Looking Back

I am home today, nearly incapacitated by the common cold, and crying my eyes out over an episode of "An Adoption Story". It quickly takes me back to our trip to Vietnam and our first meeting with the little guy.

When I think about it now--my son was so brave! He allowed his clumsy new parents to hold him and love him from the start. He laughed with us and showed his sweet little personality in small glimpses that first 24 hours even though he must have been so confused by what was happening.

I am constantly amazed by my little one. Everything in his life was turned upside down and he managed to adjust. It thrills me to watch him today--confident and posessing this quirky little sense of humor....and so full of affection and love.

Words will never describe the reward of being loved by a child that you did not give birth to. It feels like a miracle to earn their trust and respect. It fills me with joy to meet his needs and to know that I am "mom".

That totally outweighs the fact that said little one sat on my head at 8am with a poopy diaper. What a way to deliver a message! I said my kid was quirky, right?

Stage 5 Clinger

Above is a belated photo of the 0-3 months swim trunks. Our little one looks like quite the pool lounge lizard in this one.

So, the past few days have been rougher. Morgan is a full force "Cling-on" right now. He will not let me put him down without a fight. Even with my parents here...it was very difficult to put him down to get anything done. My step mom ended up doing the majority of laundry and cleaning that I hoped to accomplish. Morgan seems to worry that I am "handing him over" if anyone but his dad and I hold him. I have to respect that and not try it unless he initiates the holding...but I know it hurts his grandparents feelings.

Today, Jeremy made it home very early from work and I got a 4 hour nap. BLISS. Morgan is very happy to hang out with Daddy and that is awesome. They are playing now so that I can post.

Sorry the postings have been erratic. I am still so exhausted and trying to figure things out. We've gone on a few outings--lunch with a friend and lunch with my folks--a visit to my office--and Morgan is hanging in like a champ. He's social as long as he is clinging to me :) No high chairs or other people holding him for the most part.

Everyone says that this will ease up as the weeks go by. I can't wait--I miss his funny little laugh that came a lot easier in VN and I would love to see him relaxed more often.

Some adjustment pains

We are having a hard time getting Morgan adjusted to the time difference and to his new environment. Sorry I haven't posted, but the little guy is crying non-stop and sleep is a foreign concept to us all at this point.

Today, I couldn't get him out of the stroller after attempting a walk around the block in the hopes he would stop crying. The walk went great...but the darn latch to the stroller would not release. Having had no sleep and being at the end of my mommy rope I called a neighbor in tears and her husband came over to unhook the poor kid so that I could get him out. Turns out on the Mclaren strollers, you have to push the front and the back of the latch. SHEEEZ. Fortunately my friend's hubby didn't laugh at me crying with a trapped baby. He took it in stride.

Jeremy is back at work today and I am the solo parent. Morgan has his first doctor's appt tomorrow...hoping to find out what to do about the constipation, scratching ears and face...and general adjustment problems.

Yes--future adoptive mommys...it ain't all roses. There are very hard days when you are getting used to all of the changes.
ok...back to the howling little man.