Big Brother

Welcoming Zaiden into our family and home has been an exciting transition. When we started the adoption process for the second time, we began talking to Zander about being a big brother. He was excited about it as some of his friends at daycare are also big brothers and sisters. We prepared him by moving him into his own "big boy" room and placed a "baby" AKA stuffed bunny in his old crib to prepare him. When the time came to welcome his baby brother, we prepared him by reading some big brother books as well as bought him a stuffed dog to give to his new baby brother.

On the day we brought Zaiden home, Zander came right into the house with the toy dog to bring to the baby (he had been at daycare) and gave it to baby Zaiden. He then wanted to give him lots of kisses and was very eager to help out (bringing us a pacifier and wanted to help feed him with the bottle). He continues to be very excited about being a big brother and still loves to help out. He starts every day by giving Zaiden a kiss and will bring him toys and his pacifier. He will also give him some gentle pats or shake his toys. He would like to pick him up, but luckily is not able to. He likes to hold him when we are there to help. He likes to talk about his baby brother and was very excited to introduce Zaiden to all his friends at daycare. He has also nick named him "Baby Bean." Zander is an amazing, caring and gentle big brother and we are so excited to watch these two boys grow up together!

Zander welcoming baby Zaiden home

Zander loves to help out

Zaiden 1 month

Zaiden was already 1 month old when we brought him home on July 7th. He is good eater and eats up to 6 ounces at a time. He is still working on sleeping longer periods of time and often wants to be up at night, but he is slowly adjusting. He likes to smile at you and will even "talk" to you by making noises and grunts. He is very strong and is gaining really strong head control. We look forward to watching this little guy grow!

Welcome Zaiden Terrell

We are so happy to announce the newest addition to the Gilliam family! Zaiden Terrell was born on May 26, 2015 weighing 6# 13 oz on the south side of Chicago and he joined our family on July 7, 2015. We (including Zander) are thrilled to welcome this guy into our family. He is a bundle of energy and strength; he is strong willed already! He is also very sweet and loves to show off his smile with his adorable dimples.

From the beginning of our adoption journey, we knew we wanted multiple children.  Zeb and I both enjoyed having siblings growing up and are both pretty close in age to our siblings and we wanted this for our children too. We returned to the Cradle in January 2015 and after a long process (paperwork issues!) through DCFS and the Cradle we were finally approved in June. Only 3 days after our approval we were contacted about Zaiden and within a few weeks were able to bring him home. We also have an open adoption with Zaiden and are so pleased to have been able to spend some time with his birth mom and hope this will continue throughout our future.

Bringing him home from the Cradle

Zander was so excited to give Zaiden his welcome home gift

Summer Days

We love summer! Jasmine is now off work for the summer and we are ready for some family fun! Zander has been battling some allergies, but he won't let that stop him from enjoying the outdoors. We have already had some visitors in town and traveled to Wisconsin for 2 weekends and are ready for more summer fun to come! Here is what we have been up to:

We had friends visit and Zander loved hanging out with Cooper and Olive and we all enjoyed a trip to Maggie Daley Park

His favorite friends, Charlie and Henry came to Chicago for a weekend and they spent a (cloudy) day at the beach

We took a trip to Wisconsin for a family reunion and Zander had fun hanging out with family and cousins as well as spending some time at the lake

We spent the 4th of July in Wisconsin and Zander loved the parade and hanging out with his Papa. He got a ton of candy and had would pick up as much as his hands could carry!

He also had a lot of fun at the park over the 4th of July playing kids games and going on in the bouncey houses and slides with his big cousins



Summer break means spending most days hanging out with mom including trips to parks, the zoo and picnics