So yes…that vacation you’ve been hearing about. Can you believe that after being a mama for five and a half years we FINALLY had a real vacation? Just the two of us?

Believe me when I say that we are not the type of parents that don’t believe in vacation. We completely envisioned our life with kids as one where we yearly took some time away to be just us. To focus on our marriage, reconnect, and come back stronger.

My fear of leaving my son was just that…a fear. Besides his one night and grandma’s house for our anniversary, our trip to Ethiopia, when he was 2 1/2, was the first time we ever left him in the care of someone else for any real significant time. Saying goodbye was torturous for me, as I know it is for most mamas. But the time away was great for both of us. We had all intentions of doing it again, but of course, that was the time our daughter came home.

After our extensive adoption education, my mind and heart knew we couldn’t leave this little girl any time soon. We had just become her fifth home in the short six months that she had been alive. Her heart was too fragile to risk bringing up those deep rooted feelings of loss and abandonment. Yes, believe it or not, those feelings exist even for infants who can’t comprehend the extent of their loss. I’ve seen it first hand.

So this brings us to today. Cocoa has only spent two nights away from mom and dad. This trip was a BIG DEAL. To her and to us. Hollywood, on the other hand, couldn’t get rid of us fast enough.

Farewell Seattle! For now, at least, you won’t be missed!