1 Year Ago Today...

Those first moments... so uncertain.
Very serious, no smiles.


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Our boy 1 year later! Full of laughter & smiles, hugs & kisses.

God brings families together in many different ways.

This is our miracle!

Nolan Turns 3!

I remember this time last year, during our excruciating wait, telling myself that Nolan's 3rd birthday would be here before we knew it and that we would not believe how fast time had gone by. Well, it is hard to believe that his bday is already here. We have had many "firsts" with Nolan in the past 11 months, but this celebration has to be one of the most special ones!

Nolan first birthday celebration ever!

We have a tradition of eating cake for breakfast on the actual bday of each family member. Early the morning of Nolan's big day, we could hear him calling from his bed, "happy cake, Mommy, happy cake." So I peeled myself out of bed (early for a Saturday) and served up some happy cake. (BTW, "Happy Cake" is what Nolan has called bday cake from way early on.) He blew out the candles SO fast, we didn't even have time to snap a pic!

Sometime that morning, Nolan was walking around the house calling Milton, "Dad." This went on for several minutes & we don't know why he suddenly changed from "Daddy" to "Dad" especially since no one in the house calls him "Dad". Maybe he was feeling all grown up on his big day.

Here's Nolan listening to Mimi & Papa sing Happy Birthday to him over the phone.

He picked a Mickey Mouse cake after the show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He loves, loves, loves that show!

Very experienced now at opening gifts from what he learned at Christmas, here he is breaking into his presents.

He couldn't fake any excitement for this gift! You can tell that by the look on his face.

A shirt, woo hoo!

Big, scary rc dinosaur he named "toot" ??? Not sure why he picked that name, but how cute!

Daddy trying to teach him how to work Toot.

All the sibs enjoying the new toys.

Feeding Toot leaves.

Precious (and occasionally rotten) Nolan who is now 3 years old!

Okay... I give!

I realized that I am never going to be able to complete my year in review, just way too much going on with this crazy family. But I promise to get an update on here soon! Saturday in Nolan's 3rd bday, his first birthday home with us! Check back soon.

A Look Back Over 2008

The year started out waiting, waiting, waiting, to finally receive official approval from China that Nolan was ours. This took SIX weeks longer than expected. Apparently, someone took a very long vaca while our paperwork collected dust on their desk, at least that is the reason we were given!

Finally, after celebrating Milton's 40th Bday on the 23rd of January, (I've looked for pics from the party we had for the BIG bday, but could not locate any) we got good news on the 25th. Nolan was officially ours, unfortunately now we had to wait again to receive travel approval.

January 31st was a bittersweet day... Nolan would turn 2, still in China. But, we celebrated with Chinese food from Pei Wei and the kids made a gift for him at Build a Bear.

In the meantime, our 12th Anniversary came and went and celebrated by going out to a nice dinner & shopping for things we would need for our trip.

We also managed to squeeze in a birthday party for Landon. This would be the 2nd time we'd be in China over his bday! What are the odds! But, being the overall good sport that he is, he forgave us and doesn't bring it up too terribly often!

Sometime in the crazy month of February 2008, Summerlyn dusted off the bike she'd gotten for Christmas well over a year beforehand, and decided she was ready to ride. It took no time at all, and she was off and riding.

She rode until dark!

10 Days after recieving our Travel Approval, we left for China on March 1st. We arrived in Hefei, Anhui, China late Sunday evening March 2nd.

The next morning, March 3rd, was Gotcha Day

No real tears, but we got this look a lot, and still do when he is not happy, only now his eyes are much more expressive.

Like the toys, not sure about the new people yet...

1st American Meal Mickey D's!
Finally back in Orlando, Nolan puked all over himself 1 minute from arriving home!

Stay tuned... more to come...

All I Really Want for Christmas

Lu La Hui before he became Nolan Hui Wells

taken in China exactly 1 year ago

Last year as we waited to bring Nolan home, this song brought tears of sadness & frustration over having to wait to bring him home where he belonged. This year, the song brings tears of joy and yet sadness for the many kiddos it still represents.

All I really Want

Well, I don't know if you remember me or not

I'm one of the kids they brought in from the home

I was the red-haired boy in an old, green flannel shirt

You may not have seen me, I was standing off alone

I didn't come and talk to you 'cause that's never worked before

And you'll probably never see this letter anyway

But just in case there's something you can do to help me out

I'll ask you one more time

All I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in

A shoulder to cry on if I lose, shoulders to ride on if I win

There's so much I could ask for, but there's just one thing I need

All I really want for Christmas is a family

Well, I guess I should go ahead and tell you now

If it's really true about that list you have

Somehow I always seen to end up is a fight

But I'm really trying hard not to be bad

But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with

Maybe they could teach me how to get along

And from everything I've heard, it sounds like the greatest gift on earth
Would be a mom

All I really want for Christmas is someone who'll be here

To sing me happy birthday for the next 100 years

It's okay of they're not perfect or even if they're a little broken

That's alright, cause so am I

Well, I guess I should go, it's almost time for bed

Maybe next time I write you I'll be at home
'Cause all I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in

Tell me I'll never be alone, someone whose love will never end

Of all that I could ask for, there's just one thing I need

All I really want for Christmas is a family

-Steven Curtis Chapman

One year later, Nolan Wells, HOME with his family.

Nolan's First Christmas

So good to start the holiday season off this year! Last year at this time we were waiting to bring Nolan home, and after some unexpected delays the Christmas season was not very joyful. But this year, this first picture makes me SO happy!

SIX stockings hung by the fireplace! Nolan proudly shows us over and over which stocking belongs to him. It's the biggest one, all the way on the right.

Playing with Daddy's Christmas village

First trip to pick out the Christmas tree


" Ho Ho Ho"



Helping with the lights



Checking out the nativity

Toasting with Hot Chocolate at our annual family tree trimming party.
We all wear our jammies, eat yummy Christmas treats, & decorate the tree, all while classic Christmas tunes play in the background. (One of my favorite times of the year!)

Opps I dropped my nummy...

...and the dog is eating it!

Hanging ornaments

We let Nolan hang some too....

he put them all on 1 branch!

My personal fav of the night... Big bro helping little bro. Nolan thinks Landon hung the moon!

Family Pics

Special thanks to Carrie Walker at Beautiful One Photography. We fought the elements, a VERY windy day, and one super cranky, obstinant 2 year old, and still Carrie was able to catch some very special pics for us. Thanks, Carrie! You're the best!