A Month as Parents of Louis

One month ago we finalized our adoption of Louis, as he pressed his hand to a red inkpad and then left his handprint on a document, all with a big grin. This evening when John arrived home, and Louis lit up with joy to see his Baba, it was especially hard to believe that he has been part of our family for only a month. We both know God selected Louis for us long before we ever met him. He is just too perfect a fit for our family! Tonight when Louis was getting frustrated that I wouldn't let him stick broccoli up his nose, and we were arguing in two languages, it was hard to remember what life was like pre-Louis.

This week Louis has started waving "hi" and "buh-bye," and he has added "hi" to his list of words he says--though he does not respond to prompting. He also blows kisses. Earlier in the week we took him to a Chinese restaurant and the waitresses wanted so badly for him to talk to them, but he wasn't very receptive. He was more interested in my young cousin and her boyfriend who met us at the restaurant and happily taught him how to high-five and fist-bump. Louis loved serving as the entertainment, rolling his eyes back at John and drinking more milk in one sitting than we had ever seen him drink. He had a wonderful time!

To his father's delight, Louis is showing an affection for trains. He has said, "Choo choo," and some of his favorite toys are train-related. This week, though, he has been especially interested in building things, running things down the ramp of his Fisher Price parking garage (if his Mama had known involved eight screws to assemble it, she wouldn't have dragged it out until Baba was home), removing his shoes and socks, and being in Mama's arms whenever she is cooking. I don't know how parents of other 2-year-old boys survive without a playpen! Ours is invaluable. And Louis likes his crib more and more all the time. He doesn't even cry for us in the mornings. He just waits for us to come (as he throws his stuffed animals out of the crib).

We have survived some rough medical appointments this week. The bloodwork attempt was so disastrous we gave up and will return later when his father can be there to help.

When we introduced Louis at our local agency's meeting Monday night, we listened to other new adoptive parents share their sleep problem stories, and John and I felt just a twinge of guilt. It passed quickly, though, and as we transferred our sleeping son from his car seat to his crib for a 12-hour sleep, an observer might even have thought we looked a bit smug. ;)