Four Feet More

Today is Eamon's 4th birthday. Last year at this time, we had received the referral for Vika and Eamon, but we had not yet gotten our travel dates to head out to Russia to meet them. I remember feeling incredibly sad on October 7th, 2005. Sad because I knew our son-to-be was having another birthday, in the orphanage, with no one to celebrate the occasion. I remember wondering if it was just another ordinary day for him, or if the caretakers did something special to mark the event of him turning 3. I also felt sad because I knew he had no idea that there was a whole family out here waiting for him, and wishing him a happy birthday.

Since adopting Vika and Eamon, we have learned that they never had a birthday celebration before coming to America. They didn't even know what birthdays were until we attended the 2nd birthday party of their good friend Rachel. Since then, and especially since Vika's birthday in July, Eamon has been waiting patiently for his day to come. He has asked us repeatedly, "Is it my birthday almost?" We have been telling him that his birthday will be when the "pumpkins grow big."

Well, finally the day has arrived, and we are so glad that Eamon is here to celebrate it with all of us. We've given his birthday party a Halloween theme, complete with pumpkin decorating and bobbing for apples. After the kids did so well with Vika's birthday (which became a much bigger event than I had planned), I decided that it was safe to have a nice party for Eamon too. My only concern is that Vika may have some difficulty watching Eamon be the center of attention. She can be a little DITM (Diva In The Making) at times, so Jeff and I need to make sure we deal with any anger she may feel in as positive a way as possible. Hopefully the day will be a happy one, with both Vika and Eamon having a wonderful time at the party. But, even if that is not the case, I know that today will be much better than last year, because this October 7th we will all be together.