Wonders never cease for first-time moms

In honor of Mother's Day, Globe West talked with four women celebrating the holiday for the first time.

They became mothers through Wide Horizons for Children, a Waltham adoption agency that placed 630 children from 11 countries over the past year.

Renee Fienberg of Framingham said Jacob "amazes me every day."

Christy Vercauteren of Natick said Carter has taught her "how much coffee and energy you need" to keep up with an 11-month-old whirlwind.

Michelle Grace of Maynard said of Dmitry, "I love seeing things through his eyes."

And Andrea Malo of Shrewsbury said she'll mark her first Mother's Day with Jason by having "a big cake and a little celebration."

Conversations with the women provide a glimpse into their new lives:

Fienberg, 41, is an ultrasound technician now home with Jacob, 16 months, who arrived from Russia on Feb. 28.

Q When and how did you become a mother?

A My husband [Andrew] and I went to Russia with a referral, but with no information about the age, gender, or anything. We only knew that we had been matched with a child. So we were as anxious as anxious could be. We first met Jake in November; we had traveled to a suburb of Moscow, two hours away, and he toddled in. He was crying, and we were crying.

Q How will you spend Mother's Day?

A Staying at home and making breakfast. Jacob loves it when I make French toast and syrup for him. Just having him is the best Mother's Day present.

Q What's the best part about being a new mom?

A He amazes me every day. The other day he learned to bounce and jump -- I thought, "My God, I want to capture every second of this." I had worried about attaching, because all of a sudden this baby's yours. But he just fit so well into our family. It sounds like a cliché when people say something is meant to be, but that's how it feels.

Q The hardest part?

A Being away from other adults and feeling a little isolated. My mom is not in the area and carving out a little bit of time for yourself, that's probably the hardest thing. My sister came for 10 days, which was such a help. I could get a haircut and do stuff like that.

Q What have you learned about motherhood?

A Appreciating the small things. He's amazed by a leaf or an acorn or a pine cone; and teaching him to stomp and crunch them was just the most fun. And reliving your childhood too, that's really fun.

Vercauteren, 34, works as an orientation and mobility specialist helping blind and visually impaired children. Her son, 11-month-old Carter, arrived from South Korea on Oct. 16.

Q When and how did you become a mother?

A We met Carter at Logan Airport. My husband, Geoff, and our families were waiting for him. He was nestled into the arms of his escort, fast asleep, and we saw his little bald head peeking out. The feeling of holding him for the first time was overwhelming. But he was very mellow and relaxed about it, like he still is today.

Q How will you spend Mother's Day?

A We're celebrating in Westford, where I'm from, with my parents and grandmother and Geoff's mother and brother. I think we're having a cookout, but I haven't had to help organize this year [laughs]. We'll also be thinking of Carter's birth mother on that day, and the sacrifice she made that made our family complete.

Q What's the best part about being a new mom?

A It's hard to name one thing. I know it sounds corny but discovering the world though his eyes -- the prickliness of grass and meeting daddy at the commuter rail and watching his eyes pop out when he sees the train. Carter learns something new every day. Also seeing my husband as a father, that has been unbelievable.

Q The hardest part?

A It was hard going back to work. I'm very lucky my mom and grandmother help take care of Carter two days per week.

Q What have you learned about motherhood?

A How much energy and coffee you need! You can laugh off the rough parts. Even when I'm stressed, Carter will look up and laugh or touch my face and it will suddenly be OK.

Grace, 39, is a preschool teacher now home full time with 16-month-old Dmitry Shawn , who arrived from southwestern Russia on March 8.

Q When and how did you become a mother?

A We met Dmitry for the first time on Jan. 9 at a baby home in Voronezh. We fell in love at first sight, and he fell asleep in my arms. We came home to wait for our court date and returned at the end of February to bring him home.

Q How will you spend Mother's Day?

A I might go out with my husband [Robert] and son, maybe for ice cream, and just enjoy being outside together. Maybe we'll go to Dairy Joy in Weston.

Q What's the best part about being a new mom?

A I love seeing the world through his eyes. The other day we went to Kimball Farm, and he saw a goat. It was the first time he'd ever seen one. Sometimes we sit outside and just watch the cars and trucks going by. Everything is so new, and he looks it all with such wonder and amazement.

Q The hardest part?

A Adjusting to not doing things your own way anymore. Now I have someone to think about and worry about 24-seven. You don't sleep or have a full meal anymore, and some days that can be hard.

Q What have you learned about motherhood?

A I didn't know how much I could love. He took a few steps for the first time the other day, and I started crying.

Malo, 44, is an engineer now home full time with 6-month-old Jason, who arrived from South Korea on April 4.

Q When and how did you become a mother?

A My husband [Dan] and I arrived in Seoul and met Jason and spent a week there before we flew home. The night before we went home, he had a good long crying session. He was used to sleeping with his foster mother, so we put him on the bed and I lay next to him. He rotated himself horizontally, and Dan and I lay on the edges of the bed we could squeeze on. We said to ourselves, "Anything, just don't wake him up!"

Q How will you spend Mother's Day?

A We'll spend it at home, with a big cake and a little celebration. My husband's mother is here visiting, so we'll celebrate two moms.

Q What's the best part about being a new mom?

A Just holding him, seeing him smile, and playing with him.

Q The hardest part?

A The lack of sleep. I caught a cold the first week he was home, I was so run down. He still wanted to eat every three hours so I was up all day and all night. I'm still trying to get over that cold, but he's sleeping through the night now.

Q What have you learned about motherhood?

A Just how much of a joy he is to be with. Every little thing he does is so interesting to me. He makes these sucking sounds with his fingers and makes them sound delicious. He has 101 expressions, he can go from wise old man to funny little kid in a second.

Erica Noonan can be reached at enoonan@globe.com.