[ManyTimesBlessed]

We have been home a week today and I am just now getting the chance to post an update and pictures. Jayden is keeping us on our toes to be sure! He is 14 months old and into EVERYTHING! My quiet times sitting at the computer are over! But, I'm so in love that it doesn't matter a bit!

Jayden is doing so well and is such a joy. He is really funny and very social. Sometimes he'll just turn and look at us and giggle for no reason. He waves "bye bye" and is already picking up some of the signs we do with him. He signs "more" and "all done" and gets the biggest grin on his face when he does it. He also is saying Mama and DaDa, though not consistently. He says "Oh da" (hola) when he answers his toy phone - really cute! He thinks our cats are wonderful and he says "dat" and then shrieks and power crawls after them (he hasn't caught them yet).

Bath time is no longer traumatic - in Guatemala he cried like we were torturing him when we tried to give him a bath. Now, he stands outside the bathtub and cries to get IN while I'm getting the water ready. He also loves music and will bob to anything upbeat. We were trying to wake him up the other day to take his medicine and we gave him his puppy that plays songs and he lay there half asleep with his eyes still closed and bobbed to the music.

He's not walking yet, but he is crawling everywhere. I just ran out to Walmart last night after DH got off work to buy gates to keep Jayden corralled a little. He has figured out how to take the "childproof" plugs out of the electric sockets, loves to unplug anything that is plugged in and is very quick to open cabinets and drawers and scatter their contents all over the floor. The walking will probably happen soon. I have seen him stand independently once or twice, but he is too chicken to take a step without holding onto something. I figure he'll probably be taking steps within another week or two.

I always searched posts like this for attachment info, so here it is. Jayden is 14 months old as I mentioned before and we did not visit. He came right to us in the hotel and seemed fine when the foster mom left. He did do some grieving for the next few days. Now he will occasionally have moments where he is easily frustrated or especially fussy and you can tell that he is grieving. But, he is doing much better. He has DEFINITELY attached to us. He gives lots of hugs and kisses and accepts holding and cuddling. He will stop in the middle of playing and come over to give cuddles and baby kisses. We have had several visitors, but have said no holding and this seems to work well. We broke this rule with Grammy one day and we PAID for it. He fell apart later and you could tell he just didn't trust us like he had before. It took some extra work to get our happy boy back. So far, I would say that this toddler adoption thing is very do-able. The first days were hard (and made worse by the fact that he was sick when we got him) and I had moments where I felt angry that we didn't get him sooner and he had to go through this. But, on the flip side he is at such a fun age and is so interactive and playful and curious and we are enjoying that.

Overall we are having a blast with him and we feel so blessed that God has gifted us with this amazing miracle! We are on cloud nine!

I'm attaching some pictures.

I hope all of you (especially the other longtimers) get your children home soon!

[WesieMom]

Welcome Home! He is a doll!!

[stillxling]

Rachel!! Welcome home and thanks for posting! I can't believe Jayden is finally home FOREVER, and I'm sure you're still in "dream-mode". So, glad to hear that the transition is going well. He is too cute!!

[CEB]

Rachel:

Thank you so much for the update - I have been wondering about Jayden's journey home. It sounds like things are going very well and he is absolutely adorable - I am so happy for you!! Keep enjoying him as much as possible and check in with us every now and again so we can see your cutie in action!!!

[cheychey]

Thank you for the update. I'm glad to see Jayden home where he belongs. It's great that he is doing well. I hope your daughter comes home soon too.

[akasohappy]

What an awesome post!
You made me feel more optimistic about attachment issues (I know all children are different though.)
Also it was nice that you made a point of letting us know the upside to bringing home an older baby.
You are right that is a really great, cute age!
He is so cute.
Any updates on Lillian's case?

[My Isela]

What a sweet little guy..glad to hear you are all home and doing well.
Thanks for sharing.

[KKR213]

Welcome home! Jayden is adorable!

[akasohappy]

Oh, I forgot to ask you if you were still babysitting?
I am wondering how our adjustment will be with us having a child 10 weeks younger in the house.
I have mentioned to the folks I sit for that I may not be able to continue watching their baby after mine comes home. I have to do what is best for my own children first.
I am hoping that things will go smoothly. I have become quite attached to her and I would hate to have to quit watching her.
If you get a chance PM me. I know you are busy, busy these days enjoying you little man.
Congratulations!

[scottskaggs]

What a cutie pie. I'm glad your all finally home together and doing great.

[ana-mom]

What a great post - I feel like I'm reading his babybook! So glad you are all getting on so well - he is absolutely adorable.

Welcome Home Jayden - so glad you made it!

[carlyincali]

Rachel, what great news! And Jayden is a doll! He is a big boy, isn't he.

I have a question. How long did you let Grandma hold him? Just over that, he had a hard time? Wow, I am going to have to print this post out and show my mom, because she is probably going to be heartbroken, (she will understand though,) if I tell her she can't hold her grandson for a while.

I guess I am going to need to do more reading up before our pick-up trip. I don't want to do anything to jeopardize the bonding between Shay and us.

Thanks for posting. He is just so sweet! I bet it still feels surreal for you.

Blessings,

[lmitchem]

Rachel,

Thank you so much for posting!! We are going after our 14 month old too and I always look to see what actually goes on with these babies. We too have not visited. So glad that everything went okay!! Anything else you can remember that I might need to know please write me...cuz I'm pretty clueless!!!

Hugs,
Lisa

[brink]

So happy your son is home with you and that things are going so well. Enjoy!

[kala]

Rachel,

Congratulations on bringing Jayden home, he's adorable !!

Kathy
Anthony's Mom