July highlights

It's been a busy and fun-filled month. The summer we'd been waiting for hit us in the face with a whopping 104 degrees when we landed in Texas for our adoption agency reunion. We had a great time seeing old friends and meeting new ones. What a treasure to be able to have all of these kiddos home and reunited for a weekend.

Little Miss loved the plane. She was full of wide-eyed wonder on the first flight and was an old pro by the time we were on our connecting flight.

Hanging at the hotel

Some Hope friends

My little cowgirl!

We also recently had a great day full of summer activities with our dear friends - pool time, backyard fun, and the town summer festival all in one day!

The first tattoo for Little Miss. She was unsure at first, but ultimately loved and kissed that little turtle on her hand!

And we finally got a little beach time! It was worth the wait - Little Miss had a great time.

Summertime is that you???

The sun has finally revealed itself after over 3 weeks of gloomy/rainy weather. And at last, we have had a chance to enjoy a few summertime activities with family and friends. Here are some shots from our recent trip to the water park/zoo. It took Little Miss a while to get close to the water, but she figured it out and then didn't want to leave, of course!

Back on the blog

It's been awhile since I've documented some of Little Miss's life here on the blog - had some computer issues. We are back in business now.

Life has been both quietly wonderful (with fun in the backyard, trips to the park, library story hours, etc) and crazy hectic (with work, household chores, family/friend events, colds and other minor ailments, and tons of teething). Still, every day that I wake to this sweet face, witness the growth and learning, and kiss this girl good night is a gift! Especially as I watch fellow adoptive families waiting and waiting to bring their kiddos home and as I wait month after month, year after year to bring my China girl home, I realize just how lucky I am to have my Little Miss with me every day.

Little Miss has been walking and talking for quite some time now, but she has kicked it into high gear in the last month. She has well over 30 words now and is really communicating her needs. It's so great to know what she is thinking. As for movement . . . well she no longer walks, but rather runs, climbs, or walks backwards to get from place to place. She is a mischief seeker. If there is mischief to be found, she will find it! A few recent risky moves by my little daredevil include trying to climb the stove (scaling the front while hanging off the door handle), trying to pull the wire shelf in the refrigerator out while I'm getting her milk, and squeezing herself between the wall and her crib (which is only 2 inches max from the wall) in her room. I know toddlers are like magnets to the most dangerous thing in the room, but seriously who thinks of these dangers that Little Miss is daring to try? I absolutely love her curious, inquisitive nature, but my oh my this girl is giving her mama a run for her money!!

Fun in the backyard

Child-proof locks?? Apparently the makers of these safety latches haven't met this child!

The blissful smile and squeal of delight for the successful completion of her mission! (note the white safety latch on the door at the top right - it was no match for Little Miss and her Herculean might and determination)

Hampers are fun!!

Who needs fancy toys when you have a hamper? A hamper . . . one of life's simple pleasures.

Time passes so quickly

Some days I just can't believe how quickly time is going by, how quickly my little babe is changing and growing. I so look forward to every up coming milestone, but at the same time I want to remember every little thing she is doing today before each thing fades into the next stage. Sometimes I just want to slow the world down and savor each moment. My sister always says, "Write things down. You think you'll remember forever, but you just can't". So here are some of the things I want to remember for today so I can tell Little Miss someday:

1. The sweet and loving way you say "Mama" when first seeing me after being apart or when crawling into my arms.

2. The smell and warmth of you in my arms when reading a book, having a bottle, or when just wanting to be held.

3. The look of sheer delight on your face when you peek around the doorway and find me waiting to say peek-a-boo to you for the 18th time!

4. The wide-eyed look of interest on your face as you nod with enthusiasm when I ask you if you want to go outside, or to the park, or to listen to some Raffi music.

5. The way you walk up to me and wrap your arms around my legs bear hug style while I'm doing the dishes or other household chores.

6. The way you take whatever bit of language you understand and apply what you know to it (like when I asked you at dinner if you wanted some chicken and you emphatically nodded yes and said, "bok, bok", or when someone mentions a dog and you point to the neighbor's house and say, "woo woo", or when I was telling auntie that I had to park the car and you said with high pitched enthusiasm, "PARK?").

7. How cute you look when you sit on the floor pouring over a book with that serious expression on your face as you "read".

8. The times when we are riding in the car listening to music and I hear you quietly say a word or two from the song not because I told you to, but just because you are listening and enjoying.

And here are some photos to help me remember all these things I love about my Little Miss . . .

giving Mama her 1st Mother's day gift

enjoying her big cousin and entire family in the park on Mother's day

more time at the park - she just can't get enough

learning to run

goofin' around with Mommy

A month of firsts

Well, April came "in like a lion" with Little Miss's first trip to the ER on the first of the month. Fortunately, things improved from there and the remainder of the "firsts" were good things.

