We made it home.....but missing Dennis

We made it home safe and sound around 2:30am on July 5th.  I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel absolutely wonderful crawling into my own bed that night, but I'd also be lying if I didn't say that I feel like a part of me is missing with Dennis still back in Ukraine.  I miss him.  John misses him.  He is constantly in our thoughts and I am preparing like a mad woman nesting for his arrival on the 18th.

Dennis loves skin on skin contact even if that means resting on his Mama's jiggly jello legs. 

Dennis loved playing with Daddy's cell phone.  "How does Daddy make it play music, but I can't?"

We left this photo album with Dennis so that he could look at it everyday.  We even asked his caretakers to leave it in his crib.  Thanks to whoever suggested leaving a blanket with our son so that he could still remember our scent even though we are not there with him.  Now if only I had remembered to bring home something with his scent.

On our last visit with Dennis, it seemed as if he knew that something was up.  Children are so intuitive that I'm sure he realized that we were leaving. 

John and I wondered how long it would take for Dennis to accept our attempts at consoling him when he got hurt and was in pain.  Dennis showed us on the last day that he would indeed accept our love, hugs and kisses when he needed them most.   Here he is crying his sweet little innocent cry after falling as he was trying to push himself up to a sitting position.  My whispering, "Ya Lublu Tebya," as I held him close calmed him down.  John rubbing his head probably helped too.