Love at first sight

I knew the moment I saw her that she was my daughter. She filled the space in my heart that had been empty for so long. She was beautiful, tiny, sweet and so scared. I cried tears of joy for what I was gaining that day, a daughter, motherhood a family. She cried tears of pain, fear and loss. Adoption is filled with a mix of joy and sorrow and that is no more apparent then on Family Day. I thank God every day for my daughter, for her birth mother and for her foster mother. It is because of the three of us that Sophia is this amazing child. She is smart, funny, fearless, adventurous, beautiful, sweet and loving. Her beginning gave her the ability to love others and to accept love from her family. Something I will forever be grateful for. 

Sophia, your daddy and I love you more then we can ever express in words. You have brought us so much joy and so much happiness and so much love.

June 16th 2008

(Father's Day)

Happy Family Day sweet girl...

Then

One year ago we were given the most beautiful gift, a daughter.

Thank you China

Thank you Chris,Karla and Uncle Zhou

We have had the most amazing year of firsts with our sweet Amelia.

Watching her grow and blossom into a funny,sweet,smart,clever,energetic, not to mention beautiful girl,daughter,sister has been a highlight of our lives.

We can not express what joy this child has brought to us. 

She has completed our family in a way we never imagined. 

Thank You  

God

 A Family of three

 and then we were four

 Sweet Amelia

 Mikel and Ci Mei

(Mikel is the director of the True Children's Home)

 Jenny Smith (she is the CEO of the True Children's Home) presenting us with Ci Mei's life book,Chinese Calligraphy brush (made from Amelia's first haircut) and other priceless keepsakes.

 One sister needing comfort the other giving it

 One Happy Mama

 The sister love from day one

 Moments after become a family of four

Mama and Amelia

 and then there were balloons

 and laughs

 and toys

 Our Travel group,
Our Friends
The Vargas Family
(Malina,Desi,Omi and Albert)

 On our way

 not to be left out

One Happy Dada

 enjoying the ride

 Our first of many bed pictures

 Amelia's one red foot

 She can "China squat like a pro

Pizza on day one

=

Happy Girl

Sophia's 3rd Family day

Three years ago today we became a family. Sophia was (and still is) all our dreams come true. The long, long wait had brought us to this moment in time. Where a dream and reality collided in a beautiful, scary overwhelming moment. This was the happiest day of our lives thus far. It is never lost to us that this day was not Sophia's happiest moment though. It was scary for her for so many reasons. She grieved for her life before us. For the people that loved her so dearly and cared for her is such amazing ways, I grieved for them too. Sophia was a scared little girl when she came to us in her brand new purple sweat suit (it was June and 100 degrees at 10am). She had a perfect hair cut obviously done just prior to making the 3 1/2 hour journey to meet us for the first time. I will never forget the way she smelled, like a mix of 5 spice and BBQ. The way her skin and hair felt that day. Most of all I will always remember her cry and the fear in her eyes. It was amazing to me how quickly this faded and turned to trust and eventually love. Sophia was strong and beautiful right from the beginning. She has continued to amaze me every single day with her sweet,funny,smart,strong personality. I never thought on that day I could love her more then at that very moment but I love her more every single day that passes.

I love you Sophia and I am so very proud of you,

you are amazing.....

on the morning I would become a mother for the first time

I was reflecting on becoming a mom and looking at the Civil Affairs office where we would meet Sophia. I could not help but wonder if she was already there. I chatted with friends and family back home while I readied myself in a hotel room in Nanchang ,China

our last moments as a childless couple before we left for the civil affairs office
In the lobby waiting with Uncle Zhou
and good friend Gigi
all the dads fromour travel group with Zhou
and all the moms from our travel group with Zhou
While we waited for the babies to arrive we took pictures with friends we had connected with from all over the world. (from left to right Ruth New Zealand, Me Florida, Marie Oregon, Susan Georgia)
Just before we became a family Sophia was so calm in the arms of her nanny from the orphanage.

The moment the first handed Sophia to me. I love the look on Riz's face in this picture.

a FOREVER FAMILY

all the emotions came to the surface

The infamous Hotel Bed pictures

(every adoptive family has them)

She is fun loving

She loves her Daddy

Our BEAUTIFUL Sophia