3 Years Ago Today.....

Three years ago today I was on my way to meet my baby boy for the first time.  I was probably in Amsterdam at this point in the day.  After 24 hours  and 3 continents  I was finally in Uganda.  I landed in Uganda at 11 pm and they brought Jeremiah to me at 9 am the next morning.  With all of the time changes and continents I was on in such a short period of time I am not sure but I think it was March 17th when I met my baby for the first time.  It was an amazing crazy and unexpected adventure being in Uganda for 4 months but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I can't wait to go back again someday.  Uganda will forever hold a very special place in my heart.

Mike dropping me off at the airport.  The beginning of my journey toward Jeremiah.  

Meeting Jeremiah for the first time.  Our very first picture together.  I will never forget the emotion of that moment.  One of the best moments of my life!

I lost my heart to that tiny 8 pound 5.5 month old soft brown boy.  So in love!

I looked at him and marveled at him for a long time before I could even pick him up.

Finally in my arms instead of only in my heart.

In awe...

Beautiful baby finally with his Mama!

Rennie said he was looking at me as if he knew I was his Mama.  As if he had been waiting for me.  He seemed very content to belong to me.  To be someone's baby.  To be mine.  And I was all too happy to be his!

Thy brought him to me at feeding time so I sat down and rocked my baby for the first time.  He watched me the whole time as he sucked away on his bottle.  I will never forget this moment!  

First night with me.  I couldn't resist a picture.  5.5 months old and swimming in a newborn onsie.

First bath (with me).  Seriously, he was the cutest baby ever!  Who could resist that face?

Kampala traffic

Uganda was full of beautiful long horned cattle like this one.  

The view of the expensive houses on the hill across from our village.

Our first family picture.  How cool that it is in front of the Nile River!!

Daddy came 3 weeks after me, just in time to spend Easter weekend at the Jinja Nile Resort before our Tuesday court date.  

Kissing at the Equator. 

A stop at Lake Victoria after some adoption related errands in Kampala.  We loved going to the little fish place there and eating on the shore.

My beautiful little family at the Ttanda pits.

Amazing dancers with clay pots on their heads at the Ndere Cultural Center.  That was a fun night!  We made the best of our time on our 4 month wait for Jeremiah's visa to come home.  

Daddy and Jeremiah on the trail to visit Jeremiah's friends at his orphanage. 

Any time I was frustrated in the adoption process and the long unexpected wait to bring him home all I had to do was go visit these beautiful children at the orphanage and they put a smile on my face so fast!

A beautiful girl who stole my heart.  She and her brother have since been adopted into a wonderful Ugandan family.

Our village.  This is the bottom of the hill of our village where I would walk to to buy airtime for my cell phone and an ice cold Krest from the only shop on the village with a refrigerator.  I SO wish I could have a Krest bitter lemon right now!

I am so very thankful that God brought us down the path to be this beautiful little boy's parents 3 years ago.  I can't imagine life without you Jeremiah.  I love you SO much!!