From the moment we saw Desta’s picture, we knew she was the daughter God had handpicked for our family. It was a huge battle getting her to us. One that I spent days crying over, pouring out my heart and blogging about. If you’re interested in reading that roller coaster ride, it’s months July and August 2009 in my archives.
I was the first person in our family to physically meet Desta. I was the first to hold her and give her her bottle, her first bath. I will cherish those memories just as I hold tight the memories of Tobin and Caroline’s births. Matt was my cheerleader, by my side for each of our kids.
Yet there is a difference with Desta (well a lot of differences but stick with me!). Unlike our older two children who preferred mommy over daddy until around age 3, Desta has a very special bond with her Daddy.
As soon as she hears the house alarm opening the garage door, she begins to chant “Da da, Da da.” She is first in his arms (at times physically pushing the other two children away from him to get there first). When she is fitful, he is the only one who can hold her and rock her to sleep. She is Daddy’s girl.
I love it. I love that our baby girl knows she is sheltered and protected by her Daddy at this early age. I love that she KNOWS her Daddy will be there for her. And secretly, I appreciate the help she allows her Daddy to give me (ie hold her while cooking dinner, give her a bottle, play peek a boo…) so I can help the other two.
Our Desta has brought such joy to our family. I always imagined adoption to be special but until I experienced firsthand this amazing miracle, I had no idea what a gift it is to adopt a child.
I was born in Jos, Nigeria many years ago. I spent the next nineteen years living in Liberia, Kenya and Ethiopia.
totally love adoption too. It was not what I expected but way better. Sometimes I wish my little M would be a daddy’s girl like when I am cooking dinner but I love that she knows me as mom. I was always worried about that, would she really bond with me and love me as her mom. Hey thanks for the pep talk and I survived the pool today, not to bad.
Lydia is a Daddy’s girl too. It used to bother me, but now I love it. I realized early on that there would never be enough of Mommy to go around and sometimes it’s nice when they prefer flying with Daddy (so Mommy doesn’t throw out her back!)