In one hour it will be two years ago...

that I got the call that Kate's birth mom was in labor and we should head to Oklahoma. It was a 5 hour drive and really storming. Katherine Faith was born at 3:07 am on Sunday morning, August 27, 2006. What a ride it has been since then. Here are some pics from those first couple days.






Here are a couple of pics from her first birthday.



Here are some pics from just a few days ago.



Last year I started a birthday box with a few of Kate's sentimental items, baby shoes, hospital bracelet, etc. I was planning on doing that each year but really there is nothing she is ready to have hidden away! So instead, I decided to write a letter. I thought I would post it here as this blog and my friends who visit here have been with us through this entire journey. I am so grateful to you all. PLease know how much you mean to all of us and how much we love you.

My beautiful baby Kate,

I am typing this letter just a couple of hours and 2 years shy of the day we found out you were on your way. At 9:02pm on Saturday, August 26, 2006 we got the call your birth mother was in labor. I literally fell to my knees thanking Jesus and praying for your safe arrival. Now two years have passed and you are more than I ever could have dreamed. I didn’t know I was capable of such unconditional love. Sometimes to my detriment, you see my dear, you are whole-heartedly embracing your terrible two’s and as much as I want to punish you or be mad, I remember what an incredible gift you are as I look into your big, bright blue eyes. I am not so completely entranced that you don’t spend your fair amount of time in time out or without the occasional bootie smack.
This has been a year for changes! We are living in OKC and are just starting to get settled. Mommy started a new job because her old one had her traveling so much that she just couldn’t bear to be away from you and Sissy. Your sissy is still living with us full time and it looks like she always will be. The two of you are remarkably close. You want to do everything she does! You stopped taking a bottle at 15 months – I think you were ready earlier but mommy wasn’t. At 23 months, daddy took down your crib which prompted you to immediately start sleeping with us – we should probably make you go back to your own bed but secretly, I love our snuggle time. Don’t tell daddy. At almost two, you are almost complete potty trained. Mommy just gave you your first hair cut a week before you turned two – I cried like a baby because you are getting so big AND I cut them way too short and a little crooked! You have the biggest vocabulary of any toddler on the planet. You have been speaking in complete sentences since 18 months. Although there is one sentence I am not so happy with. When we ask you Who’s Girl are You? You ALWAYS say “daddy’s girl!” which leads mommy to tickle you repeatedly until you giggling say, “mommy’s girl!” Once I stop, you look at me with so much mischievous in those sparkling eyes and quickly say “daddy’s girl.” You have a slight addiction to chocolate milk. Or as you call it, “chockie milk.” You would drink chockie milk night and day if we let you. You are also known to go up to mommy and daddy and say, “mush” That means pick me up and walk around with me. MUSH! We think you might have some Alaskan Snow Dog in your heritage!
Last year on your first birthday I started your birthday box where I put mementos of some of your favorite things. This year, you are still attached to so many of your favorites, I thought I would compile a list instead! Here we go:

Food: pizza, waffles, apples
Drink: chockie milk
Movie: Finding Nemo
TV show: Sesame Street, Little Einsteins
Favorite Book: Moo Baa LaLaLa
Game to play with mom and dad: Peek-A-Boo and Ring around the Rosey
Favorite Song: I love You (the Barney song) and Wheels on the Bus
Best Friend: your cousin Adam
School: May Avenue United Methodist Children Center
Favorite Non-Parental family member – Aunt Bootsy (although oddly, never at school)
Favorite snack: Nemo Fruit Snacks
Favorite Stuffed Animal – Boppy (this super cheesey red & white lion dad bought you for Valentine’s day)
Favorite Real Animal – Elephants which you call Kiki’s
Favorite Outdoor Activity: swimming
Funniest toddler trick: You will rattle off a sentence which is hard to understand such as “iunnaniniinmommysbed.” So to try and clarify, I will say, “You want to go night night in mommy’s bed? “ To which you enthusiastically respond, “OTAY!”
Strangest Quirk – you love being “nekkie!” you even started swimming topless.

I just want you to know Kate how much you are loved and how blessed we are to have you in our lives. You are the baby I always dreamed of and longed for. I now know why God never answered my prayers for pregnancy, He was just waiting to send me you. Your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and your parents love you beyond all comprehension. We all remember the family that loved you first. Your birth parents are strong, selfless people who looked “high and low, far and wide” to find the perfect family for you. They were the family that loved you first; now, together, we will all love you forever. To quote our favorite book, I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for Always. As long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be. Happy Second Birthday Sweet Baby Kate! Mommy loves you.

Always,


Mommy