My Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday to my baby girl!  She turned 4 years old today.  What a big girl she has become.  The last 5 months have been so difficult for her with the addition of her 2 brothers that are 4 months younger. So in love with this little girl!

Alyssa Day

A year ago today we met Alyssa in person for the very first time.  I still remember opening our hotel room and this unhappy little girl walking into our room.  She did not cry or make any noise.  She just stood there.  We talked to the orphanage director and his wife for about 15 minutes.  Alyssa just stood still while we tried to engage her with toys.

To be honest my first impression was laced with fear.  Alyssa  couldn't stop scratching herself, she held one arm differently, and her head was very odd shaped.  I knew I would love her no matter what but I was concerned of what the future might hold for her.

Alyssa never cried that night, the next day or the next.  She did begin to smile that first evening she came to us.  The first time she cried was when we were leaving her foster family after visiting them a couple of hours.  After about 30 minutes she stopped.  Alyssa never looked back.

Alyssa is a happy child.  She still goes to bed with a smile and wakes up with a smile.  She can entertain herself for hours.  Alyssa loves life.  While in China the other families kept teasing us that we were going to have a loud house with Alyssa's arrival.  They were pretty much right.  Alyssa is loud but a happy loud.  She is always talking and singing.  From the time she wakes up until the time she goes to bed she is a busy little girl...our energizer bunny.

We go to church on Saturday nights and Alyssa refers to the nursery as school.  She loves school!  The teacher said just last week that she loves when Alyssa is there.  Alyssa truly is a fun child you can't but help to love her.

As for my initial fears, they were unfounded. I think Alyssa's behavior was due to living in a foster home where she wasn't able to play on the floor and she always wore 5 layers of clothes so she couldn't move around.  As for her head the doctor said he thought it was due to laying in her crib for too long.  Now that her hair is longer you can't even tell.

Alyssa's favorite toys are Little People, Mickey Mouse, Kai-Lan and Cars.  Her Little People are probably her absolute favorite.  Our family room has been invaded by them.  They are often having conversations with each other.  All voices done by Alyssa.

I thank God everyday for this child!  She brings so much joy to our family.  We had no idea what we were missing.  I am so glad we trusted God and followed his plan for our family and Alyssa.

Dallas wanted to write something to so here is Dad's perspective:

I can't imagine my life without God's precious Alyssa as part of it. As I can't imagine my life without any of the children God has blessed and entrusted us with. While I also can't imagine life with two more here in the next few months, in a couple more months I won't be able to imagine life without two more. God is truly good!

                                           Alyssa with her siblings her first morning with us

Alyssa the first time we saw her and after she had been home 6 months.

March 2013 Alyssa bowling for the first time

Alyssa today- 4/15/2013

Oops!! We did it again and again!!

We are adopting twin boys! If you care to follow along our new blog is http://ourspecialblessingmultiplied.blogspot.com/ .  Hope to see you there!

Six Months with Alyssa

Sometimes it is so hard to believe that this is the same little girl brought to our hotel room 6 months ago.   The girl who never smiled smiles all the time.  She is one happy little girl who will only throw a fit if you make her mad.  Have to admit with 3 brothers and 2 sisters this does happen several times a week.  She, like her older sister Grace, goes off to pout in her room when you have upset her.  When she is ready she will come out and start playing again.  

Oh, how we love this little girl! People often say she is a lucky little girl but that is not true.  We by far are the lucky ones.  It blows my mind that God chose us to be her parents, that he entrusted us to love her and take care of her.  What an amazing God!  We are often asked why we chose to adopt.  I don't know that we actually did.  I honestly believe we were called to adopt.  There are so many children that need families. Many live in conditions that you can not even begin to imagine.  We know that by stepping out in faith we will be rewarded in tenfold with a wonderful son or daughter.  What greater joy is there? Julia, Grace, and Alyssa are as much our children as the boys.  We have been abundantly blessed!! The other question we are often asked is if we plan to adopt again.  The answer is wherever God leads us we will follow.

Now more about Alyssa.  She is absolutely obsessed with Minnie Mouse or rather Mickey Mouse.  It depends on who you ask.  Alyssa and I have a daily discussion about whether it is Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse.  Most times it is Minnie Mouse but she continues to argue with me that it is Mickey Mouse. Be prepared if you take her to Walmart.  Every Mickey/Minnie Mouse you pass she will yell "Mickey Mouse!" If you happen to pass Ariel, Tinkerbell, or Spongebob she will inform the whole store too.  Now if you pass a Hello Kitty she will yell "Minnie Mouse." We haven't figured that one out yet.

Alyssa plays very well independently.  If I am doing laundry or household chores she plays beside me or plays in her room.  If her siblings are home she loves playing with them.  She loves looking at her books, dressing Minnie Mouse, putting her Minnie Mouses night night, and playing Legos.

