The first time ever I saw your face.....

That's right folks, today marks the one year anniversary of our referral day!! It's so hard to believe that only one year ago we first saw our daughter's picture. I can still remember everything about that day; the anticipation, getting the first email, getting the call, calling everyone, waiting an excruciating 3+ hours for pictures, having an impromptu referral party, going to a local Mexican restaurant to celebrate, and then coming home and working until the wee hours on our referral announcement and putting them in the mail THAT NIGHT. Yes, it was a very long and memorable day.

The past year has been amazing. We have experienced so much and have been blessed tremendously. Avery truly is a gift from God. Looking back now we can honestly say we know why the wait was painstakingly long....we were waiting for Avery! As a dear friend once told me: "she's just wasn't ready yet!"

Many of you have followed along on our journey since that day and for that I thank you. The support and encouragement that we have received from not only real-life friends and family but also those known only via the web is amazing!! You have seen us go from elation of getting our referral, to anticipating travel, to taking the journey of a lifetime, to adjusting to parenthood. What a roller-coaster year it has been. Our daughter has grown and developed by leaps and bounds and we can't say enough how blessed we are being her parents. People often tell us that she is very lucky to have us as parents but we are truly the lucky ones!!

Just a couple of pics today to remember how far we have come.

The 3 referral pics we received of Avery:
The requisite mug shot!!

The picture that had our social worker all up in arms wondering if she had club feet. She didn't and we wouldn't have cared anyway, but that's a whole nother story.

The picture that I photoshopped a million different ways to make referral announcements, valentine's posts, and travel shirts!

Our first official picture of all 4 members of our family.

BTW: for those of you still waiting for referral do me a favor, make sure you keep your hair fixed on referral day. I did fix mine early that morning but after attempting to pull it out while waiting for pictures to arrive via email all the photos of that day show me with typical bedhead.

Here is our sweet girl on Gotcha Day. A little shell shocked but still with the same bubbly personality we have seen blossom.

And here is Avery Kristine Xian today! Our lovable, energetic, 21 month old bundle of joy!

Thanks for sharing this past year and beyond with us!!!!