One month in....

Four weeks ago today we collected Little One from her foster careers for the last time and brought her home.  Four weeks doesn't sound like a long time but in some ways it feels like Little One has been with us forever.  Of those that have already met her, most can't believe she has only been with us for such a short time.
We still have to pinch ourselves to believe how lucky we have been with our process.  Little has settled better than ever expected and is already a pre-school.  We had originally thought that we would have to be in quarantine until the dust settled but that seems to have happened almost over night.

Here are some of the occurrences that have made us feel like a family:
1) the first time someone looked at Little One and said "Is this your daddy".
2) the first set of freshly washed toddler clothing on the washing line.
3) the first day Little One woke up and said "Good morning daddy" with her beautiful smile.
4) the first tears that were wiped away and big dad hug given.
5) the first drop off at pre-school.  She cried, I cried.
6) our first trip to the swimming pool.
7) the first time we had to wake up in the middle of the night and try to soothe her back to sleep.
8) the first time we had guests over to witness our little family unit.
9) the first time I saw her sleeping after a very tiring day.
10) the first time Little One said 'I love you'

We had our first review with the social workers last week.  Thankfully everyone was in agreement that everything is going well and no-one has any concerns about the placement.  Phew!  We recently met the Health Visitor from the doctors surgery who also came to the meeting.  We'd only met her twice before the review so were unsure what/how much she'd have to input to the meeting.  Her comments about her observations almost made us cry, they were so unexpected but very welcomed.

I'm not going to lie, I'm tired half the time and any downtime is greatly received but Little One is a total joy and such a great personality.  She loves to sing and the other day we taught her a song which she now sings all the time.  It's our take on a disco classic. It goes like this....
"We are family, I got my two daddies with me!"

Fingers crossed, things are going well!

We are five days in as a forever family and things are looking pretty good.  During this process you are prepared for the worst and our experiences couldn't be any further from that. I sometimes feel like the gloating dad, and maybe I am, but we both feel so lucky that our journey is going the way it is.

Yesterday Little One met some of her cousins, well actually they are mine cousins and their kids but you know what I mean.  They were all so excited to meet Little One and thank fully they weren't disappointed.  It was a little slow at first, after all there were a lot of them, but before too long Little One was charming the grown ups and playing with the young ones.  It seems that new family links have been made, just as I was hoping.
We also had a visit from some of the young boys from the Mews that we live in.  Little One was instantly taken with the boys and much more so than any of the other young kids she'd met.

Today we had a snow day with more kids from the Mews.  It started with sledging in the park (Little One didn't really take to it) and then along with the boys we built a small (and slightly pathetic) snowman.  Little One loved gathering the snow.  The boys then spent some time with us whilst their mother was out.  Little One loved taking charge and bossing the boys around.

After her action packed day Little One kicked up the usual fuss come bed time.  But tonight, as last night, it was minimal tears before bed.  The major difference was that in the lead up, and as the tears began, she called out for her foster father.  We both knew it was going happen.  In truth we had expected it much sooner but it still takes the wind out of you when you hear her utter those words.  Hopefully it's just part of her process and tomorrow our bonding journey will continue.

Is this the calm before the storm?

Little one has now spent two nights with us.  Both nights were fraught with tears come bedtime.  Last night was worse than the night before, 40 minutes of throat-scratching, ear-shattering, choking-inducing screaming.  But, finally, she drifted off.  Despite the drama getting to bed, Little One slept through the night both nights and we actually had to go in a wake her up at 8.30am each morning otherwise she would have slept longer.  That has got to be a good sign, hasn't it??

Little One and daddy are now registered at the same doctor as me.  We had the usual, people looking at the three of us and wondering who's who and what's what.

We've been meeting more friends and neighbours (with loads more waiting their turn) and Little One seems to be coping really well.  We haven't had any tantrums, other than bedtime, and no crying for her foster family.  When you go through the adoption process you hear so many horror stories about what to expect, thankfully we have not experienced any of this, not yet anyway.  If it does come our way we are prepared but if not, happy days.

