Despite successfully navigating through the adoption process in Bogota in June, we are required to have several post adoption home visits until 2013.
Our first home visit was last week with our social worker, Kim, from Nashville-based Miriam's Promise. Even though we need to go through this, it's a lot easier because we're using the same social worker who did our home study.
Kim arrived on time at 9 a.m. We sat down in the living room with Daniel. He was very active, laughing and showing off for our guest. Of course he had no idea who was Kim. She opened her folder and began asking a variety of questions related to our routine and how well we were adjusting.
Claudia did the majority of the talking. In fact, she talked a lot more than I had expected. It was awesome to hear her describe our experience with the glow of new motherhood shining from her smile. While Claudia was talking, Daniel was crawling on the floor and playing with his various toys. He laughed in the background and would occasionally turn to Kim with a huge smile.
"Is he always this happy," she asked. "Oh, yes," we both replied.
By 11 a.m. Kim had asked all of her questions. I had put Daniel in his crib for his morning nap and he was sound asleep. Before Kim could leave, Claudia and I insisted on showing pictures of our trip that was on my Ipad and gave her a quick tour of Daniel's bedroom.
After we said our good-bye's and closed the front door, Claudia and I let out a collective sigh. We had passed. Well, it's not really a "pass or fail" situation but you can't help but think you are being evaluated.
On another note, Daniel had his first pediatrician visit. The doctor, who has several internationally adopted children as patients, said Daniel was current on shots and completely healthy. We're also beginning the process to finalize our adoption in Tennessee so he will have a Tennessee birth certificate.
Slowly but surely, we are almost finished.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Week Three: Half Infant and Half Toddler
While we slowly return to our new normal, it seems each day Daniel either learns a new word, sound, gesture or movement.
It is hard to believe we have been home three weeks. Time has a funny way of going fast. Claudia has enjoyed staying home with Daniel. I've returned to work and am finally starting to get caught up with our various projects and potential new business.
Daniel is getting into his routine. We've transitioned him into his bedroom during the nights, albeit reluctantly on my part. He slept the entire night yesterday and we are hoping this will become a trend.
His abuela delivered his crib bumper she made for him today. It looks great in the room and matches the existing color scheme.
Now on to more fun things! Daniel is on the verge of walking. It stumbled his first couple of steps quasi-unassisted yesterday. Claudia and I sat a few feet a part and let him lurch himself into our waiting arms. Without us there to catch him, he surely would have face planted into the carpet. Whether we want him to or not, Daniel is growing.
I like to describe him as half infant and half toddler. He enjoys being cuddled and treated like an infant, but at times he exerts his independence and is extremely curious about everything. It's a wonderful age.
The other day Claudia and Daniel were down stairs. Claudia went into the kitchen, which joins our living room, for a minute. Daniel took his moment of solitude combined with freedom to explore one of our potted plants. By the time Claudia saw him there was dirt all over the floor. The first indication something else was awry was when she noticed a little bit of dirt on Daniel's lip. When she opened his mouth it was full of, you guessed it, dirt!
She quickly opened his mouth and finger swiped as much dirt out as possible. Daniel was a little startled. They sat there looking at each other for a moment and then started laughing.
Our dogs are learning to adjust having an infant in the house. Daniel enjoys the dogs and now everything that moves is a "wow-wow." Cows. Horses. People walking in the distance. They are all doggies to Daniel.
Occasionally Missy (our nine-year-old cocker spaniel) or Pebbles (our adopted Pomeranian) will growl at Daniel to tell him he is getting into their space. Daniel, sitting up on the floor in only his onesie, looks at them for a minute and growls back at them. We die laughing.
Daniel still hasn't gotten used to the sweltering heat yet, but the good news is none of the natives have either. As with much of the country, Nashville has been consistently in the mid-90s with high humidity making outside really feel like 100+ degrees. Step outside for a few minutes and it feels like you're taking a shower in your sweat.
Car trips aren't nearly as fun as the destinations for Daniel. It is an understatement to say he hates being in his car seat by himself. With someone sitting in the backseat with him it is a lot better experience. Otherwise, he is wailing from start to stop.
It makes trips to Gymboree during the week bittersweet for Claudia. He really enjoys interacting with the other children, but going and coming is very traumatic for him in the car seat. Still, Claudia has watched him play peek-a-boo with the teacher and crawl-sprint toward the surprise toy box at the end of class. I can't wait to see him during one of the classes.
And so, each day we enjoy watching our son do what little one-year-old children do. He's exploring, learning and talking a lot. Everything is new to him. Whether it's a summer breeze and flowers or a trip to the grocery store and Gymboree. Basically, it's awesome.
It is hard to believe we have been home three weeks. Time has a funny way of going fast. Claudia has enjoyed staying home with Daniel. I've returned to work and am finally starting to get caught up with our various projects and potential new business.
Daniel is getting into his routine. We've transitioned him into his bedroom during the nights, albeit reluctantly on my part. He slept the entire night yesterday and we are hoping this will become a trend.
His abuela delivered his crib bumper she made for him today. It looks great in the room and matches the existing color scheme.
Now on to more fun things! Daniel is on the verge of walking. It stumbled his first couple of steps quasi-unassisted yesterday. Claudia and I sat a few feet a part and let him lurch himself into our waiting arms. Without us there to catch him, he surely would have face planted into the carpet. Whether we want him to or not, Daniel is growing.
