These are the first pictures we had of our girl. We received these in November and stared at them every day for over a month, waiting, waiting, waiting for that travel approval that permitted us to go to China and get her. We spent those days loving her little monkey hair, her sad, wise eyes, her rosebud lips. And, for me especially, her little crooked toes waiting to be bitten. Knowing her now, we know this is her tired face. She'd travelled two hours over bumpy, hectic roads by bus to have her photos taken in Wuhan. We know because we travelled that same route in reverse, to see the place where our daughter was born. A cold, poverty ridden place, full of round faced people who went out of their way in the bitter cold, to help us find the place where Mary was found. While Jay and I, stared with awe at the barren corner in front of a pharmacy where she was found in the middle of a cold December, Mary, nonplussed by the whole event, spent that time in the van on my brother's lap, shoving tiny bananas into her mouth as fast as she could. She had her priorities...and at that time it was bananas and her Uncle Andy. Our girl, and her amazing strength, evident even then.
I'm so proud of the girl she's become. She's a girl who stands for what she believes in. She is so strong and confident without being aggressive. She is the daughter my 22 year old/women's studies minor dreamed of raising. I love my daughter so very much. But more than that, I'm proud of her and I am proud of her spirit and the girl that she is. Happy birthday to our Middy.
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2 comments:
H586appy birthday Mary!! I hope to meet you someday!
I was so excited when I "found" you again that you had two kids. I remember thinking, when we worked together, how difficult it must have been to watch idiots like me get pregnant "accidentally." I always thought, of all people, you would be such a fabulous mother. And Jay... I remember all those kids (even slobbery Jeffrey) climbing all over him, and he genuinely enjoyed it. He was meant to be a dad! I love reading your blog and seeing what a fabulous job you are doing raising those adorable little monkeys. You've kept your sense of humor and make me be able to laugh when my kids do similar things! Happy birthday, Mary. I can't wait until you're old enough to appreciate the woman your mother is.
And what is the deal with the giant plastic grapes? Cultural differences are hilarious!!
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