August 9th is Milana's Gotcha Day! And we are 3 years home with our littlest munchkin.
And in 3 years, Milana has gone from almost shutting down and not even walking at 22 months (!!) to this - spunky, bright, charming, grabs your heart tight and will not let it go - child who has found her rightful spot in our family and in this world.
It's been quite a ride.
To celebrate our Milana's Day, we went out to dinner with our dear friends who share the same special days. (Our 2 families traveled to China twice together and both our 2 daughters share the same gotcha days. And, if you don't know our story......our eldest girls were from the same place and knew each other since infants and are best friends ever since and our littlest, while not from the same province, still share the same day and they too have become holy terrors best friends!
It really is a fairy tale story that we ought to write one day. Such a rare bond that very few people share.
(Joining Lisa and friends at The Long Road to China.)
(Now...about that first picture at the top...the family one. I get asked a lot how I manage to get everyone in the same picture with me in it too. So....here's the madness recipe. Set up the scene, warn the troops...." it picture time!" WHAT? AGAIN? , get someone to sit in the sweet spot so I get my focus....oh....camera is on tripod of course, put the camera setting on delay shooting - 8 seconds, press the shutter, yell "sckoosh over so I can get my bum in.....here we go....now smile!!".
And that's it!
From "cling-on" child who lived on my right leg for over a year to "Miss Wild Thang" to " get ready world...cause Milana has arrived"
She is all that and soooo much more.
She's our love bucket......
.....our beloved daughter!
Hi, I'm Wanda. I am a happy woman, wife to Danny for...oh....lots a years and finally Mom to THE most adorable little girl from Hunan, China - Dahlia. And now we have been blessed again with another daughter, Milana, from Zhejiang, China. (The 2 best things I've ever done!)
We live in the Montreal area. After a loooonnngg wait for Dahlia's little sister Milana (pronounced - Mee-lana, like banana), we finally brought her home in August 2009. Dahlia came to us in Nov 2004 (at 20 months of age)and a year later we began the application for another baby - at the time the waiting period was around 8 months. Almost 4 years later (say what!?!)we, at last, brought Milana home.
This began as the story of our journey to bring Milana home and life with her big sister, Dahlia. It now continues as we live as a family of four!
God.
My (growing) family.
Hangin' out with my girlies.
My wonderful friends (you know who you are!).
To laugh (out loud and a lot!).
Music.
Painting. Hugs.
Long chats with my buds.
My garden.
To read (ha...when I can!).
Sunshine.
Spring, Spring and more Spring.
Building things.
Cooking.
Decorating.
Parties (ahem).
The internet.
Life.
Movies. A.I.
Dancing with the stars.
So you think you can dance.
Travel. Umm..did I say laughing my head off.
Oh Gee...everything actually!!
6 comments:
I absoolutely love your little girls. They have such wonderful personalities. I can totally see the spunk : )
I am glad you get in pictures because you make them even more gorgeous!
Awwwww, happy, happy family day to your beautiful little lady! And I have to say, you are the queen of getting great family pics with you in them! I need to take lessons from you and jump into more.
Have a wonderful weekend, Wanda!
Congrats to you all!
M.
Love every single shot! I especially love the family ones with you in them. You've got that down, haven't you!
I remember sitting there in your living room with all 4 of you around all 4 of us...and Milana was so little and so shy...I see her beaming now and can't believe how much she's grown and blossomed.
Guess that means we need another trip up there, huh?
I miss you and your sweet smile so thanks for the "fix" to see you here today.
Love you, Wan...
xoxo
Dita
Happy Milana Day! As always, I just love how you capture these special moments!
I adore these Wanda!!!! Love the set up for your family shots. You should try a remote trigger. I can't live without mine. Makes getting in the shot so much easier.
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