Celebrating Gracyn - No Red Eggs or Ginger

In observation of our Chinese culture, typically we celebrate and honor our children with a Red Egg & Ginger Party around the age of 1 to 3 months. The time after baby is born, but before the baby is announced to world, is to allow Mom to heal from birth, and to ensure baby is healthy enough to survive. Boiled eggs, dyed red, are handed out. The color red for good luck, the eggs for fertility. Pigs feet, yes, pigs feet are made and Mama is supposed to eat it for rejuvenation. With Peyton we had a Red Egg and Ginger Party, handed out the eggs, served pigs feet, but no, I didn't eat it - at about 3 months of age.

Before we brought Gracyn home our intention was to give her a belated Red Egg and Ginger Party. Four months after arriving home, similar to period after giving birth, Mommy recovered from the trip, and Gracyn had time to heal emotionally, so it was time to honor Gracyn. Since we brought her home after the age of 2, we opted to celebrate Gracyn, but no red eggs or ginger, rather a celebration of her being home forever! We were blessed to have so many relatives and close friends join us!

Here we are a family of 4!

 

We proudly displayed the photos we cherished of Gracyn during our wait.

 

We asked for thoughts and prayers for Gracyn to cherish in years to come.

 

DH and I ordered the supplies to make these favors.

 

Because Gracyn loves candy and chocolate the most, we filled them with Kisses. Afterall, the "kiss" in Taiwan was the highlight of my trip!

 

Here we are with the Beauregard family. I met Ramona just after we received our referral, and before they received theirs. Here we all are with our babies home forever!

 

Darryl and Gracyn with Darryl's Mom

 

Peyton eating. What else is a growing three year old supposed to do for 2+ hours in a restaurant!?

 

Jaden, Ramona's daughter, let me carry her just long enough for a photo! I think it was the Dora cell phone she really wanted, but hey, I got the picture!

 

A little love for the "big brother" - it was a long afternoon for him.

 

Lori with Samantha! We followed Lori's journey to bring Samantha home. She and her girls were so perfectly coordinated in purple.

 

Kimi resting on her Mama Megan's shoulder. This is the little girl I fell in love with as I watched Megan bring her home.

 

Didn't I tell ya? Perfectly purple. These are the best behaved girls I know. So glad we met this family along the way!

 

Jaden and Gracyn. . .While I waited to bring Gracyn home Ramona let me get a "baby fix" by visiting Jaden when they arrived home. I think they were still jet-lagged with suitcases still packed and she opened her home to us. Thanks Ramona!

 

Before hitting the road for a long drive home, Kimi came over to burn off some energy! Are these 3 munchkins dancing to Hannah Montana? Absolutely.

 

Megan doing double duty. Megan is waiting on baby #2, so we thought we'd give her some practice!

 

Gracyn, Mommy is so overcome with joy to call you my daughter. I know it's been hard on you to leave everything familiar behind. You are so strong, so brave. You are beautiful, and sweet, and stubborn too! I love that you're always so happy to wake up in the morning. I look forward to your soft pitter patter, and those big eyes and smile every morning. I love that you'll eat almost anything, and that you love mint chocolate and snackies just like Mommy. I can't get enough of your "girly-ness" - the way you sit still to get your hair combed, and how you don't mind changing outfits (sometimes 3 in a row) if Mommy doesn't think it fits or looks quite right! I'm still learning how to coordinate toddler girls clothes!! I know you're 2, but I've been dressing a boy for nearly 4 years, and let me tell you, they are much easier than girls. But girls, they are oh, so fun. My "baby girl," my "girlfriend" - you are home - Forever. With love and kisses, Mommy