7/19/09

Celebrating the beginning...

This time last year, we were in China, eagerly anticipating our first meeting with the girl who would be forever after our daughter. Hard is it may seem to believe, in the flurry of the past year with the Q, I have forgotten the exact dates. The 26th of July sticks in my mind, so maybe that was the day of our meeting. I have the dates somewhere, of course, but life is too full and busy right now for me to search for the details. This photo is from a day or two after our initial adoption day. Though it looks outdoors, this photo was actually in the picture window of our hotel room at the White Swan, overlooking the Pearl River. I have read some bad reviews of the rooms at the White Swan, but the room we were given was quite spectacular (and may have been more bearable for us since we are accustomed to and enjoy beds with hard matresses). We felt in the lap of luxury. I have always loved this image, for its tenderness and intimacy.

Oh, that tiny girl, so brave and resilient and, even then, willing to dive into new experiences wholeheartedly, eager to give us a chance, and to laugh and smile at every opportunity.

9 comments:

Jill said...

That is truly an emotional photo! Happy Gotcha Day!! (on or near..LOL!) We too enjoyed our rooms at the White Swan....I think although we REALLY enjoyed China, it was just nice to know we were just closer to getting home with our daughter!!
Hugs, Jill

Universal Floors said...

Hi there, just wanted to say how much I love your blog..we just accepted a referral for a little 7 month old girl with a unilateral cleft lip and palate from Xuzhou SWI. This is our second child from China and we are so looking forward to our return. Our referral picture was when she was four months old and she has a thick head of black hair.
Our little ones look so simular.
Take care, Bettina

A Beautiful Mess said...

I confess to not knowing the exact date of our family day. September 10th or 11th I would have to look to be exactly sure. It is not a day we plan to "celebrate" every year. We marked the first year together but after that we aren't going to make a huge deal. I remember reading about a child who had been adopted as a baby and around age 10 he told his mom that he hated celebrating "gotcha day" because it reminded him every year that he was adopted....and that he wasn't like his brother and sister who happened to be biological offspring of his parents. Gives you something to think about.....

Yoli said...

I always celebrate the day our children joined our family. I hope you have a wonderful family day. I see that picture and she looks like she is pushing her father away, it is such a stark contrast to the pictures where she obviously knows who he is and is loving him so much with her eyes or hugs. Amazing what a year of consistent love and security does to a child.

I also enjoyed the White Swan. To me it is so riddled with sweet emotions, a lot of firsts and just a peaceful time with us being a family.

Vivian M said...

Happy Forever Family Day!!!

I remember following your blog to China, but for some reason it says it no longer exists so I cannot look up the date for you.

We loved the White Swan. We stayed in the executive suites and our rooms were spacious and beautiful.

I love that picture too!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing...
___________________
Julie
The only Satellite Television

Delivers the Best Value in Entertainment

Rubber Ducky Chronicles said...

What an emotional photo! While I remember our Gotcha Day, I forgot our anniversary after the 3rd month. We have now been home 10 months and it seems like Ty has always been with us.

We enjoyed our time at the WS and we LOVED the beds we slept in during our entire trip to China. Still missing the coffee at the Holiday Inn in Beijing.

Maia said...

Yes, the Holiday Inn Beijing was where we first learned of the delights of Chinese coffee. Another favorite was, oddly, in a little cafe inside a very kitchy indoor knockoff-mall in Beijing. What a revelation, and surprise!

Anonymous said...

I hope you have a wonderful family day.
___________________
Julie
Payday loans Today