the day you were born

Since 1996, we have had a fancy tradition of putting a tiny framed photo on the tree each year.  When Espen was born, I started putting 2 on the tree; one of just him and one of our family.  These are not professional photos, but pictures of us just living as we do!  This year, Espen was helping and looking at all the photos.  He came across one that he paused a long time on ~ the day he was born.  Since he didn't say much, just hung it on the tree I did not say anything.  But I printed it for him.

We picked up that one photo and he held it for a long time.  His comments started cracking me up.... "Mom, you are wearing the same hoodie today and Dad has that same shirt".  "Why are you both crying and why is Dad so shiny?".  Then he got serious....

That he is adopted is not a secret.  We have lots of books we read at night about adoption and the special wish we had as parents.  We talk often about adoption and we celebrate special days.

So he had questions about the day he was born.  Most specifically if he came from my tummy.  No I explained, he was born from a super amazing woman's tummy and she is his birth mom, her name is Tia and she was brave and loved him so much that she wanted him to be part of our family.  To which he started chanting TIA TIA TIA oh MAMMA MIA... (yea he is a little boy who rhymes!).  I told him this picture was just moments after he was born and that I had always been his mom.  On the day he was born, our wishes were finally answered ~ and we are so lucky to have each other. Holding that picture he finally said mom "It's a good thing we have each other I love you"... Uh Huh... I had to hide my tears... he is a smart and bright little man.  Then he said since I have that hoodie, Dad has that shirt and he has that blue hat we should all dress like this and take a new picture.  HAHAHA

I am certain as he gets older he will have more questions and I will have answers.  It is just a moment in the day.