Bathing Beauty

well, we have a water-lover on our hands! the first time we gave her a bath, she didn't even want the water to touch her toes...but now, well she practically dives in head first!

yesterday, we took her swimming and she had the best time. i have to say, i've never seen anyone look so good in a swimsuit (diaper and all)!

anyway, i thought i would post a few pics of our little adventure.

Coming Home and Happy Birthday

Yep, so I'm finally updating my blog! I'm just warning you, it's gonna be a LONG blog! I have a few days to catch up on! Thursday night, before we left India, we thought we would go down to the courtyard in the hotel and eat dinner outside. They have nice live music and the food is pretty good. Well, while we were waiting for the restaraunt to open, we couldn't help but notice (along with the rest of the block) that an Indian wedding was just about to take place in our hotel. Indian weddings are undeniably unique and different from anything I've ever seen. They are far more colorful and extravigant than American weddings. Indian weddings go on for days, and we just happened to be there for the final night of the celebration. The groom was outside of the hotel and made his entrance with a very loud marching band and an entourage of dancing relatives! Dustin and I tried to stand back and capture it all on video. Well, a few of the relatives introduced themselves and not only did they welcome us to watch the presecion, they INSISTED that we attend the wedding! They were so welcoming! Dustin and I moved to the lobby of the hotel to watch the groom approach and as the relatives piled in, several placed flowery leis around Mia's neck and on her toy's neck. They leis are usually reserved for the mother of the groom only. It was such a special moment - I'll never forget it. We went to the wedding banquet for about 20 minutes, but found out that the actual ceremony wouldn't start for another 3 hours. It was already 7:30 and we hadn't eaten dinner yet (or packed for the trip home), so we thanked them for their generosity and headed upstairs. This might sound silly, but I had prayed that we would somehow be able to witness an Indian wedding while in India. It's such an unbelievable way to experience the rich culture. I feel so blessed that it actually happened! I'll post a picture of some of the ladies at the wedding (notice the wedding henna on their hands).

Well, we left our hotel at 5:00 am the next morning. The airport experience coming into Kolkata was a breeze. Getting out with and Indian child was very scary. We were passed from government official to government official - all of them speaking broken English. At one point, they took our passport out of the terminal. We had been briefed on most things that would happen, but this wasn't one of them. It was very scary. We were getting very close to our boarding time. Finally, the immigration official returned with our passports and told us that it should've taken them an hour to complete our paperwork - thus we would have missed our flight. I'm pretty sure he was bluffing and just wanted to give us the run-around and get a tip for "saving the day". Well, that didn't happend! We just took our passports and bolted to the boarding line. Wow.

The flights back were great. We had a 10 hour flight from Kolkata to London, a 9 hour flight from London to Chicago and a 2 hour flight from Chicago to OKC. I'm pleased to say that Mia was a complete angel. There were children her age on the same flights that screamed until they couldn't scream anymore. BUT MIA, well she's special! People on each flight came up and talked to her and tried to hold her. They even commented on how well she was doing. I have to say that the flight back home was the only thing I was worried about. I know we had many people praying for us. Thank you from Dustin and I and thank you from all of the passengers on British Air!

Sorry this is so long...

We touched down in OKC at around 11:25 pm. We walked up the long quiet terminal, turned the corner and saw the beaming faces of family and friends! We were so glad to be home! A small group of family and dear friends greated us at the top of the escalator. I tried to have the grandmas and grandpas hold her, but she would have none of it (kinda felt good to me)! She just clings to Dustin and I. What we didn't know was that a huge group was waiting at the bottom of the escalator. Family, friends, co-workers and church members were there to welcome Mia home with balloons, signs and party hats (we arrived 20 minutes before her 1st birthday). Nadra, Charlie and Ian were able come in town for our arrival. For those that don't know, they adopted Ian who was Mia's little buddy at the facility in India. When they saw each other at the airport - they knew each other, I know they did. Mia was a little dazed, but Ian's eyes lit up and I know he remembered her. I'm so thankful that they were there.

At the stroke of midnight, someone led the crowd in singing Happy Birthday. I had managed to keep my composure up until that point. The tears started flowing!

The next night, we had a small gathering of family over to watch Mia dig into a tiny little cake. Who would have thought that watching a kid make such a mess would be so much fun!

Thank you so much to those who prayed for us and helped welcome Mia home. We will never forget such a special night.

I'm attaching a few photos. I'm attaching a picture from the Indian wedding, a few pictures from Mia's homecoming and a few from her 1st birthday party.

Two more days...

We found out we will definitely not be traveling before Friday. Which I am sure works out for the best.

Last night was a pretty good night. She only woke up once. She is doing so well, I cannot wait for you all to see her. She is playing more and talking up a storm. She crawls everywhere and pulls herself up on the coffee table and on us and stands around (she will be walking soon). :o) :o(

Yesterday was good for the two stir-crazy parents. We were able to go to a nice government run market that was indoors and air-conditioned. We found lots of nice things to bring back. It was very good to leave the hotel and experience more of Kolkata. Mia was an absolute angel the whole trip. She smiled a lot and ended up sleeping in the sling around my waist. Our driver was the best yet. His name was Apaul (sp). He showed us a picture of his little girl Soonjeeta (sp). He was as proud of her as we are of Mia.

We took some pics of some roofers on top of the building next door. They were working very hard and it is very hot. We thought that the guys on dad’s crew would like to see how it is done in India. Pretty high tech (ha, ha).

Well Uncle Boo, it is now your birthday here in Kolkata and Mia wants to say Happy Birthday. She cannot wait to tell you in person.

