Four months. Four years.

Today marks two milestones for our little family. First and foremost, it's Niranjana's fourth birthday. And four months ago today, we were getting on a plane in Chennai to bring her home.

I mentioned to friends at work that she is four today and joked that "the years have just flown by!"

The truth is, it is strange to me that our little girl is four. A year ago, a few of us gathered on her birthday with take-out from India Palace restaurant to celebrate her birthday. I remember the last few months before getting her that I felt we were missing out on her life. I worried she might get injured or catch some disease (the National Geographic issue on malaria did nothing to assuage my concerns!)

After we got her, I had regrets that we didn't have her when she was younger, but there is little reason to dwell.

Four months ago seems like forever, another world entirely. We endured that long trip home and have been through a lot since she arrived. I'd estimate it's been 95 percent good to great, though that other 5 percent was a lot of heartache, concern and learning process.

I've written in the past about the attachment developments with Niranjana and me. We've gone from her not wanting me to even look at or approach her to us being in a really good place together. One oddity that has bothered me is that Niranjana and I could get along pretty well when it's just the three of us together, but then she wanted nothing to do with me when we were in a setting with several families. That seems to have waned in the past weeks, too. The development we've had in our relationship certainly has been good for my heart.

We're still learning Niranjana's rhythms and finding the right mix, but we've got it down to details anymore. I am consistently amazed with how Melissa has taken (nearly) everything in stride. She is a natural.

I also think a lot about our close circle of friends, that inner core of people who have been our support network for the past year-plus. Everyone has stepped up and surrounded Niranjana with love and provided her with a sense of family she has needed.

It has been an amazing ride so far.