It's Fisher and Elvis' Birthday!

Today is the day Fisher's legal documents show as his birthday, although it's not at all exactly clear as to the exact day because he was left on a train in Inner Mongolia shortly after birth. The number 8 is considered a lucky number in Chinese culture so it's our understanding this birthday is given to many orphaned new born found shortly after the new year. The word for eight (八 Pinyin: bā) sounds similar to the word which means prosper or wealth. So it's a bit ironic and I suppose hopeful thinking for these children considered unlucky or cursed due to imperfections to be given birth dates associated with better fortunes in attempts to improve their chances of success in life.

I don't know about all that but I do know that our life and our family is more blessed with F in the mix. Ever since he began understanding birthday and going to other people's birthday parties he has been enamored with the thought of when his birthday is and when is HIS day. Well today was it buddy and he has been about to burst all week! Below are some images from F's first birthday as a Freeman and it's been a great one.

Looking cautiously excited about a really big box

Great to have brother to get into trouble with!

Mom putting on the finishes touches, i.e. stickers

Big brother Dutch

Fisher (eating icing off of toy from cake), Eli, and Hamilton (who is from same orphanage in China and lives a few blocks away, how cool is that?!)

Oh yeah, and it's Elvis' birthday today. This is sort of a running joke because sometime after we returned from China, upon learning F's birthday was January 8th, D nonchalantly said, hey that's cool, it's Elvis' birthday that day too. How a 9 year old even new that when we never have discussed Elvis is beyond us!