It's "Got Me" Day

March 9, 2006



Tomorrow is Ella's "Gotcha Day" as they say in the adoption world. But in our house it is now known as "Got Me Day" thanks to Ella! It seems like just yesterday that Gary and I were in Guatemala picking up our sweet baby girl from her foster mother.
It has been three years now since she has been with us and we wouldn't trade her for the world. I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from the final days of our adoption journey.


This is us getting off of the plane. I don't know how well this one will show up on the computer, but it is my absolute FAVORITE! You can see the excitement on my face to have my WHOLE family together for the first time. And Chance in the foreground running to us with the anticipation of meeting his sister. No other picture sums up the excitement, joy, and love, that was waiting for Ella!

This one just reminds me how much of baby Jackson still was when Ella came home! My babies...sigh! Time flies soooo fast.


And the Happy Parents! Do think we could smile any bigger?

This "Got Me" day is special. For those of you who have been with us from the beginning, this is just as much for you as it is for us. We had to complete 4 post placement visits with a Social Worker after Ella came home, and the last one was this past week!!!! YEA!!!! We are done! She is OURS! No more red tape! I don't know who we would be without Ella to brighten our days. She is what every parent could want in a little girl. She loves to shop, wear make-up, dance, and talk non-stop! She is my partner in crime. I love her girly-girl side. However, she has tomboy streak in her that comes out every so often. It must come from having two brothers. Her daddy LOVES the fact that she likes to get dirty, wants to learn to hit a baseball, and has asked for a pink gun! In the words of HER FAVORITE song, she is the "Best Of Both Worlds!"
I think we all get caught up in our day to day lives and forget what little miracles our children are. And their birthdays seem to be all about parties and toys and friends. I think every kid needs a "GOT ME" Day! It's not about presents or cake or any other superficial tradition. It simply for us to celebrate, as a family, the day that we all came together! I guess in our house it is like a family anniversary. I don't know how other women feel, but I knew when my family was complete (and when it wasn't). To have a sense of completion is an amazing feeling. And now it is DONE!
We are a FOREVER family!


We love you Ella Bella, Chikamunk, Sugar Honey, Ella Rosie, Princess Chatterbox!
Welcome to the Family! FOREVER!