Happy Gotcha Anniversary, Molly!

Could it be? It's been THREE?! (Years, that is.)

Yep. On August 3rd, 2009, we exited the bus and headed into the poorly air-conditioned building in Zhengzhou, China. We were told some of the children had arrived already and some were still in transit. We knew Molly's orphanage was about three hours away and assumed we would have a bit of a wait. We assumed incorrectly. As we stepped through the doors, I saw her with one of her nannies.

It's so odd to finally meet the child you've only known (and loved) through pictures and I wasn't actually sure it was her. She was so tiny and they had chopped her hair super short. But oh, yes, it was our Molly!

She was very clingy with her nanny and wanted no part of us. None. At all. The more the nanny tried to convince her, the more she cried. And screamed. And fought.

It was heart-wrenching, and awful, and hands-down the worst moment of my life. She had not been prepared for what was coming. We sent care packages during the wait. She saw them but never knew where the gifts came from...and did not get to keep them.  We sent her a birthday cake when she turned four.  She ate the cake, smiled for pics...and had no idea who sent it.  So sad...

Ugh. Enough of the bad stuff.

Every year on the kids' Gotcha Anniversaries, I look back at how much they have changed. This year is no exception.

Here, we have Molly on her Gotcha Anniversary in 2010 (which was a pretty drastic change)...

...in 2011 (even more drastic changes)...

...and this morning, on Gotcha Anniversary number three!

(I realize Molly and I look NOTHING alike, but that picture of her reminds me so much of me at that age!  Maybe it's the hair style.)

During this year, our baby girl has finished 1st grade...

...and is SO close to reading independently. She loves books and can't wait to get real homework in 2nd grade. (Just like me, she is a total dork about school.)

We call Molly our little preacher girl. She LOVES going to Church and is totally on fire for God! Want to get her fired up? Tell her you're skipping Church to sleep in, or go shopping, or do anything else...she will let you know where your priorities should lie! Hahaha!!

In February, she stood up in big Church (well, technically, she floated and hung onto Mr. Chris because she was too short to reach the bottom in the baptismal pool) and told everyone she has accepted Jesus as her Savior through Baptism.

She did a great job at her dance recital in the Spring...

  ...loves going to the pool...

...and had a blast playing in the sand during our beach vacation in Gulf Shores a few weeks ago!

She and Carson are either fighting like an old married couple or playing sweetly...and that can switch back and forth multiple times during the day. Either way, they are brother and sister, through thick and thin...

...and share the same wacky sense of humor!

She adores big sister Meggie more than ever!  Nothing makes Molly happier than shopping or practicing hair and makeup with Meggie.  If it were up to Molly, she would already be a teenager.  After all, she has the attitude...

Molly is addicted to stuffed animals, Disney movies, big hair bows, jewelry, and talking. But mostly talking. Which she does endlessly...all day long. Not even kidding...this girl just has a LOT to say about EVERYTHING! She is crazy smart, incredibly inquisitive, and is CONSTANTLY asking questions.  (In fact, it is a struggle for me to watch movies with her now...she has to understand every scene and every spoken word.  I feel like I'm being quizzed the entire movie!)

She is always very excited to point out all the ways she and I are alike. To the complete annoyance of everyone (except me...I love it!), she will notice something that she and I have in common and then announce (in the same happily shocked tone of voice every time), "That's ANOTHER way we're alike!!" Hahaha!!

So Happy Gotcha Day, Molly girl! We love you to the moon and back and are so blessed to have you in our lives!


All our love,

Mommy, Daddy, Meggie, and Carson
(and Buster)