[emjay]

One year ago today we flew home from Russia with our new son Daniel just before his 1st birthday. Gotcha was 8/24, and we had been together for one week - getting to know each other, seeing some of the sights and taking all the steps necessary to go home. We were falling head over heels in love with this little guy and were anxious to welcome him into our family. We had the fears we all have - will there be health issues? Attachment issues? How would he and our daughter react to each other?

The first months were rough. D was and is a very happy little guy, and he ate well. He made great eye contact, and in some ways seemed to be forming a bond with us. We practiced attachment parenting from the get-go, and still do. He was overly friendly with strangers at first - not surprising, but concerning to us. But bedtime was the toughest...he was the Amazing Sleepless Baby. We'd rock him and rock him and rock him - standing and bouncing in a pitch dark room was the only way acceptable to him - and rock him until the tension slowly ebbed from his little body and he was asleep. Then lay him gently down, hoping for more than 45 minutes of sleep before he woke screaming and we had to do it all over again. We also had 2-5 diaper blowouts PER DAY. That I could deal with, but the lack of sleep was making life hard for all. And our then 4yo DD was coping well, but definitely getting less attention than we would have liked. But then things changed...the 3-month mark was huge for us - Danny developed trust and started sleeping through the night. We eliminated dairy and wheat from his diet and the blowouts (which had gotten a bit better anyway) stopped completely.

Fast forward to now, and we have a happy-go-lucky almost 2yo little boy who is very active and physical (friends call him Danny "Dash" like the kid from Incredibles because Danny runs so fast). He loves cars and trains and books. He eats like a man, and sleeps all night plus a 2-hour nap - both willingly. He's parroting every thing we say and is trying to put together 2 and 3-word sentences. He's a snuggly bug these days - giving out hugs and kisses to DH, DD and me. While it's only been a year, he seems very attached to us and now has appropriate reactions to strangers. His smile can charm even the most grumpy person, and we just know that smile will get him out of trouble more than once down the line. He's full of mischief and into everything, so he keeps us hopping. But we wouldn't have it any other way. Do we have issues? Of course! He now has dramatic mini-tantrums and is going through a throwing period. Did I mention he's almost 2? But we do feel our attachment parenting helped him reach this point - hibernating with him for several months, being the only ones to provide for his needs, bottle-feeding and encouraging lots of eye contact and body contact among other things.

I love this little boy so much that my heart fills in my chest and I weep. I thank God every day that He directed us to Danny - we know he was always meant to be our son.

If you've made it this far, thanks for letting me ramble a bit about our boy. Here are some pics from his first year with us...his referral photo (love the flowered hat!), the day we met him (pox), Gotcha Day (blue jacket), 1 month home (bowls), 9 months home (pans), and just a few days ago (yellow stripes).

Thanks to all of you for sharing our first year and blessings to you all - wherever you are in your process!

[mommyto4]

Wow, Danny is precious congratulations and thanks so much for sharing your story and pics.

[Lo-la-la]

Yes, that smile surely lights up any room and lifts a heavy heart! Happy Gotcha Day! Thanks for sharing your story with us. I LOVE the chicken-pox picture! He's even smiling through all the green dots!

[GCS]

You've got a future drummer on your hands!

He just keeps getting cuter! Happy Gotcha day to the whole family!

Christina

[KimOH]

Congratulations and happy "Gotcha Day" to your whole family!

[votemom]

awesome pictures!

did you have any warning that he had the pox before you saw him? that would be quite a shock seeing all that green medicine all over him.

the pots and pans and bowls pix brought back memories. my middle son loved to beat on the pans with a wooden spoon. it was my youngest though that became a drummer.

congrats on your gotcha day - he is gorgeous!

[Sally26]

Happy Gotcha Day! He is a handsome little guy! Thanks for taking the time to share some of the past year with us!

[skiboo]

Oh, what a wonderful post... thanks for sharing your journey. Happy Gotcha day to the whole family.

I love the pots and pans shot. He is so handsome and cute.

[mikeintexas]

Happy Gotcha Day Maura... you have a precious precious son. Thanks for celebrating your one year with us! Mike

[tigger44]

What a great story, and what a gorgeous little boy. Congratulations! Thanks for sharing!

[happyhome]

Such a cutie!
Thanks for sharing this great story!

[Russiaknight]

Hi Maura,

Those pictures are awesome and what a beautiful story!! I can't believe how much Daniel has changed from when I briefly met you in January - he is such a cutie. Congratulations on your family's one-year anniversary with Daniel.

Laura

[emjay]

Thanks all for your kind words. We feel so blessed with both of our children.

votemom - we didn't know Danny had the chicken pox until just before they brought him to us for the first time. He was on day 6, and thankfully, didn't seem uncomfortable. The dots faded considerably each day we visited. That green medicine seems to work! He only has one slight pock mark.

Russiaknight - I hope we can meet again at another NE gathering. Can't wait to meet your little boy!