Another Birthday Boy

Today Li'l Man turned two.  

It's been almost five months since we saw this picture...

...and said, "YES!!!"

There are so many things I don't know about my sweet two year old boy.

But I do know that he is loved. A. LOT.

I have a pretty amazing story about Li'l Man that I haven't shared yet.  I've mentioned the fact that I met a friend online who adopted a little boy from Li'l Man's orphanage.  Her name is Deb, and her son's name is Benjamin.  Benjamin came home last month, and he now lives about three-and-a-half hours from our house.

While Deb was in China, she got the opportunity to visit Benjamin's orphanage.  When she and her husband walked into the room where their son slept, the first face she saw was our Li'l Man.

(That's Deb holding Benjamin and talking to Li'l Man.  And, yes, it kills me to know that my little boy sleeps in a room filled with rows and rows of cribs.)

Deb, a fellow adoptive mama who lives just hours from me, got to give my son the hugs and kisses I can't give him myself.  She got to hold him and whisper to him that his family is coming.  I know he couldn't understand her words, but I'm beyond grateful that for a few moments I can know for sure that Li'l Man felt a mama's love.

The story gets better.  Deb said that when she entered the room, Li'l Man's crib was in the first row.  Benjamin's crib was in the same row.  Between them was a crib for another little boy who was adopted in February and now lives about three hours from our house.

My Li'l Man, who lives across the world right now, spent the first 22 months of his life sleeping next to two little boys who live close enough to visit for the weekend.  

How amazing is that?

God has worked in many incredible, wild, and beyond-my-comprehension ways to bring this little boy into our family.  

I can't wait to see the view from the end of this journey.

I can't wait to tell my birthday boy that he's loved. 

Chosen. 

Ours.

  

Happy birthday, beautiful boy!  It's your last one away from your daddy, mommy, big sister, and little brother.

(Maybe we could give our Li'l Man a real name for his birthday.  Here are some we're tossing around: Hudson Gabriel, Gabriel Matthew, Isaiah Something.  Opinions?)