I like to describe him as half infant and half toddler. He enjoys being cuddled and treated like an infant, but at times he exerts his independence and is extremely curious about everything. It's a wonderful age.
The other day Claudia and Daniel were down stairs. Claudia went into the kitchen, which joins our living room, for a minute. Daniel took his moment of solitude combined with freedom to explore one of our potted plants. By the time Claudia saw him there was dirt all over the floor. The first indication something else was awry was when she noticed a little bit of dirt on Daniel's lip. When she opened his mouth it was full of, you guessed it, dirt!
She quickly opened his mouth and finger swiped as much dirt out as possible. Daniel was a little startled. They sat there looking at each other for a moment and then started laughing.
Our dogs are learning to adjust having an infant in the house. Daniel enjoys the dogs and now everything that moves is a "wow-wow." Cows. Horses. People walking in the distance. They are all doggies to Daniel.
Occasionally Missy (our nine-year-old cocker spaniel) or Pebbles (our adopted Pomeranian) will growl at Daniel to tell him he is getting into their space. Daniel, sitting up on the floor in only his onesie, looks at them for a minute and growls back at them. We die laughing.
Daniel still hasn't gotten used to the sweltering heat yet, but the good news is none of the natives have either. As with much of the country, Nashville has been consistently in the mid-90s with high humidity making outside really feel like 100+ degrees. Step outside for a few minutes and it feels like you're taking a shower in your sweat.
Car trips aren't nearly as fun as the destinations for Daniel. It is an understatement to say he hates being in his car seat by himself. With someone sitting in the backseat with him it is a lot better experience. Otherwise, he is wailing from start to stop.
It makes trips to Gymboree during the week bittersweet for Claudia. He really enjoys interacting with the other children, but going and coming is very traumatic for him in the car seat. Still, Claudia has watched him play peek-a-boo with the teacher and crawl-sprint toward the surprise toy box at the end of class. I can't wait to see him during one of the classes.
And so, each day we enjoy watching our son do what little one-year-old children do. He's exploring, learning and talking a lot. Everything is new to him. Whether it's a summer breeze and flowers or a trip to the grocery store and Gymboree. Basically, it's awesome.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Visiting Vanderbilt Children's Hospital
After returning to the United States, one of the first items on our agenda was visiting Vanderbilt Children Hospital International Adoption Clinic.
We visited the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital International Adoption Clinic to run a battery of tests on Daniel. The clinic's name says it all and specializes in evaluating medical documents from other countries and specific testing for children from other countries once they arrive stateside.
Of course Daniel did exceptionally well! We are so thankful to be blessed with a wonderful, friendly, healthy child.
Now we are beginning our search for a pediatrician. A few have been highly recommended by friends or family and we'll likely visit them.
Each day we are getting back into a routine and our "new normal."
Claudia is getting used to being home and has done a wonderful job managing to establish Daniel's routine. He is very comfortable in the house. He really enjoys Missy and Pebbles; and they are doing great with him too.
The heat, however, is really hard for Daniel. He is accustomed to fifties and overcast days. Nashville has been like a soup with mid-nineties and very high humidity. Within minutes, Daniel is drenched with sweat. Until he gets acclimated to the temperature here, we aren't taking him out very much.
I returned to work this week. It has been difficult leaving Daniel and Mommy at the house, but the reaction Daniel makes when I walk through the door in the afternoon warms my heart. He becomes so happy. He smiles and laughs until I can pick him up.
Daniel met Ezra last weekend. Ezra is one of our closest friends son and is about a month older than Daniel. Everyone had a great time watching the two of them interact. Little did they know the pressure and scrutiny they are under to become fast, best friends!
This weekend we have Claudia's sister Ana Maria and her husband and kids coming to visit. We can't wait to see them.
We visited the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital International Adoption Clinic to run a battery of tests on Daniel. The clinic's name says it all and specializes in evaluating medical documents from other countries and specific testing for children from other countries once they arrive stateside.
Of course Daniel did exceptionally well! We are so thankful to be blessed with a wonderful, friendly, healthy child.
Now we are beginning our search for a pediatrician. A few have been highly recommended by friends or family and we'll likely visit them.
Each day we are getting back into a routine and our "new normal."
Claudia is getting used to being home and has done a wonderful job managing to establish Daniel's routine. He is very comfortable in the house. He really enjoys Missy and Pebbles; and they are doing great with him too.
The heat, however, is really hard for Daniel. He is accustomed to fifties and overcast days. Nashville has been like a soup with mid-nineties and very high humidity. Within minutes, Daniel is drenched with sweat. Until he gets acclimated to the temperature here, we aren't taking him out very much.
I returned to work this week. It has been difficult leaving Daniel and Mommy at the house, but the reaction Daniel makes when I walk through the door in the afternoon warms my heart. He becomes so happy. He smiles and laughs until I can pick him up.
Daniel met Ezra last weekend. Ezra is one of our closest friends son and is about a month older than Daniel. Everyone had a great time watching the two of them interact. Little did they know the pressure and scrutiny they are under to become fast, best friends!
This weekend we have Claudia's sister Ana Maria and her husband and kids coming to visit. We can't wait to see them.
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