Levi Douglas Bradley: Easter was a big day!

Our Adoption Story

Levi was born on April 21, 2007 in Chinautla, Guatemala, a small town known for pottery. He weighed 6.7 pounds and was 19.7 inches long. He was in private foster care in Guatemala City where he lived for 10 1/2 months with his foster mom, her son and daughter and Isaac, his foster brother. Throughout our difficult adoption journey, Isaac's mom, Nancy and I became very good friends. God placed our boys together and had the perfect plan in place long before we ever realized it. When I was undecided on an adoption agency, I joined an online forum where Nancy provided me with information about her agency and recommended them to us. We decided to sign with the same agency and I emailed Nancy back to let her know. Over a few months we emailed back and forth to learn we were both from TN and lived only 30 minutes apart... we thought wow, it's a small world. Little did we know a few months later we'd both get referrals, earlier than we expected, of 2 beautiful Guatemalan angels. When they turned 2 months old our agency called and decided it was time to tell us that they were in the same foster home together and had been since they were 1 day old. We were amazed they were together. Even more so, God amazed us once again when we learned shortly after that they were born on the same day and were from the same town... no longer a coincidence that was for sure. We were being told by the foster mom how attached they were and acted like brothers. But, Nancy and I got the chance in January '08 to go to visit them and see it for ourselves. It was an amazing time of bonding with our boys that we will never forget. After that trip it seemed when one of us would reach a roadblock in the crazy process of international adoption the other would be delayed with something else. We stayed right together until the very day we picked them both up. We had our US Embassy appts the same day and we flew home through Atlanta on the same flight on March 11, 2008 when they both entered the US as citizens! It was an awesome time for us in the Atlanta Airport when we rec'd the congrats they were official! We've made friends for life with Nancy, Eric, and with Isaac's extended families. We look forward to many years of watching them both grow up so close together. Over the past year, as we went through battle after battle to bring our boys home, Nancy and I both would never think of one without the other in our endless prayers to keep them safe, happy and healthy until they could be home with their forever families. We're finally parents and it's what we've both waited for, for so many years.. our families are finally complete!!!

Monday, March 31, 2008

Easter was a big day!

Hey, I hadn't posted in a little bit so thought I would while Levi is down for his afternoon nap. He's been getting out a lot since last week. It seems we've been somewhere new about everyday and he's not minded it at all. He loves getting out of the house and doesn't mind the car seat unless he's so sleepy he is fighting it. We took him to church his 1st time on Easter Sunday and he did great! Everyone at church was so glad to meet him and just happy he's finally home. After church we went to his Nana and Poppy's house (Steve's mom and step father) for dinner where he got to be with all Steve's family at one time. He had a blast playing and when we left there he was worn out. He took about a 3 hour nap after playing hard all afternoon. The bigger picture I posted is Levi in his Easter outfit. He looked gorgeous. We took a family picture on the church steps after church since it was his first church service and Easter. We've just enjoyed every minute of our sweet boy since he's been home. It seems like he's been with us forever. Like I said before, he's a perfect fit for our family.
Last week we met Isaac and Nancy for breakfast at IHOP. We enjoyed our visit together and we're planning for them to come over to our house tomorrow for a play date. Isaac will be glad to see his daddy tomorrow afternoon who will be returning from a work trip to Mexico for the past week. Pray for his safe return where his boy and mommy will be waiting for him at the airport. We thought that would be a good time for Levi and Isaac to play a little before they head to pick Eric up. It'll be interesting to see how they act aside from a restaurant setting together since they've not been together since Atlanta when we were waiting for immigration clearance. Nancy and I cannot wait until it's warm enough to take them to the park and get them outside to play. Levi is considering crawling but, hasn't made that last move to figure it out just yet. He is so close but, just not mastered it yet. Maybe seeing Isaac crawling tomorrow will help him figure it out. Steve is working on a picture site for our pictures of Levi to be posted all in one place. I will let everyone know when that is up and running and send you the invitation to visit the site. Until next time... Tracy (Levi's mom)