A Basket Left by the Door

He sits on the couch, completely focused on the television screen.

It's dark outside. A young woman carrying a basket looks furtively around her. She approaches a large door and rings the bell. Twice.

A woman opens the door and finds a baby.

Aidan wanted to watch "Meet the Robinsons" today. The movie (for those without children) is about a young orphan who tries to build a machine that will show him the face of his mother. There are time machines, singing frogs, a man in a bowler hat, and the voice of Tom Selleck in the movie.

Aidan loves it.

Aidan came to our family when he was five days old. He has never seen the face of his birth mother. We are the only family he knows.

We haven't kept his adoption a secret. He understands it about as well as you would expect from a three-year-old. He knows he didn't come from Mommy's tummy. Today in the car he implied most people don't know their mommy and daddy.

What does he think when he watches the movie?

As much love as we give him, there must still be a piece missing for him.

An Open Letter...

... To Aidan's Biological Mother,

We've never had a chance to meet you but you've given us a wonderful gift. He is almost two and we are so happy he is part of our lives. We look at him and wonder what traits he got from you.

He has strawberry blond hair with just a hint of a cowlick. It was curly in the back before he got his first haircut. He has big brown eyes and a little turned-up nose. He has a cleft on his chin.

He's very smart. He learns new words everyday. He loves trucks, tractors, motorcycles, airplanes, and helicopters. He is very mischievous. He loves to tease his sister but he also adores her. He is asserting his independence - he's started to say "no." He talks on the phone. He pretends to talk on the phone.

He loves to go to the park and swing on the swings and slide down the slides. He pushes himself around on his little bike. He loves to sweep and vacuum the floors. He loves it when we read to him. His favorite book is "Goodnight Moon" but he calls it "boon." He charms everyone he meets.

When he is hungry or tired he gets upset. He doesn't like bed time - he usually cries for at least five minutes before he goes to sleep. He always sleeps through the night, though. He loves cheese and bananas, but milk doesn't agree with him. He loves his "baba." When he used to see his picture he said "beebee" but now he says "Daidan."

We only know a little about you. We know you were young and already had a little boy when you found out you were pregnant. We know you hid your pregnancy from your family. You were very brave to go through that alone. We can't imagine what it must have been like for you to decide to give up your baby. Thank you. We will do our best to help him become the best man he can be.

Sometimes when we see a young woman, we wonder if it might be you. We know you are out there, somewhere. We hope you are happy and healthy. Even though you may try to forget him, we will never forget you. Even though we don't know you, you will always be part of our lives.

We thank you so much for what you have done. Maybe someday, we can meet you and you can see him. If it never happens, know that we will always love you for this wonderful thing you did for us.

Aidan's Birthday

Aidan was born on December 23, 2005. We finalized his adoption on November 7 last year. We thought it might be a little unfair for him to have to celebrate his birthday so close to Christmas so we decided to have a birthday party for him in November closer to his adoption day. Last Sunday, Ma and Pa Herrity, Elizabeth and Bill and Hillary Catling came over to celebrate Aidan's 2nd birthday with us.

I ordered a cake decorated with trucks from Stater Brothers (who has time to bake anymore?). Aidan loves trucks and tractors and motorcycles. He is turning into a little gearhead. He didn't understand how to blow out the candles so I had to help him. Next year he will probably do it himself. It was a good time.