Finally A Family - For One Wonderful Year!

Finally A Family - April 16, 2007

April 16, 2008 - Finally A Family...For One Wonderful Year!

One year ago today Tony and I woke up (not that we had slept) in a hotel room on the other side of the world, boarded a van, and drove to an office building with two other families to be united with our daughters. Once there...on shaking legs...we climbed up a curving staircase, walked down a dimly lit hallway and into a conference room and saw our sweet Lily. It is impossible to put into words how amazing that experience was. It is also impossible to put into words just how wonderful this past year has been. I've tried and I can't begin to do either experience any justice.

Today we celebrated our first anniversary as a family of 3...our Finally A Family Day! It is one of the most important days in our family and it serves as a reminder to us that dreams really do come true and that God answers prayers.

We have been so blessed over the last year in many different ways. From the very start our transition into a family of 3 has gone much smoother then we could have ever hoped for. Lily and I bonded immediately and I fall in love with her more each day. It took a little more time for Lily to feel completely comfortable with Tony. However, beginning that very first day Lily would play, smile, and roughhouse with her daddy as long as I was nearby. Tony never let a little resistance deter him. He was always loving, gentle, and patient. His patience more than paid off.

Today, Lily is a total Daddy's girl. You should see her face when Tony walks in the room! Lily loves spending time with Tony and will even ask me to call him during the day so she can talk to him while he is at work. Lily doesn't like when Tony leaves in the morning but she makes Daddy's day when she tells him he looks "handsome". If you could hear the tone in her voice when she says it...it is pure love! It is beautiful to see the two of them together.

Tony and I are by far not the only people who love Lily...or for that matter...the only people Lily loves! Over the last year Lily has become very attached and affectionate to all the members of her family. She loves her Dad Dad, Nai Nai, aunts, uncles, and cousins...and they are all crazy about her, too! It is wonderful to see the joy and love that Lily brings and receives from her extended family.

In fact, Lily has such a sweet personality that most everyone who comes in contact with her is positively smitten! Because of Lily's intrinsic sweetness and easy going charm we have met countless people. I can't tell you how often people in banks, stores, restaurants, etc. will stop us and comment about what a sweetheart Lily is. They certainly don't get any argument from her Mommy and Daddy!

Lily is extremely curious about the world around her and wants to explore, touch, and see everything. Lily is always "tuned in" to her surroundings and doesn't miss a thing. She has a steel-trap memory and never ceases to amaze us with what she notices, remembers, and comments on. So many times during the last year she has had us shaking our heads in positive disbelief. She is so bright and inquisitive and keeps us on our toes. We wouldn't want it any other way.

This last year has been filled with so many magical moments. We have witnessed Lily learn to crawl, walk, sign, and talk. She gave us our first hugs and kisses and said those 3 amazing little words, "I love you." Together we have celebrated Lily's first birthday and every other holiday throughout the year.

The center picture was taken on our very first day together. Top row L - R: May, June, July, and August of 2007. 2nd row L - R: September and October of 2007. 3rd row L - R: November and December 2007. Bottom row L - R: January, February, March, and April 2008.

Before we became parents Tony and I had a very happy life. We loved each other and had a wonderful time together. There is just no way we could have possibly known how Lily would add so much joy, love, and laughter to our already happy home!

For many, many years I truly believed I was not meant to be a mother. Tony also had similar reservations about becoming a father. We were totally wrong. There is no question in our minds that we were meant to be Lily's parents just like she was meant to be our daughter. God has been so good to us!

This year has gone by incredibly fast. We will blink and another year will have flown by...then another...and another. I'm just so glad that the 3 of us will be together enjoying every minute!

We had such a great day today celebrating our Finally a Family Day together. I think this post is long enough...so, I'll save all the details about how we celebrated our special day for tomorrow's post!