Dear Rachel

Caleb with BooBoo

Every three months this past year I have written a letter to Caleb's birthmom and sent pictures from that period. Each time I write these letters I try to put myself in her shoes. How is she feeling about this, x-months later? Do these notes, photos, make her smile? Cry? Is she still now reeling over the loss of her son? Can she tell how much we love him and how well he's cared for?Has she gotten her life back on track?

I wish her well every day, and say a little prayer to someone, somewhere that she is happy and in as good a place as she can be. Here's my latest letter:

Dear Rachel,

What do we begin to tell you about this sweet, sweet, boy? Many more changes with these past months as he’s gone from crawling to pulling himself up to walking. He experienced his first winter with a taste of fresh snow and a sled ride. We celebrated our first holidays as a family together and it was wonderful to share him with all of his cousins, aunties, uncles and grandparents. He is so very much loved by them all.

Caleb now sits with us at dinner and eats almost everything we do. He loves chicken and fish and especially Gramma’s meatballs! He likes cheese and LOVES fruit, especially tangerines. He likes veggies, too – broccoli and carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans. He is starting to eat things like pizza and toast. Now instead of formula he is drinking whole milk and gobbles it up. He is learning how to use a sippy cup but likes to take a drink from a grown-up glass too.

First words have been Dada, Light, Mama, Bye-bye, “Dee” for our dog Woody. His favorite stuffed animal is a bear called BooBoo, whom he sleeps with every night and carries with him around the house and in the car. He chases Woody around the house and pulls the cat’s tail whenever we’re not looking. He knows “No-No” and shakes his head when he knows he’s not supposed to do something (and which he usually does anyway!). He is beginning to show a temper (when you say “No-No” or when he gets frustrated with something). He stomps his little feet and waves his hands and shakes his head. It is hard not to l augh but we are trying to be good parents and ignore the tantrums!

Baby LOOOOVVVES books! Leigh has been reading stories to him since he was tiny, and now he likes to take books on his own and read them by himself. One of his favorites is Goodnight Moon. He also likes Itsy Bitsy Spider. Once a week he goes to Music class with other children and they sing, dance and play instruments (Caleb likes to chew on these, but he is very good with the maracas and tamborine!). We go to the library for toddler storytime whenever we can.

And now he is one. We had his first birthday party with balloons and friends and chocolate cake and ice cream and presents. It was wonderful.We still think of Caleb as a priceless gift and can’t believe that already a year has gone by since we brought him home from Florida. We hope you know how truly blessed we feel to have him as our precious son. We can’t imagine our lives without him and we love him with all that our hearts hold.

Wishing you a wonderful 2010. We hope it’s off to a good start already.

Fondly,

Leigh & John