First Night/Morning

The first night went great!  Rammy ate a good dinner & had a ball in the bath - splashing Daddy and flopping about like a fish.  We managed to keep him on schedule and attempted to put him in bed with us, but he wasn't going to sleep that way.  So, we made him a nice bed on the floor & in a matter of minutes he was out like a light!  Apparently, quite a few of the kids prefer to sleep on the floor.  Although, Rammy is used to a toddler bed, I think he is also used to sleeping alone.  He slept through the night until around 6am (we were up since 4 and thought he would NEVER wake up!).  :-)

He ate an incredible breakfast, skyped his big brothers and sister, and headed to the pool.  Oh my!  He loves the pool!  He laughed and splashed.  A precious time to see his adventurous side.  We ate lunch poolside which I wasn't even sure he could stay awake for.  He did fine & apparently has had french fries before!  He is a good eater.  He ate fish and rice also.  We got him to the room and made up his pallet bed & was out!

We may head to the mall this afternoon after snack.  We are doing our best to maintain his normal Gentle Hands schedule.  I can't express to you what an incredible job they do there.  It's not an orphanage . . . it's a home with many loving mommies.  I will forever treasure them.

Our children seem to be very eager to meet brother Rammy.  They were showing him Teddy bears on the skype and telling him he could have them when he got home.  Jack did a really good job showing this little bear & telling him "Rammy, I'll give this to you when you get home."  They are all so sweet and excited.  Matt shifted the camera so they could just watch him play and do his own thing because he certainly wasn't going to sit still in front of a camera!  He did wave to them & did some silly things like climb into his toy bag, etc.  They all laughed.

He is a little rascal.  I forgot to tell you the other day that when we were driving home from Gentle Hands that he unzipped the back of Tito Gerry's seat slipcover & tried to stuff his baby in it!  He is so funny!  Always busy and figuring out new things to do.  Needless to say, I was in no way prepared for a toddler at almost 40!  I guess I will get there at some point - I'll be glad to have Jack, Nicholas' and Mary Beth's help soon!  :-)

Aunt Michelle is rolling off her duties, as Aunt Cyndi has arrived in Birmingham.  MawMaw is doing what she always does when I have a baby:  laundry, cooking, spoiling the older siblings, cleaning.  I gave Cyndi a list when we skyped today - RICE RICE RICE!  BABY PROOF locks & socket protectors & put up the toilet cleaner!  A lot to do plus taking care of my kids!  She can handle it.  She and MawMaw will also get Rammy's crib ready.  What a joyful time!

Joyful, but difficult.  Please pray for those precious mommies at Gentle Hands and for Rammy's brothers and sisters there.  I know they miss him terribly.  It's hard to let go of one you've loved.  But I have to say I hope they get to say goodbye to all of them soon, for there are always more children who need them and forever families are wonderful for those children.