Libby is six!

How did my darling baby girl achieve this exalted age so quickly????? She celebrated on her birthday, November 17, with a family party at a restaurant, (the kind where the waiters sing happy birthday to you--) and that Sunday, with a fairy princess "friend" party.

Highlights of the F.P party included:
Libby getting to wear her Halloween costume again.

LeiLei getting to wear HER costime (black cat) again, but this time with a princess gown and crown over it. By the end of the party, she was sweating.

Cramming many lovely princessess and their parents, and some fairy godmothers (Jane and Sarah) into our living room. The more the merrier, but also, the more the crazier!

Apart from the crowded craziness, there were many successful aspects to this party. The treasure hunt went quite well, I thought. Also, present opening making use of a chair for the birthday girl, and another for the girl giving the gift , focused attention on each gift, and made it easier to prompt Libby to say "thank you"!

Watching her sit on her birthday throne, I couldn't believe it had been five years since I first met my precious Libby. Though I had looked forward to and imagined the meeting so many times since getting her adorable referral photo, I was completely unprepared for the actual event. A major factor was learning the day before that she was Hep B positive, and therefore, I could refuse her referral. I said no, but the doctor insisted I talk to Pierre, and read information about Hep B, and not make my decision till the next day. I felt chilled, like when you find out someone is dead. I felt sick with fear. I even felt some sort of shame, like I was going to be burdening my family with a defective baby (it was a very disorienting time!) I couldn't wait to get the doctor and our guide out of my hotel room, to be alone and cry. Finally I practically pushed them out, and fell on my bed. I prayed to make the right decision, and immediately I felt "go ahead. Everything will be okay." And it was!

The next day, despite all my efforts at organization, I discovered I was missing a key piece of paperwork just as the babies were coming in. I had to race to my hotel room, and I saw Libby being carried in! I retrieved the document and ran back, and everyone in the room was standing there waiting for me (or so it seemed; this may be some kind of stress-related hallucination). Helen, our guide, stepped forward with Libby, and said, "Here is Zhu Ya Fang." I said "Hello, pretty girl", and asked if I could hold her. Helen said yes, "but Maureen, after this you will not be able to change your mind."

I had been prepared for tears, but Libby laughed. Her nannies showed how she liked to play, and how she could "talk". I had been prepared to learn to love my new baby, but I loved her immediately and completely.

That night in the hotel, I put her to bed in a portable crib. When she woke up crying in the night, I leaned over her and said, "Libby, are you ok?" She opened her eyes, and for about 3 seconds, she had a look of utmost incredulity and horror as she stared at my unfamiliar face--but then, I saw her expression change to recognition and relaxation. It was amazing! She knew me! What's more, she trusted me! I brought her into bed with me, and that was it. We were bonded. At least till she becomes a teenager.

Libby, you were probably born in the country--maybe that's why you want to be a farmer! The referral information said you were found on the steps of a guest house, and were about three months old. So from this I am guessing someone badly wanted you, enough to keep you for three months, maybe in secret. I worry that you might have been cold, because January in Anhui is wintry. I worry that at three months you felt fear, and sadness. I guess about all these things, and I will never know the truth.

But here's some things I do know, my special Dragon girl. Your birth parents must be smart and beautiful, creative and curious, like you. And I am the luckiest mom in the world, so very lucky that we found each other. It is the best kind of fairy princess story, because it is a dream come true. And we're living happily ever after.