J Cooper Photography

A year ago Thursday we received a very important phone call.  We had friends over for a play date when my case worker called to introduce us to a TINY baby boy who would become our son.  This past Thursday we celebrated the year anniversary of seeing Daniel’s picture for the very first time.

It was shocking really.   In many ways I was on Cloud 9…I HAD A NEW SON!  I stared at his picture and tried to memorize every little detail of his face.  I speculated about his health, his personality, his struggles, his dreams…all while gazing at a tiny, grainy image on my computer screen.  But it was gut wrenching too.  In my great joy, my son had suffered a huge loss that he would have to carry all of his days.  Another mother struggled and felt immense anguish so that I could celebrate with a Mexican dinner and phone calls to all my friends.  Adoption is hard.  Beautiful.  Rewarding.  Full of JOY.  But hard in a way that changes you heart and makes you feel things you’d rather lock back in the recesses of your mind.

These were our first glances at our baby boy.

{His first day at Hannah’s Hope.  2 1/2 months old and barely 5 lbs.  Sick with pneumonia and malnutrition.  Held by an amazing woman who I owe many thanks}

{Scrawny little  baby boy…unable to grasp or control his limbs.  Ironically wearing a onsie that reads “I just pulled an all-nighter”…foreshadowing at its finest.}

Those were the images burned into my mind.  But they weren’t the ones I showed.  I held them close to my heart and prayed for a healthy appetite, miraculous weight gain, and clear lungs.  And in the meanwhile…I showed off this image of him a few weeks (and ounces) later.

We had a LONG wait to meet our son in person.  After seeing his pictures in July the courts closed for the rainy season.  We first traveled to meet him in November and then again in January to bring him home.  God provided amazing peace (and a thousand distractions) during our wait.  I worried, and prayed, and worried, and prayed.  Every day for 6 months.  And then I grabbed him in my arms and fell instantly in love.  I know this doesn’t happen to everyone.   Maybe it is easier with a baby who is so tiny and relies on you to meet his every need.  But the love was immediate and having him home with us has been such an awesome reminder of how hard God works to set the lonely into families.

One year later that tiny baby boy is flourishing.  Not because of us.   But because GOD LOVES him and has a plan for his life that doesn’t include an orphanage on the other side of the world.  He was meant to be loved by FAMILY.  And there are SO MANY more who God wants to set in families still waiting.  Maybe you have room?

We are so proud of our little Danny boy.  He’s on a curve of his own…still struggling to make up lost time from his sickness and rocky beginning.  And I’m STILL praying, and waiting, and praying, and waiting.  Every day.  I’m trying really hard not to compare him to others.  Because he has his own story.  And I know that God has given him this life with a purpose and I am just SO fortunate to get to watch what kind of GREAT THINGS God is going to do with his life.  He is overflowing with joy.  Bubbling over.  Full of smiles.  He’s inquisitive…a studier…content…and relaxed.  He’s never in a hurry and rarely cries.  He blows kisses, plays patty cake, gives hi fives, gives hugs, signs “more”, “eat”, and “all done” and can say a host of words like “mama”, “dada”, “anna”, “all done”, “yeah”, and “baba”.  He’s brilliant don’t you think?

We’ve had this guy home for SIX MONTHS and the change in him over the course of that time has been remarkable.  He started out as a shell shocked infant with no control over his body.  He was withdrawn and scared.  His muscles were tight and rigid and his eyes were crossed.  Slowly but surely he has started to open up to us and show us his true personality!  He’s a charmer and a complete flirt!  He’s made huge strides in flexibility (he couldn’t lift his hands over his head at first) and is growing stronger every day.  Now he can roll, sit up, get into a crawling position from his tummy, rock on all fours, and stand with help.  And his eyes are healing ON THEIR OWN…which means…PRAISE GOD…no surgery!

We had plans to go out for ice cream to celebrate his REFERRAL-VERSARY but things got too crazy before bed.  Instead, we slipped out into the backyard and took a few impromtu photos to remember OUR SON on this special day!

Thanking God for the GIFT we have in this baby boy!  WE LOVE YOU DANNY!