7 Month update since Gotcha!

If little Ms. Mia develops any more personality - I am afraid she is going to bust! Personality plus she is! I thought last month was great - but she continues to amaze me day by day.

I have heard people make the comment - "I am not sure that I could love an adopted child as much as a biological child." Well, I can tell you - I feel no differently about Mia than I do about Macy. One born in my tummy - the other born in my heart. I LOOOOVVVVVEEEEEE these girls soooooo much. I can NOT imagine our lives today without Mia being in our family.
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We had our 6 month follow up visit with our social worker in November. After she had asked about 20 questions - I stopped....and said.... " I am sorry I don't have anything negative to say...everything has just been wonderful.....the bonding....her health...her development..." She was thrilled because that is not always the story. Many times families have to work through bonding issues and adjustment periods... It made me realize that everything with Mia - has been like out of a fairytale for us. It has been PERFECT. And I don't want to take that for granted. God - out of His grace - chose to bless every part of our post-adoption. I was fully prepared for every possible outcome - but for some reason He gave us an easy road. Maybe it was the 7 years we spent praying for this little girl! Or maybe some people can just handle that "test" and He knew it would be too much for us! :) Either way - I am thankful for our fairytale!











Mia playing in fall leaves.









This is my youngest sister, Taylor. She had us all in awe over Thanksgiving b/c she has mastered her back-handspring.

















We went to see the new movie "Enchanted" over Thanksgiving. Then "played" princess....Macy would eat the poisonous apple....and fall asleep FOREVER...the only way she could wake up was if her one true sister would come give her a hug and a kiss! We played this over and over and over.....and it was a moment that was just....enchanting.





Ladies Christmas party at our house on the first Tuesday in December. Missed all of you who couldn't make it - but we had a great time. None of the MOPS moms could make it- must have something to do with all of the small children!
I had set my timer on my camera for this picture and then ran and jumped in with Macy and Mia....and whoops it cut Lesia out!

While setting the timer I experienced a GREAT moment...Macy jumped on my right shoulder wanting to be held and see what I was doing...and Mia crawled onto my lap to see what I was doing...and I started falling out of my chair backwards...and Mia laughed and laughed and squealed with delight. It was too precious. I about busted a gut laughing!


Boy these parties can get wild! While playing white Santa - we wanted to see some of the gifts modeled! Thanks to Pam for always bringing the gift with all of her purses from the previous year! We still haven't decided who brought the zebra/batman mask....hmmmnn..it is still a mystery....

And by the way - I really love these ladies!






















Then we raced onward to Friday night when we hosted the annual Deacon and Staff Christmas party at our house. Pictured are back row: Associate Pastor, Deacon, Youth Pastor, Deacon; Seated: Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper, Deacon; Floor: Deacon, Pastor Brad and Mia!

Just thought that was fun and "official"...should put it in the paper or something!

We missed our secretary Tiffany at the party this year - but her best friends were graduating from nursing school...and she could have brought a HUSBAND this year!
We are so blessed to be a part of an awesome church and to have a group of people that we work closely with that are like family to us. As I look at this picture my heart swells - b/c these people were at our house with us last year - as we waited patiently for Mia. They prayed with us, waited with us, and rejoiced with us. Thank you! We LOVE you!



Who do you think makes a better Batwoman? Mia or Ms. Dianna? I will have to start a poll on this question!























And of course our "elder" deacons always get a little frisky at my parties...seems like I have a picture from 2006 Christmas on this same couch of them smooching....hmmmnnn....devavu?

6 month update since Gotcha!

Wow how this girl is growing! And RUNNING! And LOVES being DESTRUCTIVE! No matter how clean the floor is when the morning begins - Mia has her mind set on throwing as much stuff on the floor as quickly as she can!


I finally got around to our "American" pictures! I have made it a point to do these once a year with Macy - and today was Mia's FIRST "Proud to be an American" picture day!










