Mad Marcus

Mr. Chubby Cheeks with Auntie Shannon.

Wrapping up Christmas Morning.

Normal angry look, though usually w/o the gun.

Lover of all animals, especially dog Yoja.

Wearing Mia's too small, 3 yr old Bunny Costume

He loves any and all things StarWars.

With new snowboard at the Bearlake Cabin.

I remember perfectly the afternoon, just 4 days before Christmas when I got a call from my friend at DCFS who said, "I am holding a beautiful little boy who is only 2 days old, we just picked him up from the hospital. Will you guys take him?? He has nowhere to go!" I was prepared to say "no" (having known the pain of fostering a baby who had to be sent back to an abusive birthmother). But I found myself saying, "Yes, bring him over."

Since bursting into our lives, Marcus brought with him animal impersonations, wild, loud tantrums, sullen moments, sweet hugs, 1000's of kisses and lots and lots and lots of laughs.

He regularly imitates movies, people and animals. He can dance with moves you would probably only see on "Dancing with the Stars". One moment he will yell, at me and call me a "bumb head" and the next he will pat my face and say, "A lovely mother you are!" But of course it is said in Yoda's voice.

He gets frustrated easily like when he is doing his homework or trying to get me to let him do something I just said, "no" to. And then the next thing you know we've hit a landmine, KABAMM!! He is ripping up his homework or ripping his room apart, throwing things, or perhaps scrapping a nail in long gashes upon his newly painted walls. Finally the anger will blow over, though this can take ten minutes to possibly two hours. But once it has passed, I can go in pull him onto my lap and just hug and kiss him and maybe quietly read a book together. When he was only three we went to the doctors. After getting his throat swabbed he was so mad he spit on the doctor, threw his succer at her and screamed, "Stupid Woman dwiver." I think that came from "101 Dalmations", Apparently it was the worst thing he could come up with at the moment. He also ripped out a small amount of my hair.

On the other side he is so funny. Alan will be sternly trying to correct his behavior and he will be making goofy faces the entire time and murmuring, "yeeeessss, yeeeessss, my precious, what ever you say precious." imitating Golum. Alan is trying to be serious and I am bursting out laughing and soon both Marcus and I are in trouble.

And finally, I love this little guy beyond measure. After suffering for ten months not knowing if we were going to be allowed to adopt him, and trying unsuccessfully not to love him so much I am now able to just pour all the love in my heart out without restraint.