One Year Ago - the Official Post

One year ago today, in a conference room at the Lakeside Hotel in Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China, Director Xie and two nannies walked in with Olivia. (Click on the title to go to last year's entry.) We knew it was Olivia because Lily and Zoie had already arrived some time earlier. She was whisked to the end of the room and propped on the nanny's knee for the picture that appears in her passport. Michael and I were hurried over, told to sit down, Olivia was handed to us and this picture was taken:


We sat in that spot and held Olivia and talked to her while several other pictures were taken. All this time, the video camera is running, sitting on the conference table. Lily is crying. Olivia just looks at Michael and I, clearly trying to take it all in. While a tiny bit of the chaos that many other describe, that time in the conference room to me was busy! We filled out papers, talked with the orphanage staff, and then went up to our room. I was so focused on the task at hand that the emotionality of it all was an aside. There was work to be done and a baby to look after.

Looking back, it seems so amazing. The moment that I had played out in my mind for over two years came and went in seemingly the blink of an eye. And, of course, to think that a year has gone by already is beyond comprehension. To think that the quiet, inquisitive, happy baby of a year ago is the same energetic, adventurous, busy little girl running around our house is at times amazing and at other times expected. We certainly saw the energetic, adventurous side in China and we always see the inquisitive and happy side now. Quiet, not so much!

My promise to Olivia and myself is to savor every moment - I realize she is already growing up so quickly. I frequently remind myself to enjoy every moment and to celebrate every day.

Tonights celebration consisted of cake and ice cream for family and friends; pizza and pictures for Mama, Daddy and Olivia before everyone arrived. We chose pizza because that is what we had a year ago - from Pizza Hut.

Here is tonight's version of last year's picture:


We ended the evening watching videos of when we were in China. Pretty wonderful all the way around!