ONE MONTH LATER......

One month ago today, February 27, 2011, our lives changed forever.  It was on that day, that a crying baby was placed in my arms.  It was the day that she left the only life she had ever known----life in an orphanage.  She was not only handed over forever to people she had never seen before, but also to people who looked nothing like her.  I will never forget holding her in my arms as she cried her little heart out, but as I held her close and told her, "Mama loves you SO much!" she slowly stopped crying.  She allowed me to hold her close and she laid her little head on my shoulder. I truly think at that early moment, God bonded our hearts forever.  My love for her could not have been any stronger.  She may not have been conceived within me, but the truth of the matter is that I had carried her in my heart from the beginning.  I thought she was the  most beautiful baby girl I had ever seen----just like I had thought my boys were the most beautiful boys ever when I gave birth to them.

February 27, 2011

I don't think any of us truly realized what an impact Molly Kate would have on our lives.  I knew things would change for us, and I truly felt like I was ready for that change.  Okay, I have to confess that I wondered if we would bond, or if I would think she was cute.   I even allowed myself, one brief moment, to wonder if I was REALLY up to being a mother again----could I really handle it?  On the Saturday night before we left for China, I made a trip to Walmart---my "get ready for the baby" trip.  It took me almost two hours to get everything I thought we would need for our soon to be Molly Kate, and as I was standing in the check out line with my shopping cart overflowing with diapers, baby wipes, bibs, baby powder, baby lotion, butt cream, etc., and as others were looking my way and probably thinking, "She must be getting ready for a grandchild!" I looked up and said to myself, "WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE WE DOING?!?!?!"  The day before we left I was SO stressed from having to get everything packed for our trip for everyone....I just looked forward to the moment we were finally on the plane!!!  Once I reached that point, though, I knew we were doing exactly what God wanted us to do, and what we had been waiting over FIVE LONG YEARS for.  The wee trace of doubt I had allowed to enter my mind (never my heart) disappeared.  WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO GET OUR BABY GIRL!!!!

Oh, how our lives have changed!!!!!  If life was any better, I don't think I could stand it!!!!  I can't explain what it's like to wake up each morning and look over in the Pack 'n Play next to our bed and see the sweetest little face looking up at me with the brightest of smiles, dimples showing all over her face.  And when she says to me, "MY MAMA," my heart melts.  Molly Kate is the sweetest, happiest baby!  She smiles and giggles.....she LOVES to cuddle and snuggle.  We don't share her to be held by a lot of people yet, because we want her to be totally bonded to us and know that we aren't going to leave her, but she sure has a lot of those sweet smiles to share with others----smiles so big that her eyes almost disappear.

March 27, 2011

SO, what does everyone else in our family think about Molly?  All three of her brothers are absolutely CRAZY about her!!!!  Evan gave up a trip to Florida for spring break (his senior year) to come home to spend the week with her.  He's already planning to come home again this weekend, and I don't think it's to see Roger and me!  The minute Keaton hits the door each day, he heads her way to do "the tickle monster" with her.  Even though I really don't like the phrase, I had to laugh the other day when Keaton had gone in to check on her as she was sleeping. When he came back out, he said, "Mom, she's just so FREAKIN' cute!"  Shea was crazy about her from the first moment she was placed in our arms.  He was the best help while we were in China, and even though he's gone a lot from home, he heads her way as soon as he comes in the door.  I saw an entry on his Facebook a couple of days ago that said, "Things are on the up and up, and I love my sister!"  You know, I think we ALL agree that she's a keeper!!!!  Even B.B. and Sophie Grace (our precious pups) and Allie (our cat) love her!!!!  She was terrified of them at first, but now she accepts their licks of love with giggles and squeals.  Well, SOMETIMES she still lets us know that she's had enough!!!

We have had so many people tell us that Molly Kate is such a lucky little girl.  I know I've said this before, but WE are truly the lucky ones.  Roger and I have been blessed with a precious daughter....a life that has already SO enriched our lives.  God is SO good!!!!!!