It all began

Four years ago we were on a plane flying somewhere over the north pole headed to China. Our journey to Sophia began on this day four years ago. It was full of excitement and more then a few nerves. Most of all it was filled with happiness,hope and possibility. We gained many great friends on that trip, friends and memories that will always be a cherished part of our lives.

Summer

Here in Florida it has been summer for about a month now. Officially summer does not begin for an other 21 days but it is here with all of its hotness and humidity. The girls are out of school now until the end of Aug. We have so much going on this summer that I seems like there is so little time.

It has been far to long since I have posted here and I will spare you any explanation or excuses. I had every good intention of documenting the last year for my girls to look back on one day but then life just took over. In any case I am going to try and post here more often than I have been. Some days it might just be a picture or two but I will try.

We have some exciting things brewing in our little family of four that I want to share with everyone.

But for now I will just leave you with these beautiful pictures of my two loves....

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