So, Anna is sick today. She woke up in the middle of the night and spent most of the night vomiting. At one point she turned to me and asked "Mommy, why did I do that?" It's really hard to be little and trying to understand things around you or even the way your body works. I told her she was sick and that Mommy would stay with her. She slept the rest of the night in my bed, and we changed sheets several times during the night - I think at least five - but all she wanted was for me to stay with her.

I am her real mom. I may not have given birth to her. I may not have carried her inside me for nine months. I may not look like her. I may have no biological connection to her. I may have missed the first fourteen months of her life. But I am her real mom.

"Will you stay with me, Mommy? The whole time?"

"Yes, Anna. The whole time."

"Will you hold me Mommy? And fix my tummy?"

"I will hold you. And I'll try to fix your tummy."

I know that she knows that I will always be there for her. No matter what. I know that she knows I will always watch over her, even though she hasn't always been with us. I know that she knows I will never think any differently of her, even though she does not resemble me. I know that she knows that she is my real daughter.

Looking to the future, I know I am not being blind. I anticipate the day when she realizes that the fact that she is adopted does make some sort of difference to many people. I know that she will realize that some people look at us with strange thoughts because of the fact that my skin looks different than Anna's. I know that all of this will sometimes weigh on her mind, and other times not. I know that there will be questions, and questions and more questions. I know that all this is coming.

But I also know - I really hope - that she will remember that none of this makes a difference to me. Because Anna is my daughter. My real daughter.