Gotcha Day!

Today is the anniversary of the day that we met our daughter face to face. This day a year ago we walked through the doors of Chung Yi and our lives were forever changed. My memories of this day are more vivid than any others in my life. Anticipation consumed me... the taxi ride from our hotel room to the orphanage was eternal. I can only imagine that my feelings were the same as my sister or friends in the moments before their inductions or c-sections. It felt so surreal sitting in the cab and walking up the stairs of Chung Yi knowing that I would never again ever in my life sit in a car or climb up stairs anywhere as the same person. My entire identity changed the instant that Laney was placed in my arms at Chung Yi Social Welfare Institution on January 22, 2007. No matter where I went or what I did from that moment on, I would be somebody's mommy. I would be responsible for another person, for her health, her comfort, her spirit. The magnitude of that was so real to me in those moments approaching her arrival. In no way do I mean that with any negative connotation. It was and is the absolute cry of my heart to "be somebody's mommy" Being Laney's mommy has brought me more joy than I even imagined that it could. I knew that being a mom was going to be awesome, but I had no idea how incredible it was going to be to be Laney's mom. Here is the video that we posted on our adoption journal showing the moment that we met our daughter for the very first time.




This past year with Laney has been like a dream. She transitioned to life here with us with remarkable ease and bonded with us in a way that I still thank and praise the Lord for every single day. Laney is truly a happy child to the core. She is so easy going and has so much fun every single day. She is brave and adventurous, and prissy and girly all at the same time. Basically she would love to climb to the highest point that she could and leap down, but would want to have a purse and some lip gloss on for the whole endeavor. She is fast friends with nearly anyone that she comes in contact with. She is generous with her smile and giggles and has an excitable nature that is contagious! She loves me with such totality that it is humbling. I so love the kind little girl that she is growing into, and I can not wait to see who she has become on this day next year!


We had a party last night with our families to celebrate Laney's Day. (It was actually Grandmommy's birthday but she was willing to share the day since Todd works every Tues night) Because of the time difference in Taiwan, we were all together last night at the exact moment that we met Laney last year!!
Hard to say if Laney or Todd enjoyed the celebratory horns more!

Cake was definitely Laney's favorite part of the evening.

It was such a fun night with our family. We all watched the video that Todd shot while we were in Taiwan. Laney got interested in some of the video, which was really cute, but for the most part she just had fun playing with her cousins!

Laney would make a great purse thief.....it just comes naturally to her!

Tessa is such a good sport. She lets Laney give her "hugs" all the time with no complaint!

We got Laney a charm bracelet that we will add a charm to each year. This year we
got her the double heart charm that we sent to her birth mother last year. We pray that it will always be a reminder of the love that her birth mother demonstrated by so bravely making such a difficult and selfless choice, and that it will be a constant symbol to her of our whole hearted love for her!
Here are a few precious pictures from one year ago!!