What A Year It Has Been!

May 30, 2011

Dear Vivienne,

Happy Birthday little one! Mommy and Daddy love you so much! One year ago today we witnessed the most amazing miracle. We will never forget:

• Getting the call from your birthmother that she was in labor and we should rush to the hospital
• Holding her hand, helping her count & breathe, putting cold wash clothes on her forehead and neck, telling her she was doing such an amazing job. And she was!
• Mommy shouting, "It's a girl!"
• Daddy cutting your umbilical cord
• Staying in the hospital with you for three wonderful (and sleepless) days
• Feeling like the most blessed parents in the world

Happy Birthday Vivienne Rose!

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

My 1st Mother's Day

One of Vivienne's toddler friends, Joshua, loves finding me at church each Sunday and saying very proudly, "Hi Bibienne's Mommy!" I love that moment each week.

Being Vivienne's Mommy is my biggest joy in life and my deepest desire fulfilled. God is so good. All the time.

To my little miracle: I am truly blessed to be your Mommy. I love you!

Today is Birthmother's Day!

A perfect day to share this beautiful poem...

Vivienne with her mother and her birthmother

An Openly Adopted Child's Legacy

by Brenda Romanchik 

Once there were two expectant mothers.
One carried and cared for you beneath her beating heart
She became your Birthmother.
The other carried the hope of you within her.
She became your Mom.

As the days passed, and you grew bigger and stronger,
Your Birthmother knew that she could not give you all you needed after your birth.
Meanwhile, your Mom was ready and waiting for you.

One day your Birthmom and your Mom found each other.

They looked into each other’s eyes and saw a friend.
Your Birthmom saw the life your Mom could give you.
Your Mom saw how much your Birthmom loved and cared for you.

They decided that what you needed was both kinds of love in your life.

So now you have two families,
One by birth, the other by adoption.

And you have a home where you can get:
your questions answered,
your boo boos bandaged,
your heartaches soothed,
And much needed hugs.

And a place where you can find:
answers to your questions,
your image in the mirror,
a part of yourself,
And much needed hugs.

Two different kinds of families
Two different kinds of love
Both a part of you.

Happy 11th Month Baby Girl!

Wait a minute... is there a sticker hidden on my back?

Seriously taller than the puppy now!

Favorite Household Chores

Besides emptying baskets of clean and folded laundry (so helpful!), Vivienne LOVES helping Daddy with the dishwasher!

No matter where she is in the house, if she hears the dishwasher door open, she dashes off. And she's pretty quick! See for yourself...

Vivienne is also very close to taking her first steps unassisted! This is how some of today's pre-walking adventures with Mommy went down...

10 Months Old and So Big!

SO BIG!

Practicing standing is my favorite thing this month!

I like giving hugs to my puppy!

Hello Maggie!

The Day It Began...

One year ago today, our open adoption relationship began! We were so nervous meeting Vivienne's birthmother for the first time. We soon realized, she was just as nervous!

This is how it all began...