handsful

Easter carnival at a local horse ranch = horse rides!  Or, as Dylan says “poursie” rides.

They asked for days before, “how many night-nights till we ride horsies?”

they couldn’t stop smiling.

I guess we have more horse lovers in the family.

our knight on a white horse :)

A happy day for our littles!

Well, I’m a day late in getting this posted – a certain daughter of mine had my computer held hostage all last night.

As busy as yesterday was (running from 6am till 6pm!), we certainly remembered that we were celebrating FOUR months with Dylan!  Honestly, it seems like longer.  Was he ever not here?  His transition into the family has been extremely easy.  Sleeping  and eating issues are gone.  His english  is exploding and he talks in sentences.  He STILL weighs 27lbs. and not an ounce more.  Maybe he’s growing in height?  I’ve got to look back to his initial appt. to check on that.

A new favorite activity…sitting on the edge of the sink and washing dishes.

A few more observations…

* He says I love you – “I lub oo”  – Lainey taught him that one.

* We were at church yesterday, waiting to pick up Abbey and Ethan from their student council meeting.  We were on the playground, and there’s a small climbing wall.  Lainey started up, and Dylan wanted to try.  I immediately told me no, he just wasn’t ready for that. Before I knew it, he was at the top (with me “spotting” him).  I have to learn NOT to lower my expectations of him.

* The other day, I was holding him and he accidently bumped into my chin.  He immediately asked “ooh ok mommy?”  and kissed me. And, this morning he wanted a sip from a water bottle.  I was worried he might spill and he said “I not spill it, I be tareful”.   Interactions like that are becoming common…I love how we can communicate so much easier now.

* A lot happens next month, specifically his surgery on April 26th.  We’ve already been talking a lot about his “new leg” and wearing “two shoes”.  When I took him back to the surgeon last week to check on his broken femur (healing perfectly, by the way), he asked if we were there for his new leg.  If we mention going to the doctor for anyone, he asks if it’s for his new leg.  He’s anxious, though I realize he doesn’t know specifically what’s about to happen.  We plan on getting together with our friends, the Gambils soon.  They have a 5 year old daughter with an amputation/prosthetic leg.  I want Dylan to see and get a better idea of what’s coming.  We’re blessed to have friends willing to share their experiences with us!

So, our next Gotcha Day update will be at 5 months, and Dylan will have had his surgery.  He’ll be BACK in that lovely spica cast, too. Looking forward to that!  (sarcasm…)

Happy 4 months, Dylan!

Not all orphanages in China are the same…some have more resources, some have less.   A lot depends on what part of the country they’re in, and how much outside support they receive.

Lainey’s orphanage was located in a very poor city and, though I think they did their best, it was lacking in many things.  At least in Lainey’s room, there was no stimulation on the walls.  There were no toys that we ever saw (we were told they were put away unless it was playtime).  And, the nannies were told to avoid making attachments to the children – they were rotated regularly to keep this from happening.  This might be the same in all orphanages, but I’m not sure.  Given the circumstances that Lainey came from, she has done amazingly well and is thriving.

After learning that Dylan was from Luoyang, CWI in Henan province, we researched as much as we could, trying to get a glimpse into what kind of care he might be receiving there.  We were thrilled to learn that the Half the Sky Foundation worked in Luoyang, to provide the children with individual attention and stimulation.  Specially trained volunteers through HTS work with the children in programs like “Baby Sisters” – working with infants to provide stimulation and early play skills, and “Little Sisters” – preschool play and activities to develop their bodies and minds.

We were told that, after Dylan’s adoption was complete and we were home from China, we could request the reports that had been written by the HTS volunteers.  We received these a few weeks later, and I was amazed at what we saw.

Forgive the picture of a picture, but…this is a baby picture of Dylan.   The reports say he is 3 months old here.  Funny thing is, our initial referral for Dylan says he was abandoned in January 08.  Which would have made him 6 months old.  ??  We weren’t completely surprised by this, because several others with children from Luoyang told us they had similar experiences with the orphanage and HTS reports conflicting.

He’s 9 months here, and it’s quite obvious it’s him.  I love seeing these, but it also makes me sad that we missed so much of his life.  We received a 6 month photo, too, but I’m not posting it.  We’re honestly not sure it’s him – maybe they mixed up the photos?  He looks much older than 6 months, the face isn’t quite the same…Oh well.

