tonight.  She developed from very interesting poopies the past few days, which have given her a very intense and blistering diaper rash and on top of that, she also has a double ear infection!  Yippee . . . not!!!!!  She really wasn't acting like she had an ear infection, with the exception of once in a while digging at her ears and the big tip - NOT WANTING TO EAT!!!!  For those who know Madison and how much she likes to eat, that would of been a tip off for anyone.  If not for the intense diaper rash, I probably would not have taken her in tonight, but my mommy instincts kicked in.  Thankfully so.  So we are now on an antibiotic to treat the ear infection and have gotten an RX for some serious butt paste to clear up the nasty diaper rash!  Doctor also said the diarreha could be the start of a virus!  Yeah . . . again NOT!!!!!  Hoping she's feeling better in a few days!

One stressed out momma!