8 Years Old!

Today, you are eight years old.  Today, we have been a family for one whole year.  It has been a lifetime that you have been part of me.  It has not been nearly enough.  For the last two months you have been reveling in the fact that this day has been coming – a birthday all your own.  A day you do not have to share with any other children who happen to have September birthdays. 

For the first time in eight years, you know when your birthday is, and we are all going to celebrate it with joyful abandon. 

But recently, too, when the lights are out and you are having trouble falling asleep, you ask me quietly, “Where were you, Mommy, for my other birthdays?  I had so many other birthdays and you were not there.”  For years we waited for you, and you were waiting for us.  I would give anything to go back in time to heal those hurts and be with you every year on your birthday and every day in between.  And as I tell you every day now, I might not be able to do that, but I will promise to be with you for all of your birthdays in the future.  We’re stuck together now, kid, and I could not love you more if you were born to me.

You have grown (3 inches in 9 months!) and changed so much over the past year.  You are not the frightened, angry little boy who came home with us a year ago.  Now, you are a confident, funny, sweet little guy who enchants everyone he meets and brings joy to his family each day.  Your family and the folks at your school have dubbed you “The Mayor” because everyone knows you – you’re never shy, you are friendly to everyone, and always have your famous smile and wave for everyone you see, whether it’s a kid at school or the lady at the deli counter.

We always knew we would love the child that God would bless us with.  We were exceptionally lucky, I think, to be blessed with the most remarkable boy ever – you.  Never think for a single minute that you are not loved.  You are loved forever and always, to the moon and back.  Happy 8^th birthday, Little Dude.  

September - 7th birthday/entrustment ceremony.

October - family portrait.

November - new Christmas suit.

December - Christmas joy with Great-Grandma.

January.

February - first icicle.

March - Baptism day.

April - first baseball game.

May - Mothers' day.

June - summer fun.

July - fun with the dinos.

August - Finalization day.

Pictures...Since We've Been Home

A little bit of our life at home, from Francis' perspective.  We've been adjusting and it's taking some time, so a post will come in due time!  Don't want to keep you hanging, though, so here are some pictures of our cutie-pie!

I got to try out my sled at Lolo and Lola's house.  Lolo gave me a ride on the grass.  I CAN'T WAIT until it snows and I can REALLY try this thing out!  And build a snowman!  And throw snowballs!

Mommy and Daddy took me out for ice cream.  I LOVE ice cream - it's my absolute favorite treat!

There is a playground up the street from my house.  The slide is my favorite thing to do, and I can go down it hundreds of times and not get tired!

Lakota comes to the playground with Mommy and me.  I love Lakota, and she loves me.  She's my guard dog and takes good care of me all the time!

Daddy is teaching me how to ride a bike!  It is SO MUCH FUN!  Thank you to my cousins, Kevin and Tyler, for the awesome bike.  I love it.

I was Spider-Man for Halloween!  And before Halloween.  And after Halloween.  I love Spider-Man - he's my favorite guy, next to Daddy and Lolo!

Yup.  I was a totally handsome Spider-Man, and I knew it.

I met my Great-Grandma for the first time.  I love her, and she loves me!

Surprise Update

Francis had a successful trip to Manila last week for his passport. We are now anxiously awaiting Monday, when his passport will be ready and his visa appointments can be scheduled. While we are waiting, we are especially lucky to have received some new pictures of Francis! The letter that we mailed him in early June finally arrived, so our agency's liaison in Manila hand-delivered it to Francis when he met him on Thursday. The result of that meeting and Francis openings his letter was a few great photos. It does make the wait much easier.  The other bit of news that we received from the agency's liaison was that Francis is a "very sweet and charming boy" and he is "happy and excited" to meet his mommy and daddy. Obviously, this gives us a good feeling and we are happy and excited to meet him, too.

Waiting For You A Month!

One month ago today, I answered the phone to life-altering news.  While the biggest changes are yet to come, there have been noticeable changes around here already, and I would say that all of them have been for the better. Life is moving at a faster pace now as we try to accomplish – well – everything before our little man arrives, and still there is so much more to do.

I battled with a photo site for weeks and finally came up with a photo album I was happy to send to Francis.  Last week we sent that off to him along with a care package filled with love.  We know the package made it to the Philippines early this week, so now we’re anxiously awaiting the news that the package got to Francis.  At the same time, we’re still waiting for his legals to arrive, and hope that those show up soon.

I was asked several times if the wait is harder for me now that I have Francis’ pictures in hand and know who he is and where he is.  Maybe after a few months it will be, but right now the answer is an honest “No.”  Don’t get me wrong.  I have his pictures everywhere – I carry them with me and show them off to anyone who asks (and some who don’t.)  I have his pictures in a screensaver on my computer, and there are some nights that I just sit and watch it play over and over and over.  I just want to hold him and give him hugs and kisses, and I can’t believe I was blessed enough to be chosen for this child.  But right now, I know that he has caregivers who love him and are taking wonderful care of him.  He has a best friend.  I know how hard it is going to be for him to separate from his caregivers and his friends.  I know how hard it will be for them to say goodbye to him.  The nearly 37 months that I waited for the biggest phone call of my life was an incredibly long time, and four to five months pales in comparison.  One month is already gone, and it went by quickly.  If Francis was in a horrible place it would be a different story, but I know he is healthy and happy and that’s what’s important right now.  Do I want him with me and would I get him in five minutes if that’s what I could do?  Yes.  In the meantime, he is well taken care of and happy, and that’s the most a mother can ask for until she has her child in her arms.