It's very cold and snowing outside so we're limited to some of the activities we can get up to, although we have sampled the local library and softplay centre.  At the moment we are having fun, learning more about Little One's little quirks and bad habits. We've had some right belly laughs watching her.  I can't wait for us to all grow together.

Little One is home!

At long long last our little one is home.  I can't tell you how happy and relieved we both are although this morning the emotions were very different.

Poor Little One's foster carers were so upset and despite their best efforts to hide it it was plan to see.  Daddy and I were both totally choked up.  It was impossible to revel in the fact that Little One was coming home when it is evident how much it hurts someone else but the reality of it is that everyone know this was coming.  We will always be grateful for what they have done and Little One will never forget them.

On the way home we stopped off at the Sainsbury's and had a hilarious moment.  Little One, who by the way is very vocal, was to be heard calling both of us Daddy.  The woman on the till looked at both of us and then at Little One before giving us that confused looked that I am assuming we will be getting a lot in the future.  It made us both giggle.

We had another good day today.  No real issues but we are going to have to work on the old potty training. A couple of wet pull-ups were had today but then again it is only to be expected that we might take a few steps backwards.

Bedtime on the other hand was another story!!  Poor Little One tried all the tricks to avoid going to bed but Dad power was the champion in that war.  The battle consisted of 15 minutes of screaming and bawling but in the end she drifted off.  Let's just hope she sleeps through the night.  Tomorrow could be a totally different kind of day.  We're expecting her to ask when she is going home or where her foster carers are but we are ready to face whatever the day brings.

First official job tomorrow, registering at the doctor's surgery!!!!

Introductions - Day 9

At long last we are at the end of introductions!!! Hoorah!!!

There was nothing spectacular that happened today, it was just a normal family day.  Or at least it felt very normal.  We had the odd tantrum and even a few tears when we said that Little One had to take off her prized Hello Kitty wellington boots.  But that is all normal, isn't it!

The drive back to the foster careers home seemed such a long drive with Little One in the back of the car insisting that she wanted to 'stay at daddies house'.

It was a bit emotional at the foster careers home as they had been packing all Little One's belongings.  Having already taken all her toys yesterday, we took all her clothes this evening.  Her room looks so bizarre with all her bits in there.  So bizarre, but so cool.

So tomorrow is the big day.  Little One is coming home....FOR GOOD!

Introductions - Day 8

So we were hoping that Little One would be able to come home tomorrow but alas it is not to be and we will have proceed with tomorrow as the last day of introductions.  It's a bit of a pain in the butt but it's only on more day and we're still both super excited!

Another good day was had today.  After the disappointment of being told we had an extra day to wait we decided to make the most of it and after a hearty lunch we headed to the local soft play area.  Little One made a new friend and they played together in the plastic balls and up and down the ladders and slides.  Daddy and I and her friend's mother all joined in.  Her friend's mother seemed totally unfazed that Little One was calling us both daddy.  It all seemed so natural and fun.  I'm sure we'll come up against some ignorance at some point in the future but it's so nice to think that there are people you don't know who don't care if you aren't the same as them, just as long as you they can see how much you love your child.

Little One meet another neighbour today and got more presents.  Lucky little princess!

When we finally took Little One home she was quite tired (as were we!!!).  We got her ready for bed and tucked her in.  Unfortunately this was not as dreamy an experience as our last bedtime routine.  Little One cried and cried and cried and her foster dad had to let her stay up a little longer.  I sure it didn't help that she would have seen all of her toys boxed up and ready to come home with me and Daddy.  I'm pretty sure the next couple of days are going to be so hard for her but we will be here supporting her, and loving her every step of the way.

Introductions - Day 7

Today has left us both feeling so empty.  I don't think either one of us would have imagined that a day away from Little One would have been so hard.

We had planned so spend our 'last free day' doing lots of stuff and enjoying the silence, but somehow the silence just doesn't seem the same anymore.  All our thoughts are on what Little One is up to today and wondering if she is missing us.  Just two more days of introductions and then, on Wednesday, Little One will be home for good.