A Visit with Colin

May 22

This is the one day of the trip I have been looking forward to. We were driven out to Vishny Volochyok this morning to see our little guy. It is a two hour drive from the hotel to the orphanage over some pretty interesting roads. I spent the entire ride wondering how much he had changed in the two months since we last saw him. We he bigger? Talking? Does he have any teeth now? Would he remember us? Fortunately, we didn't have to wait too long to find out. 

When we arrived, one of Colin's caregivers brought him into the playroom and was eager to show us how well he is walking now. He was taking a few steps between us the last time we were there. He started to whimper when his caregiver turned to leave, but allowed me to comfort him. He warmed up to us very quickly again. It's difficult to tell if he remembers us or if it's just in his nature to be happy and easy-going. Several staff members at the baby home have described him as happy and quick to smile. He seems to have grown a little in the time we were gone. His hair is longer and thicker, and he has six teeth with two more on the way. He is a very handsome kid in my not-so-humble motherly opinion. 

We had two hours to play with Colin. His favorite toys seem to be a ride-on truck and the frog teether that Riley picked out for him. I have some great pictures of him, but I can't post any until we get him on the third trip. Colin has great eye contact and responds to our smiles with smiles of his own. He loves to be tickled and has an adorable little giggle. Toward the end of our time together, he was getting pretty tired. He wrapped his arms around my neck and put his head down on my shoulder. What a precious feeling. 

This is the outside of Colin's baby house. It has children from birth up to three years old.

This is a playground area at the orphanage.

The Lord has been so good to us. We feel so blessed that God has taken us halfway around the world twice now to become parents. While Colin won't officially be ours until the judge says so, he has been our son, according to the Lord's plan, since the creation of the Earth. We are so thankful. 

"Do not fear for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west." Isaiah 43:5