Peas & Carrots

I remember every little detail about May 8, 2006. Leah's Gotcha Day. One of the best days of my life. Also the most nerve-wracking. I was so unbelievably antsy to meet her, to hold her in my arms, to call her my own. I couldn't believe it was actually happening, it's such a surreal experience.

When our adoption group walked in the room that day, all the babies were surprisingly already out in their walkers, waiting for us. I didn't even consider how stressful it would be to figure out which baby was her based off of three little photos I'd stared at for 8 weeks.

In my months of waiting, I'd watched tons of Gotcha Day videos and every single one of them had the parents name called and then a child was brought to them...no pressure. I didn't expect to be put to the challenge right off the elevator.

Well, I failed my first "Mom" test. Miserably. I guessed wrong, like, three times! I couldn't figure out for the life of me which baby was Leah. In my weak defense, she was getting her diaper changed.

I failed my second test when later that night, I got her back into the room and changed her diaper...put it on backwards, and not just once, I did that a couple of days before I figured it out. Got pictures to prove it.

Note Exhibit A:


I failed my third test when I tried to make her a bottle and shook it without holding the nipple at the top and formula sprayed all over the room.

I failed my fourth test when I didn't bother to relearn any nursery rhymes or songs to soothe her in the 18 months I had waited...the only thing Mom and I could remember the words to were "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" in those two weeks in China. So we sang that. A lot.

I was so green. Still am. I learn as I go, still make mistakes. But Leah...she's the forgiving type. Thank God. We are like peas and carrots, always have been since she quickly sunk into my arms that day, ready to love and be loved.

Easy, breezy, lovey, and deliciously cute to boot. She's hilarious and smart and all the things I want to be when I grow up. That's my girl. I love her with every single fiber of my being.


For the one person who might care to look (Hi Mom!), I put the video of our journey to Leah below. Good times. :)

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