One year a family!

One Year ago today I received the greatest gift. My daughter. One year ago today I became a Mama and the luckiest (in my eyes) person on earth. She has exceeded all of my expectations. She has touched and become a part of my family in so many wonderful ways.

It still floors me when I look at the strong independent little person that she has become. The things that she has lived through and experienced in such a short time and still she shines.

I took her out of an environment that she was used to. In a moments time she was in a strangers arms who looked, talked, smelled different. That stranger took her away from all that she had known. I can't begin to imagine how scared she must have been. How defenseless she must have felt at the mercy of someone she had never seen before. Yes she cried but she was strong and still she shines.

That first moment, the day after we became Mama and Daughter, when she first awoke and looked around and saw where she was and who she was with she cried the most pitiful cry. I scooped her up quickly though and she stopped soon after. We went about our day and she hung in there. Probably so confused and wondering but yet she went on. She is strong and a fighter. And she shines.

When we left China I actually felt guilty. She was so wonderful. Diddn't they know what they were missing? I don't feel guilty any more. She is my daughter and she is right where she is supposed to be and now I shine because of her. I will be forever grateful to China and for the gift that they have given me.

First glimpse. I think this was one of the head nanny's at her orphanage?


The little card Abby is holding had her name and picture on it. She hung on to that card for hours after I got her. I still have it.

Finally! In my arms at last! That is our guide Sissy in the back round. She was great!!

Wonderful!

I love how C and I are smiling at each other here. C and M named their daughter Abby as well.

So tiny and scared.

It breaks my heart to think of all of the emotions she faced that day.

I love this picture. We are on our way back to the hotel. She wasn't sleeping. We were both quiet just looking out the window.

First bottle. She got it the second we got back in our room.

I kept her original shirt on her overnight for comfort.

My sweet baby.

So tiny!

So tired. We got our daughters around 6:00 PM. we were at the Civil Affairs office for a couple of hours after.

Gotcha day outfit. (minus the shirt I kept on her) The bear was the one that I had enclosed in her care package.

This one is out of order. After we first got back and the babies had their bottles we went down for a quick bite of dinner. The two Abby's really loosened up fast. Both did well with table food too.

In our room at the Gloria Hotel in Nanchang. Look how tiny she was.

Sleeping in her carrier.

Asleep in her crib at the White Swan.

In the plane bassinet. Going home!!!

Sleepy girl.

Snug as a bug in a rug ")

And look at my abba now! So Big and doing great. We are weaning her paci so no flames please. Some of you thanked me in my last post for keeping on with my blog. I feel like it is the right thing to do for right now. I know it helped me to read other peoples experiences while I waited. Now with the wait getting longer, it seems like the blogs are starting to dwindle. No we are not that exciting but at least I can save these blog entrys for Abba to read some day.

Finally, we put a candle in Abby's bedroom window tonight in honor of her birth Mother. I will never know the hows and whys of Abby's story but she was found in a place where she was sure to be found. I hope that where ever Abby's birth mother is she has found peace with what she felt she had to do.