Little tiny legs, Little tiny arms, Lots of hair 
                  and                     

she's happy to be with her family 

Linda L. Long

"... Little tiny legs, Little tiny arms, Lots of hair  and   she's happy to be with her family!"

We started the process of adopting our second daughter late in November of 2002. Our first daughter was only three years old so we took great care in explaining this new addition to our family to Josephine. We emphasized her new role as a big sister. Josephine's new favorite activity became decorating the nursery! No trip to the shopping center was complete until Josephine found a new toy to bring home for her new baby sister. She took her "I'm A Big Sister" story book to preschool and insisted it be read to the entire class at story time (for two week!). She gave her preschool teachers daily updates. Josephine was very matter-of-fact about explaining that her baby sister would be born in Russia, just like she was. Josephine could even point out out Moscow on her globe and trace the route between Chicago and Moscow where Mommy and Daddy would fly to get her baby sister. Neither my husband nor I could leave home without Josie asking if we were going to get her baby sister.

By March, our dossier was complete and sent off to the CHI office in St. Louis. That afternoon, Josephine decided to draw a picture. It turned out to be a very special picture. After she completed the little round figure with arms and legs protruding from the head and squiggles where hair would normally grow, Josie explained to me that it was a portrait of what her new baby sister would look like." ... and she has little tiny legs, and little tiny arms and lots of hair and she's happy to be with her family!" After hugging Josie and wiping the  tears from my eyes, I posted the masterpiece on the front of the refrigerator. It became the cover art for the baby announcement when Genevieve Marie joined our family on July 17, 2003.

While preparing for the arrival of Josephine three year ago, my husband Mark and I shared all of the joy, excitement, anticipation, and anxiety with each other. Preparing for the arrival of our second daughter, Genevieve, was pure joy. We saw the wonder, mystery and miracle of the process through the eyes of our three-year-old daughter. How sweet to hold Genevieve in my arms for the first time and look to my husband to marvel at the miracle. We knew that we would experience the wonder of  the moment yet again, when Josie met her sister for the first time.

... and we're so happy they are our family!"

Our daughters are: Josephine Alice-Ann Long, born September 21, 1999 in Klin, Moscow Region, Russia, adopted July 11, 2000. Genevieve Marie Long, born December 19, 2002, in Serpuhov, Moscow Region, Russia, adopted July 17,2003. Mark and I live in Aurora, Illinois with our two daughters and one very large dog.

                                                             Back