"Who are you? And why are you taking me away from my nanny? I was completely happy earlier today" cried the little boy bundled for an Alaskan winter.
Gotcha Day 1/13/14
Now, turn the page...
It's been a month since these pictures were taken. It's been 31 days since we laid eyes on this sweet boy! So much has happened and so much has changed.
My dad struggled to grasp the concept that we would meet Samuel one day and never spend another day without him. It does seem strange. There was no transition period. No "sip and see". No weekend visitations. The nanny placed him in Russ' arms and he was ours. Actually, we were foster parents for a day, but everyone knew that "fostering" would turn into a real, genuine, forever family as soon as possible.
This little guy's personality has come shining through. He's resilient despite our rough introduction. He's a smart, funny, determined, opinionated, ticklish little boy!
Better watch out if you're sitting on the floor. You
become fair game for tickling, climbing, or wrestling.
- sign more, thank you, eat, and please
- say dada, mama, and JoJo (only when he wants to and never to get our attention)
- recognize the words "night night" and "lay down" at sleep times
- use a few different sippy cups (his first experience with something other than a bottle)
- request cookies for the sole purpose of feeding our dog, Molly
Samuel politely asked for a cookie, located Molly, and promptly
offered it to her. It was her favorite kind, so she couldn't resist.
And just to make sure she enjoyed every last bit, he sat in
the floor and pointed out every single crumb.
We now know that he likes:
- tools and Handy Manny
- bags, any kind of bag
- raisins, pork chops, yogurt, and chocolate icing
- bathtime, especially with his big brother
- being outside running through the grass or blowing bubbles
- snow in very small doses
After watching Daddy put a nail in the wall, Samuel
has hammered every surface in our home. Here, he's
just working quietly on part of his train set.
A few of his firsts include...
Introduction to snow
Storytime at the library
First time at church
Samuel has gone from waking 3-6 times a night to 1-2 times. For the most part, he sleeps from 8:30 until at least 4:00am. That has made a huge difference for all of us. He has now even started to fall asleep with us only near his bed instead of us bent and leaning like a contortionist over the side. Samuel quietly explores his bed while completing emptying it of any toys or blankets present. Yes, it's fun to pat his diapered tooshy. It's rewarding to receive sweet, slobbery kisses in his procrastination process. But, it's also nice to know that he's becoming more comfortable with us, more secure, and feeling safe in his own room. Hoping this quiet transition isn't a secret step towards crib catapulting, which we're fairly certain he could win a gold metal in!
Samuel began in China gradually venturing away from us in a room. He continues to explore with us in clear sight. He is comfortable to wander in a room with a few strangers. He is still very much cautious and aware of our presence. Still, to know that he can turn his back for a moment and know that his family is still constant...forever present is huge! We are grateful for his comfort and peace with us.
We still struggle to communicate effectively. We're not sure how much of our English he understands, but he shows more recognition almost daily. Sweet Joey practices what Chinese he knows...hello, apple, thank you...you know, the "basics". We are certain that we do not understand any of his Chinese though, if he even speaks in Chinese. The sign language is helping all our frustration.
Joey is working through the idea of sharing everything, including his parents and their attention. He does not tolerate crying or grunting. I playfully (and annoyingly - if that's even a word) refer to Samuel's whining as "honking" because that's what it sounds like. Joey is anxious to help Samuel into his booster seat and is adamant that Samuel wear a bib. Joey has done exceptionally well with caring for his little brother in general. Samuel loves his Daddy now, no question. He runs to him. He loves when Daddy throws him in the air. My heart still skips a beat when I witness that! We are falling into our "new normal". Even in the impatience and frustration, there is still great joy, lots of smiles, and neat moments between brothers to soak in. Without question, God has poured out grace on us all. Without Him, these days would've been much rougher, the tears would have been more abundant (from all of us), and we wouldn't know this daily peace needed to press on. He has sustained us!
Wait! Stop! That's enough pictures, Mom. I'll
have to start charging. Your flash is fading my hair.
Dawn! I love your sweet boy! I am so glad y'all were able to take him to church for the first time. Love you!
ReplyDeleteAmy