Happy 5th Birthday Little Bird!

My littlest bird is five today, on the fifth, her "golden" birthday. It's hard to believe. Odd to celebrate a fifth birthday, when we have only celebrated one birthday prior to this. Once again comes the roller coaster rush of emotions that this milestone brings with it . . .

There is a sadness at the thought of birthdays that our Xiao Xiao spent as an orphan. What did she look like on the day she turned one? Two? Did anyone celebrate? I like to think that her Zhuha*i family did. I saw with my own eyes the tender love they had for their "happy princess", a name they used to describe her in the priceless album we were given.

There is joy, as I watch my daughter's face while we sing happy birthday to her. She glows. Revelling in the attention, in awe it seems, that this celebration is in her honor. Pure joy.

Yet today, there is also an ache in my mamas heart for the woman who gave Teddi life. I don't have any idea what she must feel like . . . left with an emptiness forever . . . even as I celebrate the day she gave birth to the child that I now call my daughter. If I could use only one word to describe Teddi, it would be "happy". Her Zhuha*i family was right. She's happy. It is in her genes. I like to think that some of that happiness was passed on to her by her China mama. My hope is, that this same happiness that Teddi wears daily, is the same happiness that cloaks her China mama now. My heart cries out a thank you to Teddi's birth mama, for the amazing treasure that we have been given. There are no words. How I wish she knew how happy Teddi is. How I wish she knew the happiness Teddi brings -- to many. Thank you to Teddi's China mama.

Eight month old Zhu Fu Xiao, our Xiao Xiao . . . our Teddi girl.

Our girl is precious. She's tough. She's brave and silly. She's determined. She's artsy. She's giggly, and ohhh so ticklish. She is caring and compassionate, helpful and HAPPY! She's loud and she's, well, um LOUD. She loves kisses and hugs, both the giving and the getting, and she thinks she is mighty, all 32 pounds of her little self!

She loves her family and her extended family, and is amazed that all of these people are hers. A mama and daddy, a sister and lots of brothers, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles and cousins. Yes, Teddi girl, we are all yours, and we are so happy that you are ours!

Today you are five, little bird. Oh what plans the Lord must have in store for you. I marvel at His watchcare over you, and where He has brought you from, and I look faithfully forward to where He will lead you to!

Seven o'clock in the morning . . . so happy to be five!

It has been a good day of celebrating Teddi. A thankful day, a grateful day. A day of thinking back on nine years of praying for my Chinese daughter. A day of recognizing, once again, God's faithfulness in keeping His promises.

Happy birthday, to our happy little bird. We love you Teddi, your singing . . . your flapping . . . your flitting . . . and your flyin' . . . free . . . to . . . be . . . YOU!

Blessings from our candle blowin', present openin' nest ~

Tina