Three Month Check-in

Three months ago today we arrived home from Russia and began our life as a complete family. During the days and weeks that followed, we watched Harry weave himself into every aspect of our lives.  It would take hours to document all the positive changes we have seen, not only in Harry, but for our family as a whole. What stands out most though is the bond between Harry & Skip. For so long Skip knew he had a brother in Russia, and at time during the long wait, it was hardest on HIM. Through it all, we clung to the hope that once these brothers were together - the bad memories would fade away. We figured it would take time for them to bond, but that eventually their relationship would be close. We were wrong. Well half wrong. Their bond IS strong, but it didn't take time because INSTANTLY these two boys - separated by oceans & circumstances - became brothers in every sense of the word.  And as a parent, and one who has chosen to stay home and raise them, I get to see it all unfold. For that I give thanks every day! Last week however, during our second post-placement visit when our Social Worker commented on how protective & nurturing they are towards each other, it confirmed what Mike & I already knew - that we have a good thing goin' on! She said she is truly impressed by how patient and helpful he is with his little brother and how you can see the pride in his face as Harry imitating his brother's every word and action.  I guess you can say that for both of them, it's a whole new world...

And to that end, this month's check-in can best be described in this video with  photos taken over the weekend during our first family boating trip of the season....

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Weekly picks

In an attempt to remember these things, I'm hoping to post this weekly - a short list of some of the funny, surprising and/or most impressive things Harry said recently:

"No way"
"Mommy, light on please, it too dark in here."
"Devin, come here please I want show you something"
"Sabaka, its okay baby" (spoken to the dog)

The cookie...

Yesterday we took a trip to the local pet shop to get some koi for the pond out front, and to find a few playmates for the Albino frog that the the boys got from our Pastor's daughter recently. "Ali" as we call it (we're fairly certain it's a female) seemed lonely in the tank all by herself, so we thought we'd buy a couple of fish to keep her company. It took awhile to decide which kind of koi to buy, but finally we made our choice and the lady scooped them up for us. Same with Ali's playmates - a pair of fish the boys promptly named Boris & Vova after our Russian friends. While we were in line to cash out Skip noticed a display of fancy dog cookies and asked if he could buy one for Sabaka. Of course you can't tell one child he gets to decide which cookie, so I figured we'd spring for two - a bargain at .25 cents each. Skip promptly chose his, and Harry followed with his choice. I reached into the bins and retrieved their choices, handing them to the boys to give to the cashier. Within a millisecond Harry had taken a bite and was well on his way to shoving the rest of it in when I grabbed it from him and instructed him to spit out (into my hand of course - lucky me) what he was already chomping on. He complied. I then turned to the woman and asked, rhetorically, now many customers did that in a week. I was surprised when she told us that ALOT of people do, and that she had tried them herself. I must have been making a really disgusting face because seemed compelled to explain that they're really just dietetic cookies you buy at the supermarket. Wish I had known that before I had this wad of chewed up cookie in my hand...

Conversations.

Though it isn't exactly grammatically correct, Harry's speech is at the point where you can actually converse back and forth:

Harry: Where were you?
Me: I was downstairs.
Harry: : I'm not see you.
Me: I was in the bathroom folding laundry.
Harry: I not see you.
Me: Well that's because you didn't look in the bathroom.
Harry: I not looked there...
Me: You're silly
Harry: No, You're silly mommy. Silly goose. (roll eyes)

Two month Check-in: Lessons of the heart

Hard to believe it's only been two months that we've been home together as family! In that short time so much has changed. Harry is learning to speak at warp speed and embraces all things American. Well ALMOST all things. While he now drinks three full glasses of milk a day, we're pretty sure it doesn't make his list of top 100 things he loves most... Yeah, I've got a list a mile long of how much progress he's made, how many hurdles he's overcome, and how many things he is learning to do.

In truth, the most important things he has learned will never be measured on an SAT test, or for that matter, may not be apparent to many. Of all that he has learned, what touches my heart the most is what his own little heart is learning. When he comes to me crying after skinning his knee, and welcomes the comfort , he is learning compassion. Waiting for his turn in Candyland is teaching him patience. Each time he wakes up to a bed that is a bit wet, he learns tolerance and acceptance. When he asks for "just one more" hug before bed at night, he's learning to the joy of touch. When his brother apologizes to him for sticking his tongue out at him, and he responds with " sokay" (one word), he's reminded that as a Christian, we must always forgive. When he reminds someone that we must pray before we eat, he's learning we must in all things be thankful (and shortly thereafter when he says excuse me when he belches, he's learning manners.) When he climbs into bed on a lazy Saturday morning and jockeys for a spot between Mommy, Poppa, Skip and Sabaka, he is learning that he will forever be a part of this family, and therefore there's always room for him.

Perhaps the most important thing he has learned is that when he goes outside in 85 degree weather with a tank top, shorts, no shoes, TWO pair of sunglasses and a pair of winter gloves, we may laugh for a minute, but love his just the same. Unconditional love. I can't think of anything more important.

YES!

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

—Psalm 105:1-2

Dr. Russell called and said Harry's results were absolutely normal! It apparently was a false positive! Thank you, Lord for answering our prayers! It's back to life as chaotically normal for us!

Harry Talk

Just another post in a series of funny things Harry says.

Me (to Harry after he fell and bumped his head - again - while outside playing): What happened to your head buddy?
Harry: hurtyourself
Me: you mean 'hurt myself"
Harry: Silly Mommy. Mommy not hurt, Harry hurt.

Me:  Harry, do you want a banana
Harry: Yep. I lika banana.

Harry to his cousin Mandie: 'cuse me!
Mandie: Why do you keep saying that Harry?
Harry: Mommy talk like this!
(He's right! It's my general response when the boys do or say something inappropriate!"

Me to Harry who is outside on the deck with his umbrella open: Harry, come inside now, it's raining.
Harry: Why? I lika play outside.
Me: I know but its raining outside.
Harry: It ne (not) raining.
Me: Then how come you have your umbrella
Harry - Um,, I don't know.