Our Adoption Journey

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

11 months!

It amazes me that we are approaching the 1 year anniversary of our adoption of Nik. My plan has been to update this blog at least every month until the 1st year after his adoption. So, I am nearing the end of my blog updates.

Nik continues to grow and develop in amazing ways. I took him to see a speech therapist this month through the school district. We wanted him assessed to see how his speech was developing. The speech therapist was very impressed at his English skills and did not recommend any need for speech therapy. That was encouraging to us to know that Nik is on the right track. He is able to communicate more and more with us. Sadly, he remembers almost none of his Russian.

This month, Nik started back to school at the preschool at our church. He loves his teachers, Ms. Karen and Ms. Becky. He is really happy at school this year. He is going 4 days a week and is eager to go each morning and anxious to tell me about his day when I pick him up. It is exciting to see him happy and well adjusted.

After a visit to the eye doctor last week, we did learn that Nik is going to need eye surgery. We are doing the surgery next week to help the muscles that control the tracking of his eyes work better. I'm a little anxious to see him undergo this procedure, but the doctor has assured us it is necessary and will prevent problems in the future.

On August 28th, we "readopted" Nik in Texas. This court hearing before a Texas judge contrasted greatly with our court date in Russia on September 18th of last year. As the anniversary of that day came, I was overwhelmed to remember the day we nearly lost Nik forever. Brent and I have no doubts that God intervened to bring Nik home.

Here are pictures from this month:

After school treat!

Nik's court hearing!

1st day of school...

NIk is proud of his Cars backpack.

I've officially taught Nik to love shopping!

Nik loves to eat just about anything... sweet potatoes are a favorite.

Learning to fish with dad...

Happy boy!

Monday, August 26, 2013

10 months!

This month has been a month of fun summer activities. We've visited the art museum, swam a lot, , visited the fire station, and had fun with friends. We also enjoyed 2 fun visitors: Caleb, Madison, and Brandi Smith, and Uncle John! Nik continues to learn more and more English and continues to be a fun and happy 4 year old! He is such a blessing to our family.

Enjoying breakfast with our friends, Caleb and Madison Smith!

Doing our own art at the Dallas Museum of Art!

Dallas Museum of Art

Kid Mania with friends!

First Rangers Game!

Rangers Game!

Dinner at Benijanas! Nik loves to eat and watching our food get cooked was a lot of fun!

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Its been 1 year!

Wow! It is amazing to me that it is one year ago today that Brent and I met Nik for the first time. Read about The meeting to revisit our thoughts and feelings that day. What a difference a year can make. The somewhat apprehensive, yet lovable little boy is now an energetic, happy, and playful 4 year old American boy. Below are pictures of us with him when we met him on August 6, 2012 and a picture of me with him this morning... I even wore the same shirt in honor of our anniversary!

Nik was a little scared of us at first...

But, he was quickly interested in toys we brought with us.

Holding my hand for the first time...

All smiles!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

9 months!

It has been right at 9 months since Nik was officially "our son". And, we approaching the 1 year anniversary of our first meeting with him (more to come on that in a later post). Wow!

The last month has been fairly un-eventful as we have enjoyed a relaxing summer. Nik celebrated his first 4th of July at Mimi and Papa's house with family. We have enjoyed a lot of time in the pool and other fun summer activities including crafts, time with friends, and outdoor activities when its not too hot. Big brother, Dylan, celebrated his 6th birthday and got a new bike. This meant that Nik also got a "new" bike (the one Dylan outgrew). He is trying hard to learn to pedal so he can keep up with Maddie and Dylan.

Nik's conversational skills are developing daily! I am enjoying getting to know him better as he is speaking and expressing himself more and more everyday. He has also been able to communicate some of his emotions regarding his adoption. We want so much to help him learn to express and process the feelings he has surrounding his adoption and all the changes he has faced in his 4 short years. He has actually become somewhat emotional on a couple of occasions as he has acknowledged recognition that he has not always been with us. He told me yesterday that he wished he was with me when he was a baby. We were able to talk about it and I told him I wished that too but was so happy God brought him to be in this family when he was three. I told him I was glad he would be here with us forever. I pray God always gives Brent and I the right words to say to him when these issues are discussed over and over again in the months and years to come.

