Early one January day, my husband Rusty, and I got THE call from our adoption agency. The call we had waited years to receive. The call that would change our lives forever. There was an eleven-month-old baby boy waiting for us in Taiwan. We rushed over to the adoption agency and got his referral packet with pictures, documents, and medical information about him. We pored through every page a dozen times and stared at his picture for hours -- a tiny guy with a disheveled fluff of black hair and mismatched pajamas. He was the most beautiful baby we had ever seen. We couldn't wait to hold him in our arms, rock him to sleep, and let him know that we will love him forever. But, of course, there was more paperwork and the adoption had to go through the court system in Taiwan.
Four months later, we got another call. The Taiwanese courts had issued the final decree and he was our baby. We would pick him up in Taiwan at the end of June. Because we didn't want to jinx the adoption, we hadn't done much preparation for his arrival. Our first order of business was a name, and we decided to name him Elvis.
While we were waiting for our referral, our adoption agency provided classes on adoption and baby care. A baby carrier was emphasized as a must. The close, physical contact that a baby carrier provides promotes bonding and attachment which is the number one objective as a new adoptive parent. It also helps create security for a baby who has had it's life turned upside down.
The next month was a whirlwind of making travel arrangements and getting anything and everything a sixteen-month-old may need for a long international trip and his first weeks home. Luckily we had lots of help from family and friends. With a large suitcase full of baby things, my mom arrived to help us get ready. As we were going through all the things, my mom pulled out her prized purchase -- a brown
Ergo. I packed the Ergo in the suitcase along with some other baby essentials and we set off on the most exciting adventure of our life.
When we arrived in Taiwan, it became clear that our choice to bring the Ergo instead of a stroller was a smart decision. A stroller would be extremely difficult to maneuver through the cramped and bustling streets of Taiwan. It would also be a headache to lug a stroller on and off planes, trains, and taxis. Both Rusty and I are seasoned International travelers and we have learned that traveling as light as possible makes for stress free travel. Also, we realized that we needed to make this trip as easy as possible because we would be brand new parents attempting to navigate in a foreign country.
Finally, the day came for us to pick up Elvis. We woke up early and took a cab to the child welfare center. I broke down in tears on the way because I couldn't believe it was actually happening. We had waited so long for this day. When we got there and they put him in our arms, my tears stopped because he started to cry, but once we fed him he stopped crying. We sat down on the couch and I held his tiny body in my arms and looked into his big, soulful eyes. I knew then that our family was finally complete.
The caregivers at the child welfare center gave us a bag of baby things that we might need. Then, it was time for us to catch our train. I decided I should change his diaper before we left. When I looked at his leg I couldn't believe my eyes. Elvis and Rusty had the same birthmark in the same place. It reinforced to me that we were all meant for each other.
We put Elvis in the
Ergo. He was so little and scared, but once he was in the carrier he relaxed and snuggled up to me and fell asleep. The following few days were a blur of trains, taxis, and government offices. Elvis was calm and relaxed as long as either Rusty or I was holding him, so we pretty much had him in the Ergo the entire time. Once we got all the papers we needed to travel, we were off on a thirteen-hour plane flight. We had heard horror stories about the plane flight home and we were prepared for a confused and screaming baby. I carried a serene Elvis onto the plane in his Ergo, Rusty walked around with him until he fell asleep, we put him in the airplane bassinet, and he didn't wake up until we landed in the United States.
The next few weeks were a blur. We were all adjusting to our new life and had a parade of visitors coming to meet Elvis. Elvis still wouldn't let us put him down except to eat, sleep, and change diapers. He pretty much lived in the
Ergo, which saved our backs and left our hands free to do chores around the house.
Elvis has now been home with us for sixteen months. He is every bit a well-adjusted, happy, healthy, and active two-year-old. He is running, climbing, jumping and says hundreds of words. He loves music and art and spends most of his days dancing, singing, drumming, and creating colorful masterpieces. He doesn't like to be in a stroller, so we carry him on our backs on trips to the zoo, walks around the neighborhood, and when we travel. Our decision to adopt is easily the best and most fulfilling decision we have ever made and we couldn't imagine our life without Elvis. Our home is full of laughter and light and our hearts are bursting with love.
This post was submitted by reader Laura Logsdon as part of our Adoption Awareness Month Series. Laura lives in Los Angeles, California. She has an eclectic background in the entertainment industry, education, and children’s literature. She has been a contributor to a blog site (www.tching.com), which is all about tea. She is currently a stay-at-home mom and an advocate for adoption and public school reform.
