Mother India

this picture was taken at the orphanage/facility where we first met mia. it's of an ayah changing an infant's diaper. i tried to quickly take this picture without her noticing (the ayahs are shy and don't like to be photographed i'm told). moments after this picture was taken we met our precious mia. this picture is my favorite. if i took no other picture of india, the country or it's people, this picture would have been enough.

And So It Begins...

this is the blanket i'm making for our little boy...YES, we are starting the adoption process again! we sent in our application (part 1) last friday to adopt a baby boy from india! i just wanted to share the great news! we are more excited than words can express!

What they didn't tell me...

She's fascinated by all phones...wait until she's a teenager!

Pigtails make her look WAY TOO grown up...where's my 1 1/2 year old?

Here are just a few things that have crossed my mind lately...

They said being a parent was great. Of course they were right, but here’s what they didn’t tell me…

They didn’t tell me that on a regular basis I would laugh so hard I’d cry.
They didn’t tell me that hearing Mia laugh and play with her dad in the other room would bring such a smile to my face.
They didn’t tell me that I would see everything fresh and new…I’d discover the world all over again with her.
They didn’t tell me that voluntary, random kisses would be worth more than silver or gold.
They didn’t tell me that I’d instantly become the biggest goof-ball just to make her giggle – no matter who is watching!
They didn’t tell me that I’d need a part-time job just to pay for all of those cute girl clothes!
They didn’t tell me that the sweetest sound in the world would be when she calls my name.
They didn’t tell me that she would bring such joy to not only Dustin and I, but my family, his family, and our extended family and friends.
They didn’t tell me that to our family and friends Dustin and I would cease to exist…we are now the people who bring Mia or take her away. We’re okay with it by now!

They said being a parent was hard, but this is what they didn’t tell me…

They didn’t tell me that taking my baby to the doctor and hearing her cry out in pain would make me cry with her.
They didn’t tell me that I’d be so angry at the world for it not being the kind of place I want her to grow up in.
They didn’t tell me that there’s no way to capture the look in her eyes when she is proudly showing me something or is calling out to me. They didn’t tell me that there’s no picture or video that can capture her smile when she sees her daddy come home from work. And they didn’t tell me that there’s no way to capture the feeling my heart has when she grabs my hand and leads me somewhere, anywhere…I don’t care where we go.

They didn’t tell me time would fly so fast.

They couldn’t have told me how much I would love her.