Happy GOTCHA Day!

1 year ago today at 9:30 am (China time) we met our little firecracker, Madison.

Madison enjoying a sucker we gave her right after they brought her out to meet us.

Our first "family" photo in China (take just before they told Madson she was going home with us).

Back at the hotel on that first night as we were showing Madison around the hotel room.

When I look back over this last year I feel like I have taken a lot for granted...We still have some very
hard & challenging days with Madison BUT, she has come such a LONG way! When we first met her she was this sacred fragile little girl who didn't even know how to be held or how to give or recieve a hug.

Playing games with mom right before bedtime on our first night.

She has always had this amazing smile that can light up a room but behind that smile was a very hurt little girl. Most days we don't see that side of her much but then every so often something will happen and remind us that she still has a lot of hurt, but man, as we look back over this past year we can see how love truly does make a huge difference.

Only in the last 2 months has Madison started letting me snuggle with her on the couch while watching cartoons.  Just this morning she actually crawled up in the bed and let me hold her for while...sweet times.

Now a year later, she is about to start Jr. Kindergarten and she is SO social. Don't think for one minute this little girl is shy. She walks in every place we go like she owns it!

She went from being scared to death of the pool in China to swimming like a fish :

Everytime I look at pictures like that one I get tears because it took about 6 weeks before she trusted us enough to jump in the water & let us catch her. The first 2 months she would'nt even let David get in the pool with her...now he can through her up in the air and she'll do a backflip for him.

Madison LOVES to dress up, be a "mommy" to her babies, and play with her kitchen every day:

She also like to help me in the kitchen!

And she loves her two big sisters...most of the time:)

Madison, happy Gotcha day sweetie, we love you!