Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Time Flies

Six months ago today we were nervously getting dressed for court in a hotel room in Izhevsk, Russia. We had gone over our speeches about a million times. We could barely eat our breakfast and we had even practiced our speeches in the little café while we tried to eat.

We were escorted to the Russian court and ushered into a bland room with small benches for us to sit on and small tables for the orphanage director, the social worker, the prosecutor, the clerk, and podium for the Judge.

I spoke first talking about our family, our home, our finances, and everything in between. Troy spoke about our jobs, our hobbies, our lives. We were asked many questions. Troy was so quiet and nervous that they had to keep asking him to speak up. Finally in answer to one of the Judge’s questions, Troy simply said “Because we love him.”

After four hours, we were finally announced Daniel’s parents. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the smile plastered on my face. It was one of those you just can’t wipe away and the kind that hurt because you can’t stretch it any farther. I remember looking at the social worker and orphanage director, who we really, really liked, and seeing their big smiles also.

What a day. What a change to our lives and the life of a little boy from Russia. I think that day will always be one of the most remembered and one of the best days of our lives. Daniel is a true joy. He makes us laugh, his personality fits right in with our family. There have been tears and frustration too, but the smiles and laughter far outweigh them.

As an update on attachment I thought I would list a few things that have happened recently.

1. At the library I was sitting counting his jumps on the trampoline when he got off and started toward a table with play-doh. Halfway across the room, he stops suddenly turning, so fast he falls. He gets right up, finds my eyes, and says “Come on, Mama”.

2. We had guests for lunch a couple of weekends ago including his beloved Granny and Grandpa and Troy’s boss. When he was done, he fussed to be out of his chair so I picked him up and sat him in my lap facing away from the company holding him on my shoulder. He actually stayed in that position, laying his head down for a few minutes, letting me hold him, without feeling the need to turn around and be in the middle of the conversation.

3. Daniel and I went to Burger King and after he finished his lunch, instead of the normal, crawl under the table back and forth and see what everyone else was into, he sat down and put his head on my arm and let me hold him against my side while I finished eating.

The last two things are not only good attachment signs since he feels comfortable and secure but they are showing us that Daniel is not as overwhelmed anymore as he initially was when we would take him out. He’s becoming quite the little shopping companion for me (must to Troy’s chagrin) and I love it!!

So without further ado – These are photos I have posted before, but I think they show the real changes we have seen. Here is Daniel six months ago and then today!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your six month mark and on all the great attachment signals Daniel is giving you! I'm so happy for you guys!

Craig and Phyllis said...

4 Hours?!!! Wow! I don't think I have read that time in anyone's comments before! Sounds like Daniel is doing great. Loved the egg story!

Amy said...

Those 6 months have gone fast! Being a mom is the absolute best. Congrats on this milestone.

Adrienne, Another Ordinary Miracle said...

You really can see the difference in him just in pictures. It's incredible to me that he is already doing so many of the attachment things that Owen is just now doing. YEAAAAA, Rachel!!!! I loved the "Come on, Mama." :)

So happy for you two and can't believe it's been 6 months!
A

ana said...

It's been 6 months for us too - amazing! D looks so happy in the recent picture! Congratulations on the attachment. I love when Eli lets me hold him and he puts his head against me. It is the best feeling!

Carey and Norman said...

I thought the same thing as Craig and Phyllis. 4 hours. I guess I didn't realize your court lasted that long. I think ours was 45 minutes. I think our anticipation was much worse than court.

Loved the pictures. What an adorable smile. I'm also happy to hear that attachment is going so well. I told another mom that recently returned from Vlad that I started seeing changes in attachment around six months. Not that we didn't see progress before six months, but I really was able to see a difference.

So glad you are doing well!!

Kevin T. said...

Congratulations on 6 months with Daniel home. What a great memory of court. He looks so happy! What great pictures - so cute!

Dan and Alicia Marlowe said...

He's a doll. How did you ever last 4 hours? I remember our day of court. I would have died had it taken that long. It's like when some women say how they were in labor for 49 hours. I'd be like, "just shoot me and get it over with please." He is certainly worth every bit of that though. What a precious face. I'm so happy you have a little man to share your shopping days with.

junglemama said...

What great photos! Time has flown by!

Lakeshore Cottage Living said...

I can't believe it has already been 6 months! Time flies by so quickly. What a blessing he is!

Shane & Marie said...

He is growing into such an adorable little boy! Those signs of attachment are wonderful. Where does time go? Sometimes, I wish I could just freeze time.