“For the two of us, home isn’t a place. It is a person. And we are finally home.”
―Stephanie Perkins
Hello! 😀
We’re home! I had hoped to blog while we were traveling, but unfortunately several parts of our trip were significantly more difficult than we had anticipated and I just didn’t have it in me. I’m happy to report, however, that we are loving family life at home and Steevenson is doing SO great! He sleeps all the way through the night (10 hours!), and he is incredibly smart, so we have had an absolute ball just listening to him talk. Today, we went for a drive and when we passed by the chapel near the entrance of our neighborhood he told us, “Bondye renmen ou”. (God loves you) Made my eyes water! We’ve also discovered that he loooooves tools and tractors. The first time I pointed out a tractor to him (through the car window), I said, “I see a tractor!” in a sing-song voice and he’s been singing it same way ever since. So sweet! Here’s a snippet if you’d like to listen:
(Sorry for the wonky video- I didn’t want my phone to be a distraction.)
My favorite thing though, is when he gets tired at night. He crawls right up on top of me and clings to me so tight as he asks a million cute questions as he falls asleep. He is so smiley and snuggly and smells so good after his bath. I just lay there and answer, and snuggle…and sweat- ha! (He’s like a little heater!)
I wanted to share some of my favorite homecoming photos (taken by my sweet friend Aubrie at Hello Baby Birth Photography) today, but first, click the play button below to see a clip of our first few moments together at the orphanage. What a sunny boy!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your prayers! More pics and posts to come…but for now, it’s late and I’ve got a baby to cuddle. 😉
So, so happy for you all! What a wonderful blessing!
Ahhhh! Feeling teary and just so thrilled that this day has finally come for you all. Thank you for sharing your journey with us!! (And please continue.) ❤️
Pure JOY!!!
It is the day that all the dreams have come true….soooooo happy..and my heart wells up with praise to Him who gives us the desires of our hearts in His time.
There’s rejoicing going on for you all in Bolivar, Missouri!!! This has been such a long time coming that I’m sure there’s all kinds of emotions and excitement and exhaustion happening all at the same time for you guys that I can only imagine. I’ll still be praying for all of you and thanking God for this precious miracle you’ve received from Him!
Congratulations! Your family is proof that love never fails! Those smiles say it all!!! Enjoy these sweet days.
I have been a follower since finding you both while living on Tybee Island 7 years ago this year.
Today I cried the happiest tears for your family! God is so good!
Wow! Congratulations!!! Sonny is a very lucky boy to have a home with you and your husband. May you have many happy and fulfilling moments ahead. Jill
Congratulations to the 3 of you. Enjoy your cuddling and bonding time!
So happy for your family! God Bless you all!
The BEST post, ever. Crying happy tears for all of you!
Yippee!!! I had been thinking of all of you this weekend wondering where you were in process! Even Sonny’s voice is so sweet! Aren’t the good nights and good mornings the best things? Gives you best way to start and finish a day!
So happy for you all! Enjoy every moment! The videos and pics are great, thanks for sharing!
The video of his voice, the night time ritual, the smiles….Thank you for having shared this amazing journey and joyous gift with us all! Rich blessings to you all!
Hooray! So happy for all of you!!!
Congratulations your a beautiful family My Heart is so Happy right now.
What a beautiful voice. He’s a darling boy,so happy for all of you!
Enjoy!
Congratulations! Happy Homecoming!
Oh my gosh, so incredibly happy for you and Kevin! What a wonderful, happy little boy. He will light up for life forever. Adoption is a difficult long heart wrenching activity. What a happy ending/new beginning for all!
Good luck!
Precious!
WOW!!! Thanks so very much for sharing this special moment with us. What a sweet boy. His eyes sparkle and that smile is infectious. Blessings to all of you!
A tearful congratulations!! So happy for your little family!
I’ve been praying all week for your family as you finish up in Haiti and come home! Thank you for sharing some of the pictures with us. Praying that the time of adjustment goes well for all of you!!
Amazing! So incredibly happy for you all! He is so beautiful, and looks like he has always been with you. Love the way his hand was touching yours in one of the photos. He is very certain that you are his parents, and it is plain to see how much he loves you, and how safe and secure he feels.
The blessings are too great to count! Such a purposeful journey, all directed by God. He really knows. You were always meant to be a family.
Love this so much! I have been hanging on each and every detail, and relive our own wonderful experience bringing our son home as I read your words.
Enjoy each precious moment with your beautiful Sonny!
Good Bless you, Palmer family!
So happy for you all! Your joy radiates out of your images.