Here are some pictures of this month...

Happy first 4th of July!

The 4th at Mimi and Papa's House.

Enjoying a fun visit with cousin, Tommy!

Working on some crafts!

Learning to ride is "new" bike (in pajamas!)

Fun in the pool!

Summer fun! Lunch out with Grammy!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

8 months!

This month has been very exciting for Nik. Its hard for me to believe it has been 8 months since he arrived home with us. As I wrote in my last entry, Nik turned 4 this month and we had a fun day of celebrations. He is still singing "Happy Birthday" to himself on a regular basis.

The other big event this month was our first family vacation as a family of five! We went to Cancun, Mexico and had a great time! Nik was not a huge fan of walking in sand, but considering he refused to take socks off his feet until about 4 months ago, that is no surprise. He did love the pools, the all inclusive resort (ie non-stop eating!) and the time together as a family. Here are a few of our favorite pictures from the trip!

Fun in the kid's pool!

Meeting a real iguana at our resort!

Tired after a long day in the sun. Poor Nik fell asleep waiting for us to get dressed for dinner!

Enjoying a fun dinner at the resort. Nik is a big fan of sushi!

Mr. Photogenic!

First time in the ocean... not a big fan!

Painting pottery by the pool...

It rained one afternoon on our trip! Here Maddie and Nik are trying to eat the rain!

Family Photo by the Beach!

June 20th also was the one year anniversary of the day that changed all of our lives forever. On June 20, 2012, we received this photo and a video of Nikita. We loved his face from the moment we saw him and knew God wanted us to be together. It is hard to believe that one year later, this same little boy is thriving in our home. We love him dearly!

Nikita's picture from Russia that we received 1 year ago. I don't know how old he is in this picture. I suspect it was taken sometime early in 2012.

Nik Bowen, age 4! Living in Plano, Texas

Nik and his family!

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Happy 4th Birthday, Nik!

We celebrated Nik's birthday today. Technically, his birthday is June 10th, but today worked best for his birthday party schedule-wise, so we decided to have his party and celebration today. Nik has talked about his birthday non-stop for a week. He has even been singing "Happy Birthday" to himself for 2 days straight. Yesterday, he told me that he was most excited for cake on his birthday and blew at the air, a gesture that seemed to indicate blowing out candles. I asked him if he had ever blown out candles on his birthday before, and with a sad look on his face, he said "No".

Today was special for us because I was excited for Nik to celebrate his first birthday with us, and to celebrate his birthday for the first time! Nik was so happy all day... he kept saying "Its MY birthday!" He expressed this with a tone of joy and pride that I have not seen in him before. When he got to blow out candles on his birthday cupcake tonight, his face lit up. He paused after we sung happy birthday with a grin on his face. I think today was a dream come true for Nik.

As we celebrated today, I was reminded of a quote by one of my favorite authors, Henri Nowen:

Birthdays need to be celebrated. I think it is more important to celebrate a birthday than a successful exam, a promotion or a victory. Because to celebrate a birthday means to say to someone ‘thank you for being you’. Celebrating a birthday is exalting life and being glad for it. On a birthday we do not say ‘thanks for what you did or said or accomplished’ no, we say ‘thank you for being born and being among us’.

On birthdays we celebrate the present.

We do not complain about what happened or speculate about what will happen but we lift someone up and let everyone say ‘we love you’. Celebrating a birthday reminds us of the goodness of life and in this spirit we really need to celebrate people’s birthdays every day by showing gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness and affection.

These are ways of saying ‘it’s good that you are alive’;

‘it’s good that you are walking with me on this earth’,

let’s be glad and rejoice.

This is the day that God has made for us to be and to be together

Nikita, This time last year, we did not know that you even existed. And yet, today, we love you and cherish you and celebrate the life God gave you. You are our precious son and today was a day to celebrate the miracle of your life and the miracles of God that brought you to us. I hope you know that you are very loved by us and so many friends and family members. You are special and we cannot wait to see the person God created you to be. Happy Birthday, Nik!
Love, Mom and Dad