Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Six Months ago...

Six months ago today, our lives changed dramatically when Layden moved in to our home. I can hardly believe that it's been 6 months. I still remember the day that we got the call that we were chosen to take placement of Layden. It was one of the happiest days of my life so far... Up there with the day we got married and the day our daughter, Audra, was born.
And on the evening of April 2, 2007, Layden was delivered!!!
No, he wasn't swaddled and put in a nursery, or under warmer, he was grabbed up, hugged and given a room of his own with a CARS theme!
No, he wasn't waking up every 2 hours at night crying because he wanted to eat, but he was waking up in the morning saying "I Eat!".
No, he wasn't a tiny baby, but his little fingers and toes still take my breath away.
No, I didn't get to see his first step, or his first haircut or hear his first word, but I got to see his first smile for me and I got to hear him call me mommy for the first time.
No, he wasn't just learning to roll over or to crawl, but he was running to chase the cat and dog for the first time.
No, my whole family wasn't in a waiting room waiting anxiously, but my family all got pictures via email as soon as I could get them uploaded.
All in all, as I look back at Layden's first 6 months, I can see so many changes in him.
I can see his twinkling eyes and his sneaky little smirk of a smile while he decides what to get into next.
I can hear his sweet little "l luf u mommy" and I can hear his cars being run over the carpet, the tile, the bed, the table, the cat, the dog, and my leg.
I can see his eyes over the back of the rocker, where I used to only be able to see the top of his head.
And I can hear the sound of laughter when he and Sissy are hiding under his bed.
No, I didn't give birth to this adorable, rambunctious, defiant little boy, but I'm his mommy none-the-less.
And in just a month and a half from now, I get to hear a Judge say that too!
Do I regret our decision to take this little boy? NO! With all the frustrations and defiance of the past 6 months, I don't regret our decision at all. Yes, there are days when it wears me out, and days when I struggle, but what parent doesn't have those days. There's so much potential in this little dynamo and I know he's destined for great things. God had provided us with this adorable little boy to be the little brother of a great big sister, to be the son of a gentle father and to be the sweetheart of a proud mother. What more could we ask for here on earth?