Firsts for the second time

Our Jorja has been in our arms for 1 1/2 years.

She has experienced so much in this short time.

When adopting an older child
there are feelings of sadness knowing
that we missed many of Jorja's firsts.
Which tooth came in first?
When did she take her first steps?
What was her first word?
Answers to these questions I will never have
for my daughter.

Over the last few months we have noticed 

that she is not remembering many
of the "firsts" that she/we experienced
last year.
We really enjoyed her firsts last year
...

her first Easter egg coloring,
2009
she had a great time  decorating
and then hunting for the eggs on Sunday morning...

but when it came time to color eggs
this year she had no clue what we were talking about.
2010

Though she remembers her first family road trip
to Alabama,
(and every distance she refers to Alabama,
"Is it as far as Alabama?")
I don't think she remembers the actual trip
as much as she remembers sleeping in her car seat.

The trip to the beach has been forgotten,

but thankfully, she has experienced the beach
again
and remembers!

(the beach in Pensecola is much nicer!)


We are excited that her little world has
calmed down a bit,
and that she is feeling more at ease with us as her
family
that she will enjoy this summer
and all the firsts that
await her...
again!