Does She Love?

Does she love? This question goes thru all adoptive parents minds prior to Gotcha Day. For us, we only had pictures of Sophie NOT smiling. A million thoughts run thru your head as to why she does not show any emotion. Is she not happy? Is she not loved? Is she hungry? Is there something mentally going on that was not disclosed or that we don't know about?

Well, we are approaching 9 month mark of our Gotcha Day. I can tell you first hand, it was super hard to watch Sophie grieve. We poured all of our love into her, hoping she would love back. We got our wish. She loves. She shows love ~ She receives lot of love.

New Friends, New Underwear!

Kami's BFF moved in with them last week while they wait for new house to close. They have a little girl, Adriana, who just turned 2 ( she is about 2 months younger than Sophie ). I wasn't sure how Sophie, Addison and Adriana would get along. Here were 3 girls, all within 7 months in age, all in their 2s. OhMyGoodness!

Well, as it turns out...they have all become great friends! The 3 of them play really well together and share nicely ;)  I am so glad the 3 of them have each other, just as Connor, Hayden and Hudson have each other.

On another happy note, Sophie and I went shopping last weekend for big girl underwear! She has been going on the potty at school, and occasionally here before bathtime. She chose Frozen themed underwear ( over Dora and Minnie Mouse ). Although I do not think she is fully ready for potty training~ as her overnight diapers are SOAKED every morning~ we are getting her ready with her new big girl underwear! She really likes wearing them!

That was her excited face in the middle picture LOL! She looks just so cute in her underwear ;)

Just a Chill Night at Home~ Making Tea

Most of our nights after school are crazy! We are busy running to practice or studying and doing other homework. However, this night was chill. We watched some football, hung out and had a tea party...Sophie's favorite thing to do!

After she served daddy his tea, she gave him kisses before returning to her kitchen. So.Darn.Sweet!

After a little while of playing with her tea set on the ottoman, the boys decided maybe they would play tea set, too!

It is SO nice to have nights like these. A slow down kinda night. One without hurrying. Just playing tea party. *Somewhat* quite.

Wordless Wednesday ( JOY )~

Our Little Christmas Angel~

Our little angel, Sophie. We waited and prayed for Sophie for so, so long. Now, she's been here with us for 8 months come December 28th. We.Are.So.Lucky! Her little face and personality are just adorable and she fits in with our family perfectly. God made her to be in our family, and I could not imagine life any other way. Sophie Jingyun, we love you to the moon and back!

First Christmas Home!

And...Sophie had no idea what happened while she was asleep! Santa brought Sophie a Doc McStuffins play center, and she played with that for about 30 minutes before she started ripping open her other presents. She was so quiet, calm and slow opening her gifts...so, so different from her two brothers. And it was nice, so nice!

After watching her brothers open their gifts, she got the hang of it, quickly. She had a lot fun ;)

Sophie must have been a really good girl this year! She got lots of gifts ~ Doc McStuffins play center, retro pink play kitchen set and food, Matilda Jane adorable dresses and skirt, Little People Princess Castle, books, Frozen wand and purse, baby doll accessories ( cradle, bouncy chair, hanging high chair ), Minnie Mouse tea set, angel wings and wand. She is one lucky little girl!

Here she with her baby, Jingyun.  Jingyun is in her highchair, right next to Sophie's chair. She's serving her tea, one of Sophie's favorite things to do!

I think Sophie LOVED her first Christmas home...just look at her smile!

Christmas Lights, Cookies and Presents~

Mimi came to visit this year for Christmas a few days prior. Papa was to come with her, but he had the flu and was not able to make it. The kids LOVE when Mimi and Papa come to town...and so does Mommy!

This year we went to the Scottsdale Fairmont Princess Hotel for their Christmas lights.  It was so aweome~ they had about 2.5 million lights! We walked around and watched ice skaters, went on a train ride and the merry-go-round, and enjoyed s'mores and hot chocolate. So fun!

The next night that Mimi was in town was Christmas cookie night! She quickly got the hang of it after seeing what her brothers were doing...

On the last night of Mimi's trip, we opened each other's gifts.  Sophie got her own OWL sleeping bag and loved it!

As always, it was such a fun time having Mimi here at Christmas. We wish Papa was here with her. These trips always go too fast...

Merry Christmas!