NOW the fun begins!

Ok so maaaaaaaybe I spoke too quickly.

Don't get me wrong, Bek is awesome. But man who knew that BOYS were so, so, so BUSY? Ok all you boy mamas knew, and yeahyeahyeah I know I've heard you kindofsortof mention it here and there. But I guess until you have one that is yours to keep alive, you. just. can't. know.

Last night 7pm was the happiest of happy hours. Bek was fast asleep and my body and mind could melt into the couch. I went to bed at 9:30 and it took me .05 seconds to fall asleep.

We thought we pretty much had this place "baby proofed" you know, all the outlets are covered, there's nothing sharp or heavy or breakable sitting out within reach of a baby...a baby GIRL that is. Because holy cow this boy is fast and smart and has the arm-reach of Michael Jordan.

So far Bekalu has:
Started walking for realz. I suspect he will be running by next week if not sooner.

Mastered the stairs and mastered getting around whatever roadblock I can devise to deter him from said stairs. That includes climbing and stacking things to climb and/or un-stacking things to make it to the finish line.

He has found every single piece of anything that you would not like your child to put in his mouth, and well, put it in his mouth. Luckily for us, he likes to play with his "treats" moving them from his lip back to his tongue and laughing hysterically while doing so. So though you must be quick, it is possible to grab it from him. Also luckily for us, and before anyone reports me to CPS, most of these "treats" have been made of paper.

He thinks the word NO means laugh. Hard.

Me, "DO you smell gas in here?"
Rolyn, "ummmm..."
Me, "Yes, Yes you do."
He has found the knobs on the stove and turned on the gas. What? HOW? He's not that tall. Plus Davis never ever did that. (mental note, order that stove top safety guard thing you always thought was overkill on the baby-safe items. edited to add: this task is now complete)

Even with the exhaustion of chasing after this little guy we are in heaven. He is awesome. He's laughing like crazy and has one laugh that is a cross between a purr and a giggle. His smile can light up a room in an instant. So far, I hesitate to type this, but he's sleeping at night. We've had one all the way through and two nights where it was just up for a diaper change. Wow. Go Bek. I've done much better with sleep and getting back on "NYC time" on this return than I did from our court trip...but I think maybe falling into bed at night completely spent has helped that just a bit.

Speaking of sleep, my bed is calling my name.

The beginning.

We are home. Now a family of FOUR settling in...
It hasn't been as crazy as I expected. (Maybe that is still to come.)
I feel the same way as I did when we brought Davis home from the hospital.
Nothing could top the stress of the road to actually get her here. Having a tiny newborn, sleep dep, and the physical effects of childbirth felt like a cake walk. Ditto for this adoption.

I have so much to say and so much to write...but for now I will leave you with a pic of one sweet babe who makes this family complete.


Yes, he's found Davis' markers. I fear the day he realizes the tops actually come off.

Cleared for take off.

We just got word we are confirmed for our U.S. Embassy appointment on Wednesday, March 16. YES, you read that correctly. We leave Sunday night. What have I been doing the past 12 weeks since our court date? ummmmmm, apparently not enough. So much to do. But I cannot even describe the joy and excitement.

Tuesday we received word the embassy had requested another letter on our case. I was gutted and resigned to the fact that Bekalu would be without us for his first birthday on the 17th. Now not only will we be WITH him, but we will be over our embassy interview and ready to come home and start our lives as a family of four.

Over. The. Moon.

I had hoped to offer to take packages for waiting families, but doesn't seem like there is time. But if you want us to visit you child, send us an email at heatherandrolyn at gmail dot com with name, foster center number and maybe a photo.

Progress.

Last Thursday our paperwork was submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We are not sure when we will hear if everything is approved and when we will need to be in ET to have our embassy appointment and MOST importantly have Bek in our arms forever. We are hoping and hoping for good news SOON. Just the thought of that gives me chills and sends happy tears rolling down my cheeks. He has been without a mother's arms for almost 9 months. While I do not doubt he is being loved and well taken care of, it is not the same as the love of a family.

Bekalu John we can't wait to have you join our family forever.
It's going to be such a happy amazing incredible unbelievable giddy heartbreaking hearthealing lovely over the moon kinda day.

Speechless.

Natalie just called and said she had GREAT NEWS.
MOWA decided to issue our paperwork after all.
I'm sitting here crying PURE happines.
I think I might also be in shock.



Gladney has our MOWA letter and Bekalu's birth certificate and is waiting on his passport. Next Thursday they will submit our paperwork to the US Embassy and they will review our paperwork. The estimate for this is one week, but we don't really know for sure as we are the first Gladney family being processed with the new embassy procedures. There is still a chance the US Embassy will want to do a further investigation or request other paperwork on Bek or us. But we are at least through this one hurdle. Fingers crossed everything goes ok with the US Embassy and we could possibly be WITH Bek for his first birthday.

To all the other families waiting for their own good news, I'm sending you lots of LOVE and positive vibes to ET for things to wrap up quickly. I have to think that us getting our paperwork issued is a good sign. And you know how I looooooove signs.

Six Months.

Six months ago today we saw his beautiful face for the first time. Tomorrow Bekalu John will be 11 months old. I'm trying my best to stay positive that we will be together for his first birthday. But as the day draws closer and closer my hope is fleeting at best.

It's been fairly easy to fall into moments of grief during this wait. As I look through 6 months of updates and pictures it hits me how much he's grown and changed. We have missed so many of the precious moments that make up a child's first year of life. I have tried my best not to look at other's adoption time lines because it gets the "WHY US?" questions flowing. Especially when I read about those that went from referral to home in less than 4 months. It DOES happen, just not with us. Our time line is filled with, ooooh hmmmm wait delay wait delay wait. So much out of our control. It is beyond frustrating.

I know that we will have a lifetime together. But honestly that offers me no comfort in this moment...I don't want to miss his first birthday or his first steps. But it's likely I will. And that is hard to accept.

“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” ~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau

My Mama always told me....

...there's a lid for every pot.
What a perfect pair.
The lighter on cue at minute 1:29 = the BEST.



Happy Friday everyone!
Another week bites the dust. Sigh.