Devi's Christmas Wish

A couple of days before Christmas the holiday dust seemed to settle long enough for us to take Devi to see Santa Claus. We got her all gussied up, complete with her black shiny leather shoes, and off we went to complete this very important task. It was no surprise that she toddled right up to the big man in red with no problem, Christmas wish list in hand. Santa opened it and read the note that momma had helped to write. Devi explained that she had been good all year and so thought she was deserving of frilly socks, bubbles and really would like to see snow. Now, anyone remotely close to the Seattle area knows that snow basically only comes in a spray can around here, but a little girl can wish. Apparently, so can Santa because after silently reading the letter exclaimed that he, too, would love to see some snow. With that, Devi placed her dwarfed size backside on Santa's large cushy knee, a photo was snapped, candy canes were exchanged along with an "until next year" kiss.

Darned if on Christmas morning we awoke to the most beautiful snow fall I've ever seen. That Santa!! The weatherman noted it was Seattle's first white Christmas in more than twenty years! The flakes were as large as sugar plums and light as a feather as they slowly swirled their way to earth. Beautiful! Best of all, it didn't stick, so the snow didn't interfere with anyone's holiday travel plans. (thank goodness...what would we have done with all the food we were preparing for Christmas dinner?) Thanks again, Santa. You made our first Christmas as a forever family THAT much more special.

Now I guess I would be remiss in documenting our first Christmas if I didn't mention the Christmas Eve church service. Devi was darling....a little ivory meringue...dressed in frills and lace. A very different look from her usual rough and tumble attire. Okay, so the first shoe and sock were off in less than 15 seconds of taking a seat on the pew. The program was decimated next, but a little fiber never hurt anybody, right? At this point, we are thankful that we'd chosen to forgo our typical candle lite service and attend the earlier one. Singing! Thank goodness. Singing was coming next...the girl LOVES to sing! When the music began she fell dead silent but was taking careful note of the fabulous acoustics's the high ceiling of the church provided. Devi chose to do her singing during the prayers so she would be sure to hear her own echoing voice! I'm absolutely positive God knew she was there! By the end of the service we were exhausted, but proud to say we made it through a Christmas service with a baby in tow. We'll keep practicing until we get it right! :)

I can honestly say this is the first time in my life that I've had to take a rest during the opening of our (Devi's) gifts...twice! People were so generous in welcoming her first Christmas with us. The hit of the day was a plastic slinky and a knobby dollar store ball. Well maybe the boxes that everything came in too, of course! She did finally get the hang of gift opening by the end of the day and try as we might, we could never convince her that tissue tastes bad.

Pat and I hosted the family Christmas meal for 15 of us and proved once and for all that even after being vegetarian for a number of years we can still prepare MEAT in our oven. And our oven, which has failed us many a time with it's temperature gauge issues has been wrangled into submission; the beef tenderloin was delicious.

For the first time, we have noticed glimmers of Devi's past, as she remembers those she spent her first 10 months with. We open the mail together, rather I open it and she eats it. None the less, as cards arrived from other adoptive families it became obvious that she knows the smiling Indian children in the photos staring up at her. She points to them specifically and smiles her classic "I'm so happy" smile. Jenya's photo brought the biggest response which included a gleeful squeal and a swinging of the arms too.

Merry Christmas 2007

Almost ready to give daddy his Christmas wish


He got his wish!


The family Ross singers....their rendition of Jingle Bells

A few memorable moments of the holiday...
1. The way Devi lights up when you sing Jingle Bells
2. Standing beneath the mistletoe with Devi and pointing to it knowing you will receive a very wet and wonderful kiss
3. Receiving our first "TO MOM and DAD" wrapped gift from her, care of the daycare...her hand print in dough.
4. Hearing the cute way she tries to say Santa
5. Losing your daughter in the frilly fabric of her meringue dress while trying to fasten the belts of her car seat.
6. Watching her observe the snowfall through the family room window ON CHRISTMAS DAY!
7. Our first experience taking Devi to plead her case with Santa...won the big guy over :)
8. Our first invitation to the Christmas Mother/Daughter tea, hosted by our neighbor Carol.
9. Sipping a glass of wine and admiring the Christmas tree knowing that upstairs in her room, visions of sugar plums are dancing in her head.
10. After last years church service, imagining a child on my lap; having that vision come true this year (sort of because I don't think she actually ever sat down) knowing that this is only the first of many Christmases together as a family.

Day care December art projects


Small town perks! Santa does a drive by!