Happy Match Day Abigail!!

We do not celebrate "Gotcha' Day" for Abigail for several reasons.  I detest the term "Gotcha' Day."  It is the day after Christmas.  It was probably the most traumatic and awful day of Abigail's life, including the day she was abandoned.  But we do make a big deal out of her Match Day.  

Me: Abigail, what is a Match Day?
A: The day you get matched to a family.  It is a big celebration.  You might get a present or a surprise or cupcakes but it is about getting picked for a family.

Pretty darn good, I thought.  Joesph went to daycare today so Abigail got undivided attention from both of her parents all day long.  At first she wished we didn't adopt Joseph so it could be like this all the time, like it used to.  But by the end of the day, we had worn her so completely out that she was begging for time alone and happy to have her brother back home.

When we were in China in May to adopt Joseph, Abigail really REALLY wanted a pearl necklace from the pearl market.  It isn't time.  So I made a cute little choker type of necklace for her using some left over pearls.  When she saw it this morning and how she looked in it she whispered "Wow.  WOW," very softly.

After that, we rented a horse for a 1-kid "pony ride."  It was 45 minutes through woods and fields while the horse was on a lead rope.  Abigail didn't want to get off.  The horse was named "Melody" and Larry and I can't get over how naturally athletic Abigail is at everything she does.  Her posture was perfect.  Absolutely amazing.  She was so at ease on Melody. 

 (The car ride home wan't too cheery because Abigail was just *so* sad about not being on the horse any more. It was like the stages of grief condensed into 30 minutes.)

I make her take a pic every year on Match
Day of her holding her Match Picture

She told me last week that she regrets ever saying
that she wishes for her own horse because now it
can never come true.  :(  

Next up, she picked lunch: the what and when.  That was followed by brownie making, eating a whole carton of raspberries, coloring, going to the library (where she wanted more books on giraffes- I love that she is so into non-fiction), and a trip to the frozen yogurt place.  

The evening ended with Karate lessons, her favorite dinner (dumplings), and reading books on giraffes.  

I could not imagine Abigail being matched to another family, and I couldn't imagine a more perfect kid for our first child.  We love her so much and she brings us so much joy.

Vacation To Charleston

This past week, we took a 3-day vacation to our old haunting grounds in Charleston, SC.  It was, as Larry described, "bittersweet" to be back where our home was for over 26 combined years.  We stayed with friends who lived a few streets over from our old home.  We ran our old running route through the neighborhood. We took Abigail to her old playground and park.  We met up with many old and dear friends.

We had a few "surprises" for Abigail, who kept declaring "I love vacation!"

One day, we arranged for her to have a lead-rope guided horse ride at Middleton Plantation.  Her horse, old and decrepit and wrinkly around the muzzle was presented to her and she gasped "Oh!  He is SO beautiful." His name was JP and Larry was given the lead rope to guide her around for her 35 minute ride.  He was more interested in munching grass than following Larry, but sweet Abigail, with her last 2 minutes of time said 'Go back to the grass Baba to give JP a thank you for me riding him.'

On another day, in-between the frequent bursts of rain that kept happening and were just long enough to get things wet and disrupt outdoor activities, we surprised Abigail with a trip to "Shell Beach" on James Island (really Peter Demetre Beach or something like that).  She had a fun time digging holes.

When asked about her favorite part of the vacation, Abigail said "Staying in this (the Watkins') house."  I guess she has really missed these friends.

Sunday Snapshot: My Kiddo LOVES Horses

After her pony ride, the man tried to get her off and she said "I am not done yet."  So he gave
her another trip around the loop.  She said "thank you."

Fearless around animals, she put this goat into a headlock to try to get him to eat from her hand
and she reached through all of the bars to pet the horses in the pens too.

Abigail just loved the horses, even after her pony ride time was over she just wanted
to be with them.