Happy Birthday, Leo!

Well, our little guy turns one today (in Korea, his birthday already happened yesterday) and I'm a mix of emotions. We're back east visiting our families in PA, NY, and NJ and we've spent lots of time talking about Leo and showing everyone photos and video from our trip to meet him. We've opened Christmas and birthday gifts and cards for him and reminded ourselves a thousand times that he will be coming home soon. Still, though, there is a sadness that won't go away until he is actually in our arms, heading to the place that will become his home. No matter how prepared we were for him not being here today and how much we know that his foster family is loving him and caring for him, there really is no way to not feel a deep absence when your son is celebrating his first birthday thousands of miles away. It helps a little to know that he has no idea it's his birthday and that we will have many more to share with him throughout his life. I'm thinking also of his birth mother today, and how she might be feeling. We are so grateful for the gift that she has given us - a wonderful, funny, smart, curious, and beautiful son!

In Korea, the first birthday (Dol or Tol) is an especially important milestone. Leo will have been dressed in a traditional Hanbok (as in the photo above) and we hope to receive this as a memento when we travel to Korea to get him. Also, traditional rice desserts will be served and Leo will be presented with a variety of objects on a table to choose from which will signify his future path. For example, a stethescope, cooking spoon, paint brush, baseball, calculator, etc will be placed on a table and whatever he chooses will indicate what he might be when he grows up (i.e., a doctor, chef, artist, athlete, accountant, etc). Our wish for him in the future is to be happy and healthy, secure in the knowledge that he is loved and appreciated, and confident enough to pursue his dreams with the support and love of his family.

If you have a wish (even a belated one) for Leo on this special day that you would like to share, we encourage you to comment on this post or send us an e-mail and we will place all the wishes in a treasure chest for him to enjoy when he is older.

We love you, Leo! Happy first birthday and many, many more!!!!