Four Years Ago.....

It was four years ago today that we held Mackenzie for the first time. We had been in China for a few days previous to help us and Madalyn adjust to the time change. We spent time in Hong Kong before going to Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei province where both the girls are from. We had a large travel group but the best part was that we got to travel with another family that we had traveled with the first time to get Madalyn. They live in Colorado and we are very close. Our oldest girls are from the same city and our youngest girls are from the same city and even have the same birthday. It is a true red thread connection.

I can't believe its been 4 years already. I'd do it over and over again. While Mackenzie grieved significantly during those first few days, she was all smiles and bonding well to us as we headed home. That first 24 hours were hard and emotional. She just wailed for the first couple of hours. She refused to eat or take a bottle but this all began to change in the days to come. She began to smile and giggle and was very attached to her white bunny that we now call Tu Tu. This was a stuffed animal we had sent to her in a care package before going to China. It was clear it had been given to her and she loved it. It was of great comfort to her. She was our sweet butterball of a baby and had this spikey little hair do that I just loved. Before leaving China, she was beginning to respond to her new name and had learned the game, "So Big". However, we still call her by her Chinese nickname, Kang Kang, or Kenzie Kang. There is so much I could say about this day and those early weeks but after a weekend of celebrating her 5th birthday, I am pooped. I took time out from birthday posting to remember one of the best days of our lives and wanted to share it all with you. Enjoy some of my favorite moments and pics from those two weeks in China bringing home our free-spirited, joy-filled, spunky, sassy, beautiful Kenzie.......


Our Gotcha moment...... Madalyn was soo sweet with her and quickly gave her a hug.


Tears of joy....our first family photo....Mackenzie is wondering why all the Chinese people are leaving.... I love this pic both for the memorable moment of becoming a family of four as well as for the look of sadness on Kenzie's face. I knew she had been well loved and was grateful.


First smiles after an afternoon of endless tears and grieving. She wasn't too sure of Matt and he had left to go get us some dinner.


Our roly poly girl......


These jammies bring back such sweet memories for me.

We're off to go shopping... but she is already fashionable in her checkered beret....



One of my favorite early pics.....big sister doing little sister's hair.

Some sweetness with Dada.....she is coming around a bit now. Less tears, more smiles.

Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan. She couldn't walk yet but was pretty proud to be standing. Lord, she was just yummy.

How lucky we are....

One day in the park across from our hotel. She loved being outside and hated the hotel room. She would cry every time we entered the room but couldn't be more happy to be outside.

East Lake Park, a Wuhan treasure and maybe our favorite place in Wuhan.

Sweet, sweet Mackenzie Paige Kang.....we love you.