Tuesday, January 11, 2011

2nd Anniversary of Rebecca's Forever Family Day

Tonight we celebrated the two year anniversary of adopting our youngest daughter Rebecca. She really enjoyed all the attention as well as looking back through the pictures of our trip. We typically take the kids out to the destination of their choice for dinner to celebrate their adoptions but the roads were a bit icky tonight with snow so we opted to stay in and enjoy cupcakes instead.

There's such an array of emotions when I think back to the night we were united with little Rebecca. We had just arrived at our hotel and hadn't even checked in. The child of the family we were traveling with was already in the lobby when we arrived and while I was busy taking pictures of them, Amanda walked in with Rebecca. On my end, I had prayed for Rebecca - read everything I could about her, traded emails with many volunteers from the Starfish home and I was more than ready to finally meet our new daughter. She knew she was coming to meet her family and had been as prepared as any 3 1/2 year old could possibly be prepared. She had skyped with us and had a picture of us that Amanda had used to prepare her for meeting us. But she was one scared little baby girl as she entered that lobby and she was so obviously trying to be brave. While I wanted to scoop her up and show her how much we loved her, I knew that I needed to take my time and not overwhelm her. Everything she knew was about to change and bless her little heart she had already had at least one upheaval in her life. She was 18 months old when she came to live with Amanda and here another 18 months into her young life and she was about to experience another upheaval. You could tell so very much how much she loved Amanda and it was equally obvious how much Amanda loved her. Rebecca had been one of the older children there in the foster home and she was Amanda's little buddy. While in my heart I knew that by being in a family, being our daughter and being loved so dearly were the best things for her - I couldn't help but have a quickening in my heart about taking her away from the ones she knew and loved.

It took her a while to warm up to me. Actually it really wasn't until we were home that I felt her let her guard down with me and allow herself to become attached. Her inital attachments were with Emma - it was really instantaneous. She also was pretty much a daddy's girl while we were there. But here we are two years later and she is a mama's girl deluxe! She sits by me and puts her little arm around me and she will lean over and either kiss me on my cheek or kiss me on my arm. Her favorite parting words each morning are "Have a good day mama lovely".

Pictures from 2009





2 year adoption celebration - 2011!



7 comments:

Kristie said...

She is such a blessing to everyone. Can't believe it's been two years already.

Unknown said...

She is just blooming!! And those cupcakes look delectable!

Congratulations on 2 years home, little one!

The Byrd's Nest said...

I remember when you brought her home...I didn't even realize I had been following you that long! I love it when she smiles with every muscle in her precious little face:)

amy said...

I can not believe it has been two years, Look how big she has gotten! And I agree- the cupcakes look DELICIOUS!

Unknown said...

Happy 2 years, so glad to have shared special moments with you in China two years ago. We are celebrating at our house too!
Blessings,
gayly

sierrasmom said...

Yummy looking cupcakes...might have to try that next year!! Our girls have blossomed!
Kathie

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

I just happened to cross your site... I notice Rebecca and see Amanda... she is a Starfish... I have been a follower/supporter of Starfish for quiet a while... so nice to see the kids really blossoming...