Hooray!!! You're bringing your son home soon ;)...that's the awesome news, and everything else is manageable. But I too see plants as a living being, so I feel your pain in having to remove them:( It does feel good though, when you set your mind to it, to just get that kind of stuff done!

And considering your life is going to get a whole lot busier, perhaps think about a garden with plants that return yearly on their own. Maybe even choose one with your son and of course @shai-hulud, and you can watch both grow up together ;) It can be something that is sturdy, beautiful, and continues to spread to not only fill up your garden space, but to be symbolic of his growth and how your love for him will continue to spread as well. Maybe your son will become involved in all the gardening eventually too...considering there's a plant in his honour in your garden. <3