I couldn’t be more grateful to God for giving us such a wonderful child. She fits our personalities and into our family so perfectly. Today marks 4 months since they put Nadia in our arms. I will never forget that day. We woke up in Beijing WAY TOO early. Our bags had already been picked up and we got ready and I kept looking out the window at the insane amount of traffic and people on the street so early on a Sunday morning. We exchanged some of our US money for yuan and then all the moms, grandmas and siblings in our group posed for a photo. We traveled to the airport full of anticipation.
The plane landed in Nanchang and we loaded into another bus for the hour long ride to the hotel. Once there Mike went with some other dads to the store to get formula, rice cereal and bottled water. I was frantic running around the hotel room for no reason. I had packed the diaper bag before we left Beijing just in case we were short on time. I washed my face, brushed my hair and double checked everything. The guys got back and then it was time to load up to head to Civil Affairs. It was SO HOT!!
We rode the tiny elevator to the 24th floor. We entered the room and there they were! I was scanning the babies looking for Nadia. I thought I was going to pass out from the excitement. I kept thinking, “It’s really here, It’s really here.” Then I thought, “I can’t see her…there’s too many people, where is she?” Then I saw a nanny and she was holding Nadia’s hand pointing towards me saying ,”Mama, mama” Then I thought I was going to faint again. When were they going to call our name? When? When?
Then it was our turn and they handed the sweetest baby in the world to me. She just stared at me and looked around possibly wondering why all those babies were crying. As many have told me after seeing the video it was about the only time they have ever seen me speechless. HA HA! Once she went to Mike she was hooked and shortly after that she went to sleep. (if you haven’t seen the video – click on the video tab to see it in detail)
Our lives have changed in the most awesome way since that day 4 months ago. We adore being parents and it seems like Nadia has always been with us. She couldn’t sit up on her own when we got her at nearly nine months old. Three weeks later she started to crawl. Soon after that she was pulling up and cruising. Now at nearly 13 months she is on track with most babies her age and even ahead of many. She is incredibly smart and analyzes EVERYTHING. When we are out in public or in big groups of people she is watching, watching, watching. Then some time down the road she surprises us by imitating something that she observed.
Other things I’m thankful for on the extra special Thankful Thursday:
- For my wonderful husband Mike – he is the best daddy too!
- For our family and friends who have just surrounded Nadia with love since she came home.
- For having a great church to attend freely.
- For my work with World Vision and KIDS HOPE USA. I am grateful to God and to Mike that I am able to work with both of these ministries to serve children while still spending my days with Nadia.
- For the staff at church who don’t mind that Nadia joins us at staff meeting each week.
- For my cousin Jen and our lifelong bond. I love you and I am so thankful that we are so close.
- For all the cool people I have met since starting our adoption journey. So many people I would have never come in contact with otherwise that I now know.
- For our country’s military people. I know that this is such a hard time of year to be away from your family and I am grateful for your service.
- For all the aid workers around the world (World Vision and others) who sacrifice so much of themselves for the people that most of the western world has forgotten about.
- For getting to see Jess P. next week! That makes 3 times this year and I think we are setting a record.
- For our house and clean running water that is safe to drink. Spend 2 weeks in China (or lots of other countries) and that is a serious thing to be grateful for.
- For tasty food! I had to throw this in since it’s Thanksgiving. But I am truly thankful that I have a family and a refrigerator full of food that I am about to start cooking for this evening.
- And for all my other blessings too numerous to mention.