Hi, Kaiya Mei.
Obviously, I've let a little time pass since my last post. Over a year. Which only means that it was the busiest, scariest and most incredible year of my life. I hope for you, too, though I wish we could have done with out all the scary parts for you.
Yesterday was your second birthday. The four of us went to Pittsburgh and strolled through the Strip District. Then, we relaxed at the coffee shop that your dad and Ellie and I visited just over a year ago, about 4 days before we came to China to get you. While Dad and Ellie asked each other "Would You Rather" questions, you slept in my arms.
We finished our Pittsburgh fun with your first trip to Ikea. You just sat there in the shopping cart smiling up at us. One of my favorite ways to spend time with you.
You were awake the entire 2 hours it took to drive home. While Dad unloaded the car, I pulled you from your car seat and took you inside, intending to set you down and head back out to help Dad. I walked into the living room and crouched down to set your feet on the floor, and usually, as soon as your feet hit it, your little arms let go so that you are standing on your own. But not this time. I crouched down, your feet touched the floor, but nothing else changed. You were still holding on tight with one arm around my neck and the other holding tight to my right arm. For a moment, I just enjoyed it and hugged you back. When I made an attempt to relax your grip so that I could help Dad, you pulled me a little closer. And that was all it took. I wasn't going anywhere. We stayed there like that for about 2 full minutes. Me crouched down, you standing there, us hugging like we hadn't seen each other for years.
I then picked you up and walked to the kitchen table, pulled out a chair and sat down to enjoy the hug. A few times, you would move to get more comfortable, even pulling an arm away once or twice, but you always put it back and wrapped me up tight again.
I've been getting hugs from you in the past two or three months, but this one was unlike any other in the past. And I love that I got it on your birthday. Thank YOU for giving ME a gift on your special day. It was the perfect ending to our family celebration, and I hope that I never forget what it feels like to have such tiny little arms hugging me tight, letting me know that I'm one of the three most important people in your young life... I hope I'm the mom you deserve to have and to love. You are everything to me, Kaiya. Happy birthday, baby girl...
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Ting
Well, baby girl. We now know your name. Zhu Ting Ke. Your dad has been calling you Ting. Grandma calls you Tinka. And I'm just sitting here trying to wrap my mind around the fact that you are really out there. We knew this day would come, and now that it has, I am terrified of anything changing. My future includes a trip to China to see you. Just you. And then bring you home. And I won't be able to relax until that happens.
We are so excited to meet you. So thrilled that you are ours and we are yours. We are going to spend the rest of our lives doing all that we can to make sure that you live a long, healthy, happy life. We love you.
And so that we never forget the most amazing phone call of our lives, let me share the story with you...
Your dad, Ellie and I had an amazing summer. It was busy and hectic, but it was fun. And we thought about you each and every day and anxiously awaited a phone call. On Friday, August 16th, we went to a festival in Louisville, and I bought a sparkly red pin for your hair. The next day, we went to a festival in North Canton, and we bought a pink Chinese lantern, like the ones that Ellie likes so much from the movie Tangled. On Sunday night, August 18th, the night before your dad went back to school, we went outside in the dark and lit that lantern. We each silently made a wish and released our glowing pink balloon into the sky and watched until it disappeared.
Your dad decided to keep his wish a secret, but I knew what it was. I then asked Ellie what she wished for, and she said she wished "that you guys would get your wishes" to your dad and me. I was speechless. Not even five years old yet, and she gave her wish to us. I will never forget that moment.
When I put Ellie to bed about 15 minutes later, I told her my wish. That we would be matched with a baby girl in China very soon. I wished it hard, and I know your dad was wishing it with me. And so, on that night, 3 people halfway across the world were wishing for you and you alone.
And just three days later, those wishes came true. We got the call on Wednesday, August 21st, 2013 at about 2:30 p.m. My phone rang while I was in the Dollar Store. Our consultant Chris left a message for me to call her back, and I did so as soon as I got in the car. She gave no indication of the amazing news that she had, and I couldn't believe it when she said, "So, we have this referral." She told me a little bit about you, but before she did, I already knew that you were ours. Everything we did before giving our enthusiastic "YES" was all a formality.
I literally paced the house waiting 30 minutes for your dad to get home. When he did, I was waiting at the top of the stairs into the kitchen. The same place I waited to tell your dad that I was pregnant with your sister. I burst into tears when he came in, and he knew right away. It was an incredible moment.
I saw a doctor the next day, spoke to Uncle Zhou on Friday and had to endure the longest weekend of my life before we could talk to Chris again on Monday. And when we did, I think I said, "We say YES. We want her to be a part of our family. Can we have her?" I was scared to death that something could have changed. I don't even want to think about that. If something changed, I would have lived my entire life wondering where you were... my daughter.
We told my mom and dad on Saturday, August 24th, in the parking lot of Baja Pizza Fish. Not very romantic, but we were too excited to plan it out. We just couldn't wait to tell them. Grandma fell to pieces, and I saw tears in Grandpa's eyes too. Once we gave Grandma your photo, she probably looked at it 200 times during dinner. They were both so excited to see their gorgeous grand-daughter.
And gorgeous you are. Every little piece and part of your beautiful face is burned in my brain. I can't wait to touch that smooth skin, run my fingers through your soft, spiky hair and tickle you until you laugh. You will be here before we know it.
