Happy Gotcha Day Alfie!

One year ago today two friends and I took this letter...

to this orphanage...

to pick up this boy...

and to take him home to HIS Mummy!!

One year ago today I became the luckiest lady alive, this handsome, charming, funny, clever little boy became my son and what a year it has been for him and I.

He has met his Nanny & Grandad...

He has become a BIG brother four times, twice temporarily and twice permanently and he is the BEST big brother...

We have had fun times with many friends...

He just loves to dress up...

We had parties...

 Including his own and Mummies...

Can you spot the sister
although on this day we never knew she would be his future sister!

He loves to hang out with the babies downstairs...

We visited Lake Duluti...

and Mt Meru Game Lodge where we saw Pocupine, the Snake park where we saw (apart from the obvious) crocodiles and Terengire National Park where we saw Lions, Elephants and Giraffe!

We went on holiday to Mwanza...

Standing by the crater

In the BIG bed

On our LONG journey

Where we went swimming daily and went on a boat trip...

He met a VIP...

 and woke up on Christmas morning to a much loved 'BIG TRUCK'

He likes to help to cook, on pancake day we enjoyed pink pancakes...

 and he became a friend to three orphaned kittens and our little Rafiki...

and we had endless hours of fun...

One year ago today that little boy was called Selemani Hassan Makala, now he prefers to go by Alfie Adam Selemani Upshall, my son, my first child.

Son you are amazing, I will forever be grateful that you fell in love with me when we met because it was a shared love, you have brightened my life, your smile lights up my world, you are so amazing, this is our first year and there will be many, many more.

When I think of life just little more than a year ago I was a single, Childlesss, 22 year old volunteering in Africa. Now in just 12 short months I am a 23 year old Mother of three, still volunteering BUT living permanently in Africa with 15 babies and 20 staff in my orphanage downstairs...mind blowing eh...??

I loved you always, I love you now and I will love you forever xxx

I am so proud of my amazing family!