Our Adoption Part 1 - Meeting our Baby Girl

It's amazing how time seems relative to the situation that you are in.  I woke up today and realized that Amelia is 3-months-old and it hit me! Her little life has been such a whirlwind of decisions, traveling on airplanes, moving across the country and learning to adjust to a new life in Provo, and I haven't even documented her life here on the blog.  Amelia's adoption process seems like such a long time ago when I think about, but when I start to really ponder everything we went through to bring home our own little baby, I realize how substantial every little moment of our adoption was.  Well, rather than tell the entire story of how Amelia became our little girl,  I just thought I would post a pictorial timeline of our little cricket and give a few captions.  We've been through a lot in the past 3+ months, and these pictures don't do justice, but I think they are better than nothing.  I'm beyond happy to have this sweet little girl in my life, and I feel so blessed and privileged to be called her mommy.

Preparing for baby! Nursery is almost ready and we are almost ready, as well!

I'm so grateful to my mom for snapping this picture of the Michael and me seeing Amelia for the first time.  She was so beautiful and I couldn't help but completely break and down and cry. 

Amelia May Smith, born May 16th at 5:18 pm. 7lbs 12oz and 21 inches long.  Unfortunately, after she was born, the doctors were afraid that she had a infection and they had to put her on antibiotics and monitor her oxygen levels. 

Holding Amelia for the first time.  I couldn't stop crying.  Amelia's birth mother and father are amazing and we all sat in the NICU with Amelia for a while and talked.

Michael holding Amelia for the first time as her father.  This was such a special moment after the papers were signed in the hospital.

Showing off Amelia May Smith.  I didn't stop crying for about 5 days straight.  She was born on Wednesday and we were able to take her home on Saturday afternoon.  It was such an amazing experience.

I love this little cricket.

Leaving the hospital

Staying with mom and dad in Provo waiting for our approval to head back home to LA.

Sleepy Smiles.

She was so incredibly tiny!! I can't believe how adorably small she was.