A Baby Girl!

-by the proud new papa

On Tuesday morning Heather got a call from our social worker and immediately called me. We got our referral! Until now, we'd all been assuming we'd end up with a son, but as it turns out, a beautiful baby girl is waiting on us. To make a long story short, we received the referral packet and reviewed our baby's background. We consulted with a family friend who is a pediatrician (trying to remain logical and objective - a pointless attempt). And on Wednesday I called the agency to accept our daughter, of course. Then we got pictures by email. I thought I was awestruck from the referral packet and the word-picture it painted. I was pretty much in love at that point. I was wrong. The pictures came in my email and it was over. I'm a goner. Completely smitten. Funny how a packet of papers and a few photos could make this all so real for me.

And now, this proud daddy would like to introduce to you...

Our baby girl, Luci Kate!



Luci was born - get this - on my birthday, July 16, 2008. How cool is that? The photo is at 5 months old (we think). She's a tiny, gorgeous thing and already melting hearts from half the globe away. (I'm trying to figure out how to bargain for that rockin' baby throne, too) Below are her 1 month, 3 months, and again 5 months old photos (this time with her foster mom).


Funny how I was so cool with the wait for referral. It was no big deal for me (though it was really beginning to wear on Heather). I knew we'd get referral of the right baby for us at the right time. Now I'm completely opposite: I'm anxious and impatient at best. They tell me she'll be here in God's perfect timing. Well, that sounds great and all, but I'm waiting for my baby girl who's separated from me by 15 time zones. I want to bring her home NOW people!

So I guess the difficult wait is upon us. We've sent in the formal acceptance paperwork (saying 'yes' requires a boat-load of signatures!). We're filing all the right US Gov. forms, feeding the bureaucracy with a singular purpose in mind - paving the way for my little girl to come home to us.

In the mean time, this big, furry, burly daddy is having fits. I've cried when I thought of buying a stuffed rabbit I once saw and sending it to her. I get all tight in the chest when I see her little picture staring down at me from the mantle. If you think you're coming to our home to hold her, well, you'll have a tough time prying her from my arms. I'll warn you. It won't happen easily.

And if there are any 6 month old little boys reading this and making plans for knocking on my door in about 16 years to take Luci out. I'm watching you...