Sunday Snapshot: {He's my son...}

You know, I've always imagined being able to use those three words, "He's my son" and recently I have found myself saying it over and over again. I love this little boy more than I ever imagined I could possibly be capable of loving someone. What he brings to our lives and so many others around him is just unbelievable. What important life lessons he teaches us every single day, and I have never been more proud of this precious little son of mine. He works so hard in therapies 3 times a week plus his deaf and hard of hearing preschool 4 mornings a week. He can't just grab for something, he must try to tell us what he wants...it's so hard for him, but he works so hard and he's our little hero.

We had the opportunity to spend a few days with our son this past week away from work and therapies, and fighting the educational system and the world of labeling, and spend time as a family of 3. Mommy, Daddy, and Matthew time...it has been wonderful. We've made messes, baked cookies, shopped a little, explored the stores that have neat, free train displays, snuggled, stayed up late, and have made every moment count. Even though Matthew was home last year with us for Christmas, this year feels so very different. We also have learned from Christmas signs, so that has been very helpful as well. We are seeing it all through his eyes and his expressions, and it's priceless time. From his big eyes as the tree went up, watching him take in every detail of all of the special ornaments that fill the tree. Every ornament on the tree has meaning, and even though we can't "tell" him all of the history behind each one, he gets it. He touches them with such grace.

We got to take him on his very first real train ride Friday night, and he was in complete awe....it was such a special time and Chris and I were definitely 2 beaming parents as we giggled, snapped pictures, and even shed some tears of happiness. He is OUR son, and we love him so much. We also got to go for his U.S. Passport application on Friday, and he was such a big boy for his picture. That's going to come in handy if we get to go to China for his brother or sister in 2011. On Friday, it was 2 years to the date that we signed Matthew's LOA - and hard to believe we are so close to getting our dossier to China again. We are just waiting on that I-800 approval, fingerprints were done last week.

We are so blessed, so happy, and so very thankful. God knew Matthew was meant to be our son, and there is nothing we are prouder to say than "he's our son."