Wow, it's been a long time since I've titled a post with the words Happy # Month Anniversary.
I remember reading blogs while I was in the "expectant wait" period of our adoption, of people saying how they couldn't remember or rather 'forgot' how long their wait really was after they received their beloved daughter and my thoughts at that point were usually, "I don't know how you could ever 'forget' how incredibly long the wait is/was."
I think I'm going to have to eat my words!
3 months ago today, 10 families gathered in a hotel conference room 6000 miles from here to share together in an experience that bonded them forever.
29 (siblings & grandma's included) strangers with only a few days beforehand to meet & greet (so to speak), sitting rather impatiently filling out necessary paperwork - lots of paperwork, trying to write carefully, working really hard to concentrate so as to not make any mistakes on their crucial official Chinese documents.
Checking and re-checking the spelling, doing whatever it takes to keep our minds occupied while we waited to hear even a whisper of news.
{ring, ring} our guide Marie's cell phone rang. I remember thinking how much I wanted to know and understand Chinese at that point as she spoke quickly and clearly. Hanging up the phone she announced "The first baby is 10 minutes away."
See, our group of 10 families were adopting babies from 5 different orphanages. 5 babies from one, 2 babies from another and the remaining 3 from individual orphanages. Tears began to well within the eyes of many parents, the thoughts of panic ran through the minds of some ~ sheer elation, fluttering butterflies ~. The mood in the room was, well hard to put into words. I remember thinking, "Oh my gosh, this is it. What will she be like? What will she look like (mind you I had photos but there still is a wonder)? Will I recognize her at first glance? What if she cries? I've waited so long for this, am I really ready?" I can only imagine the thoughts of those who were going to be first time parents as this was going to be our 4th and I was having the "not sure about it" thoughts myself.
Babies arrived that day.
Couples became parents, families became whole. Dear sweet Abigail was placed into our arms a quiet, watchful, scared little girl.
Her whole world turned upside down in the matter of a few hours. 'Who are these white people? They smell different, they talk different, they look different and I'm not sure I like it. Where are my nannies? Where are my friends?' I can't even begin to imagine what must have been going through her mind. She did her best not to look us in the eye for the first few days. She worked really hard not to smile or even show us signs that she was enjoying her new family. She didn't know she 'needed' a family or even wanted one for that matter. She didn't know that hugging, kissing and cuddling were all necessary touches for her soul to grow. She didn't understand that we waited almost 3 years to bring her into our family, to bring her home to love her forever! She would learn all of this very soon! And the results of learning it...well see for yourself.
Say CHEESE!!!
(literally this is the first time ever I have gotten her to respond at all when I've said "cheese" with a camera in hand).
September 16, 2008 Dalton's first time holding Abigail (then - Abigail Day!)
Now - 3 months later, Dalton's ___
?(I lost count) time holding Abigail
Curious and inquisitive she is.
Happy and well loved.
Loving her family ~ forever!
My little fashion disaster! Here's wishing for 'hip'r fashion in the new year.
It's almost 2009 - I can hardly wait!
From our home to yours
3 generations - Grandma, Mommy, Daughter (Abigail doesn't want to play along)
Our "4" children
Cousins - Abigail found something else to look at
Christmas 2008
Having fun at the dinner table
We have been working on teaching little miss A to smile - she got it this time.
Daddy got his Christmas present...and it even came with a bow!!!
We agree - 'good things DO come in small packages'
"I think a raindrop fell on my head"
Playing peek-a-boo
Now if I could have only gotten them to do "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" hand motions
Pretty big boots to fill
Still working on the smiling thing
Wanna smooch? (either than or she's got some sweet smelling something on her upper lip that she can't live without)
"Snow, snow go away, please don't come for one more day!"
View across the valley
These icicles are beautiful, but extremely hazardous when they under the pathway of the front door.
One of our cars, buried under the snow. I have actually cleaned this car off twice in the past 4 days.
Having fun sledding. Baby girl really enjoyed this activity as long as it didn't get in her face.
Baby-cakes also found that crawling in the snow was a way better way to get around considering that the snow was waist deep for her making it difficult to walk. I suppose this pic I could say "Ho Ho Ho" as she landed face first and came up with a white beard.
And of course, Daddy's favorite position after a day in the snow!
Checking and re-checking the spelling, doing whatever it takes to keep our minds occupied while we waited to hear even a whisper of news.
{ring, ring} our guide Marie's cell phone rang. I remember thinking how much I wanted to know and understand Chinese at that point as she spoke quickly and clearly. Hanging up the phone she announced "The first baby is 10 minutes away."
Couples became parents, families became whole. Dear sweet Abigail was placed into our arms a quiet, watchful, scared little girl.
Her whole world turned upside down in the matter of a few hours. 'Who are these white people? They smell different, they talk different, they look different and I'm not sure I like it. Where are my nannies? Where are my friends?' I can't even begin to imagine what must have been going through her mind. She did her best not to look us in the eye for the first few days. She worked really hard not to smile or even show us signs that she was enjoying her new family. She didn't know she 'needed' a family or even wanted one for that matter. She didn't know that hugging, kissing and cuddling were all necessary touches for her soul to grow. She didn't understand that we waited almost 3 years to bring her into our family, to bring her home to love her forever! She would learn all of this very soon! And the results of learning it...well see for yourself.
Say CHEESE!!!
September 16, 2008 Dalton's first time holding Abigail (then - Abigail Day!)
Loving her family ~ forever!
Baby girl hasn't been quite herself these past few days. BUT, we are thinking she's out of the woods and doing so much better now. These should be proof enough! Oh yeah, I actually got her to leave a "tied" ribbon/bow on her head for a few hours! Big accomplishment since she really doesn't like hats, bows, clips, etc. That's okay though, we'll keep trying.