Everywhere we went today - people were shaking their heads and smiling at Mia. Saying things like.... "She's something else", "Boy she's busy", Man, she has a lot of energy" etc... Usually everyone stops to say how cute the girls are.... but today they were all noticing my wild child's zest for life! And yes she is busy, energetic, curious, and most of all DESTRUCTIVE and like a bull in a China closet! :) I LOVE IT!

We had a costume party at our house last week with our MOPS group. Macy was a "pink tinkerbell" and Mia was a bee. Great to do this after Halloween cause all the costumes are on clearance! They were so sweet!










This little bee won't sting!



















We are missing 4 of our usual kids for this picture - but as you can tell - other than Macy and her friend Raegan - all of the others are 1-2 years old. And Mia is the only girl among that age group! Her rough and tumble ways should fit right in!

5 month update since gotcha

OCTOBER 13, 2007

Okay. So I have become absolutely terrible about keeping up my blog. But life with these 2 girls and Brad just flies by! :)

Mia has become a little bull. She started walking timidly on her birthday - (Aug. 21)....but has not stopped since! She literally runs into and over EVERYTHING! It is not that she is clumsy - she just does NOT slow down for anything! Her balance is so good - she climbs onto any table or chair that she can and then squats up and down like she is dancing - with a HUGE grin on her face! She is so proud of herself for climbing to such heights! But when it comes to running - watch out! She WILL run over you! Even if it causes her 15 bruises to get there!

It still amazes me that this little baby with such a blank expression and quiet personality could blossom into this "move it or lose it", vivacious, adventurous, life loving child! I am amazed more and more each day!

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OCTOBER 1, 2007

A couple of weeks ago a friend of ours had left his 4-wheeler at our house so could use the attached grass seeder (still working on this massive yard project). So we took it out for a family adventure one morning.

I will have to say, that as we rode for those 2 hours - it seemed like just a few minutes. The day was absolutely beautiful. Blue skies, cool air, and our family together. This 4 wheeler is the ultimate family ride. It has a dual seat with a back on it for me! There is plenty of room for all 4 of us to ride safely and comfortable! Of course we never got more than 5 miles an hour!!!! :) We just rode off behind our house and the airport....there are all kinds of trails back in here.

As we rode I thought about how blessed I am. I spent the time thanking God for his goodness. And I am convinced that the two most precious girls on the planet are mine!

Mia LOVED riding the 4 wheeler. She would just wave her little hand at everything....trees, squirrels, spiders, the wind..... And of course Macy loved it too! I have marked this day down as one of my all time favorite days of all times. I will always treasure it in my heart. Slowing down for a few moments of family togetherness. Mmmmm....

4 months since Gotcha!

This weekend we celebrated the four month anniversary since our gotcha day! It is unreal how much Mia is growing and changing. She had gained 3 lbs at her 1 year old wellness and 3 month follow up at the Pediatrician's office. He was thrilled with her development. She is doing everything a one year old should do. Woo hoo!

She started taking about 5 steps a day right before her birthday and now - just 2 weeks later she is walking everywhere she goes! It is so funny to see the JOY that every new advancement brings her! She LOVES life! And we love her sooooo much.

WILD HAIR DAY!!!

Sleeping Sisters!

Happy Birthday Mia!

One year ago today a sweet, newborn baby girl was abandoned in front of a street front restaurant in YangXi City, Guangdong, China. The events of that day eventually led her to be our daughter and to celebrate her 1st year of life today, August 21, 2007, as Mia McMath. I thank God for choosing Mia's destiny to be in our family. We are so blessed. She brings so much joy to all of our lives.
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HER BABY DEDICATION
We had a small portion of our service dedicated to celebrating Mia this past Sunday morning at our church. Most people know this as a "baby dedication". Brad worked for about 9 hours indexing all of the the video he took while in China and then editing the select "Mia" parts into an 8 1/2 minute video. It was powerful. I think everyone was crying by the time it was finished. It began by showing the place where she was abandoned, her crib in the orphanage, then her empty crib at our home the day we left to go and get her. At the point where they handed Mia to us for the first time the music starts to the song "When love takes you in" by Steven Curtis Chapman...a song he wrote about adopting their first daughter from China. The video finishes with a clip of us waking her up in her crib this week. She was so cute! As soon as we can get it loaded to UTube I will post a link here so you can watch it too.

