One Year Ago Today....

Exactly one year ago today, December 3, 2007 -- my beautiful Liwei was placed in my arms in the Civil Affairs Office in Nanning, Guangxi, China -- and I became a Mommy! I cannot believe it has been a whole year - it has certainly flown by! Madeleine is such a beautiful, even-tempered, wonderful baby - I am definitely one Lucky Mama! Yes, it's been a year of "adjustment" -- but not nearly as much as I worried it would be. M. is doing just great, her cognitive and motor skills seem right on track (if not advanced); her verbal skills are still coming along, but everyone says it's just a matter of time... She has about 6 or 8 words that I can understand, including: Uh-oh, more, bye, mama, baaa! (sheep :), up, and nummy! (yummy :) -- but she definitely understands MUCH more than she verbalizes. She loves to "read" books (we read about 10 a night), likes Blues Clues, Max & Ruby, and Franklin on Noggin, and likes to pick out her shoes in the morning. Her favorite foods are banana, cereal & milk, french fries, mandarin oranges, raisins, goldfish, and broccoli. She is still a "snuggler" and I just love that on the sofa on Sat. mornings... All in all it has been a fabulous year for me and I am so crazy in love with this little munchkin! Well, this is longer than I intended, so I'll stop and post a few photos of "then" (Dec. 3, 2007) and "now."

"Gotcha Day" - December 3, 2007 - This was the moment she was placed in my arms.

Another from "Gotcha Day" - right after she was handed to me

Taken just a few days ago, on Nov. 26, 2008

Check out my "topknot" that my teacher did for me (since my mommy is hopeless with hair artistry) - Nov. 26, 2008

Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 2008

Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving - at cousin Sylvia's house

I love to climb stairs - and we don't have many at our own house

Sliding down stairs is fun, too

A rare quiet moment

And finally, taken tonight, Dec. 3, 2008 -- Do you like "See-food"?? :) (it's just a cracker...)

Who loves ya, baby? -- December 3, 2008