Luke's Gotcha Day.... Four Years Later!!!

Four years ago today our son was placed in David's arms in Guatemala City, Guatemala. So many STRONG memories come with today. The fact that our "IMMEDIATE" family began on this day and that my sister has been living with full blown MS for four years. (She had a HORRIBLE BOUT with MS when we were in Guatemala... add to that the fact that David was VERY SICK with the flu and it was a real eventful time). Our precious child has grown into such a little man. We received a VERY timid and shy little boy who was so serious about everything. He cried when his caretaker left him with us. Now he cries if we leave him (not all the time but still quite often). What a journey we have had. What a joy it has been to watch him grow into the outgoing gregarious toddler his is. He has brought us many many moments of joy and much laughter. He has consoled us when we needed it and has given to us countless hugs and kisses that could literally mend the world. All that in what WAS a little 12 pound 10 month old whom we named LOUIS GRAYSON GIESER and lovingly refer to as "LUKE"... our precious son. Happy Gotcha Day!!

Our Daughter's FOURTH BIRTHDAY!

What a great day yesterday was.  (July 3rd)  We celebrated Maran's Fourth Birthday and it was a blast.  We started out the morning with breakfast at Maran's favorite breakfast joint EDDIE'S PLACE (She gets that from me). Mommy and Maran then went to the Spa to have manicures and pedicures. After that we met the family at MELLOW MUSHROOM (aka Pizza Planet) for pizza, pretzels, meatballs and other yummies!  We ate birthday cake that Nammy had especially made for the occasion.  

After some gifts and video watching of the little Sassafras we calmed down and had a wild and crazy bath where more water was in the bathroom and not the bathtub.  What fun it was.  Maran and Mommy then put together puzzles and played dress up with new Princess costumes.  It was a blast. 

Numerous times throughout the day I couldn't help but to think of Maran's birth mother.  Does she remember this day?  Does she wonder how her daughter is?   I wondered if Maran's personality is that of her mom's or her dads and think it is amazing how she fits so well into our family.  There is no way we could love this child any more than what we do and it doesn't feel like she didn't come from us..... which is the way it should be.  We feel the same about Luke.  I watched her giggle, laugh and smile all day.  Incredible that she didn't know English eight months ago and now she is telling people to be cautious and how much she loves them.  Our blessings keep growing each and every day as our children grow from toddlers into young kids.  We couldn't be happier and believe that Maran feels the same way.  She still adores daddy with every ounce of energy her little body has and Daddy shows no shortage of doting over her.  Mom is left to the disciplinary actions which is fine.  Thankfully we don't have many of them with her or Luke for that matter.  We are thankful that her birth mother placed her under the bridge where she was quickly found.  We are thankful for the road worker who found her and cared for her for the short while he had her before turning her over to the police.  We are thankful for our Adoption Agency, China, Family, Friends and all who love our daughter as much as we do.  (The love is equally shown for Luke too .... and how could it not be... he is so stinkin' cute).   Maran is such a girlie girl and a lover of fine things like dresses, jewelry and spa treatments (Everything I was the opposite of as a young child).  It has been joyful, to say the least, with her being in our lives.  It is a true honor for us to be her parents.  

 At the Spa ...lounging

A girl MUST let her toes and fingers dry completely!

My favorite people... Cousin Dylan, Brother Luke and Cousin Tefie (I want my hair to be blonde and pretty Like Tefie's)

First Dessert of the Day from Mellow Mushroom

Lemon Cake that Nammy had made for me from Ms. Pumpkin's Bakery in Winston Salem, NC

Four BIG candles to blow out!

Balloons are also a party favorite!

A costume that I got from my mommy's friend Mary B that I just had to wear.  I also got Rapunzel's costume and hair piece.  I love playing dress up!

Spending her SPECIAL DAY with Nammy, PopPop, Aunt Peggy, Uncle Byron, Cousin Tefie, Cousin Dylan, Luke and Mommy and Daddy was perfect.

The REAL birthday party with kids will be in a few weeks.  We were waiting to see how her foot is healing and it is coming along quite well.... next blog post will give detals of foot and our wonderful vacation! 

To many more birthdays!