6 Months Ago...

Exactly 6 months ago we went from being just two to being three. October 9, 2008 was Caleb's "Gotcha Day", the day we became a family. Bryan and I have talked a lot this week about how much has changed since then. Caleb hardly seems like the same baby. Physically he is so healthy and strong now, compared to the underweight baby with a milk allergy and intestinal bleeding that we brought back to our Bishkek hotel. Emotionally, he is a well adjusted, happy and confident little boy compared to the baby we cared for 6 months ago who was timid, distant and who shared only quick smiles before reining his emotions back in. Today Caleb is appropriately cautious of new experiences and strangers and we see clear signs of a strong bond to us as his parents (the greatest reward of all!). Developmentally, he's making quick strides and has progressed from a 6 month old with poor head control to a 12 month old who is crawling, pulling up, babbling and loves to play. Caleb has developed a precious personality yet has remained the strong willed and resilient baby we met back in July. We cannot wait to see the little boy, young man and adult that he will become.

We've come a long way as parents and he's come a long way as our baby boy. I am still overwhelmed and emotional that Kyrgyzstan gave him to us. I am humbled and grateful for the incredible gift of our son. When Caleb wakes up tomorrow on his first birthday, we will be able to officially say that he has been with us longer than he was without us. That makes my heart so happy to realize that Caleb has known what it feels like to be loved in a family for longer than he did not know that feeling.

Here are some pictures of then... and now. We love you sweet Caleb.

Caleb holding my fingers as we rode back to Bishkek... the untold story in this photo is that he would soon be screaming for the rest of the journey, both from hunger and pain due to his unknown milk allergy.

Back in the hotel... trying everything we could to calm a frightened baby boy. He was dealing with a new language, new surroundings and parents who didn't know what they were doing! Look how skinny his little legs are!!!

We were finally able to get him to eat, but only if we laid him down and propped the bottle up similar to how he was fed at the orphanage. He could not handle being cradled and fed and didn't really enjoy that type of feeding experience until weeks after we were home.

I'm looking pretty rough here and rightfully so. Nobody really tells you how trying, emotional and stressful Gotcha Day can be for both you & baby! I like how my hair looks like a mullet in the back.

Our little Caleb now - strong, healthy, a good eater and a smiling, well-adjusted baby...

We give God all the glory for bringing Caleb home to us and blessing us with the opportunity to be his parents. We feel confident that each day of Caleb's life has been ordained for him - the day he was born a tiny premature baby on the other side of the world, the day he arrived at the orphanage just 3 days before we would meet him, the day he would join our family, and all the days still to come. God has planned great things for Caleb thus far and we are so blessed to be a part of that beautiful plan for his life. We praise God for giving him to us and remain prayerful that the many other waiting children in Kyrgyzstan will be reunited with their new families soon.