Almost nine months together....

Many of you know that Russ and I teach a parenting class called Empowered to Connect for adoptive and foster families. This class educates families on how trauma affects the brain and then how to practically parent to those children. One of the families who was in our most recent ETC class followed our blog even before they ever met us. We have the same social worker and she shared (with permission) our blog so this new family could follow along. I was REAL in my feelings with our journey with Luke and I think I may have scared some of the other in process adoptive families about how difficult the journey can be. So, it is long past due for an update on Luke. So now that we’ve had him almost nine months, here goes…

Luke is absolutely amazing! He’s funny, smiles most of the day and keeps us laughing and on our toes. He’s a busy little guy which is a stark contrast from the catatonic shell of a boy we met in China. Luke can disappear from me in seconds and then I’ll hear the pencil sharpener going across the house and in the moment that I had turned my back, he took the stool from the piano, walked it into our school room, found all the colored pencils and decided it was time to sharpen them all. He also likes to find whatever liquid/cream he can get his hands on and spreads it all over himself. This week was diaper cream and hand sanitizer which he got in his eye. I hope he learned a lesson on that one. Natural consequences are the best type of consequences.

this was taken about a month after being home and he was already settling in and loving his siblings.

He has some “friends” that he absolutely adores. Most of them are teenage boys that are friends with my oldest daughter. He walks through the hallways of coop chanting his friend’s names and high fiving (is that even a word?) almost every kid in the building. My older kids have said that their little brother has made them so popular because everyone loves Luke. He’s impossible not to adore.

He absolutely adores Eli. Eli is his most favorite person outside of the family.

He sings worship songs at the top of his lungs and has made people cry by his zeal for worship! He is especially loves “Hallelullu” (aka Living Hope).

He is an amazing kid! Friends of ours have commented that he’s the happiest kid they know…. and I can’t help but agree! He loves life and lives it fully (as much as a two year old can).

Luke loves to go hiking.

He’s making leaps in his development since being home. He’s still delayed for a 2 1/2 year old but he makes progress every day.

Let him climb, she said… it will be good for him, she said!!! Our physical therapist encouraged us to let him climb… he can’t be alone for a second!

He’s also a motor head like his dad and his big brother. He loves cars, four wheelers, trains, dirt bikes and all things with a motor. He’s perfected his brrrrmmm with cars and would rather be riding on the four wheeler with dad than just about anything. How is it that we have another car enthusiast in this house… there’s already plenty of them.

If he’s napping and the four wheeler starts in the yard, he pops awake and yells, “Four wheeler, four wheeler.” This kid is such a motor head like his father.

This boy loves his cars.

He is happy most of the time, except if you tell him no. Since he’s the youngest by 5 years, he is pretty spoiled by his siblings.

Rachel dotes on her brother and will share almost anything with him. She’s such a great big sister.

He’s not perfect all the time. He has a bit of a temper when he hears no and I’ve been trying for months to get his adorable pout face but I never seem to get it. Here’s proof Luke fans that he’s not an angel all the time.

I believe we told him to stop playing in the toilet… clearly we have ruined his whole day.

He also has this funny attraction to goatee’s. We have a few friends with a goatee and Luke is obsessed.

Luke taking our friend Gene for a walk by his goatee.

Always likes “talking” to DaAAAVVVVEEEE and playing with his goatee.

It’s really hard to imagine that just nine months ago we met a very different child. Luke was so shut down and almost unresponsive to everything around him. He would stare into space and have very little expression. He had stopped drinking and had trouble sleeping. Oh how our baby boy was so scared. Oh how scared I was!!! More like terrified!! BUT GOD! God answered every prayer!

Adoption is a scary journey packed with unknowns. But if God calls you out on the water, He’s not going to let you sink. We were faithful to His calling and He carried us through even when it was scary and hard. We feel like we won the lottery with Luke and Rachel. We have the most amazing kids and truly feel blessed to be their parents.

So to all my adoptive parents friends out there who are in process…. keep going! It’s going to be AMAZING… soon. Be patient with yourself and with your child. God’s got this even when you don’t.

I know much of my blog was scary to families but look at the beautiful spot we’re in now. Luke’s an amazing kid! I often say he should be the poster child for adoption. I hope someone out there who followed our journey will one day consider adoption. There are so many beautiful amazing children who need a mom and dad. It’s scary but worth it! Russ and I are always available to mentor families who are considering adopting.

My littlest baker.