One Month at Home

Dear Vivi -

Tomorrow, January 13, marks one month of having you home with us. One month. 31 days. 44,640 minutes.  We can count a lot of things that have happened since you became a Black, but some things you can't count.

Like the number of fun times with two new brothers who still adore their sister - except when she interrupts them playing their Nintendo DS's.

The number of times you look straight at the camera and yell, "Cheese!" with that beautiful smile of yours.

The number of times you've grabbed a backpack or other accessories to spruce yourself up just so you look your best when you're hanging out at home.

The number of times that you've brought us joy, including when you play the drums,

 discover new toys,

 

learn how to feed yourself breakfast while rocking crazy bedhead hair,

or the number of times you've just made yourself at home like you've been here forever. 

Let me tell you a thing about adoption, sweet Vivi. It's a long road.  There are days when we felt like this:

 A lot.  Because there's so much to do, so many things to check off the list, so many long days and weeks and months of waiting. Just waiting.  And dying a little inside every day that we know about you and don't have you in our arms.  Loving a picture can never be compared to loving a person, but boy did we love you from far away.  And then one day, all the waiting was over and there you were - squishy, giggly, loud, expressive, determined you.

We fell in love all over again, this time with the real you.  And sometimes we catch ourselves just looking at you.  Even after more than 2,600,000 seconds with you, we sometimes can't believe you're really here with us.  Forever.

But wow, are we grateful.

And wow, were you worth each and every little thing we had to do to get you home.  Now we begin to live into our new life, the new normal that you have brought with you.  It's amazing that we never realized how much we needed a new one until you came along to change everything.

Love,
Mommy & Daddy