Wordless Wednesday

2nd Forever Family Day

Two years ago today we met Miss Madison Marie Lvfen Roth in a steamy hot Civil Affairs Building in Guangzhou China along with 40+ other families.  We celebrated in our usual way ~ Chinese takeout for dinner and presenting Madison with a small gift from China.  Our way of giving her a piece of her heritage each year on her special day.

Here is a photo from 2 years ago (9/14/09):

Here's a photo from last year (9/14/10):

Here's one from this year (9/14/11):

Happy Forever Family Day Madison!  We love you to the moon and back!!!!!!

First Day of Preschool

Madison's began preschool today.  This year she is in a regular preschool setting (18 kids in her class vs. 8 from last year).  Here are a few pictures from this morning:

This one was taken at home in our yard:

This one was on the bus:

This one was taken while we were waiting for the bus to come (at daycare):

Wordless Wednesday

Potty Training

We have been trying to potty train Madison on and off since March of this year (if I recall correctly).  It has been a real struggle.  First we started off petrified of the potty chair - she'd scream and scream and cry and just have a tizzy, so we gave up.  It was just too stressful on both mommy and her.  Then we stated up again in May with the same old problems.  Talked with her doctor about it and she said don't worry about it - it's a complete power/control issues for her and just give up.  She'll let you know when she's ready, blah, blah, blah.  So again, we let it go.  She turned 3 in October and this momma was determined that IT WAS TIME once again to start the process.  So we began the Monday following her birthday.  It's been a hit or miss thing with her and we had the whole whining/screaming (no crying get you, just major hissy fits) but we just kept it up this time and didn't let her control the situation. 

Low and behold, we think it has finally, AT LONG LAST, clicked inasmuch as we have had two days with only one little dribble in her pull up!!!!!  No more fighting to go on the potty, she runs right in and sits down and does her business within seconds now rather than 15 - 20 minutes on the potty chair.  Don't get me wrong, we still have a long way to go, but this mommy is happy, happy, happy that we are finally making progress!!!! 

Actually, we knew that when it clicked with Madison, it would click and she'd more than likely be trained in a blink of an eye then.  I guess we shall see, huh?

Keep your fingers crossed that we are on the path of no more diapers!!!!!!

Look Who's 3 Today!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY MADISON! Madison's 3rd birthday is today, but we celebrated it yesterday with family and friends ala a Minnie Mouse Themed Party.

Here's a few photos from her big day:

 

Today we took the girls to the Minnesota Zoo for Madison's birthday and then we went to Old Chicago for "Lupper" as we called it today - a late lunch before supper - LOL!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl.  We love you to the moon and back a gazillion times over!

Flash Back to 9-14-09

It was one year ago today that we met Miss Madison for the very first time in person in a steaming hot Civil Affairs Building in Guangzhou China!!!!

Here's two links to our thoughts from last year:

http://rothclanjourney.blogspot.com/2009/09/additional-pictures.html
http://rothclanjourney.blogspot.com/2009/09/meeting-madison-91309.html


HAPPY FOREVER FAMILY DAY SWEET GIRL!!!!

Flashback to 9-13-09

Here's the two posts we did from last year on this date while in China: 

http://rothclanjourney.blogspot.com/2009/09/meeting-madison-91309.html

http://rothclanjourney.blogspot.com/2009/09/heres-few-more-pics-from-9-13-09.html


We hope you enjoy revisiting our time in China!

Flash Back to 9-12-09

Here's a link to our post from last year on this date!  http://rothclanjourney.blogspot.com/2009/09/were-in-china.html

Flashback to 9-11-09

It was exactly one year ago today that Dale, Samantha and I began our long awaited trek to China to finally meet Madison Marie Lvfen!  What an adventure it was! 

Over the  next two weeks, as time permits, we will revist those two weeks in China!

One Year Ago Today

these were the only two letters I wanted to hear from our agency:

T A

yep, it was one year ago today and we received our travel approval ~ the permission we needed to head to China to bring Miss Madison home!!!!!!!!!

