"WHAT WERE WE DOING ONE YEAR AGO TODAY?"

Same ice cream, different country
...one year later!

Here's to Gotcha Day!

Well, here we are...reflecting on a year of being a family of six, as today marks Fei's First "Gotcha Day" Celebration!  Over the past week, many of our family conversations have centered around the question, "What were we doing one year ago today?" as we've retold stories, read our blog posts and reminisced over pictures.  In some ways, the trip is still so fresh that it seems impossible that a year has passed; however, when we begin to think of the growth we've all experienced, it's amazing to realize that it has only been a year.

Happy Birthday!

Just a month ago, Fei celebrated her 3rd birthday, readily enjoying the music, cake/ice cream and presents, with no indication that this was a new experience.  Earlier in the week, we told her that we would be celebrating her birthday, along with Nana's birthday, so all week long, she sang, "Happy Birthday to Fei Fei...Happy Birthday to Nana".  Now, any time we sing "Happy Birthday" for anyone, she chimes in with verses for both her and Nana!

Fei has continued to adjust well into her daily routine and has even elongated her sleep at night and naptime.  She continues to LOVE food, just like the rest of the family, and really has no aversion to anything, except radishes.  Whenever we are getting out plates/bowls, she always asks, "blue bowl?" but is excited with any color.  She also likes to comment in the car, "this way?" and if we go a different direction, she'll follow with, "that way...mo; this way...yeah!" (translation, "mo" is "no")  Fei is continually naming things and putting 3-4 words together, having made great progress the past few months as she's been in speech therapy.  Her first phrase (initiated on her own) was "may I be scoo pease" ("May I be excused please?") and the first week, she said it everywhere because she got such an enthusiastic response from all of us!  Some other favorites are:


Hugs for "E-Ay"   

• requesting Toby Mac's song "Spee Yi" any time we're in the car (translation: "Speak Life"), as well as asking for us to turn the music "up peas" if it's too low
• squealing as we pull into our church parking lot, she'll start singing "He is the Li" (translation: "He is the Light") and clapping
• true excitement at spending time with "maa-ma" (Big Kiss Grama) and their Starbucks ritual (including a cookie, of course) before going to play at the park
• yelling "BABA" and "NANA" every time we pull into their driveway
• enjoying every minute of her Mom's Day out program...taking care of babies, creating art projects, and playing outside (especially the water table)....having adjusted so well to sleeping longer and becoming more independent. Her teachers are absolutely amazing and have done so much to facilitate her transition!
• her funny sense of humor as she teases us with bites of her cookie or telling us we're the opposite gender (all with a smile & gleam in her eyes)..."dada-girl, mama-boy!"
• her amazing ability to take care of her babies...putting them to bed (singing to them and praying with them), feeding them in their high chair, taking them for a walk in their stroller and even putting them in time out when necessary...hmmm
• cleaning up right away (most of the time), once the "clean up song" starts...she'll keep going until everything is put away...wow!

Piggyback on Big Sis "Eh-yee"

"Oh-wee" loves to give her kisses

The weekly routines this spring for school, neighborhood group, church, and Saturdays at the soccer field have gotten increasingly smoother for all of us as Fei is adjusting to the familiarity of them.  She is very social and enjoys being in groups, even making others laugh, once she is comfortable with the situation/people.  Ellie, TJ & Owen have been incredible teachers, playmates, and consistently loving siblings that have eased her transition into our family.  We've been amazed at her innate ability to lovingly care for her babies and believe that it's a reflection of the care she received and observed her first few years of life...an answer to our prayers!  It is also so incredible to watch her love for God unfold through her initiating prayers and singing to God at the top of her lungs...a peek into her tender heart that is capable of loving and receiving love from Him.
Over and over, we have experienced examples of God's faithfulness over the past year as we reflect on the unexpected challenges, timing of His provisions, and gentle reminders of His love...whether through scripture, music, encouraging words or the loving actions of those around us.  We've seen it in relationships that have developed with other adoptive families or ones about to embark on their journey... an encouraging word from a stranger...the big kids getting an extra dose of attention from their grandparents...God's infinite love & grace expressed through music...opportunities for date nights to recharge our marriage... Fei's level of comfort that allows her to talk/sing as she's laying in bed...each one at precisely a moment of needed assurance.  Fei continues to develop into a confident, silly, trusting and loving little girl, observant of everything around her and so desiring to engage the world around her; we anxiously await her speech to develop to gain deeper insight into this precious daughter.  As she has grown, so have each of us...in our self-awareness, ability to be flexible, relationships with each other and our dependence on God.  We look forward with anticipation to what the next year holds, both individually and as a family, and continue to press into God each moment.