Things that make you go hmm.......

Have you ever listened to a conversation and thought--oh Lord, please don't let my child act like that?

Well, yesterday as I was taking B to the doctor for his cough that still hasn't gone away I sat in the waiting room and heard that conversation. It went like this:

Receptionist (R) Elizabeth could you please fill this out
Elizabeth (E) What? I already did paperwork
R I know but we need you to do this as well
E Ok, fine.
E (dials phone and talks to mom and using a loud and annoying voice, mocking the receptionist) Do we have a carbon monoxide detector? Do we have a smoke alarm? Do you excel in school? Do you have friends? Is your child adopted....not hearing the response on the other end I can guess it was a negative response because she laughed and said...shut up.

I sat there and listened and thanked God that B is a boy. I realize I will have my own challenges but I don't know that I could handle those things that come with a teenage girl. But then I sat and felt a pain in my heart...gosh, there are going to be tough times ahead, times that we have to tell B that it is ok to be adopted and that he is loved by many...and the list goes on....and I had to ask myself...am I prepared for that? Oh dear.....

Baptism

On Saturday, April 10 we had Bentley Baptized. It was a beautiful ceremony and we just love our priest Fr. Tom. He prayed for us and with us once we learned of Bentley and he was so excited for us once he knew we were home with him. He started by saying that the story of our child is one he will never forget! And now, his Baptism is something I will never forget. The love Fr. Tom poured into the words and prayers are hard to capture and recreate.

One thing that stayed with me was when he said to me, Marilyn the greatest gift you can give Bentley is the love you have for Cullen, his dad and Cullen the greatest gift you can give to Bentley is the love you have for Marilyn, his mom. So true, so important to remember. The other memorable piece was the prayer for the mother and the prayer for the father, what a beautiful prayer and it felt so good to hear someone call me a mother...me a mother...something I have waited many years to be. Something I don't take for granted and something that I am at peace with! A beautiful day all around!

Bentley in his fancy little outfit! This little guy just makes me melt!

Through the Eyes of a Child

We had an amazing Easter weekend. However we did manage to pack our days a little too full. My brother Mike and his girlfriend Laura came in from Denver and it was the first time for them to meet both new babies--Bentley and Jayla. So the festivities started with egg coloring on Friday night. Saturday afternoon the zoo, Saturday night dinner with my family, Sunday morning breakfast with my family, Mass and then dinner with Cullen's family. Wow--I get tired just thinking about it.
Here is a picture of Uncle Mike and Laura holding the babies!



On Saturday morning at 9:30 we had a visit with B's birthmom and her parents. They came to our house for breakfast. This was the first time we had seen each other since the entrustment ceremony on Feb. 3. We have exchanged several emails and texts but this was the first "in person" meeting since that day. I can't even begin to tell you how emotional it was. I have had several people ask about it and to describe our relationship is hard. The love we have for L and her family goes beyond words. To see them love on B and to talk to him and to gaze into his eyes not only makes me feel so blessed but it also makes me feel a little guilty. Guilty that we are the ones enjoying every minute of this little guys life. I never feel threatened, I never feel like they are judging us or like L is upset about her decision but I do feel the love they have for him and I feel the pain they feel when they are leaving. The silence from the last hug, kiss, goodbye and whispered I love you is painful. I cry every time I think of it and I cried when I witnessed it. I feel incredibly lucky to have them in our life, it is amazing to have so many people love this little one and I look forward to watching our lives grow together.

I see it through my own eyes but I wonder what B sees, thinks and feels or how he will see it as he grows older. To me it is the greatest gift of all--love in all forms! This Easter we felt tired from the running but that just means we are truly blessed beyond measure.

B is for Bunny!

No words are necessary----except for this--isn't he so freaking cute!!!!