Happy Easter (Be-lated:-)

Next year we can't wait to celebrate the rising of our Savior with the worlds cutest little bunny:)
**Thank you to all the volunteers at Starfish that have showered us with photos:-) **

Secret Pal and Reality

I am part of an amazing Facebook group for parents on the same time line as Lee and I. One of the Mom's proposed an idea where we all put our name in and each gets assigned a secret pal. I have one that I mail things too and I have one that surprises me!:-)

I got an adorable little security tab blankey that's already packed in her luggage to go, a congratulations card when we were DTC and most recently, an item that made me cry like a baby!

A book ( I've read about 3 times through now LOL)

and a cute toothbrush and paste. Yep, I lost it when I saw that toothbrush and toothpaste. Full on sobbing mess pulling into my garage :-)

The reality hit me...little things like this. I am going to be a Mom...I'm going to be buying things like toothbrushes, toothpaste and all the other ends and outs of mommy-hood!

I ran straight upstairs and put it in Madeline's soon to be bathroom...yes, still sobbing:)

I don't think my secret pal knew the effect it would have on me :-) Just a few short months and she will be home...and I'll be making sure she brushes her teeth before tucking her in at night:-)

And BTW: Secret Pal, I don't know if you read my blog, BUT THANK YOU :-)

Boys Boys Boys!!:-)

My family needs cute twirly dresses and pretty hairbows doesn't it?:-)

Our Madeline will be the first girl for our family:) These are my three sisters and their husbands children...I can't
wait to see Madeline in the group:)

Left to right:
Riley (Laura and Bens son)
Gavin(Katie and Ben S.'s son)
Liam( Katie and Ben S.'s son)
Logan (Janeen and David's son)
Wyatt (Laura and Bens son)

Soon we will have to reserve a room just to go out to dinner as a family:-)

Best.Birthday.Wish.ever!!

How did I get to be so blessed!??

Today is my 31st birthday and a volunteer(who I now
Call friend:-) at my Daughters foster home heard it was my birthday and sent this!!

I feel so incredibly blessed!:-)

We met Madeline!

                                        I've been waiting to write this blog post for awhile...

But I just haven't been able to bring my head out of the clouds!!

We had the WONDERFUL & AMAZING opportunity to meet our daughter Via Skype!

To summarize,a friend of a friend saw me on Facebook and recognized Madeline as one of the little girls at Starfish that she had met when she had volunteered there. She was there several months before we were matched with Madeline! Such a small world :)

We were able to connect with her and learn so much about our little girl:) Her daughter was planning on going back to Starfish in Feb. of this year to volunteer again. She promised to love on our girl for us:).

February had come and we received a few pictures. Every time I opened my email and saw RM's name I shrieked with joy. I knew what was going to be in that email...A new Picture!! Then one afternoon,along with a picture, she asked if we would like to Skype with her! She even mentioned that Madeline might be awake and we could see her! My heart was racing and I was almost in TEARS when I called Lee! I was excited to get to talk to RM over skype, as I wanted to thank her "in person" for the pictures, but the thought that I might see my daughter?!?!? I can't even begin to describe the emotions! :-)

It was 11 Pm  our time, but we were wide awake ( Thank you my dear Keurig...).

The sound wasn't working and when I tried to capture a picture on Skype, it would disconnect :(. But RM told us that she called us Momma and Babba quite a few times :)!!  We were on the call for about 20 minutes and got to watch her run and play:-)

I only have a few pictures of our first meeting:) I grabbed my phone and took a picture of the computer screen a few times, but it is forever engraved in my heart:)

I saved my favorite photo for last. It was the first time she actually saw us. She looked at us and gave us a HUGE SMILE as if she recognized us:) It still brings tears to my eyes!

We are so so so lucky to have been given the blessing to be her Mom and Dad:)

Now, Please LOA, Hurry up!

LID

Yay yay yay!:)

Now...we impatiently wait for LOA:-)

Chinese New Year!

Okay, I am  Super a bit late posting this. But the truth is since we are waiting on LID and LOA I have nothing fun to post about :-)

Lee and I decided to go to the Seattle Chinese New Year celebration! We wanted to get a taste of Madeline's culture ( well, as good as you can in Seattle, Washington).

 BOY.OH.BOY it was CROWDED. As in, people are pushing and shoving. If you have a personal bubble I would recommend watching from the side lines:)

***Please forgive the quality of pictures...I don't own a camera anymore, only the one on my phone:-) ***

We really loved the decorations everywhere. I didn't capture them all, but lots of lanterns and dragons!

The Dragon Parade!

The childrens Costume contest ( My personal favorite part...SO CUTE!)

And I didn't get pictures of this much, but they had alot of sword fights, kung fu etc...This little boy was DARLING!! He literally had the crowd wrapped around his little finger!

And, My first experience with Dim Sum! I was so confused. They came with a cart, and I was waiting for a menu. Then they started lifting lids off things and asking me what I wanted.  I just kept nodding yes to everything they said until our table was too full. It was our first experience as our usual exposure to Chinese food is Panda Express :-) This one that is cut in half that I'm showing was SO SO GOOD. It was a bit greasy, but it was fried, doughy, had a sweet but meaty taste? Not sure what it was, but I've been craving it since!

And, I noticed something. Lettuce. Yep, that's right. Lettuce. Hanging in front of doors?!?!?!? Lee and I probably looked so goofy standing there scratching our heads:)

It was a great experience. We can't wait to take Madeline next year!