I AM 1 YEAR OLD TODAY!

We took a lot of pictures today - I will post more photos from today over the next week.

These get us to about 4pm today...

8am

Two New Babies!

2 of my friends just got pictures of their babies!

Baby Grace is also from Jiangxi! http://myadoptionwebsite.com/ourblessing/
Baby Mary http://www.chinaangels.blogspot.com/

We got an additional photo of Mattie from when she was at the orphanage recently, that I wanted to share.

My friend Sue found it while looking for photos of her daughter at Guixi SWI. The photo was taken in April, 2007...so Mattie would have been about 3 months old! So this is the earliest photo we have of her and we are thrilled Sue found it and was kind enough to send it to us.

Here's a recent photo of us playing on our bed...

Playing on the bed is still Mattie's favorite spot!

And here's that crooked smile that I love so much! She pushes her bottom jaw sideways b/c her bottom teeth hit the gums on the top, where she has new teeth coming in.

Mattie turns 1 yr old in 2 days! So we'll update with birthday photos soon!

Christmas 2007

Mattie's Big Brother Jason is home from school right now...Mattie had not seen him since our first week home from China. She was a little hesitant at first but has really warmed up to him again...

Mattie with Jase and her Big Sis Ashlee...

Mattie at Grandma Marge's and Grandpa Joe's Christmas Eve...

Christmas day we were at the hospital visiting my mom...we put Mattie in her Christmas dress to see her Gram's, my Uncle brought in a small Christmas tree with lights, and we were thankful that mom was out of ICU so we could all spend the day with her...I love handmedowns...mostly b/c they are meaningful to me. This dress belonged to a friend of ours little girl and was given to us for Mattie to wear for Christmas...

Happy New Year To Everyone!

Favorites From December

When I say, "can I have a kiss on the lips?' Mattie leans fwd and softly touches her lips on mine, and then backs up and blows a rasberry with her lips. She has never cared for much for kisses and still does not, but we're finally making some progress! Happy Girl! She had just eaten avacado! She loves it to our surprise - and squeels and reaches for them when I buy them at the store...I wonder how long that will last?

Mesa and Mattie...

Don't worry, I didn't wash her or dry her. I was 'storing' her until I could get the laundry in. She thinks it's hilarious when I put her in the basket...

Christmas is our next post, so stay tuned!

11months Old Today

This photo is from when we were in China on Mattie's '8 month birthday'...

This photo is of her in the same outfit at 10 months old...

This is the 'whole' outfit at 11 months old. We took the skirt to China and when I put it on her and picked her up, it fell off! Why is this outfit so special? It was her "lady bug" outfit for China that I was SO excited to find on clearance at a baby store, and it just now fits!
She has changed SO much, she is really a great little girl (even if I do say so myself!)

3 Months Ago Today

It's hard to believe that 3 months ago today we held Mattie in our arms for the first time...I can hardly remember what life was like before Mattie...it seems like we've been together a long time. And at the same time she's growing so fast and changing so much every day, I feel like time is flying by.We celebrated the day at my parents house with lasagna (which Mattie loves btw).

Mattie with Gramps and GramsMattie with GrampsMattie with Granny; her Great Grandma
And here's one from the other day...it's my favorite from this week. I said 'say cheese' and whalah! I'm thinking it's a coincidence she smiled right then b/c I've tried it again several times and she just looks at me like 'what?'

Tomorrow Mattie turns 11months...so stay tuned for some comparison shots from 8months old!

Some Favorites From The Last Month

Yooohooo - we are still here...

This was the first day Mattie started 'liking' the dogs...a little...
She loves bath time and I love how happy she is afterward...



These soft innocent looks melt my heart...
And the Big smiles do too!

My sister bought Mattie an adorable ladybug outfit for halloween...the night before we tried it on and it was too big! So, we will wear it next year and had to think up something quick...so she went as a cheerleader! A cheerleader has to have a pony tail right? Well, I got one in...and it was so cute she wears that little bambam ponytail alot now!

I will try to update sooner...I'm sorry we're so far behind...