15 months.  Oh my, is he cute or what??  Are you noticing that the nanny is always the same?  I love that HTS did this, giving him someone to bond with for a long period of time.  When Dylan saw these pictures, he called her “momma”.

about 20 months.  That’s our boy.

About 2 years.  Sitting on the potty.  This is the first photo/report of him being in the HTS preschool program.  Look at the adorable baby fat on his neck.  Gracious.

The other photos look very similar to one we already had from his referral.   We also received quarterly reports, which contain precious information on his time with the HTS nanny.  She documented each “session”, what they did, what YuHai played with, and what she was focusing on that day.  Things like improving his head control when he was a baby, and teaching him the parts of his face or how to put on his shoe by himself when he was older.  We have written reports from Fall 2007 through Fall 2010.

I am extremely thankful that Dylan had this amazing head start, and the love of a Half The Sky volunteer.  I wish I could tell her thank you for all that she did for our son. We now have a deeper history to share with Dylan.

If you get a chance, check out this amazing organization and the work that they do.  www.halfthesky.org

I think I’ll go swoon over his baby pictures for a little while longer.  :)

His favorite thing lately is helping put away the clean dishes.  I sit him on the counter, so he can reach.

Lainey empties the top, and Dylan the bottom (after I remove anything breakable or sharp!)  Lainey knows where everything goes (even better than the big kids), and she’s helping to teach Dylan.

Sometimes, he gets confused and puts HIMSELF away.  Ha…

Well, technically his Gotcha day with us was on the 29th, but since there IS no 29th of February this year, the 28th will have to do :)

Our man has been with us for 3 months.  Feels like 3 years in some ways, and 3 weeks in others.  It’s all good, he’s a sweetheart – giggle box – funny faces – kinda kid.  In other words, he fits right in with the rest of us.

He’s still a little guy…holding steady at 27 pounds.  I’m not worried yet, he’s eating much better these days.  But, he’s really only gained maybe a pound or two since China.

What’s new with Dylan?

BIG BOY PANTS.  As of early this month, he’s only in diapers/pull ups at bedtime.  Accidents during the day?  NONE.  Not one.  And, he’s recently been going all by himself with only a bit of supervision.

Speaking of that, his middle name lately is INDEPENDENT.  He wants to do it all.  “I wanna do it” is a common phrase.

He’s also been in his OWN BED since mid month.  Randy encouraged (read “pushed”) me to try it and it was easy-peasy.  One of us sits on his bed until he drifts off and then we leave.  Sleeps all night, no problems.  Lainey is our light sleeper and Dylan sleeps like a rock.  So, she doesn’t normally wake him when she’s up and getting dressed.

Let’s see, what else…

Language.  Mandarin is slowly being pushed aside and replaced with English.  We knew it would happen, and it’s obviously a good thing.  A little sad at the same time – we’ll get them both in Mandarin classes when they’re older.

Please humor me as I share some favorite words/phrases.  He doesn’t pronounce these all correctly, but it’s what he’s saying!

“little bit” (as in, he’ll have a “little bit” of meat)

“full tummy” (we’ve encouraged him to eat more by praising him when he eats well and has a full tummy – so he tells us “full tummy” when he wants to eat it ALL)

“one more time” (as in he wants to jump off the potty “one more time”!)

“all done”

“that’s mine” (he says this one A LOT)

“you do it” (as in, you take a bite of that, not me!)

“match!” (as in the red on my shirt and the red truck MATCH!”

heavy = “hebby”

potty = “bolly”

dirty = “dirly”

flower = “balower”

banana = “beenana”

birdie = “birly”

Lainey = “lammy”

Daddy = “dally”

Dylan, you are our little rock star!

** Added on the next day – wouldn’t you know it?  The night after I write that he NEVER wakes up during the night, he wakes up THREE times. Not sure why, but he was very upset and Randy and I took turns lying with him until he fell back asleep.  The 3rd time, I assured him that we were in the next room and he had to sleep in “Dylan’s room”.  He cried, but not for very long and went back to sleep till late morning.  I guess we’ll see what tonight brings.

Coming soon to a theater near you.