Utterly, Totally, Completely IN LOVE!

WOW!  How do I find words to express the emotions of having our son laid in our arms today?!?!?  The chills return now,  just thinking of that moment!...............

Today is Sunday, July 17th in Ethiopia.  THE DAY WE MET OUR SON!!!  We awakened to a fabulous breakfast at the Guest House, then went to church at the International Evangelical Church this morning.  Great service with peeps from so many different countries!  LOVED IT!!!  The sermon was a great reminder of how closely God walks through every trial with us, and has been by our side every step of this  journey to our sweet baby boy.  It was about Psalm 23 and how God wants to bring good out of every situation ~ if we seek Him and allow Him control over our life!

WOW.  SO GLAD we give God control over our lives........and gave Him control over our journey to parenthood too!  THANK YOU, GOD, for your faithfulness!!!!

To say that my "wait-meter" was running on empty does not even come close to describing how READY I was to get. to. that. Transition. House. to meet our son!  {smile}  We all were scheduled to go to lunch after church (at Island Breeze), and then it was finally time to go see baby "K"!  

Driving down the alleyway that I had seen before in video and pictures, knowing that it was REAL ~ this was OUR trip ~ WE were the ones traveling down this alley ~ to hold OUR son in our arms!!!!!  {someone pinch me, please!}  Oh MY......to watch the nannies bring the children to their parents/families really choked my up and filled my heart.  

BUT.....when they called our name, and we climbed up the stairs to take our waiting spot.........I began to TOTALLY LOOSE IT!!!!  I mean, I tried to keep it together, but the excitement, joy, love, and anticipation of this long-awaited moment of finally holding our son, simply overcame me.  In a good way.  Tears of JOY.  Tears of THANKFULNESS!  Tears of LOVE.

After "letting it out" a bit, I was able to collect myself before they brought out "K."  {whew!  thought I was going to scare the poor boy!}  The nanny came walking out of the doors to the orphanage, carrying with her the most precious baby boy EVER.  Our son!  This photo was captured when we first saw him come through the door in the nannie's arms.  He was dressed in a cute tan/blue elephant outfit we sent to him and was wrapped in a blanket we also sent to him.  Precious. 

There was a lot going on with all of the families meeting their children and the other families sharing in our moments, but in time, we found our way to a small grassy area where we cuddled and cooed and loved on a blanket.  As a family.

It was so natural!  It felt like "K" had been a part of our lives from the beginning!  Okay, trying to figure out the bottle with a HUGE hole in the nipple and formula running all over our sweet babe's face would prove that it wasn't totally natural.  Ha!  But, after figuring out how to help the formula not pour down his throat, we were in business!  {grin}

The time flew by and we managed to take 300 pictures, believe it or not!  Guess we think our baby is pretty handsome, huh!?!?  Oh yeah, wait till you see him for yourself!  {giggle}  Our time together was precious.  The interaction between him and us was surreal.  His utter joy and contentment a blessing.  We learned he LOVES to be kissed.  Anywhere!  His cheeks, his forehead, his neck, his toes.....doesn't matter.....kisses bring a huge smile to his adorable little face!!!

Daddy got "K" to giggle when he gave him a "mini ski lesson."  As Jeff swayed "K" left, then right and then straight up in the air {jumping off a snow jump}we got to hear our son's voice and laughter for the first time.  Go figure.  Skiing brought on the giggles.  Right after his Daddy's heart.  

The play, the cuddles, the love......all so amazing.  When they told us it was time to go, my heart sank.  Knowing that we would be back tomorrow lightened it.  Some.  Baby "K" cried when I handed him over to the nanny.  The nanny chuckled at how he didn't want to leave my arms.  Leave his mommy and daddy.  Broke my heart to hear him cry, but blessed me all the same.

Overall, we feel our first day of meeting and playing with and loving on our son was a HUGE SUCCESS!!!!

Be. Still. My. Heart.