One year ago...

One year ago, March 26, 2012, was a BIG day for our family.  Greg and I, for the first time saw our baby girl face to face, held her, fed her and saw her sleep for the first time.  So many memories, such an emotional day!  After working so hard and so long to get to China, it was almost unbelievable to finally be there!  I had dreamed many times before about our daughter and dreamed about her being home with us, so I kept pinching myself, thinking, "Is this for real, this time?"  I will always remember about that day...
seeing her all bundled up in many, many layers...

Her first smile in daddy's arms...

When we got back to our hotel, we stripped her down, just like the classes we took warned us not to do (imagine how we would feel if we were in a foreign place, with people who don't speak the same language as us and they start pulling our clothes off all while they are smiling and kissing us and speaking jibberish!)  We wanted to see if she had 10 fingers and 10 toes.  We bathed her and dressed her in some comfy clothes that we brought to China.  It was very hard for her to settle down for her nap, but with the help of the bottle, she couldn't fight it any longer. 
Her first nap with us...

We are so thankful for this beautiful child!  She brings so much life, joy, and laughter to our household and we have all enjoyed watching her grow and blossom, despite many setbacks. We have all felt growing pains as our household has grown and as Joy has grown and learned so much in this year.  Not only Joy, but Greg and I and even Brian and Noah have learned so much and grown this year.  So, we are all learning more about ourselves and about life through this special child God has placed in our home.

We celebrated our one year anniversary by eating Chinese!  Notice the hold Joy has on Greg and I! :)  I am so thankful that she is holding on to us!

Joy was crawling when we brought her home.  Now she is running and jumping!

And dancing...

Joy loves to dance!!

 

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to morun and a time to dance" Ecclesiastes 4:1, 4

 

 

Look who's talking

Joy is talking!  About a month ago Joy began making sounds and talking.  She is saying several words!

Big brother tied a balloon to Joy's poneytail.

Happy Chinese New Year!

We see lots of sweet smiles these days.  Unfortunately, it is very hard to get a smile on camera.  When I pull out the camera, she wants to see the picture before I have taken it.  As soon as she sees the camera, she runs to get behind it!

 

In the past month, we have moved Joy's bed to her own bedroom and she has done amazing with that transition. 

 

She is doing so good, her occupational therapist says she is on a 36 month level.  She was tested for physical therapy and she didn't qualify! :)

 

It has been so hard for Greg and I, trying to learn how to raise a very strong willed child, but her strong will has helped her to persist and work hard.  She doesn't give up and she has come so far.  It has been so fun to see!