The moment I met him...

I was so nervous the few minutes before I met Kwame. After all these months of knowing he was my son and not really knowing him, I was finally about to meet him.

It was really weird for me to be the third one in the family to meet him. Usually it is the mom that carries the baby and gets to know him or her before giving birth. With Selina, I spent a month with her in Africa and got to know her before bringing her home. This time, TR and Kman met and got to know Kwame for a week before I met him. I was excited for them and the bond that the boys in the family shared for having that experience but it was just so unnatural that I did not know Kwame first.

I think I got nervous right before meeting him because he is older. I looked in my closet and could not decide what to wear to meet my new son. I wanted to be comfortable but not too casual. I had on black capris and a mostly black top at first but decided that might be a little too much black and kind of satanic for meeting a child to wear so much black. At the last minute, I put on my jean capris with the black shirt because they were comfy and I realized that I will remember what I wear more than Kwame probably. I laughed at myself for trying on three different things and wishing I had painted my tootsies as my polish was coming off.

So we made it to the airport on time which was an accomplishment considering I felt it necessary to have the van washed really good on the way so he wouldn't learn it usually looks like we live in it for at least a few days! Since we arrived early, we actually had a few minutes to spare before the boys landed.

I think Cater was nervous too and wanted to make a good impression as she was being especially helpful with Selina and was watching down the corridor saying, "I think they are coming everytime anyone headed our way!"


I could only see feet and the bottoms of legs initially but when I saw the little brightly patterned Ghana pants, I knew the time was finally here.


I immediately started crying which I told myself not to do many times over the previous few days as I did not want to scare him by crying right away. Oh well, welcome to your world little man, mom cries easily!!LOL


Kwame was so sweet as he immediately ran up and gave me a hug! There is discussion that goes on in the adoption world about if you love your adopted child right away or if it takes time. For some it does take time and so there is a term that is used "fake it until you make it" about how if those feelings are not there, you fake it because eventually as time goes on, you will love your child.

I feel fortunate because that did not happen with either of my children. I loved Kwame from the moment I saw him and once we got the referral for him, I loved him even more. When the courts declared he was our son, I loved him like I did my other children. For me, the difference was that I did not know why I loved him. I didn't know yet what personality traits and things about him, I would love the most but I was excited to find out.

So here he was, this amazing child that just traveled for nineteen hours and he was really here and was hugging us. Kwame was a little quiet for a few seconds and then started asking for his sister Selina. He heard her name around the adoption center quite a bit before coming home as she is from there also, so he was excited to meet her!



The kids spent a few moments talking before Selina decided to have a huge tantrum on the ground right there (something about wanting her shoes off or something like that!) I think she was a little overwhelmed. Bless Kwame as he immediately tried to help his new sister! She decided to continue to be upset right through our first family picture at the top of this post (which is why she is not looking at the camera- she refused!)

Thankfully every thing looked better from atop her brothers shoulders so we made it out of there without further incident!


So there you have it, I loved our little man from the moment I met him. He is sweet and sensitive yet loud and passionate at times. He LOVES soccer and riding his bike! He loves his mom and likes to argue with Selina about how I am his mom and not her mom which is all fun and games unless one of them is tired!

As we walked out of the airport last Friday as a family of six, I am sure the witnesses thought to themselves that we have our hands full! I am blessed though because we do and I wouldn't have it any other way!