11 Months Ago Today . . .

you joined our family.  HAPPY 11 MONTH FOREVER FAMILY DAY!  It is hard to believe you've been with us for just a short time . . . it feels like you have been a part of our family for as long as we can remember.  We love you to the moon and back a gazillion times over!!!!!

10 Months

HAPPY 10 MONTH FOREVER FAMILY DAY MADISON!!!!!  WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH AND CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE BEFORE YOU JOINED OUR FAMILY!  YOU ARE A FIREBALL AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL YOU ARE A PART OF OUR FAMILY!!!!

9 Months Ago Today

we met this sweet face in person for the very first time. Here's a pic from September 2009

and one from June 12, 2010:

My oh my has she changed!

Here

8 Months . . . Where has the time gone?

Today marks our 8 month Forever Family Day!  It is hard to believe that 8 months ago in a sweltering hot civil affairs building in Guangdong China I was handed a little screaming bundle of joy!  It had been over 3 1/2 years since be began Madison's adoption journey and 3 years to the date that China had logged our dossier into their sytems.

It's certainly been an amazing 8 months and Madison has added a whole new demension to our family!  Our family is complete and we thank God each and every day for the blessings that have been bestoed upon us.

Happy Forever Family Day Madison Marie Lvfen!  We love you all the way to China and back a gazillion times over!

7 Months Ago

today we became a family of 4!  Happy 7 Month Forver Family Day Madison!  The past 7 months have been wonderful!  We are so thankful you are finally home with your forever family.  We love you very much!

One Year Ago Today

we received the best news of 2009 ~ it is the day we received Madison's referral. 

I remember this day very clearly.  I was at work and was exchanging emails with another fellow adoptive mom who was also waiting for news of her pending referral.  I had talked with our agency rep that morning as I was simply feeling like I was going to crack up if we did not receive our referral soon.  All the waiting was just taking it toll on me.  I remember Karin saying nope nothing today, but hopefully soon.  I'd heard those words so many times over the past year that that is all they were to me, empty words!  In the meantime, I received an email from my on-line buddy who had just received a phone call with their referral of a little girl.  Needless to say, I was beside myself with emotion (I was so very happy for her, but was so sad for Dale, Samantha and I) that I went into the bathroom at work and just sobbed my eyes out.  I pulled myself together and began to resume my day.  Shortly thereafter the phone at work rang and it was our agency rep Karin.  She said how's ya doing and I send I've been better.  She then said how would you feel if I told you I was looking at Madison's face right now?  I was so shocked that I said huh, you are kidding me and she said nope, I'm looking at her adorable little face right now!  Of course I began to cry and was beside myself once again.  She emailed me her info (which I couldn't open at work because of our stupid old computers), but I quickly called Dale and emailed him the info and then I quickly ran over to our agency's office to pick up the information she had on Madison and the whirlwind began.  Arranging for a doctor to review her file, filling our and signing documents, etc., etc.  Needless to say, it was love at first sight and we accepted Madison's referral. 

It really was surreal to finally put a face to a little person you have envisioned in your mind for over 3 1/2 years.  Wow, what an amazing day March 27, 2009 turned out to be!

Happy 6 Month Forever Family Day!

Wow, it is hard to believe that Madison has been with our family for six months already.  During the long wait to her referral it seemed as if time simply stood still, but once she joined our family, then once again, time begins to fly by.  Makes a person go hmmmmmmmmm.  Happy Forver Family Day Madison!  We love you beyond words!

Second Post Placement Visit

Tonight we have our second post placement visit.  It's hard to believe that it's been over 5 months since Madison joined our family.  She has definitely brought a lot of different things into the family dynamics.  She's grown so much during the past 5 1/2 months.  It's been fun watching her emerge on a daily basis ~ she defintely keeps us on our toes as you never know what she'll be up to next.

5 Months Already!

Happy 5 Month Forever Family Day Madison!