Smitten

This morning Monkey woke up a little earlier than usual - 8:00am!  I know...most of you are thinking we are insanely LUCKY that that is considered early for us...but if you knew our schedule, you might not be so jealous. But regardless...this morning we tried the whole cuddling-in-mama-and-daddy's-bed thing, but as most of you know...two year olds aren't big cuddle buddies {usually}.  So what ended up happening is he ran around the house playing while mama and daddy snuggled {with the door open so we could hear him, of course}.  It was wonderful really!  But after a while he came in and begged us to get up...something about breakfast...but I don't remember! =)  Well I got up and quickly put on some socks and a sweatshirt (brr...62 this morning in my house!) to go make Monkey some breakfast.  As I walked out into the living room I was surprised that he was nowhere in sight!  I looked around until I heard a rummaging sound in the kitchen.  Just because I wanted to see what he was up to, I didn't say a word as I peeked around the corner.  He was standing around the kitchen looking for something.  When he spotted me he asked, "where my baby go mama?"  I noticed my Africa fridge magnet was on the counter {which had the stepping stool by it}.  That magnet normally holds up T's picture, which was missing from the fridge.  Ahh...Monkey  must of took the magnet off to grab sister's picture to carry around and the photo fell down!  Aww....I love how even my two-year-old is smitten by Lil Miss T!!!

Well, we're nearing the last stretch of this adoption journey.  We've entered a new waiting phase as we anxiously await to hear about a court date so we can book our flights for our first trip to meet our daughter!  Some have asked if this part of the waiting is better or worse than the "waitlist waiting".  I guess my answer is that its both better and worse!  Overall, I think it is much easier having a name and a face that we are praying over, longing for...rather than just the idea of a little girl we could someday call our own.  But at the same time, there is a whole new level of longing that we've experienced now that we have seen her face.  And I must admit, it's a really odd feeling to NOT know what your three-month-old daughter's cry sounds like, or what her belly button looks like, or what size her hands and feet are in comparison to yours, or how much formula she is drinking every two hours.  She IS mine, but she doesn't feel like it.  I don't know what size clothes she wears.  I don't know how much she weighed when she was born.  I don't know how she prefers to be held, or what soothes her to sleep, or how she reacts to those strange white faces that keep visiting Hannah's Hope and snapping pictures of her.  =)  And THAT makes it harder.  But at the same time, it drives me.  In everything I do and with every breathe I take she is in my thoughts and prayers.  We have to get her home.  We are smitten by our girl and we dream of having her home.

{Today is the official launch of our new fundraisers with "Worthy of a Prize" and "Ordinary Hero".  Please check it out on our fundraising blog and see how YOU can help bring our angel home!}