Come Here Often? Yeah, Me Either.......

Funny how time slips away from you when you are not waiting on paperwork to be approved, or waiting to hear news from China anymore.  Those days seemed to be the longest, and now, they also seem like a lifetime ago.

These days, however,  are flying by without any hope of slowing down.  I'm pretty sure there used to be 24 hours in a day.   Lately it feels as if there is only 4.  Man, am I looking forward to summer!


We've been busy with just normal every day stuff.......

at the boys' check up.... they are always goofing around with her

playtime at the mall

wearing her brother's shoes

dancing with her peeps

making sure hefei has a healthy start to the morning too.

 This weekend was Mother's Day, and both my mom AND Scott's mom were able to come to our house. This was the first time they were both able to come to our house for Mother's Day at the same time!  It was so special..... you would have thought I would have gotten a picture.  Um... nope.
I have no idea how I didn't get a pic with both grandma's and the kids together.  I'm losing my touch.

Actually, I really didn't get many pictures of the weekend.  What is wrong with me??  We had her dedicated at church this weekend, so thankfully had some taken at church, just not on my camera.  Hope to be getting copies of those soon.

Really, the only picture I have of Mother's Day is of Harper in the pool for the first time.  It's been unusually chilly here, so the water temp has taken longer than normal to warm up, and we're too cheap to heat it up.  Anyway, she freaked a little at first, but Scott soon got her in and they were playing.  She loved it!

This was also the first time Scott's mom and dad got to meet Harper.  She acted shy towards them for a second but then soon started to bring out every toy to show them.

She even bonded over lunch....

 ... and knew Grandpa was the guy to go to for food.

I think she wore Grandpa out.

With the weather  finally warming up, we spent every moment that we could outside.

We made S'mores one night....another first for Harper.  At least we assume it's a first... do they eat s'mores in China??  haha.  I know this is not a shocker to anyone who has been around her and knows her well..... she LOVED them.

 She inhaled hers and begged for another.  When we said "no", she would run to the next person and try to get their s'more.  Griffin was trying to be proactive and run away before she got to him.

All throughout the weekend I was feeling so blessed to have both our mom's there and was just so thankful for each of them that God has chosen to be our moms.  This year, I was thinking about two other mom's I will never meet, and Harper will never see again. 

I am thankful for each of them as well.  

Even though Harper's birth mom was not able to give her the care she needed at birth, I am thankful for her placing Harper in an area where she would be found.  A lot of times, babies in China are placed where no one will find them and they eventually die.  

I think of her birth mom a lot. Sometimes I look at Harper's feet and think those are the same feet her birth mom felt kick inside her stomach.  I can't imagine what it would be like to give a baby up.  I wonder if she thinks of Harper.  I pray for God to let her know in some way that Harper is ok and very much loved.    

I am also thankful to her foster mom who cared for her and loved her most of her life before we could get her.  She was with Harper from the time she was about 5 months old, so she was there to help her learn to walk, teach her how to feed herself, and hear her first words.  

This Mother's Day was like no other.  I now have 3 kids who now call me "Mom" (or "MA!!" as Harper sometimes yells).  I am blessed and I'm trying to soak up every moment.... even during the crazy moments.

And with sticky marshmallow kisses like this......  I feel like the luckiest mom on earth.