Congratulations Mommy!

Congratulations Mommy....those are the two incredible words I heard a year ago when I answered my cell phone in the middle of the Build-A-Bear Store (if you want to read about that wonderful day click this link). Two words that changed the rest of my life...forever...and for better! Receiving that amazing call was truly music to my ears!! It was really happening...Tony and I were parents!!! What a great beginning to a truly magical year!

Last year on March 6th Tony played hookey. I imagine he called his office and said something like, "I'm sorry, TJ is just too crazy for me to come to work." :-) Unfortunately, Tony couldn't play hookey with us today...but we still had a great day!

Lily and I visited Aunt Patti at her office and then went out to lunch with her. We were finally able to introduce Lily to Mr. Ernie. Ernie is a dear friend of Patti's and the sweet man that worked his computer magic to remove the staple marks from the referral pictures we received of Lily. From what I understand he also makes a mean Corn Beef and Bok Choy recipe that we'll have to try on St. Patrick's Day for our little Chirish (Chinese and Irish) girl!

After we finished lunch Patti, Lily, and I went to visit Christina at school. Christina's school has an open door policy and parents, aunts, uncles, etc. are welcome to visit at any time. Last Sunday Christina invited Lily and I to join her for lunch today. Apparently Christina has shared quite a bit with Miss Dot, one of the sweet ladies that works in the cafeteria, about Lily. Miss Dot wanted to meet Lily and from the looks of things I think about fifty 3rd graders also wanted to meet her! Patti wisely suggested we eat before we got to Christina's school for her lunch period. That was very sound advice! The cafeteria was pretty loud and crazy and there was no way Lily would have ever settled down long enough to actually eat anything. Lily was so excited to see "Tina" and Christina was equally excited to see Lily. Christina did a wonderful job of introducing Lily to Miss Dot and to all of her friends. Christina was very patient as her classmates came up one after the other and wanted to talk to Lily...I'm sure it didn't hurt that Lily only had eyes for her big cousin, "Tina"!

Me with Mommy and Tina!

Christina, do you know your mother is still holding that camera???

Aunt Pappyrazzi, I'm kissing Christina goodbye...but I can still see you...and that camera!

Lily fell sound asleep on the way home from Christina's school. I desperately needed to make a pit stop on the way home but had a sleeping baby in the car...so, what should I do?? Stop at my Dad's house, of course! It was a gorgeous day so Dad, Don, and I visited outside while Sleeping Beauty slept in the car. After Lily woke up we spent a little while visiting Dad Dad and Uncle Don. It was fun to spend time with them and Lily didn't mind the few cookies her Dad Dad slipped her!

In the late afternoon I took Lily to the Build-A-Bear store where Tony and I received "The Call" a year ago today. I think this will become part of our yearly tradition...at least until Lily's too old to want to make a stuffed animal! Unfortunately, Miss Freda, the sweet lady who helped Tony and I last year was not there. I was told that Freda had a heart attack several months ago and has not been cleared to return to work. I was so sad to hear the news. Jo, the woman who helped us today, assured me that Freda is doing well and should be back to work in about a month. I didn't mention anything to Jo about the reason for our visit today. I simply asked if Freda still worked there. After a few minutes of helping me and Lily, Jo very sweetly asked, "Are you by any chance the woman who got the call from your adoption agency while you were in our store?" Naturally, I said "YES!" She then proceeded to tell me that Freda has shared the story of Tony and I becoming parents in their store often and that Freda tells everyone that was...and will always be...her favorite day at work! Jo took a polaroid picture of Lily and put it aside to give Miss Freda when she returns to work. How sweet is that?

Of all the different animals to pick from Lily picked a polar bear. I think it was love at first sight! It was so cute to watch Lily hugging and kissing her bear. As part of the Build-A-Bear process you select a name for your stuffed animal. I chose the name Faith. Afterall, I think that is truly what helped Tony and I get through the long wait to bring Lily home!

What do you mean Miss Freda isn't here??

This evening Lily and I met Tony at PF Chang's for dinner. Last year after we received our wonderful life changing call Tony and I went to PF Chang's for a late lunch. During that lunch we laughed, cried, and dreamed about what life would be like with our sweet Lily. Nothing could have prepared us for how truly wonderful life is when your dreams come true!

Me, Daddy, and Faith!

Can somebody please tell me why Mommy has been so weepy today!

Mommy and Daddy's dream come true!