GOTCHA DAY 2008

Then......May 14th, 2oo7





And Now..... May 14th, 2008





One year ago today we were flying from Beijing to Chongqing to finally meet Olivia. Thankfully, there were no earthquakes a year ago.
What a year it has been. Olivia has changed so much and has grown in so many ways. At 11 months she was so weak she couldn't sit up or even lift up her head when she was laying down. Today, at almost 23 months she runs around like crazy, is so smart, happy and healthy. She knows almost every letter in the alphabet and can count to five easily. As of last night she was counting to ten but has trouble with remembering and saying "seven". She has really no interest in potty training. The look in her eye says she knows what she is supposed to do but just doesn't want to yet.
She is so much fun and has taught me so much too.

Here is a poem I'm "borrowing" from a friend that also has a blog to update her in-process adoption. I couldn't resist using it.

BEFORE I WAS A MOM:
Author Unknown

Before I was a Mom
I made and ate hot meals.
I had unstained clothing.
I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom,
I slept as late as I wanted
And never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was Mom
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words of lullabies.

Before I was a Mom
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom
I had never been puked on
Pooped on
Spit on
Chewed on
Peed on
Or pinched by tiny fingers

Before I was a Mom
I had complete control of:
My thoughts
My body
And my mind.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child
So that doctors could do tests
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
When I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
Could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a Mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
Could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay
I had never known the warmth
The joy
The love
The heartache
The wonder
Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.