Where Do Babies Come From?
When I was a little girl I asked, “Where do babies come from?” The question made some people laugh nervously in embarrassment. “The stork brings them.” I knew this was not the answer. How silly! A stork bringing babies! Even as young as I was I knew this wasn’t the case.
When I got a little older the story changed from “The Stork,” to “The Birds and The Bees.” This story made me laugh nervously in embarrassment! Everything was explained tastefully and in an educational manner. A man and woman fall in love, get married and decide to start a family. So this was the truth. For most people… But I’ll get back to that later.
The man and the woman have sex (the embarrassing part!), and a baby begins to grow inside the woman. At first she may only feel tired and sick, but as the baby gets bigger and stronger she begins to feel the baby move and kick. A bond is formed with her baby. There is nothing else like it – nothing so special as a new life growing inside her. Nine months later her baby is born.
Their bond is strengthened through childbirth. The experience is very intense and special. A connection is made. They finally meet. It’s a girl. She has a daughter! The connection grows stronger than ever.
The mother falls in love with her baby, and in turn her baby falls in love with her. She needs her mother to feed, care, and comfort her. But above all, she wants her mother to love her. She giggles when her mother kisses her – she turns her face up to her mother’s. Her mother looks down into her daughter’s face and sees her own. She wonders if any two people in the world have ever loved one another as much as she and her daughter do.
Like I said, this is case for most people. But our story is a little different.
I wasn’t there when you were made. When you started to grow I didn’t feel you move and kick. We didn’t have that bond. But I was preparing for you.
Daddy and I were married, in love and planning for a family. We were planning on adopting a child. We began to get all of the necessary paperwork together. We felt anxious and nervous – a little sick, and very tired! It took a long time to finish everything that needed to be done. But once all was in place, we got the call we’d been praying for. It was on August 29th, 2005. The voice on the other line said, “You have a daughter!”
A baby girl had been born the previous day. A baby that needed a mother to feed, care, and comfort her. But above all she wanted a mother to love her. That baby was you! I didn’t get to deliver you, or even meet you right away. But when I saw your picture for the first time I began to fall in love. I knew you were meant to be mine; you were my daughter. You had beautiful dark skin and a head full of black, black hair. You were dressed in pink.
I waited for over five months to bring you home. I anxiously awaited medical updates that told how much weight you were gaining and how big you were getting. I opened pictures of you and showed everyone my new daughter. “Isn’t she beautiful?” I watched videos of you and cried. I couldn’t wait to hold you in my arms!
On Friday, February 3rd, 2006 I received the best news. You were ready to come home. We were finally going to meet – in only three days! We hurriedly bought plane tickets and packed our bags. I cried on and off all weekend. After waiting so long I was finally going to be a mom and hold my daughter in my arms.
On Monday, February 6th, 2006 we boarded a plane headed for Guatemala City. Our plane landed at 12:30 that afternoon. We went straight to the hotel to wait for your foster parents to bring you to us. We were very nervous. It started to get dark outside. We knew that they wouldn’t travel with you after dark. We went down to the lobby to wait. There was a gift shop. I bought you a doll and a pair of Guatemalan baby booties.
Later that afternoon a couple walked in carrying a tiny baby girl dressed in red. We both stood up and reached out for you. I didn’t cry, which surprised me. I felt calm and peaceful. I took you in my arms and looked down into a face that didn’t look like mine. But I knew you. You opened your eyes and looked into mine. You recognized me. That’s when our connection grew stronger. You laughed when I kissed your face. Our eyes locked together, yours were as black as coal. I couldn’t believe that God had chosen me to be your mother. At that moment I felt like the luckiest woman in the world. I still do.We called both of your grandmothers to tell them that we had you. We held you up to the phone so they could hear you. We gave you a bath and went to eat dinner. Strangers in the restaurant came over to see you and to congratulate us. They could tell by looking at our excited faces that this was our first night together as a family. After dinner we put you to bed. None of us got very much sleep that first night! You would wake up and Daddy or I would put you in bed with us, halfway hoping you would stay awake so we could continue getting to know you better.
The next day we got up and went to the Embassy. We waited a long time, but you were very patient. I gave you a bottle, and we talked to other families who had their new babies with them. It would take one or two more days until our paperwork was ready to be picked up. We decided to use our time to tour the city. There were outdoor markets, street vendors, and lots of new sights, smells, and sounds. Daddy and I took turns carrying you in a Snuggly strapped to our chests. It was one of the most wonderful feelings in the world, having you that close to me.
We bought gifts for you and our family and friends waiting for us back home. We made sure to take lots of pictures. Guatemala City is one of the most beautiful cities that I have ever been to, and very different, too. We enjoyed our visit there, but we couldn’t wait to bring you home. There were lots of people who wanted to meet you!
We stayed in Guatemala City until February 9th. We arrived in Lexington, KY at 4:30 on Thursday afternoon. There were a lot of people there to see you. Everyone was crying and laughing and waiting for their chance to hold you. There were signs made welcoming you home and colorful balloons everywhere. You smiled and laughed at everyone and were happy to get all the love they were giving you. We have it on video. And this is when our life together began.
Our story is a triangle. At one point of the triangle is your birthmother. She loved you so much that she wanted to give you more. She made the greatest sacrifice. She was full of love for you. Her name is Gloria, and to this day she loves you still.
At another point of the triangle is your foster mother. She cared and loved you from the time you were one day old. When she left you with me at the hotel that night in February she cried because she loved so much, she didn’t want to give you up. She told me to take care of you; she said that you were special. Her name is Alma, and to this day she loves you still.
You and I are the last point of the triangle. There are lots of questions I used to ask – all starting with, “Why?” and “When?” When I met you, the Lord answered, “She is why…” I was ready for you, but I had to wait for you to be ready for me. You were well worth the wait. You bring me peace, contentment, and so much joy I feel like I could burst! And most of all you bring me love. I thought I knew what it was like to be in love – until I met you. You’re my lesson of what true love is.
I will always be your mommy, you will always be my daughter, and we will forever be connected – the Lord knew that you were meant to be mine, and that I was meant to be yours. The path we had to travel to get to one another is our bond, our special connection. No two people have traveled this same path. Only you and I have. Our relationship didn’t start in the same body. Ours started in my dreams and prayers.
I finally know the truth about where babies come from. You taught me that babies come from patience, faith, grace, and most importantly, love. I don’t believe that there are any two people in this world that love one another like you and I do.
And one day when you ask me, “Where do babies come from?” I’ll know exactly what to say, and I’ll tell you our story.