Happy 4th Gotcha Day Braden!

Braden Christian Barbour has been in our family for four years today! I asked Brian to put a video together like he did for Kinsey's gotcha day and he did a great job:). I honestly have NEVER seen this footage before last night and have watched it over and over with tears running down my face. (Be sure to listen to the song lyrics.) We were SO happy that God gave us Braden...we had so many set backs with his adoption that at times it seemed like it would never happen.

Braden flew in to Dulles airport which is close to where my parents live so we were able to stay with them for that weekend. We picked Braden up on a Friday night and had no idea of what to expect. We weren't allowed to go to the gate so we just stood at the bottom of an escalator pacing and staring at every person who came down to see it they had OUR baby. There were several times when I said, "that's him" or "there he is!" when really it was someone else's baby:). The last person to come down was a sweet lady, who didn't speak much English, and was holding our baby. I couldn't wait to get my hands on him...this baby we had waited for was finally here! You'll see in the video that a woman who we didn't know came up to us and gave us balloons. People knew why we were there because of my pacing and excitement when Braden came! I thought it was really sweet of her...a kind gesture from a stranger.

We brought him to Nonny and Poppy's house and introduced him to his big sister....who was very sweet to him! (I didn't remember this part until I saw it on the video.) Nonny and Poppy were able to meet him too, so it was a really special time. When Braden was in Korea we were able to send him and his foster family gifts. We weren't sure if the things we sent for him would come back but were excited to see them when we opened his bag. His 'blankie' and 'bear' were two of his specials gifts we sent to Korea that are STILL his favorite things. It's just neat to think that even though we weren't there with him, he still had a part of us from the time he was three months old.

I just found this picture
recently and LOVE it!

When we drove back to our house on Sunday Brian's parents, sister, and our niece were there to meet our son. Brian's dad had wanted a grandson so much as you can see on the video and sadly was only in Braden's life for six months. I'm so thankful to have the video of him (Papa) with Braden because you can see how happy and proud he is.

I asked Braden what he wanted to eat today and he said waffles for breakfast and pancakes with apples for dinner:)!! Apparently he's in the mood for breakfast food so that's what he'll get. He also wanted to go to a park today and chose which one we'll go to. I can't say enough how thankful I am for him. Thankful that God chose him for our family...our quiet, sweet, smart, loving, playful boy. I'm thankful that his birth mom made the SACRIFICE and gave him to us.

Happy Gotcha Day my boy! I love you and am so thankful for you!