Family Day!

Happy LB Day! This is the day that LB was placed in our arms forever and we started our life together. It is hard to believe that one year ago we were in Ethiopia becoming parents.

It was hard then to see how scared he was to be with people that he didn't know at all. In a lot of ways it is harder now to look at those photos and see that fear in his eyes. Obviously, I loved him like crazy that day one year ago but there is something different and deeper about my love for him today. That is why it hurts more now to know how scared he really was. I didn't know much about him then except what we observed from our short visits a few weeks prior and from the updates we received from our agency. These days he calls me "mama" and runs to my arms when he falls or is scared or unsure. When he wakes up from his nap and is still a little sleepy he nestles his head into my chest and takes deep, slow breaths rather than look around for something familiar like he did last year. He gives the best hugs and kisses and has the loudest scream you have ever heard.

I wrote a few letters to LB while we were in Ethiopia that week and here is some of what I wrote about our first day and night together:

We discovered that you know how to blow raspberries and you think it is very funny. You like it when we do it to you too. You love having your diaper changed and get all giggly and squirmy. I didn't sleep at all the first night. I kept anticipating you waking up. I also kept listening for sounds that you were breathing since you have a respiratory infection. I think I am a pretty paranoid first time mama. You woke up twice during the night and wanted to be fed. You are extremely fierce about your feedings. All in all I think we did pretty well on on our first night together. Your dad and I were a good team. I can't wait to get to learn more about you.

It's been quite a year getting to know our sweet, strong willed and smart boy!
We love you, Our Little Buster!