handsful

Seems to be a nickname that’s sticking…

Dylan went to the pediatrician yesterday and did wonderfully – very cooperative, no tears. Course, there’s been no ouchies yet.

He weighs 26.15 pounds (2nd percentile) and is 36 inches tall (3rd percentile). Yep, he’s small, but proportionate, so all is good. He’s wearing 24mo/2T shirts and 24mo pants. 18mo pants fit better, except they’re usually too short. Thank goodness for pants with the elastic/button things on the inside of the waist!

We discussed shots, and I expressed my interest in getting as many titers as possible, to avoid unnecessary shots. She contacted the disease control center and got specifics on how this can best be accomplished. Next Monday, he’ll have those titers run, have a repeat TB test, and I’ll bring in the stool for cultures. So, there may be tears on Monday!

I’ve been keeping a list on Dylan since China, so I thought I’d share a few things here that we’ve learned so far.

Despite his leg difference, NOTHING stops him. He climbs anywhere and everywhere and scoots across the floor faster than I can keep up. He loves his little leg, and delights in showing it to anyone. Makes me sad to think he has to lose it – praying we can explain it to him somehow.

He began giving us unsolicited kisses and calling us mama/baba on day 2.  He loves to kiss! 

He understood “ball” by day 4.  He says “nyow nyow” to ask to go potty, and is beginning to understand some English already.  He understands “more” and “all done”.  As of today, he’s responding to the name Dylan most of the time (we’re calling him Dylan YuHai and will drop YuHai eventually). He says “didden oo di” for Dylan YuHai.

Dylan seems very mature for his age…he eats neatly with a spoon or fork (in fact, he hates picking up food with his hands – doesn’t like his hands dirty).  Today, we were playing with play dough and I handed him the plastic scissors.  He held them just right and began cutting…I wonder if he’d used scissors before?  He plays creatively (trying all sorts of arrangements with his stacking cups) and has a long attention span for activities. 

His favorite food was bread in China; he’s not as fond of it anymore.  Like I’ve said, he will hold food in his mouth and takes forever to swallow sometimes.  But, it’s decreased a lot in the last few days, he has needed less encouragement to eat,  and he seems  more willing to try new foods. 

Bedtime has gotten easier lately, now that we have more of a routine that slowly gets him used to the idea.  And, once he’s asleep, he’s a deep – though very restless – sleeper.  He kicks, spins, turns sideways (his favorite way to sleep) all night long.  Once he’s in his own bed, it’s a good thing his bed has rails all the way around! 

Dylan loves to throw things away and will point out trash he finds.  Likes to shut doors, too.  Hoping these traits rub off on the big kids! 

He doesn’t like to go barefoot or even sockfoot.  Shoe on at all times.  And, even though he has 4 shoes, he always chooses the squeaky shoe we got him in China. 

 

I feel like I’m so behind in the blog! Today is my birthday – I’m officially smack in the middle of my 40’s. I’d prefer to avoid typing the actual number. Ouch. And, we finally got a Christmas tree in the house as of last night. We’ll decorate this weekend. We’re ridiculously behind in Christmas shopping and we have 6 children hoping we catch up quickly. Well, at least 5 children – Dylan is happily oblivious to it all. Randy suggested we just postpone Christmas for a week, but none of the kids liked the idea. Weird, huh? I promise to try to post more pics soon!!