Happy 1/2 Birthday, MK!

This is what four and a half looks like on MK!

Our little girl is growing up. Too fast. I know, I say that about each and every one of my children but it is sooo true in my world. MK has been so big in the past four months. She has willingly stepped into her big sister role without so much as a flinch. Watching her with Maddox, and witnessing her grow, has put me in awe somedays. She came to us broken and unsure, and now, three years and four months later, she is so full of zest, determination, laughter and a confidence about her that makes me so proud. My girl, as with most girls, loves for things to be all about her. In a family with four children, rarely is everything all.about.one.child. Today, however, has been different. Today was declared her day - per her request, blueberry muffins for breakfast,we had a picnic at the park for lunch, out to dinner at Moe's and off to see the movie Cars 2. (Can you see where the priorities are? Food, food, food, oh, and movie at which we had FOOD!) Doesn't get any better :)

In other news, the boys participated in a basketball camp all week. They could be found practicing or attempting bball tricks during their spare time.

Spare time? Ha. I made sure there was little "spare time" in our lives this week! I wanted the boys to enjoy being home, doing camp and hanging out with friends. I love a house full of kiddos laughing - it makes my heart glad to see my children enjoying life with their friends. These guys are the jokesters....if they weren't telling each other an old joke, they were making up new ones.....

These three are the movie makers. They have a producer, executive producer, a script developer, a cameraman, an editor and they even have lines that they memorize for each production!

We had some painting time with Xin this week! Xin is going to welcome home a new baby sister sometime soon and Maddox was giving him a rundown on how baby girls really are....Xin is going to make a fabulous big brother. He was very attentive to our little miss and patient with her too!

And these two girls thought Maddox's crib was great fun during their playdate!

MK, Maddox and I had some girl time shopping, eating breakfast with friends, swimming with friends, having friends over to play and just hanging out. Maddox continues to do well. She is such a little sweetheart and we feel so blessed to have been chosen to be her family!

Maddox has so many different looks....the one below says she is up to something. A little sly cutie she is.

And this made me laugh. I got the camera out and as soon as she saw me with it, she stopped in her tracks, placed her hand on her hip, scrunched up her nose and waited for me to take a picture of her....the one thing that was non-negotiable was the cookie. She liked the cookie just as it was.

And our little mermaid.....well, sort of. Who said fashion was important???!!!

All tired out....

Bump In The Road

The day we arrived home from China, two local families were leaving to go to China! They set off to bring home their baby girls who are close in age to Maddox. After three months of being home, we all got together for dinner to celebrate our homecomings. We also invited a family to join us who is in the process to adopt. So good to see these babies home with their families! During our visit, I asked one mother what her biggest challenge has been since bringing home their daughter. She responded and then asked me the same question. Well, I answered honestly - it really hasn't been a challenge with Maddox. Yes, it is one more child which means more responsibilities, more laundry, more bodies to bathe, mouths to feed and teeth to brush, but that has really all fallen into place. Yes, we have had a few overwhelming moments and, yes, Maddox is very much a "do not touch my mommy or I will hit you" kind of girl, but, honestly, it has been a very smooth transition for all of us. Until today, I would not have classified anything as, well, a "challenge." However, because Maddox is now all healed from surgery and because we desperately want to participate in our church services together as a family, we placed M in the nursery. Oh, how she screamed even before I signed her in. She knew exactly where we were. She hung on to me with fear. Her eyes were huge and full of crocodile tears. Pitiful. But, I let her go, told her goodbye and then stood in the hall and listened to her cry....I have done this with all of my children and all have cried no more than a few moments at the most. Not Maddox. She cried and cried and cried. Finally, I went in to her rescue and whisked her away and held her tight for comfort. I took her into our SS class and when she saw Ryan, even though she would not go to him, she cried happy tears and clapped joyously.

Three days from now, we will celebrate four months with Maddox. And while those four months seem like forever to us, it is in moments like today that I realize how small her forever is. She remembers. And I was sadly reminded of how hard she cried on Gotcha Day and how I could not comfort her. The difference today was that I could comfort her. So happy for how far we have come and I am thankful for today's reminder on how far we have to go!