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Scalbergs aim to provide godly atmosphere for new child

Dr. Daniel Scalberg stood with little baby Daniel Thomas over his left shoulder at the gate, waiting for his wife's flight to arrive from Chicago. Dr. Scalberg listened to his adopted son giggle in his ear. Daniel Thomas had been interacting with the people around them for the past 10 minutes.

Dr. Scalberg described the event: "He's a really animated child. He's placed over my shoulder and he's got his arms flapping and he's got this big grin on his face."

According to Dr. Scalberg, people often say that Daniel Thomas is a child who is very aware of his surroundings.

Before Daniel Thomas was born, Daniel and Kimberly Scalberg were in close contact with the baby's biological mother (she has asked to remain anonymous). They took her out to lunch, invited her to their house and even took her to the hospital when she went into labor. They had sent the mother letters along with pictures to inform her about themselves. When the mother went into labor, the Scalbergs were present in the delivery room with her. At the mother's request, the doctors handed over the baby to Dr. Scalberg and his wife after delivery.

"I was overwhelmed; [Daniel's birth] happened so quickly," Mrs. Scalberg said. "When he was born, it was a flight of emotions." She said she wondered for a while if motherhood would be like babysitting another person's baby. According to Dr. Scalberg, his wife had been concerned that she would have some trouble loving a child that wasn't her own, but that feeling has been proven wrong.

Daniel Thomas Scalberg came home to live with Dr. Scalberg and his wife on Nov. 12, 1998, three days after he was born. They adopted Daniel through Heritage Adoption Services Inc. in Portland.

Dr. Scalberg, a first-time father, said, "This is God's child, not ours." He feels that he and his wife have been given a special responsibility from God to care for and love the child. "It's a responsibility that's not to be taken lightly," Dr. Scalberg said. "We're responsible for what Daniel becomes."

Before the initial adoption, Mrs. Scalberg spent much time looking through the yellow pages, calling as many agencies as she could find regarding adoption possibilities. Then she talked with Liz Arthurs, Dr. Jeff Arthur's wife, who referred her to Heritage after hearing of a possible transracial adoption. Mrs. Scalberg talked with Mrs. Arthurs because the Arthurs have also adopted.

The Scalbergs had to undergo many interviews with representatives from Heritage at their offices, and also at the Scalberg's own home in Vancouver, Wash. The interviews provided representatives with information on the Scalbergs' background, history, values and morals. Dr. Scalberg said that interviews are crucial for adoption agencies to investigate every family wanting to adopt a child. If a home has been involved with drugs or child abuse, the child obviously should not be placed there.

Dr. Scalberg said, "Daniel has this full head of hair that most children don't have. He has this little Afro that we like to oil up." Dr. Scalberg said that they are both really pleased with the way their lives with Daniel Thomas have shifted --they fully enjoy being a family. Dr. Scalberg said that both he and his wife have dropped some responsibilities to spend more time together as a family. Dr. Scalberg describes his son as a "positive, upbeat child that laughs a lot." He also said that Daniel Thomas loves his saucer seat. According to Mrs. Scalberg, Daniel Thomas is "really social; he tries to get other people's attention. While he lies on his blanket on the floor, he talks to the TV."

Daniel Thomas also likes to sleep, he loves his formula on time and he loves the affection his parents give him. He plays frequently with his small, stuffed toys (a little red bull and a red lady bug) and his big, plastic keys. According to Dr. Scalberg, "everything goes into the mouth."

Although Daniel Thomas puts many things inside his mouth, he only actually consumes breakfast cereal with applesauce and prune juice besides his usual, bottled formula.

Dr. Scalberg has already taken a special interest in African- American culture, so that in the future he will be able to associate himself closer to Daniel Thomas' ethnic background. Dr. Scalberg said, "If I'm able to relate more to his ethnic background, it's going to show that I'm more committed to him and that I take a particular interest in him. It's going to show that I love him."

At 5 months old, Daniel Thomas is a nationwide traveler. He's flown to such destinations as San Diego, Seattle and Medford. In May, Daniel Thomas will join his father for a trip to New York City to visit Dr. Scalberg's brother and sister-in-law. In June, Dr. Scalberg will take Daniel Thomas with him to London and to New Orleans for an academic conference in French historical studies.

Mark and Angela Wyatt, long-time friends of the Scalbergs, are Daniel Thomas' godparents. Mr. Wyatt was Dr. Scalberg's best man in his wedding, and Dr. Scalberg was Mr. Wyatt's best man in his. Mr. Wyatt is a graduate of Multnomah, and Mrs. Wyatt is a realtor with John L. Scott.

The Scalberg family has grown indeed Dr. Scalberg and his wife said that in the future they might adopt another child, giving Daniel Thomas a brother or a sister.