May the Lord continue to heap blessings on Kevin and you and Sonny. Congratulations‼️✨✨
Couldn’t be happier for you! Cute little family you have!!
Every single picture made me shed a new tear!! God has rewarded your PATIENCE, FAITH, and LOVE!!!
Annnnnd the cutest family ever!! (Thanks for sharing, I have been following you on this whole journey)
Wow!!! He’s finally home ! I’ve follow your journey for so long and am so very happy you finally have sweet Sonny home for good!!! God bless and cuddle him alllll you can, they grow so very fast!!
THE BEST! So happy for the three of you . . . Sending lots of love and blessings to you all while I grab my tissues! Lol
Layla! My heart is bursting! Gosh I wished we lived near you so our boys can play! You look so gorgeous carrying YOUR BOY! And the pic of all 3 of you…..swoon! God bless! I have enjoyed following this journey! it has kept me in prayer and closer to God. Your journey has also taught me patience and gratefulness!
So beautiful. Welcome home, Sonny. Welcome home.
Oh, that angelic little voice and big brown eyes! Thank you for sharing these sweet moments. May God bless your family.
Sonny is a very blessed little boy. May your sweet family be wrapped in God’s love and goodness.
So wonderful. Hugs to all.
Kevin and Layla, thank you for sharing your adoption journey with all of us. I’ve been a Lettered Cottage follower and ShootFly customer for years and I have quietly been with you in prayer throughout this painstakingly LONG process. Your faith and your tenacity and your joy in every inch of this has been inspiring and uplifting. Now seeing you united with your boy — with the huge, beautiful smile — and hearing is voice along with yours is just too beautiful to express. I’m a puddle of emotions for the blessings God provides. I’m praying for you all as you make your transition to the Palmer Party of THREE 🙂 . God richest blessings for you all. Our own kids left this morning for their first day of their junior and senior years of high school. I know you will be present in every single moment of your life with Steevenson — you’ll blink and he’ll be hopping in a car with his friends heading to Starbucks before his senior year…
so touched; your family is now 3. Blessings as you transition.
So, so happy for all of you! He is such a precious, little dude! The video is adorable and brings back fond memories of my son when he was that age. When he saw tractors or construction equipment….he called it “working stuff”! Be Blessed!
I am bursting with happiness for you! Let the fun begin….together!
Oh blessings galore. God is great. Much love! Palmer- Party of Three!??❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Welcome back to you all safe and sound, take all the time you need. Everyone else can wait you have THE most important job in the world being parent’s lot’s of love Kay xxx
Although I am a just bloggin fan , I am also the mom of 2 precious babies, 18 year old girl and a 6’2″ 14 year old baby boy. We don’t know eachother but I truly believe that all hearts are connected butyl God and I wanted to let you know my eyes are filled
With tears and my heart is full of joy for you and your husband. My daughter is leaving for college in 2 weeks and I am loving all our last moments together. Congrats!!!
Finally!!! He is sooo sweet. He is your “sunny” Sonny. I could just listen to him all day. Enjoy. Would love to hear how he reacted to his new house, his beautiful room, Max & Kitkat, etc. Such wonderful news. Hugs.
I am so very excited for you and Kevin. Seeing all your smiles tells the story. I have been following your journey since the beginning and am so happy you can finally begin life as a family. XO
Congratulations and God Bless You All! How wonderfully inspiring to follow your incredible journey ….. And now the best is yet to come!
He is so charming and adorable boy. I’m so happy for you! Congratulations and greetings from Finland!
Crying tears of happiness and pure joy! Thank you Father God for your plan for these 3 and sustaining hand!
Oh My Word! Praise the Lord for your happiness and special bundle of joy!!! It’s so weird getting emotional looking at the homecoming photos when we don’t even know each other. I think as Christians we want to see how God is giving hope to people and is moving in people’s live. Thank you SO much for sharing this story with us! We’re are all so happy for you and what a little ray of sunshine your Sonny is! We will continue to pray for easy adjustment and we can’t wait to see where God leads you.
Happy for you!
I feel like I can hardly breathe. I have been out of touch with my computer for the last ten days. My husband fell and broke a rib and I have been doing yardwork he normally does. It has kicked my butt! So I just signed on to see all I have been missing. I can’t believe you have been to Haiti and back! I can’t believe you have Sonny at home with you! I’m telling you the truth, it took my breath away. Don’t even know what to do with all the emotions I’m feeling after looking at the pictures. So happy for you is an understatement. God Bless the Palmer family. Sonny looks like he has such good sugars!