Happy 1st Birthday, Caleb!

I can hardly believe that Caleb is one year old today! I really think you don't realize how fast time flies until you have kids! Caleb has changed so much in the past 6 months and we are so excited for the changes and new developments ahead. We celebrated as a family today by going to the park and playing at the house while we get ready for Caleb's party tomorrow. We are having a monkey-themed party at our house with family and some close friends. I'll be sure to post pictures from his party & Easter before the weekend is over.

While this day is a true source of joy for us, we know that on the other side of the world a young woman is likely remembering this as the day she gave birth to a tiny baby boy that she could not keep. Since Caleb was probably as much as 8 weeks premature and only 3.5 lbs at birth, we know she must have been terrified and overwhelmed with the challenges he would face as a premature baby in a country that is not equipped to provide sophisticated medical treatment. Our hearts are heavy knowing that she probably does not know what he looks like now, whether he is at the orphanage or if he has been adopted in her own country or abroad. While we have sent back pictures and updates on how Caleb is doing we are unsure if that information will ever reach his birth mother.

We are forever grateful that Caleb's birth mother chose life for her son. We have a deep admiration for the courage and humility she showed in placing him for adoption so that he could join our family. The sacrifice she made in placing Caleb for adoption became an answered prayer for us. We pray that God comforts her heart and gives her a sense of peace that Caleb is ok. We are hopeful that someday she will know what an awesome little boy he is and all the joy he has brought to our hearts.

Caleb, we love you dearly and are incredibly blessed to celebrate your first birthday with you. We are thankful for God's protection and providence in bringing you home safely to us. We look forward to celebrating many birthdays to come with you-- our strong-willed, smiling, playful, active, talkative, blue-eyed, precious boy.

Caleb goofing around with Daddy

Swinging in the park

Playing with his favorite type of toy - a ball!

Enjoying some tic tac toe at the playground

When we got Caleb up from his nap he was clapping for himself because he was sitting up on his own in the crib! Sadly when Mommy got the camera out he turned that smile upside down :(