My Little Jayhawk That I've Never Met.....

On February 6th Jen and I received the much anticipated monthly update of our son.

In September of 2012 Jennifer and I began packing Makaio's very first care package, which we are allowed to send one time each month.  Admittedly, we typically pack well beyond the allotted requirement of our agency.  Little did I know it would take approximately 5 months for him to grow into that little KU sweatsuit we packed that day.

That very first care package in September of 2012. (Notice the sweatsuit!)

We are about to begin the 14th month of our journey.  This process will make you grow more as a person than you could ever imagine.  I would say the initial 8 months were fairly manageable.....you had processes to go through...paperwork to complete...you actually had some sense of control over the pace of everything.  If anything, there was some sort of comfort in the predictability of everything.  Once you get your referral everything changes.  6 months ago we got ours.

Our little boy will celebrate his first birthday next Wednesday, March 6th.

I've celebrated many firsts in my life....but all I can seem to think of lately are all the firsts I won't experience with Makaio.

I didn't see that first tooth, or the first time he crawled.  I won't see those first steps, hear his first laughs, or those first words.  There are a million firsts that I will never know....but there are a million more that I plan to enjoy when we get off this ride.

From the day we were placed in each others paths, Ive loved him with all my heart.  I know its hard to imagine an unconditional and ever-growing love of someone you've never even met, but so it goes in the world of an adopting parent.

With each photo my love for him grows.  I begin to imagine what he is thinking, what he is doing, if he is happy or sad at the moment.....he starts wearing the things we've sent to dress him in.....and things become very real.  I welcome this feeling of realness with an open heart.

So as he turns 1, we begin preparing our home for his arrival.  Whenever that may be...9 months, 12 months, 18 months.....whatever it takes....we will be here waiting for him.  In the meantime we continue our prayers for his health and safety, as well as that of all our fellow adopting parents and families throughout the world.  May God be with each and every one of you.

 

Makaio's finally big enough to wear it in February of 2013!