Dear Eliot,

I am overwhelmed at the events of this week. You have officially been home 6 months now. We met today with our social worker, S, for our post-adoption follow-up visit. Before she came over, your dad mentioned how interesting it is that when we met with her the first time it was this time two years ago. You weren't even born yet. Meeting with S was the first step in making our decision to come find you real. If she would have told us that it would be two years before this visit, I would have been pretty disappointed but I'm doing okay.


S asked us to describe your disposition. Your dad and I looked at each other and laughed. We both answered "silly." To which you grinned with half-eyes as if to agree. You are our delight, little man. Going over our journey with her brought tears to my eyes several times. She kept saying how special it was that you and I got to be together through all that. We pulled out the picture of your biological family for her to see out of the safe. She was impressed that we kept it there. It hadn't even occurred to me to put it any where else. It's part of your story and it needs to be protected. Dad even said it felt a little sacred.


Mommy's friend, Z, came to her classroom a couple years ago with a letter she'd written to her son from Russia when they'd been home 6 months. I remember reading it and thinking how amazing it must feel to be done. home. a family. I remember wondering when I would get to write my child a letter on the same occasion and here I am. My dear little Chapin, I promise to work as hard to raise you as I did to get you. You are a gift that I asked for, prayed for, cried for and fought for. I know the Lord has entrusted you into our hands and we do not take this lightly.


Before your dad and I go to bed each night we sneak into your room. Since you've already been asleep for a couple hours, you have always kicked your blanket off. We use the excuse that you need a blanket but we really just want to go see you one more time. Sometimes I am just so overwhelmed. It's hard to put into words what happens in my heart by simply looking at your sweet little brown face.



We love you with all our hearts,
Te Amo, Mijo,

Mama