Bonding

I did all the research - read books, surfed the Web, completed the mandatory training provided by our adoption agency. And after all of that research, I was prepared to bring a baby into our family and struggle a little. I was prepared to have a difficult time bonding with our baby up front. All the experts (including my Mom) told me it was a possibility.

Instead, Ella and I bonded really quickly. She and her dad did as well. In fact, they have an even stronger bond these days. Ella just said her first word..."Da-da."

Was the bond instantaneous? Was it love at first sight? (Chip would probably answer "yes" to both questions.) I'm not sure. Our first few days together were in Ethiopia, and they were a bit of a blur for me. There was a certain euphoria that I experienced when we first met Ella. And that 30-hour trek from Addis Ababa to Dallas certainly helped us get to know each other well! But, it wasn't until we got home, and we settled into the rhythm of our new life as a family of five, that I realized the process hadn't been the struggle I anticipated.

The bond I have with Ella just kind of happened. She is so easy to love. And her brothers feel the same way - most of the time! (As I mentioned in an earlier post, we've had our hiccups. But, they are the kind of hiccups every family has when a new baby comes home.)

I think Ella is an incredible little person. All smiles and sweet - but feisty - personality. I do believe that we're all born with a certain nature, but I also believe that who we are is largely shaped by the influence of the people and energy around us. I think Ella's ability to love and bond is a result of the sweet loving care she received at the Gladney Infant Care Center in Addis. And I think the care she received is a testament to the Ethiopian culture in which all children are loved and celebrated.