HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY, BABY GIRL!!

Julianna,

I can't believe that you are already 2 years old! Time is going by so fast and you are growing up before our eyes. You are such a precious and beautiful gift from God. I sometimes still can't believe that all our prayers have been answered and all our dreams have come true. You are such a blessing to your Mama and Daddy. It is so rewarding to see you learn new words and new things. Every day for you is a new adventure and you make me enjoy the simple things in life like when you chase after the sky or blow a dandelion. I took so many things for granted before you were here, but now the simple things in life mean so much more.

I want you to know that even though I wasn't there physically for your birth and for your 1st birthday, you have always been in my heart. I promise that I will be there for every birthday that you have for the rest of my life. You may have been born in China but you grew in my heart.

Happy birthday, sweet baby girl!!

I love you more than I can say!

Mama

Opening birthday presents


Mama, Daddy, and Julianna


Waiting patiently for birthday cake


I LOVE buttercream as much as my Mama!


Playing in the backyard with family


Princess Julianna


Pushing her baby around in her new stroller

Easter Pictures

Dyeing eggs with cousins


Will and Julianna


Eating candy with Sarah Beth


Mimi helping Julianna find an Easter egg


The Jernigan family on Easter

One Year Ago

I can't believe it has been one year since receiving our referral of Julianna. I can remember pretty much everything about that day from checking the Rumor Queen website constantly all morning to racing home with Ed from work to get "the call". She was the most beautiful baby we have ever seen. We could see in her eyes from the very first picture that she was strong willed and she definitely is that. She is everything we wanted in a child and more. I have said it before but I would go through everything all over again to have my sweet baby girl. She is a gift to us and to our family.

One verse I held on to for years was Romans 8:28 - "All things work together for good to those who love God to those who are the called according to His purpose." It doesn't say all things ARE good but that they work together for good. There were many things that happened to us and to Julianna that weren't good, but God used the bad things to bring us together as a family.

Here are Julianna's referral pictures we received on April 3, 2009:







Here she is on April 3, 2010: