Dear Sophie...

Dear Sophie,

Well, we have come to our 1st year Gotcha Day! We have been together for 365 days, and it seems like we've just always been together as a family of 5. You are so loved by all of us, and you reciprocate our love so well.

Your daddy and I were just looking back on some videos taken on our first day together. You were SO little ;) And, oh so cute! I remember holding you and trying to wake you up from your nap so we could get our official family picture. Daddy had to take over because I was having no luck! You had sausage on your mouth from the train ride, and your ayi's said you ate the whole entire way! Sophie, you are still a great eater ;)

Once back to our room that first day, you loved the puffs we had for you and the Hello Kitty balloon we had bought earlier that morning at the supermarket. Later that night, we Skyped and you were able to meet your ge-ge's, Mimi and Papa, and Grandma. They ALL fell in love with you instantly!

When we finally got home, you met your brothers and it was like you already had a bond. Maybe because we Skyped each day...not sure, but it was evident you fit right in! You are super sweet to both Connor and Hayden, kissing them each night before bedtime. You hold their hands, laugh together, and occasionally show them who's boss!

We know you are one smart little girl, too. You picked up on English even when we were in China. We would say to "watch your step," and you would look down before stepping. It was amazing! Sophie, you started preschool at Scottsdale Learning Center about 3 months after coming home. Although nervous at first, you have done great there! You are speaking so great, you have made many friendships, and you do excellent art projects and homework ;) Your teachers just adore you! When you turned 2 years old, you were able to say your ABCs, count to 14, sing LOTS of songs and spell your name. Yep, spell your name. About a month after you turned 2, we were at Kohl's. You looked up at the sign and told me there was an S and an O for Sophie in the Kohl's sign! It was amazing how far you had come in just a short time.

Some of your favorite things to do are to play tea party, play with your babies and kitchen set, and play whatever the boys are doing. You love the Disney movie Frozen and listen to the CD as you go to bed at night. You love going out front and playing with Addison, riding bikes, talking walks, playing at the park and blowing bubbles. Your favorite food to eat is chicken, rice and broccoli!

Your attachment to us could not be any better! You are loving, kind and fun-spirited. When we say, "ouch!" you are quick to ask if we are okay. You are always telling us, " I wuv you." You love to laugh, make funny faces with your tongue and cuddle with both of your blankies. You are a beautiful little girl, inside and out.

Within the first year you have been home, we have traveled so far. We traveled throughout China, we have visited our family in both Cincinnati and Chicago, we have skied in Vail, and soon we are headed to the beach in San Diego. I hope you are developing a love of travel, as we hope to travel back to China with you when the time is right. I.Can't.Wait!

We are so proud to call you our daughter. You warm our hearts and brighten our days! Your brothers adore you, even if they may say otherwise ;) Hayden will still occasionally ask if you are staying with us forever! He smiles big when we tell him that you are here to stay ;) We love you, Soph. We are so lucky to have you as a part of our family~

1st Year Gotcha Day Pictures~ April 28th, 2015

Brothers~

Bedtime With Daddy~

One thing Sophie loves is bedtime with daddy. When I put her to bed, we rock and listen to music and fall asleep. When daddy puts her to bed, it's FUN! They exercise, read books, play with all her baby Jingyun's, and they DANCE ;) They Dance to the Disney Frozen soundtrack, Sophie's favorite! Scott tells me that when she doesn't want him to leave, she asks for just one more dance ;) So sweet~

Sophie and Her Blankies~

When we were getting close to traveling, we were allowed to send in a few questions to be answered by Sophie's foster family. In their responses, we knew that Sophie had a blankie that she loved. Not sure what would come along with Sophie when we were united, I had brought another pink blanket, just in case.

Well, over time, she has come to love both blankets, and needs them both for comfort and sleep. Her blanket from China is "blankie" and her pink blanket is "other one." She is the one who came up with the names of the blankets, and we went with it! They are always with us, everywhere we go. Occasionally, she will still smell blankie, but not as much as when she first came home.

These two blankets definitely provide security for her. She would be LOST without them. Look how happy they make her ;) It is even a challenge to find the time to throw them in the washer!! In any case, we are so glad she has a little piece of China with her each and every day!

Slow Mornings~

Since I start work a bit later now, Sophie and I have slow mornings together before she is off to school. She loves going to Starbucks with me, thank goodness! After we drop of the boys at Adams, she says, " Mommy coffee? " Yep, you got it, Soph ;)

This morning she was a little hungry and wanted an egg sandwich with her apple juice. Her choice was egg, bacon, Gouda. As she was eating she would tell me how hot it was and how yummy!

After she was done with breakfast, she was staring out the window. I asked her what she was looking at. She told me there was a bird in the rocks, sleeping ( aka DEAD ). She told me his head was lying on the rocks and it hurt. She was very concerned and talked about this bird until we left. She kept saying that his head hurt, owy-maui ;)

Sophie, you are such a sweet girl. I pray your heart forever stays this way...

Sophie and Her Foster Sister, Penny~

Sophie lived with the most adorable foster sister! They are about 3 months apart and the best news is that AGCI found her foster sister a forever home here in the States!! Her new momma and I have become friends, and we are planning on reuniting the girls once again ;) They have named her Penny and she is just darling!

I love these pictures of the girls together. It looks like they definitely stuck together, close to each other~

March 2014, Longyan, China~

And, here is Penny from October 2014 to April 2015~

I can't wait for these two pretty girls to meet again. Maybe we will have to send some pictures of the girls together to her foster family~ that would be a sweet gift for sure!

One Month Before Gotcha~

 March 2014, Longyan, China

Thank You to Two Special Mommas~

As we approach our 1 Year Gotcha Day, I want to reflect on the two amazing women who helped care for Sophie before us. We will be forever grateful to both of these women and all the love they poured into Sophie. Also, in the following posts, I will be reflecting on Sophie's life prior to us becoming a family. I wish for Sophie to know that she was loved, always...

First, her tummy mommy. I know for sure she was a strong woman. To carry Sophie for 9 months, deliver her sweet girl and love on her for the next 3 months before giving her up ~ that takes strength. I have no doubt that leaving Sophie was the hardest thing she's ever done. I know she loved her and cared for her, as she left Sophie in a very busy spot to be found quickly. When we visited that spot just 16 months after that cold day in December, I cried. Just knowing how lucky we were and how sad she must have felt just months earlier...the thought still brings me to tears. We are not sure of the situation~ perhaps because she was a girl, not the first born, or because she had a heart condition... in any case, we are forever grateful.

Secondly, we wish to thank her foster momma. Again, a very strong woman. To take in a little girl to love with all your heart, to know that one day she will be taken away forever. She raised her like her own, took such loving care of her, protected her until we could come to get her. In the letter she wrote to us, she told us that upon Sophie leaving, her family had to bury the love for her deep down in their hearts. She showed Sophie unconditional love, and the love of a family. We could tell in the pictures we got from Tiffany before we traveled how attached to her foster momma she truly was. Again, forever grateful.

Although we no pictures of Sophie's tummy mommy, we do have pictures of her life with her foster family. I think they are an important part of who Sophie is today, and want her to know this part of her life.

January to March 2014, Longyan, China~

In above picture, left to right: Foster mom hold her grandson, foster dad holding Sophie's foster sister ( Penny ), foster parents granddaughter, foster parents daughter holding Sophie.

The purse we sent her in our care package!

Sophie has been so blessed by these two special mommas. We know they both loved her very much.