Lots of firsts with Samuel

With a new baby, it's always fun to experience all of their firsts; first smiles, teeth, steps. However, usually these firsts happen over a few months, but not when you get your baby at 2 years old. The last 48 hours we have experienced many firsts with our new son. Some remarkably exciting, others are the sad reality of growing up in an orphanage and beginning a new life.

Our first car ride together was pretty special. After only having Samuel in my arms for less than an hour, he laid his head on my shoulder and held on tight for the entire 30 minute ride back to the hotel. This momma was in heaven!

We got back into our room and decided to start peeling off his stinky clothes one piece at a time. As we did this slowly, we sat him on the floor and got out some stacking cups and a book. And then we experienced a first we were not expecting. Our beautiful new baby smiled. It was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. We had fully expected it may be a few days before he warmed up to us enough to show us anything like this. We cherished that smile, as we weren't sure when the next one would come.

Over the next hour or so, we finally removed all of his clothing, and decided for our sanity, we were going to risk giving our boy a bath. He seriously, may have never had one before this point, but if so, it had been a while. The orphanages have poor heat and most do not have a way to bathe the children. So it is safer for the kids not to be given a bath. So, we put some water in the tub, and Samuel was having his first bath. At first he was a little overwhelmed, but we put his stacking cups in the water, and he begin to have fun. Then came the first splashes, and the bath was a success. We wrapped up our little bundle of joy, and brought him into the bed for some much needed lotioning up. This momma LOVES to lotion up her boys!! Samuels skin was very dry, so he really needed it. Then on to our first time in jammies. He looked so precious toddling around in them.

It was almost time for bed, and I figured Samuel, must be hungry at this point. I had read several blogs from cleft parents before heading to China, and it sounded like to feed, most had success just cutting the end of the nipple of a bottle. Sounded easy enough, until I went to do it.... so I attempted just cutting the tip off of the first one. No... too big. Second try, I snipped the end, thinking as he tried to suck maybe it would just open up a little easier. Again, no. So, I had brought 5 nipples, and I was already down 2. He was pushing the bottle away every time. We tried hot water, warm water, nothing was working. So we decided just to not cut anything and it worked. He only drank 2 ounces, but hey, at least it was something.

So, it was time for our first bedtime. Matt and I were fully expecting to be up most of the night. The nannies told us he was only a moderate sleeper and that he slept from 9:30pm-6am. So at 9:30, we laid him in his bed. He tucked his little legs up underneath him and was asleep in no more than 2 minutes. As every time I have become a mother, I was up through the night every couple of hours to check on him, and every time, I could not believe he had not woken up yet. Our little boy, slept through the entire night, not waking up until 7:05!!! SUCCESS!! He was very hungry when he got up and drank a full 8 ounces while letting me feed him. We had been told he would only drink his bottle in his bed laying down by himself. So it was a good surprise when he wanted me to hold his bottle while snuggling in my lap.

My favorite first thus far followed our first successful full bottle. He snuggled in and fell asleep on my chest. For those of you who do not know, my very favorite part of motherhood is snuggling with my boys. At home every morning, Micah and Elijah come crawl in my bed and we snuggle before the day begins. And I now know, I have a third, very good snuggler. I cherished the next hour and a half as my newest baby slept soundly on my chest. I was able to learn the creases of his face, and study his finger and toes. What a special little boy God has blessed us with.

Monday was full of paperwork to complete the adoption on the China end of things. It was a very long day for us and for Samuel. Samuel handled it like a champ until the end of the day at the police station. He was over it. And so we experienced our first, full out tantrum. It was very loud, and very continuous. It lasted over 3 hours when all was said and done. But then, he was ready to play again.

Daddy decided it was time for him to have some play time on the floor, so I pulled out the camera and was able to catch a very special moment. Samuel began to roll the ball back and forth. It was such an encouraging moment for us. He was beginning to bond. We all 3 sat on the floor and played for such a long time. It was wonderful.

Today we have stayed in the hotel the entire day. It began with about an hour and a half of crying and grief for our poor little man. So many things have changed for him in the last 48 hours. He has lost everything he's ever known. However, he is beginning to open his little heart to us, and we are pouring out ours to him. He has smiled a lot today and has began to giggle. It's precious, and we are so in love with him.

Thank you to everyone who has been reading our blog, and for the outpouring of love, prayers and support. We read each and every comment on the blog and on Facebook. We appreciate and love all of you, and can't wait to share Samuel with you.