Sweet Sophie Jiao
The child that made me a MaMa.
Six years ago today, we were in China for the first time, adopting our first child. Sophie Jiao, sweet, serious, sensitive girl who makes my heart sing.
Rick and I in Beijing at the Great Wall of China a few days before meeting Sophie.
On the bus on our way to a hotel to meet Sophie. When we got to the hotel, the elevator was not big enough to get our entire travel group (12 families) up to the ballroom where we were to meet the babies. One other couple, also first time parents to be, and us, were the last ones up. When we finally got off the elevator and could hear babies inside the ballroom, both myself and the other MaMa stopped and had a little moment. The reality of what to come was overwhelming. We then gathered ourselves and went in to meet our sweet girls.
Sad sad girl had just been handed to us.
Sophie was understandably distraught being handed to strangers. Like Bella, she too had spent her first year in China with a very loving foster family. I rocked and rocked and bounced her around the hotel ballroom until she finally zonked out. Once she was asleep, I sank into a chair and sobbed that my baby was finally a reality. Months and months of wondering if it would really happen and the relief of it all was overwhelming for me. Sophie stayed intense the entire trip, mostly sleeping. I did not realize it at the time, but when I look back at the photos, I can see and remember just how shut down she was. Oh when she smiled, she smiled. But mostly she slept and had a blank stare. I just thought we had this easy baby but my poor girl was in shock.
Beautiful East Lake in Wuhan.
Beautiful girl of mine.
Everywhere we went, I carried her next to me in the baby carrier and she slept. Hot as anything and wore me right out, but so worth it.
Our friends that we would travel with again two years later to adopt baby sisters.
I love this series of photos of Sophie loving on her Daddy.
All the babies in our travel group. Sophie is second from end crying and crying because she is not strapped to her MaMa.
Here are a few of those girls more recently. It would be SO fun to get all 12 together again someday!
Oh how I love this face.
Last year, Rick and I were playing a question and answer type game and the question was what is the best thing that has ever happened to you. Our answers were exactly the same. Becoming Sophie’s parents is the best thing that ever happened to both Rick and I. Not that becoming Isabella’s parents and Levi’s parents wasn’t also the best, but Sophie being our first, that was simply the best day of both of our lives. She is a pure joy to us. Her brother and sister adore her and look to her as the great example that she is. She is intuitive and thoughtful and a caregiver at heart. Wise beyond her years and genuine. This girl is special, but then if you know her, you know that. 
(Please forgive photo quality and pix of pix! I wasnt quite digital yet in 2003!)
More later as we celebrate our Sweet Sophie today.
Dawn T.
Tiffany,
I have really enjoyed seeing your photos and hearing about your trips to China to meet your beautiful daughters–both days you’ve brought tears to my eyes as I’ve read your posts. Thank you for sharing—-it’s brought back such wonderful memories. We were there in October 2004, and met our beautiful Huangmei girl on November 1st. I think it is so wonderful for you to have had the opportunity to have traveled TWICE with the same family to meet your daughters—that had to have been so special!
And will continue to be a special bond for your daughters as they grow up.
Thank you again for sharing!
Dawn T.
Jamie
Oh how IOlove this post and the warm mommy vibes that are bouncing off the page!
I read your note to Soph and sat here at my desk bawling my eyes out. Sobbing. Seriously. I love how much she is loved. This post makes me want to be a mommy….some day.
shariU
Oh, Sophie, what a beautiful baby. This is the gotcha story I like hearing the best since it’s the one I can most relate to. While you were in China getting Sophie, we were so anxiously awaiting our upcoming China trip and our own gotcha day. It’s so hard to believe it’s been 6 years, I have no idea where the time has gone. Sophie is a sweetheart, you really can see her gentle and kind spirit in her pictures. Happy Gotcha day!!
Holly
I too had one who totally shut down in shock.
It’s easy to see that now, looking back at the photos. Man, he slept a LOT..or pretended to sleep anyway! Poor baby!
I must ask you about that poem at the end…did you write it? If not, do you know who the author is?
I just love how Sophie still looks just like her baby pictures…only bigger and with more hair
Happy Family Day!
Patricia/NYC
BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL post…there is nothing in the entire world that matches the feeling of becoming a momma for the very first time…I am so choked up reading this post.
Gin
What a beautiful post, and will you look at that sweet adorable little Sophie! I know how wonderful it is be finally be a Mama for the first time so this post just “got to me”. Thanks for sharing these sweet pictures and memories.
Gin =)
Steph
Loved this post…gave me the shivers.
Martie
Oh, so precious! I wish, wish that Delany and Sophie could be friends. I think they would be kindred spirits! They have so much of the same personality.