Happy 2 Year Gotcha Day!!

Two years ago in Kunming China my Cambree Jade was placed in my arms as a 15 month old baby. Now at 3 years old, I'm happy that you have been with us longer than without. You have come oh so far this year! You are sleeping through the night finally.... Praise to Jesus!!  You like to play outside but your favorite place is on the couch with the IPad watching Sofia the First or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. You are still your fiery self...and when you are not having one of your meltdowns.... Whoa.... Then you have the sweetest heart... Giving the best hugs and kisses.... You are crazy smart and have a memory like none other. You never forget anything!! My little sweet and sour chicken... We love you so much!!

The day you were found

On this day, May 18th 2012 a sweet baby girl was found abandoned on the streets of Kunming China. Without a note and without any information they "guessed" she was about 5 months old. So she was given the birthday of December 18, 2011.

Here is the exact finding spot in front of this gorgeous hotel on the sidewalk.

Two years later we are thankful that on May 18th the citizens of Kunming quickly found and rescued our baby girl. What a hard day May 18 must have been for her mom..... Realizing she couldn't care for her daughter. I'm sure that picture will always be in her mind. I wish she could see you now..... So happy, silly, smart and what a beauty!

Gotcha Day! One year already!

Gotcha Day!! One year ago we finally "Gotcha" in our arms! On March 25, 2013 we pulled up at the Civil Affairs office in Kunming China and found this little beauty!

I can't believe it has already been a year, yet I can't remember not having you! You have came so far and I stand amazed at your journey this year.

Your first year has been packed with all new experiences. You went to the beach for the first time and loved it so much. Each day was packed with new things.... Often trips like the beach and water park, then daily activities like the swimming pool, swing set and ballpark.


When we first got home I thought we would only be eating rice.... However I was happy to see you would eat anything... And everything.  Your most favorite continues to be carbs and sweets. Your new fascination is bacon bits. It's a full time job cleaning up after you, your grits, your snacks and spilled bacon bits all over the floor.

I was positive on day one and still positive now that you could win a world record with your scream. Never in my life.... Wow! However joy comes in the morning! Your laugh and your smile melts my heart! When you get to laughing I lose your eyes but get to see the cute little dimples under your eyes. Watching your sideways run makes us crack up laughing. One year ago we picked you up and you couldn't walk or talk. Now your running like crazy and talking up a storm. I love getting the questions on if you can say any words in English. I wish those people could spend some time in the car with you! Wow!! You speak in sentences and are so very smart!

It wrecks me to think in your short life of 27 months that you spent so much time moving around. The first 5 months with your birth mom, 5 months at the orphanage and 5 months with a foster nanny. I'm thrilled that 12 months ago you made your last move.... With your forever family, in your forever home!

This year has been a roller coaster for our family! We are learning to manage life with three kids..... We are often a hot mess, but wouldn't have it any other way. Getting out the door with everyone is nothing short of an Olympic style race! You want to dress yourself, pick out your shoes and search for just the right hairbow.. Which falls out of your hair in two seconds.

What a year it has been! Happy one year Gotcha Day Cambree Jade!!!

Happy birthday Cambree Jade

Today my Cambree Jade turns two years old! We might have missed your first birthday but we are thrilled to have you here this year to celebrate. Although we don't know your exact date of birth, today is the day we celebrate your life. We are so thankful that two years ago a young girl chose life for you -  Loved you enough to carry you for 9 months - Even loved you enough to leave you in a place that was busy, knowing someone would quickly find you.  So today we have so much to celebrate!

 We had a small celebration this afternoon with baking cookies. I'm pretty sure I'll be sweeping up sprinkles for days to come.

Our family has added a few extra birthdays in the month of December, but yours is worth celebrating!! We love you sweet Cambree Jade!

Three Month Update

It's been three months since Gotcha Day!  I had great intentions to update my blog sooner, however I've been a little busy.  With three kids (two of which are practically twins) there hasn't been much time to rest.

Three months ago as of this past Tuesday we held our sweet baby girl for the first time.  I cannot believe how perfect she just fits right in with the group.  Caden has proven yet again to be an amazing big brother.  He really is great with her and she loves him.  I'm not sure I could make it without his help. 

Callie is my almost 2 year old going on 10 years old.  She wants so bad to keep her hands on Cambree all the time....however, Cambree isn't much into being hugged, kissed, sat on, drug by her feet, pet like a dog, nor does she like the occasional shove across the room.  Poor Callie is just rough and tough and still has yet to understand the meaning of "gentle". 

Cambree will soon learn to hold her own....or for now let out one of her window breaking screams that will make you wish you were deaf.

In such a short time Cambree has learned more than I thought she would know in a year.  When we picked her up she wasn't walking, spoke no words (in Chinese or English), was still on the bottle, and ate very little table foods (so they said...not sure how you get thighs like that on some milk and porridge).  She is now running, can say just about anything she needs for you to know, repeats everything the other kids say, can understand everything you say to her, only drinks from her cup, and will eat anything you can imagine (much why she has gained a few pounds in 3 months).  She has amazed us at how quickly she has caught on.
It has been so miraculous to watch her come out of her little shell.  When we picked her up she was very quiet, didn't give us many smiles, and seemed a little scared most of the time.  It breaks my heart to remember the fear in her eyes in those early days.  Now she is a happy little thing that goes with the flow was we run all around.

She is really into everything, but her favorite place is in the kitchen pantry.  I'm pretty sure we shoulde invest in cabinet locks to keep her out of the snacks.....and boxes of cereal.  Sweeping the floor becomes a full time job because of her.

She loves to play outside.  My little South China baby has landed in the middle of the country.  Barefoot, dirt and laying in the grass is how we roll out here in deliverance.

Everything for her is a new experiement.  Playing in the bathtub (loves), swimming in the pool (fearless), walking across the grass with no shoes (hates), a playroom full of new toys.....and all the daily activities that have always been apart of the other two kids lives....these are things that are new for Cambree.  Things that could freak her out, and in the early days would bring out that look of fear in her eyes, she now loves!  Each new experiment she faces with such bravery.

Not only did she gain parents and two siblings all at the same time, she also gained a few cousins that love her to pieces.  I'm convinced that all the little kids are not sure who lives at what house.  She has not only gained a family, but lifelong play mates.

People often say how we have changed her life forever.  I can only say that she has changed our lives forever! We love you Cambree Jade.

Home sweet home

I'm not sure what day it is or what time zone we are in, but I do know that we are HOME.  I have never been so happy to see my kids before in my life.  The sweet smiles, tears, hugs and kisses were priceless.
Cambree took her second plane ride as we left Guangzhou China and landed in Los Angeles.  It was a long 15 hour flight that started off a little rocky.  She had a major meltdown for the first 2 hours of the flight.  My favorite part is when the Chinese airline attendent send us a note asking if we needed help with our baby.  I'm not sure what she thought she could do, but it took all I had to not take her up on the offer, put on my headphones and sleep for the next 15 hours.  However, she finally gave up the fight, went to sleep and the rest of the flight was great.  The following 4 hour flight to ATL she also slept the whole time.  So, overall not too bad!
Right now things are a little.....difficult.  With extreme jet lag, time zone issues, and learning to divide our time between three very needy kids we are a hot mess. Yesterday I'm pretty sure we could have all fit into a shoe box because that is how close we were all day.  She kids didn't move off of me all day. I cannot wait to see things in a few.....ok probably months.
Our first few hours at home at the living room was chaos. We had a blanket down, and nobody moved off the blanket all day.

So, our first night at home, Cambree wasn't sure what time it was.  So, we had a small party with chocolate chip cookies and milk from 1am - 3am.

Cambree and Callie are still trying to figure each other out.  Well, actually Callie has Cambree figured out....that is "her baby".  I think I have heard (in a very loud pitch voice) about a million times Callie saying "hey baby"  "hey baby" "hey baby". 
It started early this morning with Cambree trying to figure out what was up with Callie's morning hair! She just kept looking at it...thinking what is up with that!

Cambree isn't sure why she keeps kissing on her.



I think Callie heard she was in the special needs program of China, so she decided that Cambree needed a complete physical with her play stethoscope.

And when Cambree tried to get away, Callie decided to jump on top of her.

 

 

Caden has actually been the only one other than myself and Chad that she has allowed to pick her up.  She has laughed at him, which most of us do.  He is doing great with her.

 



Regardless of how crazy things are right now, I'm happy to have all my babies together.  I know that God will make something beautiful of our mess.

Proud to be an American!

Today we had out appointment with the Consulate General of the USA for Cambree to get her VISA.  Now, as soon as she lands on US soil she will officially be an American!

 

 

The longer we stay here the more I am proud to be an American.  If I could have carried a giant American flag I would have.  I almost started singing "God Bless American" in the office.

There are many things that I miss about America......and my home.... People understand what I am saying (most of the time), I know what I am eating at all times, and my favorite right now is that I won't be doing laundry in the bathtub and sink.

 

I will be so happy to see my Whirlpool washer and dryer!

 

Yesterday we visited the local zoo. 

 

 

Where we saw many animals......and all she wanted was to sit in her daddy's lap and eat goldfish.

  Had no interest in the amimals.

 

 

I'm starting to get worried for two reasons.....1) Daddy must return to work soon, then I'm not sure what she will do and 2) we must find another way to make her happy other than snacks.

 

Good news....she does like the stroller.  Which Chad likes better than the large flower carrier.



 I'm pretty sure when we arrived this outfit was a long top and pants.  Now it is as snug as can be and the pants are tight capri leggings.....because we are still eating.