Inconsistent Ramblings

GOTCHA DAY!!!
April 4, 2005 Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PRC
6:49pm China time, 5:49 EDT
We have TA!!!!! We left the hotel around 9am and drove to Civil
Affairs where AnAn was brought by the orphanage director. When we
pulled up in the taxi, he was in the parking lot. They had just
arrived. I walked up to him in the parking lot, but didn't hold him
until we were in the lobby. He said, "Mama" and came to me. The
director had our photos and showed him mine and he gave me a kiss.
He went to S upstairs. He is a happy baby. Lots of smiles and
laughing. And very curious. He cried a little when the orphanage
director left and when he started getting tired, but otherwise
hasn't. XC was waiting patiently upstairs for her family.
She is 9 years old and very sweet. The girls hit it off and traded
cameras.

After returning to the hotel, AnAn had a bottle and a nap. S
took laundry to a local cleaners and then I went to the grocery store
when he returned. AnAn took a nice long nap. We took him to a
playground and walked around. He started wearing his sunglasses, but
gave that up after a few minutes. He also refused his hat. Stubborn
child.

Dinner was an adventure to the local food court at a mall (including
grocery store.) The girls helped entertain AnAn. It was an
experience feeding him with chopsticks. He ate noodles with his
fingers and tried to eat the plate. AnAn and XC are getting
along great. She can talk to him and he understands her. He just
smiles at us and giggles.

More tomorrow.

love
C"
~~~~~~~~~
April 2006 - 1 year later
We celebrated TA's 'Gotcha Day' by going to Build-A-Bear and he built a boxer dog named Percy...a side effect of watching Thomas the Tank Engine. Today we all took a train ride through the Royal Gorge. A beautiful day!

TA is still a major goofball. He dyed Easter eggs the other day
and had a blast! He still goes to school a few days a week. His
version of the ABC song goes like this, "A, B, C, W, X, Y, Z" 19
letters to go. :-) One morning I woke up to him standing on the
footboard of the bed singing "Jesus Loves Me." Can't think of a
better alarm clock!

He loves his daddy and puppies. Toby is often a pillow. Lucy isn't
fluffy and sluggy enough for him. That is ok with her though. Every
Saturday he goes to eat breakfast with his Daddy and some other guys
from church. Mom gets to sleep most weeks!

TA loves to help. His main job is to feed the puppies in the
evenings. He also helps with laundry...especially when puppy or
snowball get a bath (two stuffed friends) He is becoming more and
more independent, but still likes to crawl up in our laps to 'cuggle'
I treasure those times.

He is still receiving vision services and will continue for a long
time. He is learning to use his fingers to identify things - a
prebraille skill and hears amazingly well. He will also try to write
his "T-O-M" - especially on credit card slips...

Tomorrow is his first Easter. The bunny is bringing yellow crocs
(shoes) (yellow is his favorite color), some train stuff and of course
candy. He doesn't understand Easter yet, but one day he will, I pray.

I can't imagine not having him in our lives. He is an amazing kid and
I marvel that God chose us for him. I am also thankful for the many
friends and family that have helped support us this past year going
from no kids to instant toddler. It hasn't always been easy, but
parenting isn't easy. But it has been rewarding and full of
interesting experiences. Two things we often say, "I never thought
that would be coming out of my mouth." and "Wow! Has he said/done that
before? I am impressed. He's growing so fast."

Blessings, Love and Hugs to all
C, S, TA and puppies
~~~~~~~~~
April 4, 2007 - 2 years later

Two years ago today we became the parents to an amazing little boy!
TA was 24 pounds and about 33 inches tall then. Now he is 34
pounds and 41 inches tall! Some significant events in the life of
TA:
-still loves trains!
-talks all the time - and gets things so cutely confused sometimes
-favorite color is green (used to be yellow)
-favorite animal is a giraffe (or 'raffe)
-loves to do 'thinking work' (working on writing, shapes, letters, etc)
-talks ALL the time...in complex sentences...
-is now a big brother. He likes to play with his sister, but she gets to him at times also...
-favorite word is 'why' - even when he knows the answer
-is fully potty trained (yippee!)
-moved a few times last summer, but is finally settled in a house for a few years (we hope)
-talks nonstop
-had to learn about loss through the death of his buddy, Toby - our 3 year old cocker spaniel.
-loves to ride his red tricycle
-remembers almost everything he hears and sees

It seems like he has always been a part of our family. It is so fun
watching him grow and learn. Although he has had to learn that there
are some things that aren't talked about outside of home. (usually
has to do with the anatomy!)

blessings,
C, S, kids and dogs
~~~~~~~~~
April 4, 2008 - Three years later

It's been three years? He hasn't always been with us? If you look through old posts, you will know what TA has been up to and will be able to see photos of how BIG he has gotten. We celebrated to night by going out to Moe's (Welcome to Moe's) and then bowling! TA has master bowling on the wii and he isn't too shabby in real life. Shamefully - I lost to both the 4 year old AND the 3 year old. Photos to come soon. Right now I am focusing on photos from our trip.

I measured TA today. Here are some comparisons:
2005 24 lbs (12%) 33 inches (45%)
2007 34 lbs (50%) 41 inches (85%)
2008 42 lbs (50%) 44.5 inches (90%)

He starts kindergarten in the fall, is beginning to read, will argue about anything, and still melts our hearts!