Friday, August 13, 2010

Happy Gotcha Day Cainan!

It has been 3 years today since Cainan was placed in Mat's arms and became a part of our forever family.  August 13th, 2007 - Mat saw our little boy for the first time.  As he was handed off from the caretaker to Mat, he didn't even bat an eye.  He shead not one tear.  And he has been a happy little guy ever since.

Here is his first picture - he was about 3 days old.

 Here he is August 13, 2007

 And here he is today - August 13, 2010

He fit right in to our family right from the beginning.


He is calm and sweet and easy going.  He has become quite a little boy in the last 6 months.  He will run and jump and run and jump and run and jump until my head spins.  He is getting louder and more vocal.  He is more opinionated.  He stomps his foot.  He says no.

 He has come such a long way.  My family hears this all the time.  They have witnessed the change from a little boy who only said "eh" to a boy who talks.  And talks.  And talks.

 Cainan came into our family and jumped right into a full family life.  He had to jump right in with two rambunxious girls who wanted to hug all over him.  He was terrified of the playroom for about 3 months - it was too overwhelming.  But he slept well, ate even better, and attached to us very quickly.

We are so lucky to have him.  He and Finley have gotten so close.  Being our virtual twins - they have each other's backs.  They miss each other when they are apart.  And Arlington?  Well as for her - she is the best big sister.   Cainan adores her and she dodes on him.

 Cainan spent his first year with us having 6 surgeries, occupational therapy, speech therapy, hand braces, day care, two sisters, a new life, a new language, and a lot of orphanage baggage.

 His second year - he broke free.  Occupational therapy and surgeries were over.  The hand braces were gone.  We moved to a new state.  He was speaking so well.  He learned to love snow.  He got more verbal at daycare.

His third year with us?  Well - this has been the most amazing.  He has turned into the most amazing kid.  He has a great personality.  He makes us laugh.  He talks so much.  He runs and jumps.  He loves sand and grass (two things that terrified him when he first came home to us).  He runs barefoot in the grass and on the street.  He has made really good friends at preschool.  I saw him being a leader in his playgroup this year. 

 I could go on and on. 

Happy Gotcha Day Cainan.  We love you to the moon and back, and are so happy you are ours.

3 comments:

Nancy (Jeff and Zee) said...

Cainan looks sooooooo handsome! In China they kept telling us--'what a lucky boy' and he is. A special happy gotcha to all of the Pletchers, including Aunt Betty!

Joanne said...

HAPPY 3 YEARS!!! I have goosebumps after reading your post ~ it was beautifully written. Just hearing about all his transitions, reminds me so much of Mia...the fear of grass, sand and the over stimulation...they were hard times, but WOW how far they've come :)
P.S. He is just SO adorable!!!!!!

Thelongs said...

He has come so far! God definitely brought him to your family and blessed you and him! So happy he has a wonderful family to spend his life with!