Three years ago today…

…we were handed the most precious baby girl and our lives changed forever in a flash. We went from not being parents to having an almost 2 year old at the blink of an eye. Those two weeks in China watching our new baby girl grieve for everything she’s ever known was the toughest thing ever. Her face in this picture shortly after we got her says it all….

Lauren has come so far in the past three years and we feel so very lucky to be her parents. She’s a cutie on the outside, but it’s her inner beauty that really shines like a bright light. She’s brought incredible joy to our lives in just the few years we’ve been together and we can’t wait to see what the future brings.

Here’s some random facts about my girl (in no particular order)…

• she will be 5 years old in March and starts kindergarten this year
• she loves her baths and could play in the tub forever
• she’s very enthusiastic about learning new things
• her smile lights up a room and she giggles and laughs all the time
• she loves her friends and talks about them all the time
• she melts my heart when she says “I love you”
• she loves broccoli and will order it as a side with her kid’s meal
• she always says “excuse me” at the proper times
• she loves to sit on my lap and snuggle
• she’s such a happy girl
• her excitement is contagious
• she’s constantly pulling up her socks
• she's a brave girl and not afraid of the dark
• she sleeps with six “friends” and they need to be lined up just perfectly before she goes to sleep
• she likes to ride on her daddy’s shoulders
• she loves chocolate ice cream with sprinkles from Dairy Queen
• no matter how cold she gets, she won’t wear her robe or slippers
• she gives the biggest, best hugs
• she doesn’t like mac & cheese or chicken strips
• her favorite color was blue, but now it’s green
• she thinks hot cocoa with marshmallows is the best treat ever
• she’s like a groupie to her cousin Josh and follows him around everywhere when she’s with them
• she’s a champ at taking medication when she’s sick
• she loves preschool and can’t wait to go every morning
• her favorite shows are Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Yo Gabba Gabba
• she loves tomato soup and could eat it everyday
• at bedtime after I read a book she always wants me to tell her a story
• she must listen to her music in the car and knows exactly which song she wants to hear at any given time
• if she thinks I’m not paying attention she says “mom, you need to focus”…too funny!
• she’s not really into crayons and coloring books
• she’s a grandma’s girl
• she likes tacos with plenty of salsa
• her favorite store is Target (imagine that) and she loves to go there and cruise the toy aisles
• she’s full of joy and has an inner light all her own