Dear U

I recently started a family tradition (thanks www.millionsofmiles.com for the idea!) of writing a letter to each of our children on their birthday as a gift for them to look back on years from now.  

To our little one year old U,

Happy happy Birthday baby U!  You are one years old today my sweet little boy.  There are so many things I am bursting to tell you my littlest one but let me start off by saying how much I love you!  I love you I love you I love you!  As author Sam McBratney puts it, I love you right up to the moon and back.  I am praying that the mama's caring for you today are celebrating with us and lovin' on you with oodles of hugs, kisses and giggles.  In my heart I am snuggling up with you tickling your toes and gazing at those big black eyes.

You are one cute baby Mr. U!  It was love at first sight for me little guy just like with your daddy.  I haven't seen a picture of your smile yet but I'm sure it is there and I can't wait to sit smiling beside you!

Today and everyday is just so incomplete without you here with us.  

There are so many things about you that we still do not know.  I can only assume based on what we know about you that are, in the best way possible, a mighty little fighter.  You are strong.  You are a child of God and perfectly made in His image.  By next year I pray that your 2nd Birthday letter will be overflowing with experiences from our life together and all that I have learned about you.  Since I can't do that today I thought I would use this letter to tell you about where you come from and the amazing group of men and women that have surrounded you from birth.

As you grow up there are many things you will learn about the Democratic Republic of Congo that will be important for you to know but my hope is the information I share in this letter will stand out above all the rest.  

The DRC is filled with beauty, lush fertile land and vibrate music.  It has over 200 ethnic groups each with their very own language and culture.  Your particular village speaks Swahili.  Congo is located in the heart of Africa and despite extreme adversity it is known as being one of the most alive places.  The eastern part of Congo where you live is filled with indestructible images of resilience, courage, patience and heroism.  You are apart of them my little man and I pray that we can raise you to be as courageous for Christ as the community that you were born into.

Your daddy loves you and talks about you with pride.  Your oldest sister wants to share her favorite book with you.  Your other sister loves to say your name over and over again.  Both girls think you are super cute (how could they not?!!).  I am completely head over heals in love with you my baby boy.  My heart is more than ready to have you in my arms for good.

We love you!  Praying a very special birthday for you today. Your birth is being celebrated across the world from you today.  You are apart of our family little man. 

Love you,

Mommy

Bunnies, Ponies & Kittens Oh My!

In addition to all the fun we had at Hershey Park, we were also able to visit a church carnival. The animals were a big hit!

Chocolate & Rides...a winning combination!

Just a few weeks before my sister, C, is expecting the arrival of baby #3 the girls and I and my mom took a trip to visit my sister's family in PA. We had a BLAST at Hershey Park!!

If you are able to zoom in you will notice my face of sheer panic over a kiddy ride.  The following picture is of me laughing realizing that my sister and mom saw and captured it on their phone. :)

Mother's Day Celebration at A's Preschool

Mother's Day

                                                            Happy Mother's Day!

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

We are chugging along this adoption process pretty seamlessly thus far.  Praise God!  We've received two updates in the past week or so both indicating that our paperwork is going at record speed.  They tell us that cautiously preparing us that anything could change.  We are still many many months away from meeting our little boy, but there is always great excitement in every update we get!

The day after our first update we were contacted again to let us be aware of a hold that has been placed on giving adopted children paperwork to leave DRC.  The governement is investigating one specific adoption case.  Once that case has been handled, they plan to reopen adoptions with possible delays and additional steps.  We see this as a blessing that all the papers and hurdles we go through to bring U home are working to prevent unethical practices.  

It's hard to believe that if we were in the stage of the adoption that we are in now this past Fall we would have been packing our bags to meet our little U.  The wait is hard but the benefits overpower all the waiting.  Oh how I long to snuggle with our baby boy!

A few days after the hold was implemented we received an email with U's birth certificate and news that the Congolese courts have officially added to his full name our last name.  YAY!!!  I know that our little guy has no idea but we are thrilled beyond words to know he is recognized in the courts as we already know him to be....part of our family!

Day at the Zoo

A fun family day at the zoo to welcome the beautiful Spring weather. It was A LOT of fun for all!!

A is quite the navigator with the zoo map.

On family days like today my heart was longing more than usual to have all five of us together at the zoo.  Can't wait for U to come with us next year!!

The day wouldn't be complete without some dancing.