Friday, May 15, 2009

WHAT A WAY TO START THE WEEKEND!!!!!

OUR PA HAS ARRIVED - JUST TODAY!!!!

As many of you have already guessed - YES! - we once again have been chosen to be the parents of a child waiting for us in China...and as you can see - IT IS A BOY!!!!

It gives us extreme pleasure to introduce to you...

Benjamin James Zi Leonard
(his Chinese name is Dang Zi Zhong)










He is currently 18 months old and is living in a foster home in Luoyang Henan China.




We actually received an email from our agency, CCAI, asking us if we would be interested in reviewing a file. Seeing how we just updated our MCC this past April (originally filed in December 2008), we were so very excited! The email came in late on a Friday evening...so we waited all weekend long speculating on whether it was a boy or girl... it wasn't until Monday morning when Deniece called me and gave us all the details...that we found out it was a boy. Once we got his file reviewed and everything looked right on target, we called our agency back on Wednesday with a YES - HE IS OUR SON! So since that overly excited & happy phone call, we have been up to our necks in paper work. We must once again, compete a dossier and work with our social worker on new home study. We also have to deal with all the new regulations that took place since our last dossier was LID (April 2007) and receiving our referral for Annabelle back in June 2008. But for us...it is SO WELL WORTH IT!

To answer a "statement" that I have been getting since announcing this referral to family & friends is..."I guess Keith is finally getting his boy." And to answer you truthfully, it was ME that longed for a little boy...a son...to add to already blessed family. After visiting Hope when we traveled for Annabelle, I grew very attached to a few of the boys that were there waiting for their families to come and bring them home. After arriving home, I quickly started talking to Keith about the possibility of a son. He was on board, but as he would say..."I would love to have another daughter...I know my way around little girls." (seeing how Annabelle is his fourth daughter). So we decided to mark off "boy" and "girl" on our MCC and just wait to see what happens. When we finally found out that it was a little boy, we were both OVER JOYED with excitement that we were once again chosen for this child, a precious little boy...that will soon be our son. After a lot of discussions, Keith finally decided on a name. Knowing we already have two beautiful names for our girls, I just couldn't let our son's name no stand out too. So Benjamin James it is.

I promise, once I come off this cloud I am riding one...I will give you all more details.

As I am sitting her typing this, I am truly wondering, "How did we ever get so blessed?" My friend, Sara at Football & Fried Rice summed it up perfectly to me when I started panicking about child #3, doing another dossier, and traveling to China - again. She said to me, "You guys are truly incredible, loving, and faithful people. For God to hand you this gift again...you guys are doing something right." In my opinion, it isn't me that is doing something right...if anything it is my husband who is being blessed. If you ever get a chance to meet Keith, you would soon see that this man is amazing. He is kind to everyone, never judges, always see the good in people, and will bend over backwards for anyone he comes in contact with. I do believe that it is he who has brought all this blessed joy into our lives. And from the bottom of my heart, I thank him every day for all that he has done, given, and encouraged. Without him, I would not be the person I am today...I can only hope that our son will embrace the same qualities that his father has and want to display them every day of his life....

Thank you all for for hanging in there with us while we waited to share our news with you all...and I hope that you all will stick around will we paper chase once again for child #3 and travel to China to bring home our son.

17 comments:

Becky said...

Congratulations to you and your family Shelly! Benjamin is just a cutie! Can't wait to follow you on your journey to him.

Hugs to my Lovebug friend!

Michelle said...

He is beautiful. I waiting on my husband to get on board again to go get us a little boy this time. Can't wait to see him in your arms.

LaLa said...

Oh, he is such a cutie!!! Love the name and you know I love boys. You will LOVE being a mommy to a son : )

Marla said...

Oh my gosh! What a cutie!!! Congratulations to your sweet family!

Kate said...

He is scrumptious!!! Congratulations on your new addition!!! He looks easily capable of dealing with TWO older sisters who will no doubt love on him all day long...

:-)

Jodee said...

CONGRATULATIONS! You must be over the moon! He is absolutely adorable and, of course, I am looking forward to following your journey again! You are soooo blessed!

Courtney said...

Congratulations, he is adorable!

Keisha said...

Congratulations!!! OH MY!!! He is a Cutie & little Boys are SO much fun!! ;) Can't wait to hear more!
HUGS!
Keisha

Kerry said...

Wonderful news. Congratulations to your lovely family. He is adorable and I can not wait to follow your next journey.

All our best
Kerry and family

Football and Fried Rice said...

What sweet words you have to say about your hubby! I think you are both wonderful people and to hear you talk about Keith, I know you are BOTH blessed!!

Benjamin James is ADORABLE!! I love seeing his face on your blog!

MYA IS FROM LUOYANG!!!! If you decide to take the trip to Luoyang when you get to Zhengzhou, let me know - there is a picture I regret not having :=)

I have to admit, I have a little baby fever - tell me it goes away! lol!! Yeah right, like you are one to ask!!!

I cant wait to catch up some more - call me when you can breathe again!

Football and Fried Rice said...

And I will second Laura's comment about you loving being parents to a SON - so.much.fun!!!!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

WHOO HOOOO!!! I am behind on my blogs and we have not chatted since earlier this week....I was so happy to read the news.....it is official!!! I could not be more thrilled for you Shelly.......he was totally meant for you....and he is perfect!! What a little cutie.....and I guess Keith had a chang of heart on the name.....you will have to fill me in on that one:)

Hope you have a great week....talk soon!

Lisa

Sue said...

Oh my!!! What a handsome guy! Congrats!!!
I can only imagine the craziness at your house right now! Hopefully things will fall into place just perfectly. Look forward to hearing more about Benjamin and your paperchase, move, business....oh my!

Unknown said...

He is adorable!!! I can't wait to see you with him.

Unknown said...

What a beautiful post in words and photos. You are a blessed family & I'm so thrilled for you. Although I parent a daughter, I enjoy the boys in our life ever so much and know that Benjamin will add an amazing dimension to your family.

Rina, John & Annalisa said...

CONGRATULATIONS, this is wonderful news!

Sharon said...

OMGosh!! Congratulations. He is so beautiful. Wondeful post! I am just so so happy for you!!!!