Week 4

I believe we are finally establishing a routine and life is establishing its new normal.  Benjamin is doing very well considering all that he has experienced over the past month.  Scott and I both notice that he rarely speaks Chinese to us… I guess he realized it was a dead end since we kept telling him we didn’t understand.  He is picking up English pretty quickly.  He repeats a lot of our conversations and is trying his best.  He definitely is interested in learning because he will not watch any TV except Dora/ Diego and Letter Factory by Leap Frog.  He requests the Letter Factory and loves to sing his ABC’s.  I think he understands a lot of what I say to him and have noticed that he is whining a lot more since he can’t express himself, which is normal (but irritating).  I try to get him to use his words and help him when he doesn’t know them.  I feel like I am getting to know him well since we are together ALL day long with the exception of his 30 minute nap in the car ride to pick up Bryce and Elise.  He is still doing well with eating in that there is not much he doesn’t like.  He still likes to snack frequently throughout the day, which we are told to give him at this time.  I do, as a mom, have a hard time with the frequent candy requests and find myself limiting it with “later”, but I always fulfill my promise to him.  We are trying to wean him from the bottle of formula at night that he has had his whole life.  His former caretakers would give him at bedtime 180 cc, which we are down to 80cc of a milk/ wheat powder mix.  He is still sleeping in our room but we have recently tried taking him out of the pack n’ play (he has slept in one his whole life) because he is too big for it and his head and feet go into the netting when he is stretched out.  We have a crib mattress on the floor with a bedrail to help confine him as he wiggled out of it the first night.

One of the things that I am loving is seeing all of his “first’s”.  Elise recently showed him the Spiderman costume and he got so tickled and excited.  He came running out to show Daddy, Bryce, and Elise as Spiderman.  Then when he put it on, he was beside himself.  We are going to let him be that for Halloween—which will also be a first.  Another first is bike riding.  He is riding Elise’s bike right now, but loves it and has such joy when he is doing it!  Going to Walmart was a hectic first...a little over stimulating!  He was amazed at all the food and items and just kept pointing at everything.  He may have never been to a store before!  He loved the cart and wanted to touch everything.  The second trip was much smoother (with a little talk prior!)  We took him to church service this past week for the worship and you could see him taking it all in and observing everything.  I went and got his first formal picture taken to add him to our wall of kids!  He did very well but was not sure what was going on.  The photographer showed him some of the pictures and he got so excited!  He “got” it at the end and had several cute poses!!  Then when we were reviewing the photos, he was so excited to see himself on the screen!!  He also was very thrilled and proud to be up on the wall and mantle with Bryce and Elise.

Finally, he got his first haircut and did super.  When Scott got home, Benjamin told Dad about the haircut and that he did not cry!

Bryce and Elise are still being too great to imagine!  God is so good to give them such a love for Benjamin.  They are so proud of their little brother and want everyone to meet him.  Elise and Bryce love to tell the “replays” of Benjamin even if we were right there with them!!  They are so helpful and share/serve so well with him.  They both crave his affection, which he gives to them in abundance!  I did need to remind Bryce and Elise to continue to work on their own relationship as well as theirs with Benjamin.

One thing that you can pray for is that Scott is going out of town for a week on Thursday.  Pray that Scott and Benjamin’s bonding would not be hindered and that I can survive!  Thanks for your interest and prayers for our family.  We appreciate your support!