More "one year later" photos

December 2008, Babyhouse No. 2, Almaty, Kazakhstan

December 2009, at home in Michigan

A day to remember!

One year ago today, Josie and I met for the first time, beginning our journey to become a family : )

People ask me what I thought when I met her for the first time. My answer is that there were no specific "thoughts," just an wonderful, all-encompassing, deep to the bottom of the soul feeling of rightness. "This is MY daughter. SHE's the one."

Apparently some families meet several children before making what must be a heart-wrenching choice. I never even thought to ask the people at the baby house if I could meet other children. Once I saw those beautiful chocolate-brown eyes and that sweet, serious, curious little face ... Total love at first sight.

Anyway, we celebrated tonight with spaghetti (Josie's favorite) and the coziness of an impending snowstorm. Here are some pictures of my little sweetheart, then and now. awww.


Very first photo - look at those eyes!
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Josie's Halloween party photo ...
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Making "happy face" for Momma and Grammy ...

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Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

So, what's with all this cold, frozen stuff, anyway?

Snow day

So, winter finally arrived, and since Josie was still tiny last year when we came home (and it was late February), this is her first real snow fall. We went out to get the mail in light flurries yesterday and she was fascinated with the whole experience. This morning the ground was covered and by mid-afternoon we had 8 inches of snow. Felt bad that J was sick, since she would've loved to go roll around in it. Oh, well, the stuff doesn't stop falling until Spring, so she'll have her chance : )

sick days ...

We've been home sick all week with a "killer" virus (and double ear infections for Josie that are taking forever to clear). Poor baby is miserable and not sleeping well and we're really a sorry sight (no photo, for obvious reasons)

I do, however, have photos of her two best buds MacKenzie and Gracie (the cat girls). MacKenzie has been gentle and generous in allowing Josie to "pat pat," hug, squeeze and otherwise terrorize her with only a mild protest or two.

Gracie, up until now, has been more distant (literally). Her defense was to pretend to be invisible, and oddly enough, it worked. Josie left her pretty much alone. This week of togetherness has breached Gracie's natural reserve, however, and she allowed the occasional "pat, pat," tail tug and hug. (Which she is now probably regretting as she's become the ultimate prey for my tiny cat chaser - and, as you can see from the photos, the cat girls are always a little iffy about the embraces)

Of course, this has escalated the game - chasing down the cats and being heartbroken when they escape ... Kunzeee!!! Gakseee!!! ... Mama!!! ... sob.

Thus is the life of the cat lover : )