big brothers

My plan was to post a video today of my boys talking about our adoption experience. However, when I pulled out my phone to actually do the video, the oldest acted like he was having coughing spasms, the middle one sat and stared at the wall, and the youngest hid his face like he was in the witness protection program and couldn't be seen. 

I will have victory, though, and there will be a video soon. Even if I have to bribe them with frozen yogurt.

Our trip home from the airport with Ellie was brutal. We lived about 30-40 minutes from the Atlanta airport (on a good traffic day, which is actually never in Atlanta). We loaded everyone in the van, all four of them still in booster or car seats. Ellie wasn't very fond of her seat, but I was sure that with Lucas' backseat entertainment, she'd be fine. I was very wrong. She screamed louder than any 3 month old I've ever heard. Shrieks of sheer terror, which made the boys not so happy with this new little sister. A few minutes into the drive, Kyle realized he had gone the wrong way, and we would now have to travel all the way around the city on I-285 (all you Atlanta people know exactly what I'm talking about!). This more than doubled our drive home. 

Ellie cried the entire. way. home.  I realized about halfway through the drive that she had never been in a car seat. Ever. They just weren't used in most of Guatemala, so babies were just held or carried in slings on taxis, buses, the back of motorcycles..... In fact, she had never been in anything that required her to be buckled in. And this baby was a fan of being free to move. Being buckled in was not her style. That should've been our first clue that eight years later, she'd still be moving constantly, and still HATE being buckled in!

Once home, the boys crowded around Kyle and "helped" feed her. They were smitten. They wanted to hold her, feed her, and bring her toys. They were immediately protective of their baby sister and bonded very quickly with her. 

In the days to come, she learned how much fun these boys were. She would light up when one of them walked in the room. They made her giggle and loved to entertain her. Jacob was only two, so we definitely had to keep an eye on him. He and Ellie quickly earned the nickname of "double trouble" after she learned to walk. 

People have often asked "how have your biological children dealt with having an adopted sister?" The answer is that they haven't "dealt" with it. There isn't really anything to deal with. As far as they are concerned there is no difference. She is their sister - no matter where she was born or how she came into our family. 

Only God could give my boys and Ellie such an immediate and lasting bond. Is everything always smiles and rainbows? Definitely not! But they love each other fiercely. I can't wait to see how their relationships deepen as they grow. And I pray that their experience with adoption will be a testimony to them of God's sovereignty and love for His children.

Here's hoping I have cooperative boys today and can get that video for tomorrow!

In the meantime, here are the boys helping Kyle feed Ellie a few minutes after we got home.