Five years ago today in a hot little room in Guangzhou, China, Guan Hai Yan was placed into our waiting arms and she became Molly Michelle HaiYan. Our daughter.
I know it sounds cliché, but it seems like just yesterday that we were trying to figure out how to bathe and diaper our baby, helping her to walk, encouraging her to talk. Showing her what a family was all about. Teaching her to love and accept love.
The past five years have been a journey, with lots of happy moments and our share of struggles. None of which I would trade for the world. (Although I wouldn’t mind if some of the struggles would feel free to move along now!)
Every year on (or around) Gotcha Day, I try to get pictures of Molly with her referral photos so we can see just how much she has grown and changed.
Here’s the head shot.
And the propped up sitting pose.
And finally the laying on the belly pose.
We fell in love with those three photos five years ago, but the real thing is so much better. Molly has added so much to our lives. Things we didn’t even know that we were missing. So today we celebrate 5 glorious years with our precious baby girl.
Molly wanted to go out to her favorite Chinese restaurant to celebrate her Gotcha Day. In fact, that’s the only restaurant she ever wants to go to. Good thing we all like Chinese!
Sam giving a silly grin while eating a steamed bun. Sam likes him some Chinese food, too!
I think the main reason that Molly likes this restaurant is because of the ice cream bar.
Sam likes ice cream, but he much prefers the cappuccino cake. I’m with Sam on that one. It is to-die-for delicious.
After we got home and had baths, Molly opened up her Gotcha Day gift. We brought home a suitcase full of gifts for Molly when we returned from China. Every year on her Gotcha Day she gets one of those special gifts. She really cherishes them and takes special care of them. She can take you through her room and show you each gift that she has received over the past five years.
Sam and Molly pose before Molly opens her present.
In a act of sisterly love Molly lets Sam open her present. How sweet is that?
What is it, Sis?
Molly opens her sandalwood fan.
Random cute pic of Sam and Molly.
Molly displays her fan. She quickly put it back in the box and put it into her backpack so that she could bring it to school for Show & Share.
On the day we got Molly, she had one little tooth. Today, on her 5th Gotcha Day, that very same tooth is loose and ready to come out.
Here’s the wiggler (look for the arrow in the picture)!
Happy 5th Gotcha Day Molly! We love you forever!
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