Gotcha Day!

On July 22 we celebrated Abram's first "Gotcha Day!"  Hard to believe that one year ago we met this amazing boy for the first time.  Chris and I have been thinking for awhile how we want to celebrate our "Gotcha Day" every year-- we want it to be special, but just not with gifts (that's what birthdays are for).  We came up with a few ideas that we hope to do every year.  They will include: Chris and I writing a letter each year to Abe and keeping them in a special book, taking a picture with Abe every year holding his referral picture, making family cupcakes that Abe picked out, eating Chinese food, and finally a special event picked by Abe that the whole family can do.  That's what the day is about, us being a forever family.  Here's a few pictures from Abe's special day... 

Abe with his referral picture. He has grown so much!!

Of course we had to have a picture with panda!

Our Gotcha Day banner that we will hang every year.

Eating our family cupcakes.  He loved his blue icing!

Dinner at PF Chang's (not real according to Chris but close enough!)

I love that he likes to eat with chopsticks.  He's a champ!

This year since he's a little too young to pick his event, so we picked it for him!  Abe's absolute favorite thing right now is trains.  Specifically, Thomas trains.  When we heard Thomas was coming to town, we knew it would be the perfect way to celebrate Gotcha Day this year.  Abe had a blast and so did we!

With Sir Topham Hatt... Abe wasn't too sure about him.

Getting a Harold tattoo

Showing off his tattoo and sticker. 

Playing at one of the many train tables.  He loves these things!

Standing in line to board the train...

Our family picture on the train.

And we finally got to see Thomas...

Abe was amazed!

What an amazing year it has been!  Through everything such as becoming parents for the first time, Abram's hospitalizations, his speech delays and figuring out what was best for Abe, God has definitely been faithful to us.  It is amazing to see how far our scared little boy in China who loved to hit and rarely smile has come.  He has brought us so much joy and we can't wait to see what this next year has in store for him.