Happy 6th Birthday Little Bird!

Our Teddi girl turns six today!

We celebrated before school this morning . . .

with the traditional birthday donut

and chocolate milk!

As I was driving home last night (from a quick trip out for the aforementioned birthday donut and chocolate milk) I realized that Ted has now celebrated as many birthdays as a daughter, as she did as an orphan. Something about that brings healing to my heart. Anyone who has missed birthdays of their adopted child or children-- knows what I am talking about. Some of you with older adoptees have missed many, it creates an ache. An ache for what was . . . uncelebrated birthdays . . . and an ache for the things you cannot replace. Somehow, in an odd way, knowing that we are now "even" helps to ease that loss.

Times missed . . .

This was my girl just two weeks after she turned two. It was the first picture we ever saw of our little Zhu Fu Xiao (six months after it was taken), and in a God is so cool sort of way, the photo was taken on my birthday, which happens to be exactly two weeks after Teddi's! Happy birthday to me!

This was our sweet girl right after she turned three, obviously dressed up for the Chinese New Year. Isn't she precious? What a treasure it is to have been given so many photos . . . her Zhuhai family called her their "happy girl", it's easy to see why.

This is our little bird turning four . . .

an orphan no more!

Yum!

Soaking it all in as we sing "Happy Birthday"!

And then five . . .

filled with joy and giggles as we celebrated

an early birthday with family in Michigan.

Notice the glow on her face as we sang.

And now six!

My how our little bird has grown!

We celebrated on New Years Day

so that big brothers and sister could be a part.

Big sis gave Teddi a special gift--

her childhood jewelry box.

She even traded the gold plate

on the front that read "Taylor",

for one that now reads

"Theadora"!

So sweet--and the music still plays

and the ballerina still twirls!

Another year, another "Happy Birthday" chorus.

Our joyous little bird bubbling over,

as we, her family, serenade her.

Uncontainable!

Happy Birthday to our happy girl! What a blessing you are to us, Theadora Fu Xiao Winder. Thank you Father God for redeeming the years that were lost. Thank you that You were with Teddi on the day she was born, and you've been with her every day since. Thank you that You were there while she waited. Thank you that she has always been Yours, thank you for sharing her with us.

We love you Ted-Ted!

Blessings from our celebrating nest~

Tina