On February 16, 2010, Chip and I got the most exciting, scariest, amazing news of our lives…we were going to be parents. Like most parents, that day changed our lives forever. But, unlike most parents, we didn’t have the traditional 9 months to prepare ourselves for our little boy’s arrival. Yes, we had been approved for adoption 9 months prior and yes, we knew it could happen the way it did, but we never really thought it would.
That afternoon was like any other afternoon. I had made myself a snack (which ended up sitting on the counter until I threw it away 3 hours later) when the phone rang. It was Bethany (our agency) but they had called before about meeting a birthmother or getting answers to questions, but then this phone call was different. They asked me if Chip was home, well of course he wasn’t it was the middle of the day. Then, they asked if I would like to be a Mom today. Honestly, my first reaction was disbelief. There was no way I was going to be a Mom at that moment. I had waited too long and gone through too many losses to have it actually become a reality. But, it was true…we were now parents. One minute I was making myself a snack and the next I was a Mom. It was the most amazing feeling of my life (even more amazing than getting married…no offense Chip). We had been waiting so long for that moment and it was finally here. We were, for all intents and purposes, parents. We still had some legal paperwork to do, but we were his parents. So, we drove to Indy that night to meet our new son, who was 2 days old and still in the NICU. When we arrived, we were greeted with nothing but smiles from the hospital staff and when we saw him for the first time, I knew that was my son. He was so tiny, at only 4 lbs 15 oz, but he was the most precious and most amazing thing I had ever seen. I knew I could never love anything as much as I loved that little boy. I only left the hospital a few times for meetings that had already been scheduled and a weekend back home to get some things ready. I spent as much time as I could just sitting with him and watching him. Finally, on Feb. 26, 2010 we got to bring little Charles David Killian home from the hospital.
We spent much of the next few days just trying to wrap our heads around this little person that was now our responsibility. We had had a lot of NICU nurses doing most of the work prior to this day, so we were once again thrown into a world that we didn’t understand. Little did we know that the rest of the year would have similar feelings. The next few weeks we welcomed family and friends who came to visit and meet our new baby. We also had two baby showers to attend with friends around town and the choir at church. It was joyful and overwhelming all at the same time.
Of course, all was not fun and games in the Killian household. David began showing signs of colic after only 6 weeks and continued crying for much of the day during the next 3 months. We switched formula numerous times and finally settled on, of course, the most expensive formula in the store. But, it was well worth the relief it brought David. After a few weeks of dealing with a very colicky baby, we decided to ask my parents to stay with David while we went on the previously planned vacation. It was a much needed rest for two very weary parents and we appreciated that they were willing to stay with him for a week so we could recuperate from the craziness of the previous 3 months. I must admit I did miss seeing him everyday and I couldn’t wait to get back to be with my little boy once again.
The first 6 months of David’s life were a whirlwind of change and growth. He went from being a little preemie, to a full sized newborn. Then, he began to make eye contact and started cooing. He would smile at us and babble. He would grab an object or laugh at a toy. We were in awe of this little child who learned so much so quickly. Also during the first 6 months we celebrated our first Mother’s and Father’s Day. These were days we had dreaded for the previous 3 years and were now celebrating. We also had David baptized in NC, while surrounded by many friends and family.
After 6 months David started teething, and we were once again thrown into the nighttime wake-up routine. But, he also grew and changed with each passing day. He learned to sit up and he started to pull himself up on furniture. He started to scoot across the floor and began actually playing with his toys. He started cruising around furniture and standing on his own. He began to hit all of these milestones that seemed miles away only a few months earlier.
Now, as David begins his second year of life, I’m looking forward to all of those things he will accomplish in the next year. I look forward to him walking on his own and beginning to talk. I look forward to running around outside with him and taking him on his first family vacation. I know it will be amazing, just as the first year was and I hope to relish every moment of it.
Thank you to all of our friends and family that have helped us over the last year. We appreciate all of the love and support!
How Time Does Fly!!
Really nice writeup of David’s first year! Great to hear that it’s gone well, and best of luck with his second year. It all goes really fast as you’ve already found out.