Celebrating Gotcha Day With My Forever Valentine!!!

I should not have worn mascara on Valentine's day.  Big mistake.  Huge.  I was a blubbering fool all day long :)  From the moment I woke up my Munni Bird, I was overcome with emotion.  I just could not believe that she has been with me for a whole year!  

When I picked her up in Hyderabad, she was like the tightest Peony bulb you could find.  We had so many unexpected trials come our way, but the ants of life slowly and surely opened the petals and she has bloomed into the most beautiful and fragrant flower of a little girl!  My life is blessed beyond measure by having the honor of being her mother.  I will never be able to express the love and joy she has brought me.  My cup truly runneth over!

My attempt at valentine pancakes!

a year of pure blossom!

Special gifts for my miracle daughter!

 I was so excited for her to open her gifts!  I found a vintage Indian dress and vintage purse from India with peacocks woven in silk on both sides.  Someone asked her what she was going to be when she grew up and she immediately said, "I'm going to be a doctor."  Hmmmm I thought.  So I asked her what she WANTED to do when she got older and with unbridled enthusiasm, she joyfully declared, "I want to be fashion style!"  I thought, yep, that's more like it!

I love that you can see the snowflakes in her hair!  

Peacock purse!

Vintage dress!!

My Indian Princess!

I took her to a South Indian restaurant where we ate dosas and idli.  She hasn't had those delectables since we left India.  I was thrilled to find a south Indian restaurant!  She danced into the restaurant and danced all around.  I think she truly felt like she was a princess!!   

My daughter, myself- she loves the camera as much as I do!

The two servers who waited on us were extremely friendly and accommodating.  The funny thing is that the woman speaks Gujurati (what Baby R speaks) and the man spoke Telugu!  He started speaking Telugu to Munni and she was so surprised!  It was funny to see her get all shy.  She did manage to sing her "Meow Meow Pili" song to him about a kitty cat who drinks milk and gets it on her whiskers.  The server laughed and said he remembered that song from his childhood.

Mommy + Munni = Forever Family:)

There was a clipper storm that came through and the roads were horrible.  It didn't stop us though from getting out and celebrating our ONE YEAR anniversary!!  Munni Bird is my forever valentine and for that I am forever grateful :)

Today I came home to a FedEx package on my doorstep…. Inside were Baby R's official referral papers!!!!!!!!!  God has been so amazingly faithful to me throughout Munni's adoption and now through R's adoption.  He continues to blow me away.  I can't wait until the day I can post her picture so you can see what a beautiful, sweet baby is waiting to come home to her mommy and big sissy :)