Three years ago on March 17th we walked into the Civil Affairs Office in Chengdu, China and met Sophia for the very first time. I remember that day like it was yesterday! She seemed so big to me! My heart was full of so much love for Sophia at that moment! Sophia had no idea what was about to happen to her! Her entire life was about to change! She was not happy about meeting her Mommy and Daddy! She cried and cried until we got inside the van and headed back to the hotel. We gave her a bath in the sink and she never cried again (not in China that is)! We enjoyed the rest of our trip in China. Sophia was so scared! How I wish I knew what I know now about her when we were in China!!
We had no idea how hard it would be to transition her into our family when we got home! We had many sleepless nights. Sophia was terrified to go to sleep! It took us two years to get her to sleep in her own room! Bonding to Sophia was a process! It took time! I had loved Sophia for two years, but she didn't know how to love me back because she never had anyone to love her!
We loved Sophia from the moment we saw her face that December day in 2007! I knew without a doubt she was the little girl God had placed in my heart two year prior to that moment! We took such a leap of faith with our first adoption! We had no idea what to expect!
Each year on Sophia's Gotcha Day we watch the videos from China! She always asks why did I cry when you were holding me? She always answers her own question with "I didn't love you then. Did I? But, I love you now!"
Sophia has come a long way in three years! She had four surgeries in the seven months after we came home! It was during those four stays in the hospital that we bonded! Sophia learned to trust me and eventually learned to love me! She has seen more specialists and doctors than I can count! We are blessed to have wonderful caring doctors taking care of our little princess! Sophia has embraced her role as big sister! She is the leader of her siblings and they both adore her! She has a great sense of humor and is a lot of fun to be around! Sophia still won't talk to her teachers at school, but will talk to some of her friends! She really loves school and is excited to go to school each day! Sophia loves to play outside! She is our princess, but also loves to dig in the dirt and play dump trucks with her brothers! She is a t-shirt loving girl, but she always wears a bow in her hair! I hope Piper is a girly girl!
We love you Sophia Amelia! We are so glad God chose you to be our daughter! We can't imagine our life without you!
