Meeting Francis - Day One

After an eternity of waiting, today was finally the day Gregg and I met our son for the first time.  We had an early wake up call - 2:00 a.m., to be exact (Gregg was sleeping, but I can't say I was!).  Back through Manila traffic to the airport for a 6:30 flight to Legazpi City.  It seemed almost as quickly as the flight took off it landed, and we met a hotel transfer to the Hotel Venezia, which is very nice.

We started to unpack, and within 30 to 40 minutes, we got a call from the desk saying that our visitor from the RSCC had arrived.  We met Francis' caregiver and our agency's liaison in the hotel lobby and were off to meet our son.  That 30 minute drive was the longest 30 minutes of my entire life!  The trip through Legazpi to Ligao City was both a sobering look at the poverty of the area and a breathtaking display of beauty.

On the way to the RSCC, we were told that Francis didn't sleep the night before because he was so excited to see us in the morning.  (Join the club, Francis!). We walked into the center, removed our shoes, got our bearings, and suddenly, there he was.  And he was Just. So. Shy!  The caregivers and social workers kept encouraging him to talk to mommy and daddy, but  got nothin'.  Gregg and I reassured everyone that it was ok and he would warm up in time.  Gregg brought out the Transformer, and from then in the boys were pretty much on solid ground as they worked on how to adjust Bumblebee.  

Later on, the staff brought out the items we sent in his care package, and it was evident that everything was very well loved.  The recordable storybook was a HUGE hit, and even today he listened to it several times.   We also found out he's a technology nut, like his daddy.  We showed him a picture of Lakota on the phone, and he was flipping pictures like a pro all on his own!  Then, we were going to show him a video of the house, but he decided it was much more fun to take the camera and shoot video himself.  I think he took about 70, 2-second videos.  But he loved it and had a great time - until the battery ran out and he got cracking with the digital camera.  And after all that, his favorite things to do were bat a balloon around and play on the playground.

Only one caregiver-mandated goodbye hug so far and he is definitely partial to daddy, but he will warm up.  We go back in the morning for round two, and the entrustment ceremony is Monday, his birthday.  

For all who have asked, his English is soooo much better than we could have hoped for.  He is also out of speech therapy and speaking perfectly clearly.  Thank God - miracles happen every day and he is one of them!

Hopefully another update tomorrow ;)