Shaunna, soon you will know and I am dying to find out. Make sure and let me know when you get the news! :o)

As always, we miss you all very much and cannot wait to see you. Keep sending your prayers, they are very much felt and needed. Love you all.

More Glimpses of Beauty...and Charlie too

We have had a few long days and a few long nights but things are going much, much better. Mia is coming around to Dustin now and that makes it easier for me to get some much-needed rest. He can now hold her and comfort her without her fussing.

It looks like we will not be able to come home any earlier, but that is OK. I know that some of you have already made plans to be at the airport Friday night and we cannot wait to see you then.

Mommy and daddy are going a little “stir crazy” in the hotel room. So, Dustin is going to go scout a market that another Dillon family suggested to us on the plane ride here (they happened to be coming to Kolkata to pick up their son). If it looks suitable for a family outing we will go on Wednesday or Thursday.

Before I forget, Mia wants to wish Aunt Hiley a late Happy Birthday, and remind her that Saturday is her 1st birthday. She keeps wanting us to find out what Hiley is getting her.J

We really miss you all and can feel your prayers all around us as Mia comes closer to us day by day. Keep our family in your prayers and we will see you soon.

We had to add a picture of Charlie because we miss him too.

Happy Girl

we are in here in the computer room. it is about 7:40 am. we just got finished with breakfast and ang is sitting beside me with mia. of all of the toys we brought she seems happiest with the wrapper from a power bar ang ate last night. she loves the crinkly shinyness (don't worry grandparents it won't tear and she can't eat it).

she slept from about 11:00 last night until about 5:30 this morning. we got up and i tried to feed her, she ate a little but she is still coming along slowly with me. she loves to eat though, she ate a whole bowl of milk with baby crackers in it then when we went to breakfast she nearly ate everything on angie's plate.

after breakfast she began talking to us and everyone around. she keeps saying da, da, da, da. i know it doesn't mean what i think it does but don't spoil my fantasy!

today should be pretty uneventful. we are trying to contact our travel agent and change our flight plans to either monday or tuesday. i don't know if that can happen but we are going to try. we will let everyone know if it can happen.

well i think that she has just made her daddy proud, and we are not even on the tenth floor (chuck, that's for you). so we need to go back up to the room. we miss you all and cannot wait for you to meet this Happy Girl. we will keep you updated.

GOD is good...

The City of Her Birth...

i don't even know how to describe what we've seen today. people can tell you about india and try to prepare you, but nothing can prepare you for what you will see. it's a glorious city, and amazingly different than anything i've experienced. i have great love for this city, but it saddens me at the same time. from the first moment we arrived, one thing stood out...every living creature in this city seems to be fighting for survival.

we had an overwhelming experience at an outdoor market today. we gave our driver, nayeem, the address of a cool and safe market so we could get some shopping done. well, he ended up taking us to another market (i'm sure his friends own the shops). we were bombarded with beggars from the time we stepped out of the cab until we rushed back in. one particular elderly woman followed me for blocks, just tapping my arm and begging for something. everything in us wants to help, but we have been strongly urged not to give out money on the street...there's a chance you could get mobbed. so we practically sprinted from shop to shop. there is SO much more to this story, but i can't really go into it now.

this was our only day to do shopping, because once we have mia we are not allowed (and shouldn't) go out in public. now i understand why.

well, tonight's the last night that the tucker's will be a 2 member family...tomorrow we become three! our 2 1/2 year "labor" is finally coming to an end! how am i supposed to sleep tonight? we called anju today and she wants us to come by the orphanage at 11:00. so those of you still up at 11:00, send up a little prayer for the two of us and mia.

we love all of you...i will post again as soon as mia allows!

And So It's Here...

the day we've been waiting for for so long is finally here! in just a matter of hours, we will be on our way to meet our daughter. it still doesn't seem real, but i'm sure it will hit us soon!

we don't know how to express our gratitude to those of you who have helped us throughout this process. the prayers, the phone calls, emails and hugs have just meant so much to us. we are overwhelmed to see such love from friends and family for a child that none of us has ever seen. we are forever grateful.

well, our anxiety about travel and the huge responsiblity of parenthood has transformed into sheer joy as we leave now for our journey...our journey to mia.

thanks again & we love all of you dearly.

i'll write as soon as i can.

We're Going to India!

yesterday, dustin and I found out that we have been cleared to travel! we will leave on wednesday, may 10th at 5:15 PM and arrive in kolkata friday morning at 5:00 am. we hope to spend friday recovering from the flight, buying gifts and trying to see as much of the city as possible.

and so saturday...well, saturday is the big day! we will finally come face to face with the child we've only known through pictures. for us, i've pictured that moment as one of those hallmark, made for t.v. movie moments, but for her - well, her entire world will be turned upside down. everything she's known will be taken away from her, but she will soon find out that a new world awaits her - a world where she will be loved more than she has ever been loved. regardless of how things play out, it will be the happiest moment of our lives.

as many of you know, we arrive home on may 19th. we prayed and prayed that we would have mia home by her first birthday (may 20th). well, we arrive home just about 20 minutes before that big day! God sure does have a great sense of humor!

for those brave souls that would like to greet us at the airport when we arrive, we come in on AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 4090 at 11:34 PM. for those of you planning to go, if you have any questions - friends, call sarah - and family, call my mom or barb. i'll make sure they know if anything has changed or been delayed.

we love all of you. thanks so much for the prayers and support throughout this process.

Almost There...

i spoke with jynger yesterday and all we are waiting on is an email back from the u.s. consulate in kolkata saying that they have received a fax of our approval. jynger will continue to email them everyday until they respond. she said that sometimes it can take 2-3 days for them to respond to her, but as soon as they do she will call us and we will be cleared for travel!

i'll keep you updated!