So last night was my night to put Rita to bed. We brushed teeth, read a book and turned off the lights. (Michael and I usually stay with her in her full-size bed until she falls asleep - or longer if we end up falling asleep.)

This night, she wasn't very sleepy so we started to talk. I turned over to look at her and felt this huge wave of emotion. I saw this beautiful girl with new eyes and couldn't believe that we "found" her less than a year ago without parents. I thought it was weird that we haven't ALWAYS been together as a family. And thinking ... we weren't her biological parents? And I just couldn't believe that our girl - with all of her energy, brightness and smarts - spent the first six years of her life in an orphanage and could have spent the rest of her youth there.

"Orphanage" ... "orphan" ... it is too weird for me to associate these words with her now.

What would have happened if we didn't find out about her? Or were scared off by the information that was provided on her orphanage and medical documents?

Last night at science night Rita ran to me like she did the morning we picked her up from the Children's Home. The smile on her face - the force of her crashing into me - the intense hug - creates a feeling in me that I cannot describe.

It's been seven months home (yesterday) and I think I am falling for her.