Happy Birthday "Feisty Girl!"

It seems like just yesterday that we were made a "complete" family with the introduction of our daughter into our lives, 1/2 way around the world, in Beijing, China. Today, eight months later, our beautiful little girl is turning two years old.

We celebrated over the weekend with family and plan to do the same this weekend with our best friends and their children. Today at daycare her classroom celebrated her birthday; Emma got a special "Happy Birthday Emma" hat to wear for the day and she even got a gift from her childcare providers.

After hearing it on several different occassions, Emma can now sing "Happy Birthday" and she knows now that she is two years old...she'll tell you she's two if you ask her. I am so completely amazed at what she has brought to our lives and, hopefully, us to hers.

It is also a somewhat sad day for me because I know in my heart of hearts that there is another woman, a mother, in Beijing, China, whose heart aches today. Who longs to know how her beloved daughter is doing on this day, the day she gave birth to her. I doubt that woman will ever know how her heartfelt, selfless decision has touched our lives. She is forever in our thoughts and prayers...and even though I know that there is almost no chance that she will ever read this post, I want her to know how truly loved her little girl, our little girl, is on this day and every day.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!