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Tuesday, March 31, 2009 One year ago we became parents and begun the most amazing year. We went to China, which, alone is amazing, but we also were given a dream come true. Many days it is still unreal what has all happened in one year. Nicholas is the light of our lives. He is the reason to race home from work every day. He is the reason we love to get up early on the weekends (who knew that would happen!). He is the reason for everything we do. He makes us melt. So what has happened in the last 6 months…LOTS! October This was a pretty crazy month. I (Erin) was very busy for work and this required a lot of juggling on our part. Needless to say, Dan got a lot of daddy-baby time this month. Nicholas’ first Halloween was pretty low key. We weren’t even going to dress him up because we had no plans except going to dinner. On the way home from work, I felt very guilty about not dressing him up so off to Toys-R-Us I went. Come to find out shopping for a costume one hour before trick or treat is the cheapest way to go. We went out for dinner and everyone got a kick out of our little devil. November This month started off with a trip to Gram and Grandpa Braley’s house for a few days. On the way up to their house, it was decided that having Nicholas rear facing in his seat is getting tough. When he gets fussy, driving while trying to reach over the seat to hold his hand was not so easy. So he got turned around! Another milestone! Nicholas went to his first Viking/ Packer party at Owen and Ella’s! Gram and Grandpa took the adults to a Packer Game and though Nicholas didn’t come…he got his first Packer souvenirs! Then came the day…November 19…palate surgery day. Nicholas did just fine though the surgeon said the surgery was tough. We were released quickly the next day and were glad to be home with Baby Einstein videos to take our minds off of things. Nicholas was very frustrated, clingy and obviously in pain so we are so grateful my mom stayed with us for a few days to help out. Two weeks after surgery we realized that his palate had opened up a bit and we were potentially looking at another surgery. UGH…we knew it could happen but we had hoped it wouldn’t. December/ January These were the first, truly enjoyable holidays in a long time. I always wanted to put a baby to bed, have a wonderful late dinner and set up a train under the tree. It finally happened! Nicholas was spoiled, as he should be. He got lots of fun toys, some new videos, a toy box, and a Radio Flyer wagon from Gram and Grandpa that we zip around the basement in! OK…he also got his first golf club from Auntie Pammy and Uncle Larry…a bit early but Dan is dying to get him swinging! “It’s never too early”, he says. Look out Tiger Woods! Nicholas had his first official sleep over for New Years. We went out to dinner with Owen and Ella (Beth and Kurt too!) and spent the night at their house. We all had a great time. Nicholas learned how to roll dice with authority and discovered that Fritos are really yummy. Best part of the whole time was after we all ate breakfast. Nicholas had snarfed down a lot of eggs. All of a sudden…AHHH CHOOO, egg comes flying out of his nose (remember there is still a hole up there!). Beth’s horrified face was priceless…”was that egg?” she squeaked. AHHH yup! I looked but couldn’t find it…so on the floor it stayed! The first weekend in January, we were able to get together with one of Nicholas’ orphanage mates and her family. We had a great time and feel blessed to be so close to another little one who shared his early experiences. We celebrated the Chinese New Year at a celebration in Milwaukee with some of our travel buddies. It was so nice to see everyone again! One of the most exciting things we did was start a swim class with Nicholas. Initially he had to have daddy hold him and was not too impressed with the whole thing. After four classes he lets me hold him and seems to really enjoy it. We will be doing this again! On a developmental note, we are no longer doing physical therapy because he is all caught up. We will continue with speech therapy. February Again we were able to get together with our travel friends to celebrate Spring Festival with burgers and margaritas! Not very “Chinese” we know…but fun just the same! On the 26th it was back up to Children’s Hospital for a follow-up appointment with the surgeon and speech. Good news…they are not concerned about the hole and are not planning on any surgeries this summer so we can just plan on having some fun. March “One year ago today…” is how every day starts for me. As I write this, it was “one year ago” that we arrived in Beijing and met the rest of our wonderful travel group who were feeling just as anxious, overwhelmed and excited as we were. One year later, many of us still are in contact and are planning visits to catch up. Nicholas is talking more, though you do need a “mommy interpretation” and loves trucks and cars. He has swung that golf club with daddy’s help! We are looking forward to warm weather so we can run around outside. He loves the slide at the park and will soon be getting one for his own yard…shhhhh it is a birthday surprise. So what have we learned in the last year? I always thought it was cliché that the older you get, the more time flies by…True! Parenting is the most challenging thing we have ever done…and the most wonderful thing. Nicholas’ giggle can melt away my worries…his cries hurt my heart. I am not afraid of boogers anymore! Dan is such a patient dad and truly enjoys being a dad. We will be home for one year with Nicholas before we would have traveled if we had waited for a NSN referral! (Our LID was 3.2.06) Gram and Grandpa can’t help but to spoil Nicholas! Hugs, kisses, books, and fun! Nicholas loves guys…his daddy, grandpa B., day care provider’s hubby Dave and he even hugged his doctor the other day when he came in the room! Now what kid does that? We are no longer Dan and Erin, but Nicholas’ parents. (We knew that it would happen, its just fun to write!) We may have a lefty, which apparently causes an issue when buying golf clubs!

I find myself thinking about his birth parents more and more and his personality develops and as he looks more and more like a little boy (i.e. not a baby). We pray they have peace and know in their hearts that their little boy is safe and happy. Thank you for following our story…Thank you to Jennifer and Joe for this great website. Maybe we’ll be back with another chapter so keep visiting! Little did we know 3 years ago…all of the hard work and hard times would be so worth where we are today…a happy family of three. Xie xie and zai jian (for now!)

So Close

God’s presence can be a hidden presence,
Not because God chooses to withdraw,
But because we fail to see God who is so near.
There are many reasons for our failure to see.
We are concerned about future projects and fail to see present blessings.
We may also be looking for the wrong indicators.
We may be looking for peace when God’s presence is in the turmoil.
We may be looking for resolution when hope lies in the non-fulfillment of our present expectations.
We may be wishing for answers when God’s goodness is manifest in further questions.
God is frequently closer than we think.
We need, however, to develop a new confidence that God inhabits our despair as well as our praises.

From: Day to Journey with Henri Nouwen by Charles Ringma


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