Days 2 and 3...

The past two days have been so very good!  There have been so many moments where Sadie has made us laugh and so many sweet moments that I will cherish forever.  The moment when she ran into my arms for the first time, initiating affection on her own.  The moment when she sang "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" all the way through, doing the motions perfectly (even making a diamond with her chubby little fingers).  The moment when she heard me say, "Uh-oh..." and she responded, "Uh-oh!"  The moment when she turned from sitting in her Daddy's lap to face him so that she could wrap her arms around his neck and then lay her head on his shoulder.  She is funny, sweet, smart, and so very loving.  We have had so much fun getting to know her and watching her interact us and with those around her.

I've also really, really enjoyed seeing Sadie interact with her foster mom!  This woman is amazing!  She is like a grandmother to Sadie, who calls her "Baba", which is Bulgarian for "Grandmother."  She loves Sadie so much and it shows in the way she holds her, loves on her, kisses her and laughs at her. She is so gentle and kind.  And, Sadie loves her back which shows in the way that she looks to her for comfort when she is scared, falls asleep on her chest on the drive home each day, and runs to her often.  Over the past year when we have prayed for our baby girl (even before we knew who she would be), we almost always closed our prayer with "and send someone to love on her tonight."  God answered that prayer in such a powerful way!  It's going to be hard for Sadie to say good-bye to her Baba and I know that there will be a period of mourning for both of them, but I am so thankful to this woman for teaching Sadie what it means to love and be loved.  She has given a gift of intrinsic value and it is one that will help Sadie to adjust and attach to us more easily once she is home.  This knowledge and getting to see it first hand blesses my heart so!

Thank you all for your kind words, your prayers, your love and support that you have given us thus far this week.  We feel blessed beyond measure by all of you!  We have officially accepted Sadie's referral and the first paperwork has been sent off for our second stage dossier!  Let the paper race begin!