October

Carson is learning so much and it is so fun to see him develop!  This little boy who was off balance while walking when he first came home, is now running and climbing and jumping!  He is learning English quickly and can count to 10 and sing his ABCs (sort of--mommy can understand it anyway).  He loves to say his name: Carson Dorlens Hedlund and identifies himself as "Mama's Baby" or "Mama's Carson".  When he's really happy about something, he'll say, "Happy birthday Mama, E-I-E-I-O!"   He adores his big brother and sister and loves to do whatever they are doing.  When they go off to school, he does get upset that he doesn't get to go bye-bye too, so now when he goes to daycare two days weekly, we say that he is going to school to play, play, play.  Now he calls daycare "play-play-play" and he knows all the other children's names!  He loves it which is a huge relief for Mommy!  I'll try to upload more pictures soon!  He has grown 3 inches taller in 5 months!

Starting School

Caden and Cali started back to school this week and Carson started his "school" 2 days/week at daycare.  They are all doing well and we are working on a new routine and getting to bed on time!

I've joined the ranks of Facebook and am now posting more things and pictures there.  Thank you for following this journey with us.  We are so blessed and grateful to have Carson home with us!

WATER!

We had a lot of fun at this fountain park in Burnsville until it starting pouring rain on us!  Carson absolutely LOVES the water!

Summer

We spent a lot of time at the baseball fields this summer with Caden's team.  Carson had fun making some new friends and running around!

We were able to go to the airport to greet 3 sweet girls home from the orphanage that Carson came from.  It was fun to see them come home too!  Carson was a little unsure and quiet, probably trying to make sense of what was going on.

Overall, we are doing well!

"spaghetti!"

We ventured up to Thief River Falls last weekend to spend time with Ryan's dad and to celebrate Father's Day.  We spent a day fishing at Lake of the Woods.  This was a BIG trip for Carson -- 6 hours in the car one way, then the next day another 1.5 hours to the lake, first time wearing a life jacket, first time in a boat, first time since we've been home that we slept away from home, first time eating Swedish pancakes made by Grandpa Kenny, then another long trip home !  Overall, he did great!  Just before we left to go to the lake, Kenny's neighbor stopped us outside and said her friend was visiting who could take great pictures.  Since we haven't had a true family photo with all 5 of us yet, this was a great opportunity.  However, we were dressed for a day at the lake and I had literally just got Carson up from sleeping and put on his clothers 10 minutes earlier, he was still exhausted from the long day prior!  He still had some sleep lines on his face!  In Haiti, they have the children say "spaghetti!" for photos, so now that's what we say when we take pictures :)

Happy Father's Day to the great dads in our life:  Ryan-Papa-Daddy and Grandpa Kenny (Ryan's dad) and Grandpa Richard (Elizabeth's stepdad) and Elizabeth's dad, who is no longer with us, Grandpa Greg -- we miss you dearly!  Thank you Dads for all that you do, we love you!!

Swimming!

Carson LOVES splashing in the pool!  He doesn't like to sit down in the water (not even in the bath tub) but he certainly doesn't mind -- and even enjoys -- getting splashed in the face!


We spent a day at Grandma and Grandpa's and Carson loved playing with his cousin Lucy.  She didn't know what to do with all of his excitement :) but she did help wipe the water from his face.  Her daddy is having a follow up MRI today to check his brain for any possible recurrence of brain cancer.  Please pray for him and his wife Amanda and Lucy.  Thank you!

Busy days!

amandajeanphotos.com

Mama is very busy these days with Carson.  He demands full attention and is exploring everything!  He has learned to climb up and down the stairs and is repeating everything in English.  Sometimes the communication barrier makes things challenging, but he is learning so much so quickly!   He loves helping to wake up his brother and sister in the morning and greets them after school with big smiles and jumping excitement.

We went to the adoption clinic at the U of M-Fairview Children's Hospital yesterday and Carson did great!  I would have to say that it was the best doctor appointment I've ever been to!  The staff and providers were wonderful.  He had to have 3 pokes (2 tries for bloodwork and 1 for a mantoux) but he was a trooper and they are well prepared to do lab tests.  He even provided a fresh poopy diaper at the appropriate time so that we could also get the stool samples for several "bugs" that he may have brought home from Haiti. 

Time to go... as I write this he is now pulling at my arm and leg trying to get my attention for something.   Orevwa!!



having fun!

Having a snack with Daddy!

Doing Well

Carson is adjusting well so far!  Thank you to Jeanel and Madame Jeanel for working so hard on our adoption and taking good care of him in the orphanage Foyer des Petits Demunis!!

dance, dance, dance

So I would love for you all to meet Carson right away but we really need to be careful while he is learning about his new family and household.  All the bonding and attachment that naturally happens when a child is born into a loving family and well cared for will now have to happen for Carson with us.  He needs to know who is Mama and Daddy are and we need to meet ALL his needs for several weeks.    With that said however, we bent the rules a little and allowed Uncle Jeff, Auntie Amanda and cousin Lucy to come over for a few hours to visit on Sunday.  Carson LOVED Auntie Amanda and was a little uncertain about Uncle (as he is uncertain about all men, but seems to enjoy being around caucasian women-especially really pretty ones like Amanda!) 

Here is a little excerpt from our visit, Carson loves music and dancing :

By the way, her photography is amazing, check out her website!!
http://amandajeanphotos.com/#/971293/Home

More later, Carson doesn't like it when Mama is on the computer :)

We Are HOME!!

Wow, what a week it has been and I have so much to say but so little time!  My little toddler is taking a break from his exploring to catch up on sleep and I would love to get a hot shower while he is doing that.  But I wanted to take some time and post some pictures.  

Carson is doing great!  He is very much attached to Mama but will let Papa take him now and then if Mama is in sight.  He has a strong sparkling personality with incredible laughter and has already shown us a few terrific temper tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants.   We stayed with a wonderful couple in Haiti who are also adopting a child, and after just a few days with Carson, Chris said to us, "Well, you better just go buy Dobson's Strong Willed Child book now!"  Yes, I think we will have our hands full with this one.  :)

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU -- to everyone who has been supporting us and loving us and encouraging us.  Thank you to everyone who helped out with Caden and Cali while we were gone, filled our fridge with food and greeted us with smiles and gifts and tears at the airport.  Thank you in advance to everyone who couldn't be there at the airport, for loving and accepting Carson, because I know that you do and can't wait to meet him!

Okay, okay, so here's the fun part -- the pictures!
Much love ~ Elizabeth