More smiles, stickers, and hugs!

Today was a wonderful day!!  We headed out this morning to our agency's transition home to spend time with our little man!  I wasn't sure how he would react today when he saw us - yesterday he was pretty reserved when he first met us!  We pulled in and all the older kids were there again because it is a holiday in Ethiopia.  As we parked I started looking around for him, not sure where he would be coming from.  I got a couple steps from the van and saw a crowd of kids move to the side at end of the complex.  I soon saw why the kids parted down the middle, our son was running as fast as he could toward us.  He had the biggest grin on his face and was giggling!  He ran straight for me and leaped into my arms laughing and giggling!!!!  Be STILL my MAMA heart!!!

He was super sweet and cuddly and we had a wonderful time with him this morning!  More and more of his personality is shining through!  He is very smart and bright and likes to do things for himself.  He got busy playing and ended up having an accident.  We had brought clothes with us for him, so it was wonderful to have Daddy take him in and clean him and for him to know that we are there to provide and care for him!  It was a huge step in attachment!

Leah and little man are beginning to battle for attention!  Leah is the baby and doesn't quite know how to share that role.  Little man for sure likes doing things for attention and soaks up all that he can get.  Mixed with all the emotion that the last couple days has entailed, the sunshine, and exhaustion from playing with kiddos - Leah and Little Man both were pushing each others buttons!  They only had one little spat which ended up with a little pushing - I loved it to see they were acting like Siblings!!  It won't be their last battle, that is for sure!  They were able to make up and go on playing within no time!

Another family showed up this morning to meet their kids for the first time.  We were able to video their meetcha day and take some pics for them.  Another family arrived today to pick up their daughter and take her home - gotcha day!  We went to lunch with them and their new daughter, then headed back to the transition home this afternoon to play with little man.  He was down for his nap so we waited a few minutes for him to come.  We picked right up where we had left off and had a lot of fun spending time just being together as a family.  He is doing better about listening when he is told no.  When he digs in the bag for something, if it is Jarod's or Leah's I say "No, Leah's"...he just smirks and goes back to his toys.  Yesterday that was not the case - everything was free game!

We are making gains everyday to get to know each other as a family.  He is such a joy and a blessing and I know that we have only begun to scratch the surface.  We got a dose of reality this afternoon when we had to leave the guest house for the day.  We said goodbye just as we had done yesterday and earlier in the day when we left for lunch!  Little man made his rounds, giving hugs and kisses (which was new today and oh so sweet)!  Josh was the last one in line for the hugs as the kids and I went and climbed into the van with our things.  I looked around after a minute and saw Josh standing outside the gate - he pointed down at something and shrugged his shoulders.  I didn't know what he was doing - the van started to pull out of the gate and as we pulled up even to Josh I saw the problem.  Little man was standing at Josh's side SOBBING!!!  The guide got out and spoke to him and tried to explain that we were coming back tomorrow - but there was no consoling him.  Josh gave him one last hug, told him we loved him and that we would be back.  The nanny took him inside the gate and as we drove off, I looked back and saw tears streaming down his face.  I couldn't handle it and started tearing up - it breaks my heart to know that he feels left....and abandoned....AGAIN!  I dread next week when I cannot tell him we will see you tomorrow!!

The tears from little man were hard to handle but they were OH SO GOOD in terms of attachment.  Many adopted children have difficulty bonding to anyone in particular because they have had so many care givers.  They will go with anyone and everyone and not be real partial.  I am THANKFUL that our son knows and loves us and wants to be with us!!  We are so close to bringing him home- but in the heart of a little boy who has to wait for a Mommy and a Daddy it can feel like an eternity until the time to be with them forever comes!

Please continue to pray for us!!  Pray that our documents are ALL where they need to be so we can pass court on Friday!  Pray that we continue to build a strong relationship with little man this week as we continue to get to know each other.  Pray that we stay healthy while in country.  Pray for our hearts and little man's as we prepare to say goodbye for now - next Tuesday.  Pray for the older children at the transition home - that their hearts would be comforted in the wait and that their families' hearts will be stirred to be willing to open their hearts to an older child.   These kids are AMAZING and have touched my heart more than I ever expected them to.  I asked our guide if we could just add a couple more to our court date on Friday and just take them all home!!

We head to the Gorge tomorrow which is a scenic must see with beautiful canyons and baboons!!  We will be gone most of the morning and then will head over to see little man!!   Can't wait to see him and reassure him that we are still here - for him!  Love this crazy thing we call life these days - adoption is so incredibly rewarding - but so incredibly emotionally draining - highs and lows and everywhere in between!  Blessed to be the one God called for this work - blessed to call little man MY SON!