April 14th was a very special day for our family. We celebrated the second anniversary of our "Gotcha Day." Ed and I are so grateful to God. We have been blessed with three very special children. Each one has their own personality yet, they mesh together so perfectly.
We worried for nine months during each pregnancy and were so grateful when the boys were born healthy and strong. Throughout our marriage we discussed international adoption. Suddenly, there came a time when we felt compelled to move forward. We began this process in the spring of 2004, two and a half years before Sofia was born. Due to our age, we anticipated being matched with an older child. There were unexpected delays with paperwork and ICBF committee meetings. We experienced multiple changes to our placement on the waiting list, and heard nothing for over three years. When we finally received information on an available child, we lost that referral. Every one of these events had to occur just as they did in order for Sofia to be referred to us. It scares me to think what would have happened if just one of these events occurred differently. Shortly after returning home from Colombia in June of 2008, I learned it was now virtually impossible to adopt an infant girl from Bogota. These children were being adopted by Colombian families. There is no question in our minds that God had a hand in this adoption. I make it a point to thank Him every day for our three treasured gifts.
We enjoyed a quiet family celebration. It consisted of dining out and a trip to our favorite ice cream parlor where the kids built their own sundae. Very low key. Sofia is too young to really discuss adoption.We have just started reading some fabulous books that are geared towards preschoolers. Her new favorite is, "A Mother For Choco."I have also been reading up on how to deal with people who openly introduce or refer to her as our adopted child. I wasn't as sensitive to it when she was a baby. However, Sofia is very smart and inquisitive. There have been several instances where I have had to quietly educate these people, explaining that she can HEAR YOU and we haven't had this conversation with her yet. UGGGHHH! I don't think people intend on being insensitive, they just don't think beforehand.
We have had some fun these past couple months. Sofia loved going to see Curious George Live. To me it was a far cry from a Michael Buble concert but, Sofe really enjoyed herself. With a little help from the boys, Sofia can make a pretty good snow man. She sent Valentines to her friends, and began swim classes. It seems our fearless little girl is not all that fearless when it comes to the water. She is very cautious. When the instructor asks her if she would like to try this or that, she says, "no thank you." We'll give it some time. On the other hand, she did LOVE going to her first movie, "The Princess and the Frog." Sofe is now a big movie buff and has established her own routine. It involves setting herself up with a booster seat, popcorn and a cherry icee. Mike and I celebrated another birthday. I can not believe he is already fifteen.
What happens when you allow a teenage boy to watch an active toddler for a couple minutes?
She is taught to say, THIS IS SPARTA!!!
Sofia enjoyed the annual trip downtown to eat breakfast with the Easter Bunny. We always like hanging out with Tia Patti, Tio Bub and Prima Lauren. Sofe twirled around in her fancy Easter dress (courtesy of her dear Nonna,) got her face painted, ate all kinds of goodies and received more animal balloons than she could carry.
Sofia also had a blast coloring Easter eggs with the big girls. On Easter morning she was up with the birds to see what loot the Easter Bunny brought her. Funny, the boys used to come wake us up right away. We heard Sofe opening a few eggs and eating some candy before she came to get us. She knows I don't allow candy in the morning. She is a savvy child who just can't say no to chocolate or jelly beans. Sofia's philosophy is, "it is better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission." Little did she know I offer a pardon on the holidays.
