A Birthday Girl

Two years ago, on Feb 1st, a young woman gave birth to a baby girl half a world away. This courageous woman endured that pain and discomfort knowing what the end result was....you see, she had already made an adoption plan well before this day. She birthed that baby girl knowing that she would not parent her, that this would be the only birthday they would be together.

Did she hear her cry for the very first time and can she remember that sound today?

Did she run her hands through that jet black hair and feel how silky smooth it was?

Did she smell that new baby smell only to know that she would soon smell her no more?

Did she hold that baby girl in her arms knowing she was going to let her go?

Could she ever have imagined on that day of her birth that this is what she'd be like today......
Jaelah Yun-jeong turned 2 years old yesterday Feb 1st. For an adoptive momma birthdays are always so bittersweet. We enjoy all the celebrations here but we always remember in the backs of our minds their birthmother.....for without their sacrifice this celebration wouldn't be. I wondered often yesterday if Jaelah's birthmother was thinking of her, thinking of that little baby she once knew. I remembered how difficult this day was last year.....knowing Jaelah in our hearts but not really knowing her yet. I felt like I could relate alittle to her birthmother....to know how it feels to be miles away on your daughters birthday.

We had a small celebration at home. I had other plans to do some fun things but poor Jae-min came down with pneumonia so we ended up staying home. We played playdough, made salt dough, did crafts, made a cake, and the kiddos even put on a show for me!!! It was a great day!!!

Do you remember this little hat from last year????
Well, this year it adorned a little girl's birthday head!!!!
Jaelah enjoyed opening her gifts, but was very excited for the Elmo paper they were wrapped in. Here she is studying that little red monster!!!!
And Jae-min gave Jaelah her most favorite gift of all.....a little Mater truck. You see ever since Christmas Jaelah insists on stealing this very truck from Jae-min....and then fights ensue. So Jae-min thought Jaelah could use a Mater of her own. And she loves it!!!! After coming home from the store over the weekend Jae-min hid the truck under his bed and finally was so excited to bring it out yesterday and give it to Yun-jeong!!!! She said "hank you" and they exchanged a hug. And big brother beamed from ear to ear.
Happy 2nd birthday little one!!!! May you have a happy birthday surrounded by the love of your forever family. And may you feel the love of those you left behind.....as I'm sure they were thinking of you today.