During nap time she often doesn't sleep.  I am okay with that as long as she has a rest time and isn't crying.  Today she kept telling Minnie Mickey "Mickey Mouse, come here, go night night!" We often hear her talking to Julia, Grace, Nicholas, Zachary, or Kristopher.  They aren't there but she is talking to them anyway. 

She says lots of words but only a few sentences.  Her favorite sentences are I like this, I don't want that, and that's my home right there.  Almost every time we get home she says "That's my home right there." So funny when she says this. She says it with a very southern drawl.  We have no idea where she picked up that.  One more thing... If you ask her where any one is she will tell you the bathroom.  Guess she thinks we all spend too much time there.

Didn't mean to write a book but I could go on and on about Alyssa.  She is a trip!  Alyssa often wakes up before us and just sings and plays until we get her out of her crib.  Every day she greets you with a smile and a hug!  I can't think of a better way to start the day!

Happy Birthday, Alyssa!

Today was Alyssa's 3rd birthday!  She wasn't sure what the big deal was but was in a good mood all day.  When it came time to open presents she had no idea what to do.  She kept asking the girls to help her.  It was fun seeing her so excited about her day.  She loved all her Minnie Mouse gifts!

Alyssa was born in the fall of 2009.  Ironic that our baby girl was born as we were struggling to make it through each day.  If you asked me what was the most difficult year of my life I would most definitely say 2009, the fall being the worst season of them all.  We experienced something that began late summer that drained us all emotionally. It had a huge financial impact on us too.  We lived in fear for many months and it changed the way we will do things the rest of our lives.  Only a few know what happened and no one can understand the toll it took on our family.  Unless you experience it you just can't imagine the nightmare it created. I felt like I was living in a horror movie.  Then in November Grace and I both had surgery. If that wasn't enough my Mom, my best friend, passed away mid November.  Needless to say it was a rough year.  God was with us every step of the way and got us through that year.

So thankful for our sweet Alyssa! This happy loving little girl that was born during our storm spreads happiness everywhere she goes.  She is a delightful reminder that some pretty awesome things occurred in 2009 too!

Isn't Ice Cream a Finger Food?

April 26, 2012 - Ikea in Guangzhou, China

                   


                                                               June 14, 2012 - Ikea in Charlotte, NC

Two Months with Alyssa

June 15 marked 2 months with Alyssa.   We have seen so many changes in her. She is a remarkable little girl.  Her report from China said she was mentally delayed. There is no way this little girl is mentally delayed.  She impresses us every day with something new she has learned.

We have kept Alyssa'a world very small.  We still haven't taken her to church or taken her around many people that we know yet.  Call us crazy but we dealt with attachment issues with Julia(still do) and we don't want to experience that with Alyssa.  It is definitely worth being a little isolated for a couple of months.  I don't think a person can really understand what it is like until you have gone through it.

We went to Concord for a few days and spent one night at Great Wolf Lodge.  I was in awe in the changes in Alyssa.  A month ago you couldn't take her into a bathroom without her screaming.  You could tell she completely trusted Dallas, the kids, and I to take care of her.  When in the big pool with her I just couldn't get over how much she has changed.  She loved watching us all go underwater so I asked her if she wanted to go under the water.  She nodded her head yes. She often does this so I wasn't sure if she knew what I was asking. I told her she would have to hold her breath and demonstrated.  I was surprised when she did the same thing. So we counted, she held her breath and under she went. When she came up she had the most priceless expression on her face.  Her eyes were huge with a big smile on her face.  I wish I could have taken a picture of this face. Every time she went under she would have this same expression when she came up. It was priceless! It amazes me that she trusts us so much after such a short time.

While we were in Concord Alyssa played putt-putt for the first time.  Of course she loved it! She got a hole in one on her very first hole. Quite impressive!  She got two more hole in ones before she was overcome with a little attitude.  Her first putt-putt game was cut short after about 9 holes.  She was content watching the rest of the game in her stroller.

Alyssa is still happy and smiling 90% of the time.  She is the happiest child I have ever met.  When it is just the two of us she is constantly talking and singing.  She has learned to throw a little fit.  If you say no or stop she tears up and starts crying. She has even thrown a tantrum or two.  Her latest is she crosses her arms and gives a little pout.  She also does it if you say no or stop to the other kids because she thinks you are talking to her.

I have enjoyed the last couple of months.  Alyssa has experienced so many firsts. It has been so fun experiencing them with her.  I am so thankful God choose us to be her parents.  We are truly blessed.

                                                   
                                         April 15, 2012- Just arrived in our hotel room

         

                                         June 15, 2012- First time playing putt-putt

                                             June 14, 2012- My Amazing Alyssa