Danika was placed in our arms 1 year ago today!

Danika with her celebratory balloons this morning!

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our dear niece Lisa! It was an honor to celebrate your birthday with you last year in China! Wow, I don't think there is a way to put into words the happy and bittersweet memories we have from a year ago this time. We¡¦ve had a wonderful time reminiscing this week about our entire amazing journey to China. From the minute we landed every moment was filled with awe and wonder and we truly savored every second of our journey. As we reflect on the last year with our precious, sweet, loving and incredible daughter Danika, it's hard to imagine we ever had a life without her in it. She fits in so perfectly I know that The Father had his hand in placing this very precious gift into our lives. So many times during this last year we have reminded Danika what a blessing and a gift she is, and she continues to be and we are so grateful for a loving Father who has chosen us to be her parents.

Arriving at the Chongqing, China airport and Meeting other families in our travel group for the first time! Just for fun, we'll recount our day from this time last year. We woke up in the morning and went downstairs for the fabulous breakfast at the Harbour Plaza in Chongqing, China. The breakfast buffets had almost every food imaginable set out. The pastries were a favorite at our table. After breakfast we had a meeting to go over paperwork (imagine that!) and then had a few hours of free time. We had lunch at KFC (yes, there is KFC in China). After that we were instructed to stay close to our rooms because "the call" could come at any time (although the ETA was approximately 2:30-3:00 p.m.). As you could imagine, we were beyond excited, not a bit nervous at all, but so excited we could hardly stand it. I laid out the toys and blanket we brought for Danika, and arranged them and rearranged them, imagining how in just a few hours I would be giving them to her and holding her for the first time.

Karen receiving the actual "call" telling us Danika had arrived!

After an afternoon of anticipation the phone finally rang at about 3:45, and we were told to meet in the conference room on the first floor, the babies had arrived from the Xiushan Orphanage. Earlier that morning the babies were awakened at 5:00 a.m., cleaned and dressed and placed on the train for a 6 hour ride to Chongqing. After arriving in Chongqing they were bussed over to the hotel with their nannies and then cleaned up after the trip and dressed in matching outfits.

Other families waiting just as anxiously as we were!

Families gathered in the hotel conference room, talking quietly in hushed voices as we all stared at the door waiting for that magical moment. Finally someone said, "The babies have arrived". A whir of activity commenced as eager parents and grand parents readied their cameras, video cameras, and rearranged toys and blankets one last time.

Nannies carrying in the babies!

One by one the Nannies walked in with each of the babies, we looked at each one, knowing that the last photo we had of Danika was several months ago and she might have changed quite a bit since then. Then, after five or six other kids were carried in, we had our first glimpse of Danika. I recognized her right away, after studying her photo and every detail of her face for several months I knew I'd know her. She looked much the same as she did in her referral photos only cuter in real life (of course).

Danika checking out her daddy's fingerprints.

Our guides named of each child's name and then their parents name and the children were placed into their parents arms one by one. Finally it was our turn! We expected her to have tears and sadness but she went calmly into our arms, held our thumbs and examined our thumbprints for the longest time and just gently brushed her thumb across our thumbs. (Probably making sure Immigration actually got the right parents!) :-)

Do you really expect me to sleep in there???

After spending about an hour taking photos and hugging her close we took her up to our room. Dan had more paperwork to finish in the conference room and Grandma Herman and I stayed in the room and held and played with Danika. (Grandpa was kind enough to go along with Dan to take photos of him signing the offical paperwork). After the paperwork was finished, Dan came back and we both just gazed and admired our precious baby girl. She got a little fussy shortly after 6:00 p.m. and we just cuddled her and played with her blanket and stuffed bear we brought her and gave her a bottle of formula.

Sound asleep in her daddy's arms.

At about 7:30 p.m. we changed her into her little pink and yellow ducky pajamas and she drifted off to sleep in her daddy's arms. We carefully packed away her little yellow outfit she arrived in to give to her when she is grown. Daddy placed her in her crib for her first night of sleep with her Mama and Daddy. Daddy got up to check on her every time she rolled over that night but our little trooper slept for 11 hours straight without waking. (Mama was smart enough to sleep while she could!) Tonight, September 11, 2009, Danika will wear those ducky pajamas we lovingly chose for her a year ago for the last time and then we will wash them tuck them away with our other treasures from China. Yes, we have another pair of those same pajamas in a larger size but they will never be THE pajamas.

Those cute little duckie pajamas.

Wearing the duckie pajamas as I became a US Citizen...sound asleep It's amazing the myriad of emotions those little duckie pajamas evoke...precious memories of gazing at our little girl asleep in them for the fist time in her crib in our hotel room. Memories of her wearing them on our plane ride home, and she was so well behaved and didn't cry except for the time she bumped her head. Memories of her wearing them as we entered into American airspace for the first time and thus making her a US Citizen, even though she slept through the moment.

First family photo in the United States.

Grandpa B holding me for the first time.

Grandma B holding me for the first time...I think they were both hooked from the start.

Memories of her greeting her Grandma and Grandpa B for the first time as we walked off the plane and were greeted by them in the international luggage area, wearing her pajamas because we didn't want to risk changing her and disrupting her happy mood. Memories of her meeting her Aunt and Uncle at a very special family lunch just after arriving home.

Memories of a little baby who is now nearly two, a clever little girl who now is walking, running, talking, giggling and is so precious to us...and she has now outgrown those pajamas.

Today on September 11 we also want to remember those who protect and serve our country, thank you for your willingness to give your lives for our freedom, we have not forgotten your sacrifice.

We also want to remember with joy the other 15 families we met in China, all of us waiting to receive our beautiful children. We share an incredible bond with you and miss you today on our special day!

Danika Joy, we love you more than words can ever express. Many times in China we were greeted by older people who would whisper, "lucky baby" to you because they knew you were coming home to America. Many times since we've arrived home, we've been told how "lucky" you are to be home with us. But we know in our hearts that WE are the lucky ones to be your parents. You are a blessing and a gift from the Father above and we cherish you!

Here is a link to our original post one year ago today. http://hermanhouse.blogspot.com/2008/09/finally-in-our-arms.html