Today is your sister's 5th birthday. I wanted to tell her about you so badly, but we have decided to wait until this Sunday evening, when some of the most important people in your life will be together to celebrate her birthday. I can't wait to see the look on her face the first time she sees you, her sister. I have no doubt that she will fall in love just like we have.
These next few months will go quickly. We are preparing for your arrival, and I hope that during that time, you are being loved and hugged and touched and tickled by everyone who has helped to raise you. I have no doubt that they are anxious to see you find a safe and loving home, where you will get more attention than you'll know what to do with. I will tell you that I love you every single day.
I love you now, and I will love you always.
We are so excited to meet you. So thrilled that you are ours and we are yours. We are going to spend the rest of our lives doing all that we can to make sure that you live a long, healthy, happy life. We love you.
And so that we never forget the most amazing phone call of our lives, let me share the story with you...
Your dad, Ellie and I had an amazing summer. It was busy and hectic, but it was fun. And we thought about you each and every day and anxiously awaited a phone call. On Friday, August 16th, we went to a festival in Louisville, and I bought a sparkly red pin for your hair. The next day, we went to a festival in North Canton, and we bought a pink Chinese lantern, like the ones that Ellie likes so much from the movie Tangled. On Sunday night, August 18th, the night before your dad went back to school, we went outside in the dark and lit that lantern. We each silently made a wish and released our glowing pink balloon into the sky and watched until it disappeared.
Your dad decided to keep his wish a secret, but I knew what it was. I then asked Ellie what she wished for, and she said she wished "that you guys would get your wishes" to your dad and me. I was speechless. Not even five years old yet, and she gave her wish to us. I will never forget that moment.
When I put Ellie to bed about 15 minutes later, I told her my wish. That we would be matched with a baby girl in China very soon. I wished it hard, and I know your dad was wishing it with me. And so, on that night, 3 people halfway across the world were wishing for you and you alone.
And just three days later, those wishes came true. We got the call on Wednesday, August 21st, 2013 at about 2:30 p.m. My phone rang while I was in the Dollar Store. Our consultant Chris left a message for me to call her back, and I did so as soon as I got in the car. She gave no indication of the amazing news that she had, and I couldn't believe it when she said, "So, we have this referral." She told me a little bit about you, but before she did, I already knew that you were ours. Everything we did before giving our enthusiastic "YES" was all a formality.
I literally paced the house waiting 30 minutes for your dad to get home. When he did, I was waiting at the top of the stairs into the kitchen. The same place I waited to tell your dad that I was pregnant with your sister. I burst into tears when he came in, and he knew right away. It was an incredible moment.
I saw a doctor the next day, spoke to Uncle Zhou on Friday and had to endure the longest weekend of my life before we could talk to Chris again on Monday. And when we did, I think I said, "We say YES. We want her to be a part of our family. Can we have her?" I was scared to death that something could have changed. I don't even want to think about that. If something changed, I would have lived my entire life wondering where you were... my daughter.
We told my mom and dad on Saturday, August 24th, in the parking lot of Baja Pizza Fish. Not very romantic, but we were too excited to plan it out. We just couldn't wait to tell them. Grandma fell to pieces, and I saw tears in Grandpa's eyes too. Once we gave Grandma your photo, she probably looked at it 200 times during dinner. They were both so excited to see their gorgeous grand-daughter.
And gorgeous you are. Every little piece and part of your beautiful face is burned in my brain. I can't wait to touch that smooth skin, run my fingers through your soft, spiky hair and tickle you until you laugh. You will be here before we know it.
Today is your sister's 5th birthday. I wanted to tell her about you so badly, but we have decided to wait until this Sunday evening, when some of the most important people in your life will be together to celebrate her birthday. I can't wait to see the look on her face the first time she sees you, her sister. I have no doubt that she will fall in love just like we have.
These next few months will go quickly. We are preparing for your arrival, and I hope that during that time, you are being loved and hugged and touched and tickled by everyone who has helped to raise you. I have no doubt that they are anxious to see you find a safe and loving home, where you will get more attention than you'll know what to do with. I will tell you that I love you every single day.
I love you now, and I will love you always.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Your Bunny
Hey, Baby Girl. I wish I could call you by your name, but I don't know it yet. I don't even know if you are out there yet, but I hope you are. And I hope we can bring you home soon.
We made an important step yesterday (Oct. 2) in our process to bring you into our family. We made a special stop at Sobo Style in Columbus to see if we could find your bunny. We knew it was out there, and we knew as soon as we saw it that it belonged to you.
When I was pregnant with Ellie, we were browsing around Sobo Style and came across the most beautiful stuffed bunny. We loved it, but we didn't think it was practical to buy a stuffed animal when we needed so many other baby things, and so we left that bunny there. But we couldn't quit thinking about that bunny. So, I called Sobo to order another, and we went to pick it up as soon as we could.
And now, we have a bunny for you. A bunny that will be waiting for you to come home and claim it. Hug it and love it.
It was a pretty special moment when Ellie brought your bunny up to the store counter. When asked about it, she declared, "It's a bunny for my sister!" I can't even describe how it felt to hear her say that. We are all anxious to make you a part of our family and for us to be a part of yours...
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