Happy 2nd Birthday Mei Mei...

Today is Mei Mei's second birthday and her first birthday in the arms of her forever family. I still can not believe this time last year we didn't know her face. We didn't know where she lived or who she was but I felt certain that she was already born.

One day after her first birthday we received her referral...
and fell in love with the girl in the puffy suit with the beautiful eyes. Shortly after I discovered Mei Mei was being cared for by True Children's Home and within 72 hours of meeting her face, we awoke to these photographs in my Inbox...


What a miracle we had been given. You see, our little one didn't spend her first birthday alone in an orphanage as I had imagined. She spent it with cake, presents and people who loved her. In the world of China adoption, THAT was a miracle! Her miracle. Our miracle.

A few days later we celebrated her first birthday here on our side of the planet... along with Daddy's 31st...
and we imagined what it would be like to celebrate her 2nd birthday together in 2010. Fast forward one year and here we are. First thing this morning we sang Happy Birthday to her as we always do in this family. She smiled the smile that steals our hearts. The one with the crinkly nose, scrunched up eyes and her head thrown back in laughter. We all smiled the same smile back at her and she laughed even more. My how far she has come in six months. I'm sure I'll say the same thing next year on this day. I'm sure it will be just as true then as it is now.

And today of all days I am thinking of her birth mother. The woman who carried her within her womb. The woman who made a decision I can not fathom. I wonder if she is thinking of her today. I wish I had the opportunity to tell her how much we love Mei Mei. How our love for her grows with each passing day. I wish there was some way for her to know that Mei Mei is living within the circle of a real family. I wish I could tell her that we will make sure she is loved every day for the rest of her life. I wish, more than anything, I could say thank you. I pray that God will grant her peace if she is seeking it today and in the years to come.

Happy 2nd Birthday Mei Mei! Two years of life, six months together as a family and a lifetime to go. You have rocked our world, changed our tune and made our hearts grow in ways we could not have imagined. We love you all the way to China and back again a million times. We are so excited to celebrate the blessing and miracle you are to us and those who know you. Let the party weekend BEGIN!