Lucy's "first" birthday celebration {at home}

This past weekend, we celebrated Lucy's third birthday. But her first at home!

Even though it rained, it actually didn't spoil a thing. What a wonderful day of celebration and thanksgiving. Here are some pics from our dear friend, Nathan Mah Photography.
(Beware - there were too many good ones. So hard to narrow down, so I didn't that much.)

Amazing carousel cake by Rachel Gage

Favors for the little guests

Grandpa Keeler, Lucy's great-grandpa, flew down from NY just to meet her and celebrate! And grill some dogs with Grandpa Lynch :)

Our sweet birthday girl

Loved that she blew each candle out, one at a time.

So, so happy. Oh, and Lucy was too :)

Smooching on my big little girl

Sweet fellow-adoptive mamas

Sweet Darcy joined the fun

Opening the goods

Who had more fun? Lucy or Grandpa?

Lots of little helping hands

Last gift - rain boots. Fitting for our rainy party.

Can't not include one goofy face

"Which one do you want to ride, Lucy?" "PIG, mama!" (and yes, the baby bump looks huge to me here!)

Gettin' ready for the train ride (and life with a baby, apparently).

Uh, oh! Here comes the tunnel!

So much fun with friends.

What a fun party to celebrate our Goose! Looking forward to celebrating with her this Wednesday, her actual birthday. And sharing some more great pics!

And while we're at all the celebrating, Happy 9 Months Together Forever today!

thoughts on this first mother's day

When you've waited awhile for something, a little longer than you'd thought or hoped, it can be interesting to process and experience it when it's finally here.

For me, today was one of those days. My first official Mother's Day. I say "official" because last year, I knew Lucy's face, name, whereabouts and a few details of her almost 2 years of life. I had a child in the world. But she wasn't with me. I couldn't hold her, kiss her and have her hand me a card with her little hand traced on the front (like I did this year). Paperwork, legalities and time stood between us.

And the years before that, I had spent wondering what in the world my child, our children, would look like, sound like, be like. And when they would come. Mother's Day turned into a hard day. Period.

But this year!

I have so many directions I could go with this post. From all my thoughts and emotions as I woke up this morning. To gratitude to Lucy's birth mother, for choosing life, allowing us this precious gift. To how incredible it is that the Lord would have me going from zero children last Mother's Day, to practically two this year. To the fact that we dedicated Lucy to the Lord today in front of our friends, family and church. To the wonderful mothers Andy and I both have, and now share, who love our daughter fiercely.

But I think I'll just stick to this girl right here.

The one who made me a mommy in the first place. Almost 9 months ago. She has wiggled and giggled and funny-faced her way into my heart.

Lucy Hope, you just can't know how proud I am of you. You are silly. You are prissy. You are incredibly smart. You are resilient. You are forgiving. You are thoughtful and kind. You are determined and persistent. But you are His, a gift on loan from the Heavenly Father to your Baba and me.

Thank you for loving me and calling me "mama". It is a privilege like no other. I love you!

from Qingyuan to Chick-fil-a

I am not even surprised anymore at the ways the Lord continues to intersect our lives with others in the adoptive community. But I am amazed!

Remember this little guy?

If not, you can read about him here and here.

He's been home with his family for 7 weeks. And they just "happened" to be passing through our area on their way out west. To move to their new home. So, from Qingyuan to Chick-fil-a, these two got to play, eat ice cream and get a few pics together.

I found his mama on a yahoo group last spring, connecting over the fact that our little ones were at the same orphanage. Andy and I were able to meet Mycah during the orphanage visit. And Lori was able to take some updated photos of Lucy and a letter to her nannies from us when she went to get her son in March.

We aren't sure how well Lucy and Mycah knew each other in Qingyuan, or if they even remember one another. But they hit it off today for sure.

Crazy? I think not. God continues to work in the lives of "the least of these", giving them families, homes and even little reunions like this.

*Lori was able to inquire about Jun Ke while in China. The report she received was that he is home with this family now, no longer in Qingyuan. We have yet to find him, and have no idea where he is. Would you pray that we would get to see him again one day too? For now, I'm just thrilled knowing he's an orphan no more!

Lucy's gonna be a.....

More to come, but it is finally sinking in...at least for us.

For her, she still thinks the baby is in her belly sometimes. Come 11/05 (or somewhere in there), she'll get the idea!

