Update on Zachary

April 22 marks one year that we have been Zachary's parents (officially).  On this date in 2008 a Russian judge approved our adoption.  On the 23rd we picked Zachary up from a Russian orphanage in Siberia and brought him home to meet his family on April 30, 2008.

The changes in the past year have been huge!  He went from a quiet yet easily angered child that knew no English, would not allow others to comfort him and did not have well developed gross motor skills to an extremely affectionate, confident, acitve, articulate, loud, imaginative child that tackles any physical obstacle with fearless ambition and coordination and speaks English beautifully.  Having Zachary as our third child makes so much sense.  I never knew that the seed planted in my heart in college to adopt a child from Russia would see it's fulfillment in Zachary.  

Let me give you two examples from today to illustrate Zac.

The confident kid...

1.  We took the whole family up to school today to surprise Hallie at lunch time.  Afterwards the boys got to play with the kids on the playground for recess.  By the end of recess Zac was confidently leading about 15 kids around the playground as a lion.  He was not intimidated but rather enjoyed being in charge of the big kids.  

The affectionate kid...

2.  Tonight at bedtime Zac grabbed my cheeks so I would look him in the eyes and says, "Mommy, next time I will marry you and be your best friend forever."  This verbal affection was followed by a, "big, squeezy hug and smoochers" (Zac and my way of saying hugs and kisses).

I'll be sure to post more memories and pictures around the 22nd.