Hi, sweet Baby Dale.  I think this blog is the place where I talk to you.  I can’t talk to you inside of me, so I type these words and send them out into the cosmos.  In some ways it makes me feel connected to you, and in other ways, I feel farther away than ever.  Today is Thanksgiving.  It’s this American holiday where we watch a parade, eat Grammy’s incredible food, and hang out with family all day.  The whole day is filled with warmth and love, and squishy furniture that’s perfect for napping or cuddling with babies and doggies.  It’s a fabulous opportunity to reflect on the year and to thank God for His blessings and wow – today I am most thankful for my children.  Both of them.  For sweet Elliott who is hitting his choo-choo phase hard, I mean, like choo-choos are his big thankful item this year for sure.  And puzzles.  Yep, choo-choos and puzzles.  And for you, who is growing in your birth mom’s belly and growing in my heart every day.  I am SO THANKFUL for you, so thankful that you exist, so thankful that you’ll be my baby forever.  How big are you?  I have no idea when your birthday will be.  Are you the size of a lemon right now?  Maybe smaller, maybe bigger?  Do you have things like fingernails and hair yet?  Oh, will you come out with lots of hair?  Elliott did, a big chock of straight dark hair that fell out and was replaced with blond curls.  I know, weird, right?  I think you’ll really like him as your big brother.  He’s hilarious and loves to play rough with his friends, but is surprisingly very gentle with babies.  I think I must’ve kissed him a thousand times today.  I love kissing Elliott and I can’t WAIT to kiss you over and over and over.  I will never run out of kisses for you.  I will kiss you and kiss you until you’re so old that you don’t want me kissing you around your friends anymore.  And then I’ll still kiss you before school and after school when you get home and can’t be embarrassed because no one’s around.  I am so thankful to have you in my heart, to have you in my thoughts, and someday soon, to have you in my arms.  I love you before you’re born and I’ll love you after you’re born and I love you in Ethiopia and I’ll love you in America and I love you I love you I love you.  I hope you can feel these big hugs that I’m sending your way, feel them over the ocean and across Africa and into your birth mom’s belly.  I hope you can feel my love.  God, please help my baby to feel my love.  God of miracles, surround my sweet Baby Dale with my love, which is really Your love, because You are love and You make it possible for me to love.

Tags: Adoption, Africa, Baby Dale, Elliott, Ethiopia, Family