Going in opposite directions...

Those of you who have followed our adoption journey will remember that when Mike and I arrived at the Baby Home in Angarsk, Russia, last fall for the first of our two "court date" trips, Harry was less than thrilled. We hadn't seen him for a year and 9 months, and during that time, he settled himself into life at Baby Home #2. He had spent a good chunk (more than a year) in the same group and had become attached not only to the caregivers, but had established himself as one of the leaders, being given privileges that the others didn't have. He was (and is) hardworking and eager to help, so he found himself in a very nice position so to speak. If the caregivers needed someone to bring someone something, or do something like unlock a closet, it was Harry who got the nod. May not sound like much, but to a group of children whose days are a routine as the day is long; it's huge. ANYTHING that strays from the daily drill, is something they all crave.

And so, when this crazy speaking American couple and their 5-3/4 year old son arrived on the scene to claim their "little" boy, it wasn't pretty. Each day when we visited, the second he spotted us, he'd run - in the opposite direction. This happened 3/4 of the way into our 7 week visit. After that, he stopped running, but didn't exactly run TO us either. Let's just say he tolerated us.

Fast forward 6 months. During that time we left him again, returned home for Thanksgiving & Christmas, and then showed up again like a bad rash that just wouldn't go away. From his perspective that is. But this time, after 3-weeks of daily visits, we took him away from the Baby Home. I must say he embraced the move, and while it was pretty much "keep your distance" during the second 7-week stay, he slowly began to bond.

Yesterday I arrived home after a 2 hour dentist/errand run, and stood at the top of the driveway, looking into the backyard, watching him play in the sandbox with Skip. Guess what? He noticed me and ran. And when he ran as quickly as his little legs could take him, straight into my arms, yelling "Hi Mommy", my heart bursting with joy. The cool thing is, yesterday wasn't an isolated incident. Each time I leave him, even for an hour, he is just as thrilled to see me, and greets me in the same way. I guess you can say we're bonded.

As the saying goes, "it doesn't get any better".