These Three Words

A little over two years ago Pat and I were walking our greyhounds along the waterfront park by our house. It was our usual weekend morning trek that happened to fall a day or two after St. Paddy's day. With steaming cups of our favorite Starbuck's drink warming our hands, our conversation was consumed by an all too familiar subject - our upcoming adoption. We hashed and rehashed the whens, whys and hows of every last detail, passing the time, as the poochies sniffed and trotted along beside us. We had been waiting for a referral for nearly 18 months and the feeling that this-may-never-happen was mutual and discussed openly.

Along the way, we passed a couple of fellow walkers who had paused amongst a patch of clover. The man and woman were on their knees sweeping the patch with an eagle eye and ungloved hand, searching aimlessly for the illusive 4-leaf clover. Well within ear shot, I shouted, "If you find an extra one, we could use some luck!" They smiled in acknowledgement as we continued to stroll on past. With our child-ready mini van finally in sight, we sipped the last of our coffee and made haste toward the warmth of the car. From behind, we could
hear the rhythm of pounding feet approaching...not surprising, since this is a popular jogging spot. "Wait!" we heard. Glancing back, we noticed it was the same couple we had passed. "You need this!" they said as they caught up to us. There in my hand, was placed a real, genuine, nature-made 4 leaf clover. They trotted off in the opposite direction, never even introducing themselves, as we were left staring, dumb founded at this stroke of luck sitting in the palm of my gloved hand! On March 23rd, 2007, that luck came in! We received the referral of a baby girl named Bhargabi. Since that day our "bit-o-luck" has continued to fill us with joy, laughter and love.

Today, we are blessed with a little girl who is outgoing, confident and funny. Home with us only a year and a half now, we are still experiencing "firsts". The other day Devi and I were going somewhere and just as we were leaving through the back door I remembered that I had to go back for something in the kitchen. I told Devi to wait for me at the door. I could hear her saying something to me, by the time a reached her I realized she was pointing at my feet in a very authoritative manner and saying, " Be patient, mommy!" Okay how does one not laugh at that?

Forever a thumb sucker, she recently has started to complain of a sore thumb. I took a look at it the other night, and this poor little digit is wrinkled, cracked and somewhat elongated, resembling a finger. She told, me, "My thumb is sore". I told her it is from sucking it and perhaps she should quit sucking her thumb, after all, she is getting to be a big girl. She put both hands into the fists with thumbs extended...looked at them both, then promptly put the sore one down and said, "No, momma, I'll just suck the udder one!"

Daddy, Devi and I were sitting on the front stoop enjoying a rare ray of sunshine. Devi asked me, "Mommy, am I a princess?" I said, "Yes, Devi is a princess." She asked, "Is mommy a princess?" I answered, "Yes, mommy is a princess too." Next, Devi asked, "Is daddy a princess?" I replied, "No, daddy is not a princess?" Devi pondered this for a moment and looked at daddy and said, "Daddy, are you jealous?" This one was a howler to which Devi giggled and said, "I am funny!"

The biggest recent transformation is her understanding of the concept of a family. She likes to name the members of her family, including the dog! and finishes it off with the statement, "We are a family!" She likes to say our last name and recite our address. The two things about this that I love most are when she grabs Pat and I by the hands and yells, "Family Hug!", which is so cute and always brings smiles. The other is when she takes each of us by the hand and wants us to sit together on the couch. She'll ask us, "Can we cuddle?" That just warms a mamma's heart!


My all-time favorite "first" occurred on March 1st. The little turnip and I were going through our bedtime routine. We had jammied up, brushed teeth, applied lotion, read our two books, sang "Lovely", said our God blesses and as I placed her in her crib, she reached up and hugged me one last time and (unprovoked) uttered these three words for the first time...I LOVE YOU! I melted. It isn't as if she had never said them, but this was the first time that is was solely her idea to say them. Hugging her back, I breathed in her scent, trying to hold onto that moment as long as I could.

These three words;
Sweet and simple.
These three words;
Short and kind.
These three words;
Always kindle
An aching heart to smile inside.

-Stevie Wonder

As we cross that threshold in time for a second year - March 23rd, 2007 - the day we first laid eyes on our Indian princess, these are the things that now fill my world. These are the things that make me smile each and every day and make the days when we questioned the possibility of ever becoming parents simply disappear.