We knew that our brand new sons were all boy the first night we got them, and boy did we learn to relax…FAST. We gave them their first bubble bath with bath toys at the hotel, and you would have thought they were in Disneyland. They were so full of energy and moving around so much that their heads were bouncing off the sides of the ceramic tub like ping pong balls and they never even flinched. As parents, we got headaches, just watching them, and learned to breathe.Once home, who would have thought that we would find Jhon (then 7) at the very top of the tree in the backyard, make sure Cesar (then 3) didn’t eat the worms from outside, and make sure that Andres (then 14 months) quit riding the dogs like they were horses? There was a new adventure EVERYWHERE!
We were totally prepared for the trials and tribulations that being parents would bring, but could never have dreamed of the joy and entertainment that these boys brought. There is nothing more rewarding than watching Jhon reading a favorite book to his brothers, hearing
Cesar explain that he is the “medium” brother, or hearing Andres proudly introduce his brothers to complete strangers.
There isn’t a word to describe the feeling when being told by the boys that “Mama looks like a princess” or that they want to be strong like Papa when they get big. Now our lives are filled with soccer games, family boating trips, and science projects. Together we’ve mastered bike riding, Playstation, and the relationship between every super hero ever imagined. We are busy and healthy, affectionate and fun, blessed and happy—together. We just celebrated our 2 year adoption anniversary on August 16, 2007. Jhon is now 9 ½, Cesar is 5 ½, and Andres is 3.
—Anne Koch and husband Joe Loehmer adopted brothers Jhon, Cesar,and Andres from Colombia in August 2005.
