Forever

365 days ago I had been in Beijing a little more than 24 hours. A bottle of wine and a birthday card were left by the nightstand in my hotel room. I was turning 38 and instead of celebrating my years, I was pacing back and forth waiting for my baby to arrive to the hotel lobby via train. 365 days ago I held that frightened, screaming baby in my arms while she wailed for all she was about to lose. I smelled different, I looked different and despite a handful of cheerios she wanted nothing to do with me. Fortunately first impressions don't always count. 365 days later and she wants everything to do with me and I wouldn't have it any other way. We are forever mother and daughter. The pictures above are beautiful wooden blocks hand-crafted with seven photos of Em and I. They serve as a reminder to us that we are indeed a family, forever.