April 9th was our first referral day anniversary - what a blessed and treasured day!

Little Miss had her first egg decorating experience - she generally just held and attempted to squish each of the eggs, but she was happy doing it.

She enjoyed her first Easter basket - a small little basket. The Bunny and I had a talk about keeping it baby-sized.

She also enjoyed her first Easter Egg "hunt" later that day. It was really more of an Egg gathering than hunt, but cute as can be of course.

This month Little Miss said her first 2 word sentence! The first sentence was cute and occurred as she watched our kitty go upstairs. She said, "meow-meow bup" - translation "the kitty went up". The second 2 word sentence tugged at my heart strings. She told my sister (who was taking care of her), "Mama bye-bye" - translation, "Mommy went to work".

And finally, with the arrival of some long awaited beautiful weather, Little Miss enjoyed her first picnic, first trip to the zoo, and first kiddie train ride. We headed off to this great museum/zoo/park with Auntie for a day of fun. Here are a few pics from the day.

The first time ever I saw your face . . .

April 9, 2008 - one year ago today - I received the referral of my sweet 26 day old baby girl! I can't believe this day, that is etched into my heart and brain so indelibly, happened 1 year ago. I remember it like it was yesterday - every detail, but so much has happened since then that it feels like decades ago. That day, I was offered the most wonderful opportunity - the chance to be a mother to this amazing girl and to raise her as my daughter. I was beyond thrilled. It was the happiest I had ever felt!

I had worked a typical, long day at the hospital and was heading to my car. I turned my phone on (it's off all day at the hospital) and there was a message. When I heard the area code for the message, my heart rate increased. I heard Grace, the agency rep, say nothing but "give me a call" with just a hint of mischief in her voice and my heart began to race. I was shaking as I dialed Grace's number and could barely breath. Could this be it? Could this be the moment I've been thinking about for years? The phone rang, rang, rang, then went into her voicemail. Are you kidding me? What am I to do now? All I could do was leave a message saying I'm available now, please call me. I hung up and was frozen. What now? Do I just drive home as if it were any other day? As if I didn't suspect I was about to get the biggest news of my life? What if I'm on the highway and Grace calls with critical news? What if I sit here and wait and Grace doesn't call back for hours or until tomorrow? Should I call my sisters? My mom? And say what? I don't know anything at all yet and maybe won't. After what felt like an eternity, really about 10 minutes, I decided to be rational and to simply drive home normally. Whew! As I started the car, the phone rang. A quick glance at the screen and I knew it was Grace. OMG! I was shaking like a leaf as I answered the phone. Grace had a smile and near chuckle in her voice as I answered hesitantly. "Do you want to see a picture of a baby girl?", she asked me. In that moment, I was assaulted with a flood of emotions - excitement, anticipation, desire, love, sheer joy! I said yes, of course, and asked her to tell me everything she could. She gave me some info and said she was emailing her picture and profile as we spoke. I could barely take in all that she was saying as my heart was leaping for joy and I was shaking and crying. I thanked Grace through tears and laughter which she shared with me as we hung up. I then had to run (and I do mean run) back into the building to find a computer and get that email. Tears of joy were simply pouring down my face. Every stressful moment, every challenge, every bump in the road, every difficult minute, hour, day, year of waiting was erased in that instant. God had the perfect baby girl for me and I was about to become her mother.

I must have looked like a raving lunatic, running into the hospital with a grin from ear to ear and tears streaming down my face. I found a quiet computer area, jumped into my email, took a deep breath, and there she was!! It was truly love at first site! All of my prayers were answered in that moment. I knew she was mine. I printed her profile and picture on ordinary paper so I could have them in the car with me as I drove home. I conference called my sisters to announce the news to them, and drove directly to my mom' s so she could "meet" her newest granddaughter. What a crazy couple of hours.

As I settled down for the night, I could not take my eyes off of that picture, studying every detail. I was overcome with excitement and joy. I got into bed, with my laptop opened with her picture taking up the whole screen. I eventually drifted off to sleep while staring at that picture and dreaming about our future together. I will never forget that day, the emotions, the chaos, and the utter joy. Aside from the day I held my Little Miss for the first time, referral day was the biggest day in my adoption journey.

Today, I remember April 9, 2008 with such joy and gratitude. The love I have for this girl was so strong instantly, and yet somehow, miraculously, it continues to grow stronger and stronger everyday. Tonight, with an overflowing heart, I kissed my girl good-night and took this picture. Just like the first time ever I saw your face, your sweet, beautiful face . . . ahhh!!!