Get Rid of "Gotcha" | Gotcha Day - Adoptive Families

Get Rid of "Gotcha" | Gotcha Day - Adoptive Families

I don't particularly like the term "Gotcha Day" either!

1 year at home!

Time really does fly by!
I can't really believe it has been a year since we landed at the airport with this precious little guy in our arms! We were so ecstatic that he was finally 'home' with us!
He has grown so much over the past year and is learning so much! He has such a personality and his little face always makes me smile!
People always say "Oh he's so lucky to have you all" but WE are SO lucky and blessed to have him!

Mommy's little man!

About 1 week after being home!

October 30th

One year ago today Nathanael was officially ours! It was such a relief! However, knowing that he was now ours and having to wait several more weeks to bring him home was not so fun!

But we are blessed to have him here now and all that waiting and worrying has been practically forgotten!

Nathanael Turner

One year ago today, Nathanael was officially a part of our family forever!

As I think back on the past year and how everything has changed.....from waiting and worrying through the adoption process to finally having a baby that we have prayed for so long! Adoption is truly a roller coaster of emotions but, it's completely worth it in the end!

Momma trying to be a photographer! lol

I have recently take up crocheting, so he is my guinea pig!

One year ago today we met Nathanael for the first time...!

Honestly, I can't believe it was a year ago today, that we finally met this beautiful, sweet little baby boy! I can't still feel all of the emotions as I think back on this day. So nervous, anxious and excited all at the same time!

Our plane landed early in Ethiopia that morning. As soon as we got to our guest house we were ready to go see our baby boy. On the way there, I almost got sick.....the driving in Ethiopia is CRAZY, scared me to death, I didn't think we were going to make it to get to see Nathanael! LOL (But we did and I got used to the driving after a day or two! Shew!)

We went straight into this little house that was home to so many kids that were happile waiting for their families to come too! Nathanael was in the Room #2 for babies. The nanny took us to him and he was fast asleep, empty bottle still in his mouth, sticking straight up in the air! I wanted to just grab him and kiss and squeeze him but, I didn't want to startle him. The nanny tried for a few minutes to get him to wake up which seemed like forever to us! He finally woke up, all smiles! She picked him up for a second and then handed him to me; or maybe I just took him! LOL It was the best moment of my life! I know a lot of people don't believe in "love at first sight" but, I do! From the moment I first held him in my arms, my heart melted and I knew I was going to love this child forever to the moon and back!

Boys....will be boys!

Look who climbed in to the walker (backwards) by himself!

Hello world...

Despite my poor blogging abilities...there has been a lot happening in our household in the past few months. Baby boy turned 1 and just started walking a couple days ago! He is just precious!


PREPARE FOR TOTAL CUTENESS!!!!

 

 

 

 



Things around here are about to get even more exciting as Nathaniel is now walking!! LOOK OUT! Is all I can say. This kid will be in to everything and on everything! LOL He already can climb on the couch and stand in the window sill, holding on with just his toes and fingertips!

We call him our little 'sour patch kid' because he will hit you and then love on you and say "awwww". He is getting a little temper too. When you tell him "no" he whines and then tries to hit you! (I think we are going to have our hands full with this little guy! But we wouldn't have it any other way!)

Did I ever mention that he is really really LOUD!!!! Especially when we are in the vehicle, he is NEVER quiet unless he is asleep! He is constantly jibber jabbering and yelling, sometimes to the point that it makes your ears ring. No kidding! I'm guessing that he will grow out of it. I wonder if any other kids from Ethiopia are loud like him?! Joey has always said the we got the loudest child in Africa! (Haha!)

Oh yeah! We both celebrated our first Mother's Day and Father's Day, which was wonderful! It used to be very depressing (to me anyways), when Mother's Day came around because I always wondered if I would ever get to be a mother.

I usually don't talk about this a lot but for those of you who don't know the details here's a little info:  When I was 16 doctors told me that I may never be able to have children.

For years it was hard not being a mother but I think I kept my sadness hid pretty well, but deep down all I wanted was a baby! Baby showers were horrible, only tearing my heart in two even more. Although I enjoyed looking at baby things, going shopping for baby showers often brought me to tears.... deep down I was hoping that one day I would be buying things for my own baby some day but not knowing if that day would ever come. It seemed like everyone around me was getting pregnant and honestly I kept thinking "Why them? They didn't even want a baby?...." Pathetic, I know! It was very hard but I just kept praying for the Lord to give me a baby and now we have a beautiful baby boy, Nathaniel, who is my heart and soul!

A little photo shoot....

So, I love taking pictures! Even though I'm not like a professional or anything, it's just something I love to do! When we were in Ethiopia I fought Nathaniel and Jeslyn (my neice) an outfit. Today I got bored and they got dressed up!

and a little football action...!

Happy 1st Birthday!

Today our baby boy is ONE year old!  We are so happy that he is here now and is celebrating his birthday with friends and family. He sure is a very LOVED little boy! Happy Birthday baby boy, mommy and daddy love you more than you will ever know! You are the greatest blessing in our lives by far!

We also had a little cake at home on his birthday!

Cute poem!

Our Child | Adoption Poem | Mom At Last

I've been lazy!

So things have been going pretty good! Nathaniel is doing great! He's growing like a weed!

We are still waiting on results from our visit to the Adoption Clinic at UK. But he is doing well! His pediatrician says he's right on track!

He has learned so much since he's been home! He sits up all by himself now! He's starting to eat some table food but....he still doesn't have any teeth! He can stand pretty good while you hold him for balance but he's still not crawling. I'm sure he will catch on quick though! He is usually a happy baby and smiles a lot! We just love him so much!