All About Samuel

He is sad.

Sad.
Sad.
Sad.

He spent the first two days someplace between sobbing and totally withdrawing. With an occasional accidental smile thrown in - just a small peek into the window of who he is. We like what we see in those windows :)

He had a foster family who really totally loved him. Every time he wakes up, he cries this hollow cry. This grieving, hollow, oh-yeah-I'm-not-at-home-anymore cry.

Samuel is little. His 18-month size clothes are a little too big on him. He is skinny. He reminds me of our friends' 7 month old, but with longer arms and legs.

He was split-pants-trained. We keep a pull-up or diaper on him, but he usually uses the potty.

He is a messy messy messy eater. No problems with being OCD or anything.

He only communicates to us by crying. He does not point at things or motion to us to communicate yet. He cries when he has to go potty. He cries when he is hungry. He cries when he is uncomfortable. He cries when he is tired. He cries when he wants to be held. He cries when he wants a toy. We cannot tell if there is a differentiation in his cries - they all sound the same to us so far. He may have communicated better with his foster family, but everything is just coming out through this thick layer of grief and loss now. Poor guy.

Today - day 4 - he was much happier. He accepted both of us, and played with his brother for a while sharing toys and running around and laughing. He smiled more. He fell asleep a little more easily and woke up less last night. He used the potty and did not cry when we took him.

Through the windows we see a little boy with an impish grin, who shares toys with his brother most of the time (and sometimes wants all of them for himself). We see a little boy who is attached to his Baba, so much that his cries stop as soon as Baba picks him up. We see a little boy who loves to flirt with waitresses :) and who has a great arm when he throws things. We see a little boy who loves being read to, and loves playing with other kids. We see a spirited little munchkin who loves to play peek-a-boo.

He's pretty cool, I tell ya.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, dear Samuel. Mama and Baba love you very much, and we will teach you that. We will always be there for you. You will have everything you need. One day when you wake up, again you will know that you are already safe at home.

1 Samuel 1:27  I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.