[resabelle]

What an absolutely beautiful little girl!!!!!!!!

Please read this through to "hear" my input as my own feelings have grown on this issue throughout my adoption process.

My DH and I are adopting two little girls from Guatemala and at first, we were only adopting one. We imagined our referral to be light skinned and I truly feel we are both diverse and it wasn't that we had an issue with it, but that we did not want our child to feel out of place. We talked about the "what if's". We got our first referral and she did have lighter skin.... and then we got a very surprised call for a second child. We had been approved through INS and our homestudy for two and our agency sent us a second referral.

We fell in love with our second daughter instantly. When we went to visit both girls in person, I was honestly awe struck. Our second daughter is quite darker than our first and I must tell you we have gotten many comments about her darker skin. However, our response is the important part because it has never been an issue for us.....

I had a co-worker whisper to me that my older daughter was much darker than my baby.... so I whispered back "yes, but we will get her out in the sun more, she will tan like her sister." The lady was taken back because she got the point. 1) It is not an issue, 2) I'm not going to let her make it one, and 3) I am so proud of both my girls that I will embrace their skin color as much as their voice or their personality. These little girls were chosen for us and they are precious.

My point here is telling you how I feel. We were worried at first too, but now that I look back at that time, we realize how much of that was not an issue for us. Both of my daughters are absolutely beautiful and I could not be more proud of them. I think when you "click" and it feels right, you will find that your child is perfect for you and any worries are replaced by incredible joy. Our daughters look very different but both are so unique and so beautiful and so special and we would not change one thing about either of them.

Best wishes with your decision, but I didn't want to share that your referral picture is stunning.... a beautiful little girl.