One year ago today...

We received the call! After waiting over two years, we finally got the phone call we had been waiting for on February 4th, 2008. I remember the day so well. Madison was "sick"---I realized later that she was completely faking so as to be the first to hear the news. We received an email that morning that the referrals were in and I spent the rest of the morning just pacing around the house, trying to find something, ANYTHING to do that would keep my mind busy. Impossible. Leah from America World called around 1:30pm to tell us...it's a toddler! I remember sitting there, ready to write down all the vital stats about our baby, and all I heard was---'She's two!' Maddie videotaped me receiving the call and when I watch it now, I look like the goofiest teenager who just got asked to her first dance. I was just giddy with excitement, nervousness, questions---ready to burst and call absolutely everyone I knew.

I called Jason first, then my sister and my parents. My sister was fantastic---she had learned all about Leila's orphanage, the province of Sichuan, even the weather we could expect before I even had my head wrapped around the fact that this was really finally happening. My mind was overcome with emotion for this darling girl who had been found in a park when she was six months old, and had been waiting in this orphanage for two years now. I remember wondering immediately if she was emotionally okay, if she would be able to handle this transition, if she would ever be able to bond with us. But most of all, I absolutely HAD to see her. The rest of the day and evening is a blur, because all I could think of was what time that Fed-Ex man would arrive. My best memories were actually February 5th---more on that tomorrow!!

What a big day February 4th was in our life---I'll never forget it. Thanks for following us along in this journey...we're so in love with our girl!

Love,
Alissa and Jason