We thought it was time to update our blog to reflect an experience we had in September. On September 25, 2008, we received a phone call from a doctor who had delivered a baby that morning. She told us his parents had made the decision to place him for adoption. We went to the hospital that day, met the birthparents, and were able to hold the baby -- such a beautiful little boy. After meeting with them, his parents decided they would place him in our home for which we were so very grateful. The next day, when he and his birthmother were released from the hospital, we went and picked up our first son.
We named him Blake Charles. Blake was the name his birthparents had been calling him, and we felt it suited him nicely. Charles was Cindy's late father's name. On the night he was born, we went on a wild shopping spree, buying a carseat, stroller, crib, changing table, clothes, diapers, bottles, bathing supplies, and everything else a baby might need in his first week or so of life. On the first day Blake was at home with us, we put together his furniture and stroller, and took turns holding him with all our family members who came over to welcome him into our family.
Blake was an absolute doll. Not only was he beautiful to look at (as you can see in the pictures below), but he had the sweetest temperament. As long as he was being held, he was content. He didn't particularly like being put in bed, but he would sleep for hours as long as we were holding him. We, of course, didn't mind at all -- as proud new parents who had waited so long for a child, we were only too happy to oblige his every wish. He also seemed very alert and intelligent when he was awake. I could make eye contact with him from the very first day, and he also smiled from the very beginning. Mostly he would just look around with his big brown eyes, looking like a little scientist investigating a new world. The "Beautiful Baby Blake" picture in the slideshow below captures his little scientist look.
My favorite time with Blake was in the middle of the night. Although I was tired, that was the time when I really bonded with him. It was like Blake and I were the only two people in the world. His smell, his sweet baby breath, his soft skin. It was an enchanting time for me. After he ate, I would sing to him and he would smile at me -- such a sweet angel baby.
Unfortunately for us, Blake's birthparents missed him too much. After a few days of heaven with Blake, we received a call from his birthfather telling us that they wanted to raise Blake themselves. You can imagine how heartbroken we were to have to give our little miracle baby away. The only consolation is knowing that he is with people who love him as much as we do. Blake will always be, in our hearts, our first baby.