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MACY'S MYSTERIOUS TEARS
Brad took Macy on a date yesterday to see the new movie "Underdog". On their drive to Fayetteville they usually listen to silly songs together. Today Macy asked to hear "Mia's song". Brad looked in the rearview mirror moments later to see huge crocodile tears rolling down her face. He waited until the song was finished and asked her what was wrong. She said, "That song makes me sad", and began to sob. He pulled over and held her, talked to her, and asked her why the song made her sad. She couldn't explain, didn't know, she just knew it made her sad.

Macy had watched Mia's video several times before this - and always laughed at the funny parts. Maybe this time she listened to the words about "crying yourself to sleep....", or "you belong here"...or maybe it was just one of those powerful unexplainable moments. Brad was very touched and emotional by the whole thing. One thing is certain. Macy loves her little sister. And her little sister adores her.

Month 2 At Home

For MONTHS Macy and I talked about how one day when we went to Sam's Club where they have the dual child carts - ONE DAY her sister Mia would get to sit with her...and the day finally came in early summer on our first outing to Sam's since returning from China! Woo Hoo!!

I took these pics at my Sunday School Class get together. These were taken on the trampoline at Kenneth & Melissa's house- overlooking their beautiful view.

These two pics were taken on our vacation days in Branson when we stayed in the Kelly's condo. We have stayed there every summer for five years.

Macy had her first powdered donut here at 7 months old and we thought it would be fitting to carry on the tradition with Mia! She....destroyed her first powdered donut!

These girls were EXHAUSTED after a day at Silver Dollar City! It was one of our first big outings with the double stroller that Kellie Vanover blessed us with! Thank God for GREAT strollers and GREAT friends! :)

Mia finally gave it up at White Water while Macy and I went riding the water slides. I returned to this precious sight!

After Branson for 3 days (trying to fully recuperate from our China trip...since we hit the ground running hard when we got home...) we spent the rest of the week in West Memphis with my family. It was the first time they all met Mia!

I love this expression that Mia is making as Uncle Bubba gives her a smooch!

My mom and dad took us to eat at "Big Foot" in Downtown Memphis. This hamburger fed the entire family of 8!

Our Mia is turning into quite the party animal!!!!!!

Sweet Girls

I TOOK THESE PICTURES!! And I think they turned out great! I wanted some pics to have printed that were framable for Father's Day...so I dressed the girls up and took them into town, threw them in the flowers in front of the First National Bank of Berryville...and this is all I got. As you can see....Mia was NOT in the mood! :)

New Experiences for Mia

My lips brushing against her soft baby cheeks at least 1000 times a day.

Daddy saying her name in a high pitched voice and tickling her until she giggles.

Macy's face lighting up when returning from preschool -and running to kiss baby sister. Mia in return throwing her little arm up and down in excitement and smiling at big sister's voice.

Laying in bed with her new family - her on Mommy's tummy - watching Daddy and Big sister giggle and tell bedtime stories.

Being a part of bedtime prayers - we laid in this same bed for over a year praying nightly for baby Mia. Now she lays here with us and we thank God that she is here with us.
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Brad was holding Mia on his chest this week making an elephant sound. After about the 20th time - she started trying to mimick him. She started with a simlar elephant sound and went on to repeat it over and over...her lips and tongue sounding more and more like a motorcycle and spit bubbles joining the party! Macy and I were both laughing so hard -we were about to cry. Macy has been telling people since then, "My baby sister is sooo funny!..."
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Mia had her first visit to see the pediatrician last week. She is in the 60th percentile for height, (27.5 in) and the 5th percentile for weight. Dr. Ball was very interested in her and our trip. He told us that nutritionally formula is going to pack the most punch for her gaining weight - and that other foods are just for her to learn with....so lay on the formula! We are hoping she will gain at least 3 lbs by her first birthday in August. She weighed 14.5 lbs. and is 9 months old now.

