September 6, 2012

I've intended to post at least every gotcha anniversary, but I couldn't this time. I still don't know what I'm about to type. As we were being handed our beautiful daughter two years ago, our precious nephew Corban was being born into our lives. We thought this would always be a special date that they would share. The day came around as usual this year. We wished her a happy gotcha and him a happy birthday, but in the end it wasn't a happy day after all. Annalyn keeps retelling the story..."Baby Corban went swimming all by herself? He need big people help? He hurt herself in the water? Baby Corban dead? Still?" Yeah, still.

Longer here than there

Annalyn's lived at home now for more time than she spent in the orphanage, and she's suddenly taken an interest in our trip to get her. When we came home , I put together an album with about 150 photos from the trip. I use it when I occasionally speak in public, and I keep it out as a coffee table book for visitors to peruse. It's just tidbits from the trip. Recently, Annalyn has been looking through it by herself and having us 'read' it to her often. The other day, Patrick noticed it was in a lower kitchen cabinet, which she often crawls in to play. It was lying there with a blanket and flashlight. He asked if he should put it away, and although she's rather hard on books and I'd like to protect this one, I think she needs complete access to it. It's as though she's beginning to piece together her story.

The other day, she found the key chain I had carried in China. It had her referral picture on one side and the one of our family leaving to get her on the other. She showed us her picture. She explained, 'That baby cry. That baby want her momma. That baby me.'