One year ago, we fell in love...for the 4th time!

Whew, how do the minutes, days, months, and years just tick away like they belong on a fast paced train?  Do you think it is possible to slow the train down?  I've been told by many the experienced traveler that the answer is a resounding, "no."  So, I will resign myself to the fact and try to keep up.  It was one year ago (a couple of days ago) that we fell in love with our #4 child.  This child came to us by different means, but the love is so very much the same.  For years we prayed for "our little girl from China" or "Lu" as we affectionately called her.  It was not until we got the call from our case worker saying that we were matched with a girl, did this idea of adoption become real.  Along with the necessary paperwork for the adoption came the first pictures of her.  I can't even describe the feelings I had when I saw them.  Here she was...our precious "Lu".

Li Fangyuan, 18 months(ish)

Here we are one year later...so much has changed in her life.  We became her mom and dad, she has 3 brothers (yikes! that could potentially scare anyone...), she has grandmas and grandpas, auntie's and uncle's, and cousins all who love her a ton.  She has experienced a ton of first's; swimming, reading, walking, eating, surgery, laughing, crying, Christmas, birthdays, pumpkin carving....you get the idea.  Life is NEW to her.  It has been neat to watch her grow.  We are so blessed and she is so loved.

 

Melia Lu, age 2 1/2

As for a quick update on how she has been doing since Christmas...
1.  She has started to eat solid foods---Praise the Lord in Heaven Above!!  This has been a real challenge for us and her, I'm sure.  It is a slow, but sure process.  She has even taken a hold of the reigns and feeds herself!

2.  Her personality continues to shine through more and more.  We think we have a jokester on our hands.  She is quite the ham!  We are finding that she loves music and her little hip swing is dangerous.  Even Daddy says we are going to have be careful with "that" in a few years!  HA!

3.  She is allowing her brothers to get a bit closer to play and hug.

4.  She loves her dolly and does not let it out of her sight.  What a little protective mommy.

5.  She is starting to talk a bit more too.  She can now say momma, dadda, grandma, yum yum, and owie.  Her sign language skills are getting better too, which is encouraging since it shows us that she is comprehending words, just can't speak them.