We headed to church around 9:30 this morning. This church started the baby home that Harrison has lived in for the past several months. Our agency eventually partnered with them to be a part of running the baby home with them. It was a special place to be today!
Harrison slept right through church. He woke up just in time for the special blessing that the pastor and the church family prayed over him.
After church, the baby home director w/ her family and her assistant w/ her family took us out to lunch. This was at a traditional Chinese place! It was interesting. Everything we tryed (besides the rice) was something new. Harrison fell asleep so I ate while wearing him in the Ergo.
We got PLENTY of smiles AND laughs today!
We took a last trip to the baby home. Harrison had his last play session on the mat!!
Harrison liked his early morning mum mum snack...
Lastly, we did have the special meeting with Harrison's birth mother. We were VERY surprised (even the director of the baby home was) that the birth father came as well. To continue my trend of keeping it real, I must say this about the meeting.
I would not have changed the decision to meet for the world. The pictures and discussion and memories of this time will be very important to Harrison later not to mention a good source of closure for his birth mother and father. We do plan to save all momentos of this meeting for him when he is older. & on the other hand, the meeting was probably the most awkward thing ever!! How do you convey your thankfulness to these people?? They just said that they wanted Harrison to have a good life. We definitely plan to make good on that request with God's hand guiding our way!!
16 comments:
I am so happy for ya'll! I have loved keeping up with your blog through this amazing journey! He is SO precious and he looks SO happy! Can't wait to see about the rest of your trip!
Couldn't get my name on there! Lol! The last comment was from me...Kelly Nichols :)
Oh April! I am so happy for you. Everyone looks great! It is so wonderful to see you, Brandon, Harrison, Deana, and Alexia (and families) again....even if it is only in pictures. Everyone looks great!
I am sooo glad you were able to meet the birth parents. I know exactly how you feel about the meeting...it was very emotional for Janie and I too---We are both so lucky to have those memories and pictures for our children.
Keep enjoying every moment!!!! So glad to hear Harrison is doing well. Tell Deana and Alexia we said hi!
Another comment:
Now I know how everyone here in America felt while we were in Taiwan.....I cannot wait to wake up each day and check on you guys! I guess that is what my family and friends were doing while we were there too---its fun to experience it on this end too! And since we are with the same agency/birth home, I feel almost like I am there with you!
Janie and I are sooooo happy for you guys! God has blessed us beyond words! We can't wait to hear more of your journey!
what a blessing to see your family united! we met baby #2's birthfamily as well and you are right - probably the most uncomfortable thing, but SO worth it. I wouldn't have changed it for the world. Safe travels to your little family!
It is AWESOME that you got to meet Harrison's birth parents. I can see how it would have been awkward. It will be so so so meaningful to have met them when you and Harrison talk about them as he grows older and to have pictures is just even better.
I am so glad everything is going so well! I wanted to give you a speech pathology/feeding therapy tip for the coughing/gurgling/spitting up: when you feed Harrison, feed him sitting up as much as possible (almost straight up) to minimize this. Also, keep his head elevated at 45-60 degree angle for 45 minutes after feeding whenever possible to minimize the reflux.
Hope this helps! It usually does :-)
Can't wait for the next update! I'm loving all the pictures and the big smiles on all 3 of your faces!!!!!!
One other feeding tip: if you have the level one or two nipples for the bottles, you may try those to see if that helps. The faster the flow, the more he's going to get at a time which can cause the coughing/gurgling sounds. If you only have level 3, try feeding him sitting up and also with the bottle more level than tilted up to keep him from getting as much at at time. If this is confusing, shoot me an email!!
:-)
That is so wonderful that you got to meet and take photographs of Harrison's birth family. We have one photo of our son with his birth father when he was small and no photos of his birth mother. I think it will be important to him someday and have put them in a safe place for him.
What a very handsome boy you have! I don't think I've EVER seen such pure joy in yours & Brandon's eyes! You guys look like pros and Harrison just fits in perfectly!! God is so good, April! I am so excited to see all of this, so than you so much for taking the time to update your blog.
I can't imagine meeting the birth mother & birth father - I pray that it will be closure to everyone.
Oh, hurry home!! We cannot wait to see him in person!!
Okay, so I was looking at the pictures some more and Audrey came in and so "OH I LOVE HIM! I HOLD HIM MOMMY!" So, yeah - Harrison has his first little girl friend already! :)
April...the whole time we've been out of town, I've been dying to get home so I could check your blog! I am so glad you are documenting this time in your lives so well...then again I'm not because I cry w/ every post. I am so happy for you and for Harrison. He has no idea how lucky he is. I remember watching Ryan and Wendy go through the whole process and it just tears me up everytime! I'm so happy for you and Brandon....hope God continues to bless you always!
Congratulations!!! We just brought our daughter home from Taiwan in early Oct. I know that absolute feeling of joy :) He is a doll. I love his little preppy outfit!!
He is SO SO SO gorgeous! So happy for your beautiful family! (even though I don't know you!) :)Blessings!
GOD IS SO GOOD!!! So happy for you and your hubbie and Harrison. You have a perfect little family. Congrats. Safe travels home!
SO cool about meeting Harrison's bio mom/dad. I love the church pictures!!
Adorable family :)
Post a Comment