She did receive her first round of immunizations too (they have to be re-given after coming home to the states b/c there is no way to measure the quality of amount they received in the orphanage) - and she did GREAT during the shot giving. She only cried a second and I think it was more from me keeping her arms still for a moment than the shot itself. However, starting that evening through the next afternoon she had an extremely high fever....104.2 - and started throwing up everytime I would give her a bottle. I was afraid she was getting dehydrated and we were getting ready to take her back over to the clinic - we laid her down, prayed over her, and started getting ready - but when she woke up an hour later - her fever was down. Miraculously! She was BURNING up when we laid her down - and then it had come down by 4 degrees! Macy has never had a fever like this. She kept down some pedialyte...we cancelled the appt., and she was herself again by evening! Woo hoo!

Transformation of my beautiful Mia!

These pics start with Mia now and go through Mia one month ago - the day we got her. What a beautiful transformation that is taking place!

Oh - what this smile does to my heart! This pic was taken Saturday, June 2 - 2 weeks after arriving home.











I managed to keep the hat on for just a few pictures!








Mia can somehow army crawl faster than any baby I've seen. She is thrilled to be put in the floor and have so much open space to explore.












She is of course getting lots of cuddling! My little photographer Macy snapped this picture during our jet lag recovery week. None of us managed to make it out of pajamas that week b/c we weren't sure when we would be sleeping or when we would be awake!



This was the amazing airport traveling baby! We traveled for 30+ hours the day we came home and both girls were AMAZING! Mia only cried for maybe 15 seconds the entire trip - but when we got in the car to drive home from the airport she screamed her head off....car seats were NOT OK for a couple of weeks!





For someone who had never had a real bath - Mia is a little fish! She loves the water! So did Macy - I've been blessed! This was Mia's first bath in China.



This is Mia on the 4th day in our family. She is starting to smile more and more.







This is Mia the first day in our family. Clean and adorned with a big hairbow - but still checking out all these new things and new people.









Mia is still wearing her orphanage clothes. This is the day we got her - and Macy is excited to show her all of the toys we brought. Mia is not so excited. A little overwhelmed I think.



Mia during the first few minutes after we received her. We are still at the Civil Affairs office where our group received our babies. May 9th 2007.


What a transformation is taking place in our sweet girl! It is beautiful to watch her blossoming before our very eyes. Every day is a new adventure!

GUESTBOOK

Please click on the pink "comments" link at the bottom right of these 2 paragraphs. I have changed the settings so that anyone can leave a comment on our blog now.

I am creating a "Guestbook" here for all of our friends, family, and guests that have followed Mia's blog at some point or another. The messages from all of you mean so much to us - and we wanted to officially keep this record for Mia so that she will one day know of all the people who followed her journey into our hearts. Thank you & we love you all!

At Home Photo

This is the only picture I have since returning home....as you will notice that both girls are still in pajamas...as...umm...I have been all week. Jet lag is for real. Especially trying to get 2 girls to change their clocks from China time to Central Standard time! Ugghhh!

Now that we are feeling human again - I am sure to break out the camera for some interesting pics! Keep watching! :)

Oh my - she is growing up so fast! Even over the last few weeks she has blossomed even more into a "Big Girl" instead of my 'little girl'. I was thinking this week...where did my 'little girl' go to? God has blessed us with such a wonderful, sweet, beautiful little girl...and now he has blessed us twice....as Mia joins us being the wonderful, sweet, beautiful little sister!















This is my mom climbing the Great Wall. It was sooooo steep. I am so happy that she didn't trip and fall and take the crowd down with her! ;)







Noni and Macy at the Great Wall.

Forgotten Photos

Macy wanted to wear one of Mia's hairbows...I think she looks like a Power Ranger Princess!











Brad, Macy, & Mia at one of the bus stops between Yang Xi and Guangzhou.













Happy Sisters!











Go Hogs!