For now, I am continually reminded of this verse. For both of our little miracles. For all of us. For all life.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well."

Psalm 139:14

His works are wonderful, indeed. I feel that now more than ever. Praise Him from whom all blessings flow! Including those born of the heart, and those born of the womb. How blessed we are to get to experience both.

8 months together {this side of a homecoming}

As usual, I am days behind about posting something significant. Why change it up? I can't seem to be one of those "post it the day it happens" bloggers!

Saturday marked 8 months with Lucy. 8 months!!! That's 2/3 of a year.

The Goose at the airport LATE Fri night. In her pj's and tutu, of course.

April has been jam-packed with activity, but one of the coolest things we got to do was drive to the airport last Friday night. And be on this side of a beautiful homecoming.

Oh the nail-biting and anticipation!

Another baby girl. Orphan no more. Home from China with her Mama and Baba. Forever.

There they are!!! I see them! I see them!

What a cool thing to witness from the other side of the long airport hall way. The top side of the escalator that leads passengers to their destination, and in this case, anxiously-waiting family and friends.

How I remember that happy feeling. Home.

Welcome home, baby Darcy. We are so glad you are finally where you belong. Forever!

Taking it all in. Overwhelming for a little one who's been through so much.

And Happy 8 months, Lucy-Goose. Hard to believe that was us just last August. My how time and togetherness have done great things for the three of us.

the birthday girl wasn't the only happy girl

Lucy and I hopped in the car and headed south for a few hours this weekend for a special birthday party.

Sweet Tinley, who turned 3 today, and is just a tad bit older than Lucy, is the daughter of one of my dearest friends. Tinley came to town for Lucy's match party last year, and has had a few play dates with us already since my girl has been home. (I used to look at Tinley and imagine how big Lucy might be, before we met her.) There's just something about your friends' kids loving on and playing with your kids :) So special.

While Tinley was definitely the birthday girl, and no doubt the happiest kid at the party, I think Lucy was a close second.

She's been to a few "birthday parties", but not a child's birthday party yet. We all know those are the best! And it was really fun since it was Tinley's 3rd birthday. Lucy will be in the 3-year old birthday girl next month, and I'm so glad she had a chance to see what a little party like that looks like. I think she'll be able to have a better grasp of it when it's her turn.

So thanks Tinley for being born, being you, inviting us to your party, showing Lucy a good time, and showing her what an awesome party is supposed to look like!

We love you and can't wait to see you again soon!

Here are a few more pics of the party scene. It was Strawberry Short Cake meets arts and crafts :)

Crazy girl. She was just dancing and goofing off while consuming all that sugar. I think it was hitting her as soon as it was going in!

the tooth doctor and sweet treats

Lucy had a couple of doctor's appointments when we first got home. And they were not fun. For any of us. The poor thing was so scared. I would have been too, having to see strange people in white coats with odd things around their necks, poking and prodding me. And then there were the attempts at drawing blood. It was one of the saddest things I've ever had to do with  her. Those are not our best memories.

So, when it came to the dentist, we decided that could and should wait awhile.

But, she's come such a long way! Has a much better understanding of how things work, and I can better explain what's about to happen.

That's why I told her we would be seeing the "tooth doctor" this week, as she understands "tooth" and "doctor", but has no context for "dentist". We role played at the museum when her cousins were here. Sitting in the play dentist chair, having her open her mouth, brushing her teeth, etc.

Then we role played again Monday night in Baba's recliner. He was the "tooth doctor", and she got a special treat for doing a good job.

I'm happy to report her Tuesday morning dentist appointment went very well! She was such a big girl!

 

One reason I picked this pediatric dentist is because they let me go back with her, and actually had her sit on my lap, facing me, but lying back in the hygienist's lap while she cleaned her teeth. Not a tear from my big girl during the whole cleaning!

Until the dentist came in, that is. She's not quite as comfortable with male doctors, but it was still a success, as she let him do his thing anyway.

So, so proud of you brave one! You're getting so big!

Speaking of teeth, and all the things that aren't good for them, we had a sweet treat today...

A picnic and ice cream on a stick with our friends, the Gillum girls. We haven't seen them in years (and hadn't met their littlest yet). They are in town for a little while, so we took advantage and had a great time catching up and watching our girls play. I love being able to spend my days like this. So blessed!