When infants are born, they have a natural connection with their mothers (and fathers) because they've been carried inside them for so long; hearing their voices and such.

When I was born, I became a stranger to everybody around me, as they were strangers to me. I don't have any recollection of what happened to me when I was an infant, like most, but I know that I lived in an orphanage with no parents, just babies, kids, and women to take care of us all.

When I was eight months old, I was a newborn, but already hoping (I'm sure) for a new home. I was lucky enough for my parents to be able to travel to and adopted me from Chita, Russia. Bringing me home, I had a whole family waiting for me; grandparents and THREE new older brothers (Evan, Cole and Tyler).

Coming to the United States, I was a little malnourished, being born around 6 lbs and only weighing around 10 lbs when being adopted; and after eight months, that's pretty small. Most babies at eight months old are 17 to 22 lbs. The reasoning was because I wasn't being cared for like a mother would for an infant; such as being breastfed and getting those nutrients. After only a few weeks of being with my new family, I became extremely healthy. My parents saw a difference in my personality right away and I started to grow more hairs on my head! I have a lot of hair on my head now, thank goodness.

I was a very little baby; I looked like a Bitty Baby Doll you could get from the AmericanGirl Doll Store. In the right corner of one of the photos, you can kind of see my Bitty Baby Doll and it looked just like me, I swear.

When some kids (in this case) are adopted, they know and keep in touch with their biological parents, but I have never known mine. People will ask me, once they find out I am adopted, if I know them or plan to find them, but it isn't something I really think about. I have the life I live now for a reason and that's really all that matters. I think the greatest gift I have ever received was becoming part of a family that wanted me, loves me, and raised me to be the person I have become today. I think being adopted and being an only girl in a family of three older brothers, none of which are adopted, is so incredibly unique and it gives children the opportunity at a better life. A much better life.

I think it is important to also remember that we should never blame the parents, no matter the situation. I don't know why I was given up for adoption, but I like to believe everything happens for a reason. I can't express enough how blessed I am to be alive with these AMAZING parents and AWESOME brothers.