First Moments At Home

We have been home for a little over two months now. I would be lying if I did not say we were a little scared of how we would all adjust, however, the Lord has so graciously answered our prayers and our transition has gone so smoothly.
After the airport we spent the next week or so with our families meeting and getting to spend time with D. My mom and sister were a Godsend as they stayed for awhile to help with things around the house while we recovered physically and emotionally.

l's parents

nana and uncle michael

tia and tio

my family with the souvenirs they brought back from their cruise

We took D for a lot of his firsts once we were back in Texas: first Chick-fil-a, first shopping trip, first indoor playground, first stroller rides, and much more.

first bath

first painting

first shopping trip

first grocery store fun

first stroller outing with daddy

first doctors appointment

After a week home D was already sleeping in his own bed, in his own room! He loves his room and we are so grateful God allowed for this transition so we could all get good rest.

The dogs were a big feat to be conquerd...every time they came close he would scream like a dinosaur was about to eat him...but after a few days he warmed up to Jada and after a week he was loving on Roxy girl. Now they run from him as he chases them around the house.

week 1 huge progress

His favorite toy was immediately a little red lego waggon, he still pulls that around the house daily.

After being home a week L went went back to work. I was so sad and nervous about this. Sad mostly because I loved spending every second of everyday with him for seven weeks, Uganda had brought us closer than ever before. I am so grateful for the time God used in Uganda to strengthen our marriage. But I was nervous too. Taking care of a two year old all of the sudden was the most exhaustion I had felt in my life, WITH him to help, so I was terrified to think what might happen to me if I was left alone all day. But nonetheless, here I am still surviving :)

After being home a month we made the decision for me to leave my job and stay at home with D indefinitely. This was a hard decision, more on that in another post soon.

These first few months have been filled with many firsts for both us and D. We have had the joy of exposing him to so many wonderful things and getting into a routine of our new normal for our family. We are so blessed with this life God has so graciously given us. I cannot imagine our life without D in it...he brings us so much joy and I am humbled that God would bless us in such a way.

Answers to some common questions we get:

How is he really doing?
Wonderful. Better than we could have dreamed. Really, truly. He is so smart, learning so fast. He is the most joyful child I have been around.

Do people make rude comments?
Yes. And it hurts more than I could have ever imagined because I hurt for him. It has been confirmed, I do have a Mama Bear instinct inside me. We get the looks everyday, all day. We get people who make what they think are nice comments, but really they still sting.

Do you want to have your "own" children soon?
FOR THE LOVE...HE IS OUR OWN. He is ours through and through. People even agree he looks like us for crying out loud ;) In many ways our new family is just just three and a half months old...right now keeping up with a two year old and enjoying him is what is on our radar...we will see what God has in store and when He wants to bless us with more children, biologically or through adoption.

How wonderful that you rescued him. He is so blessed to have you.
I know what people mean by this, but truly we did not rescue him. We did nothing. God gave him a family and gave us a son. In many ways, God rescued us by this journey. We are so very blessed to call him our son.

Is he learning English well?
YES. This precious boy is so very, very smart. He already knows so much and has even started trying to say full sentences. One lady in his church class told me he is far above most children his age verbally and she would have never known he has only been learning English since April. *insert blush from proud momma* He is a rock star.

How are you adjusting?
It has been an adjustment for sure. My sleep schedule is much different and going anywhere alone is a new favorite luxury (one day after we were first home I had to go to Walgreens and I just sat in the car, alone, with my reese's peanut butter cups and enjoyed the quiet). But, I LOVE my boy to pieces. It is really hard to even explain all the love I have for him. It is a pure joy to be able to watch him learn and grow so much so fast. So, all the good far outweighs the adjusting.