Two Years Ago, in a City Far Far Away...

As I sit here tonight, it is currently tomorrow, October 20th, in Vladivostok, Russia. October 20th, 2008 is a day I will NEVER forget. It's a day that changed my life - it's the day I met my little girl!

The day started out rough. I was super stressed as I had been told that my original referral, a little boy, "was not good". I knew a little girl existed as a back up referral, but for whatever reason, I thought she was going to be a mess. I was so nervous and upset that while waiting for the MOE (Marilyn Monroe for those of you Vlad graduates - sooo scary!) to finish up, I had to dash across the hall to the bathroom. And I dashed in such a rush that I left my bag in the hall with my driver and translator. The bag that contained the toilet paper. About now those of you who HAVEN'T toured Russia are wondering: "what the heck??? She carries her own TP? How OCD is she?" The answer is no... I don't. Just in Russia. It's a luxury there. So are toilet seats. And in some places - toilets. Seriously. I'll leave the rest to your very vivid imaginations.

Most of you know from this post here how the day turned out. He became she. Was it the way I always imagined? NO! Incredibly hard and stressful - but I will tell you in the end, I would have it no other way. I still peak at the Vladivostok database from time to time to see if my original referral is still there. And he is. It breaks my heart. I will always see him as the little boy who linked me to my daughter. If I wouldn't have traveled to meet him, I would have never met her. Not the way I intended it, but it was the BEST possible ending.

I do feel like even with all that stress up front, I have a fairy tale story of meeting my beautiful T. After declining the little guy, my BFF Rhonda and I were waiting outside to see if we could meet the aforementioned little girl. I didn't know it was her at the time, but the second I spied this little sprite on the playground with big brown curls, it was LOVE at first sight. And while I didn't know she was the one I was waiting for - I wished she was, as I thought she was PERFECT. I think Rhonda cried harder than I did when we found out this perfect little thing was my 2nd referral.

Two years later she's still perfect in my eyes. Don't get me wrong -- she's about to be 4 and certainly has her moments -- but she's perfect for me. That day, two years ago, changed my idea of fate and what is truly meant to be.

Today she's a shadow of her former self. While I thought she was fabulous then, she amazes me everyday now. Everyday it's something new. I think back about that scared, sweet but yet sad girl who barely was even speaking her Russian language. Today she's a funny, loud, talkative, insanely curious, happy girl. I watched yesterday as 4 of her preschool classmates gave her hugs as we left the classroom and it made me wonder if she would have ever felt that back at the baby home. I hope so... but now, we'll never have to wonder.

Happy Metcha Day my beautiful, perfect (for me!) girl!