One year ago today, we were matched with the most beautiful little girl from China. We saw Ni Ju Lin's face for the first time at 10:45pm this evening and it was love at first site!! We had 72 hours to review her medical file and officially accept her referral, and after a fury of phone calls to medial professionals, we knew what we were up against...but no one could have prepared us for the love we have for one another.
Tatum McKenlin Elliott has been a gift to our family. A gift we treasure each and every day. She makes us laugh, she makes us cry...she makes you feel like the most important person in the world when you are together. I love when we are in the car, she says, 'Mama' and pats the arm rest of her car seat....I put my hand back there and she places her hand on top of mine and says, 'Hi, Mama' and rubs it gently. You pick her up and she rubs your back as you hold/carry her through life. Our all time favorite is when she will grab your nose and giggle...she did that for the first time we were in Hong Kong together...that's how I knew she let us into her heart. She was playing with us, and it felt great!
Last night she let me kiss her good night as her Daddy was curled up in the chair in her room ready to read to her...she let Daddy read to her and put her to sleep...she asked for Mama constantly, but she let Daddy take the lead and share this special time. I think we are in, and boy does it feel great!! I never thought being Tatum's Mommy would feel so wonderful.
Alot of people ask us why we didn't try to have our own child. Adoption is a choice for us...we don't know if we can biologically have our own baby, we don't care to know. We just knew that we were lead down the path of adoption, and boy are we glad we took that journey. This is going to be one heck of a ride!! :)
Happy Referral/Match Day, Tatum!! We love you xoxo
5 comments:
You guys werejust meant to be......
Such a beautiful story! You are a lucky and blessed mama. Happy Match Day Tatum!
And God Bless You for being open about adoption!!!!! Family is not built by blood but by Love!!!! And I think it is actually sad that people feel ok to even ask that question. You and Todd are so amazing and it melts my heart everytime I see pics of you guys with her. The Love in her eyes is so strong.
Such a wonderful synopsis of your first year of forever with your little princess! =) Following your heart isn't always easy but it always leads you in the right direction and in your case it lead to you to your daughter. =)
Such a wonderful synopsis of your first year of forever with your little princess! =) Following your heart isn't always easy but it always leads you in the right direction and in your case it lead to you to your daughter. =)
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