Tyler and I woke up very early Tuesday morning and basically waited excitedly for O to wake. We were told he slept 9 to 6:30 but the last two days have been 8 to 7:45. He opened his eyes with a giant smile and got right back to playing with toys. We headed down to breakfast where he accomplished this...
I didn't pack shoes for him since I didn't know his size, and the ones he came in were (how can I say it nicely?) gross, so we headed out shoe shopping. It was very rainy which I think O liked. I don't think they got out in the rain much. We headed to the mall to find some old school new balances that daddy wanted to get him but there were none in his size. There was actually a fire in the mall so we killed some time walking in the rain till it opened. Scary place to have a fire cause the mall keeps going down and down. This one was is made in an old WWII bomb shelter. No worries it wasn't a
huge fire and we didn't stick around long.
We ended up at the Gap and found some we all liked. It is fun to watch daddy finally get excited for kid clothes. We ate some lunch and headed back to the hotel for a nap. We didn't realize how late it was and as soon as we turned out the lights to rest we had to hop right up to get ready to meet our guide. Needless to say nap time did not happen.
O had been so great! Still sharing, respectful and even ran to hug us when other people tried to talk to him. This is a great sign in the attachment world. He gave us our first kisses and we heard his first giggles. Which are the cutest sounds ever. We met our guide downstairs and boarded the bus to return to the civil affairs building where we had met him the day before. Here we would complete paperwork and have a short ceremony to officially adopt him from the Chinese government.
When we arrived at the building we started to see a new little O. We knew he had missed his nap, he walked around a TON all morning and has been crazy stimulated. It was bad on our part.
He showed a bit more stubbornness and said no to us for the first time and even raised his hand at me (this may shock you but my bio kids have done this plenty to me so why would I be so surprised by this lil fella). It was the first time he gave us any negative feedback and even though you hear that is probably going to come over the course of the next month you still feel a bit defeated. Luckily I have an amazing husband and we just looked at each other and said, "alright, this may be the beginning of some resistance but we can't get frustrated." What this little guy is going through is much bigger than our poor feelings, frustration or tiredness. We are just gonna pour love on this little man.
We had the ceremony and it was pretty awesome. Having them ask us if we would promise to care for him and never abandon or abuse him got me pretty choked up. I wanted to shout, "We promise to do
so much more than that!"
Reminds me of Christ who promises us so much more than what we actually care to understand sometimes. If only we had a true understanding of ALL his amazing promises we could be free of worry, stress and self-doubt.
It was pretty special, to say the least. Wish all of the wonderful people who have supported us in this journey could have been there.
After we left he was back to his sweet self again. He seems to feel connected with both of us. We
heard it is common to bond with one parent at first, but he treats us pretty equal. That night we went to dinner and wanted both of us to carry him, which is a first. He doesn't seem to like to be carried and very sad cause he actually doesn't seem to know how to be carried. I am sure it has been awhile but he is catching on. He is super independent and wants to try everything himself. Creature of his environment, I suppose.
Sometimes I can get sad when I think of his past and all his firsts I missed or all the things he missed out on in those first four years of life but I am continually reminded that this is where our stories were suppose to meet. God had it planned out. Me dwelling on the past will get us no where. I am so excited for all the stuff we have to look forward to. I know we will have good days and some really rough ones but I will "seek The Lord and His strength." Psalms 105:4.
We watched Cars in our room before bed. He loved it! Cracked up the whole time. Did I say I love his high pitched little laugh? Priceless!
Today (which is Wednesday afternoon now) was a big day Just to leave you hanging... there were tears and puke ( ; More soon! I am tired.
I love the part where he runs to you when others try to talk to him. He must feel very safe and secure. He looks pretty cute in his new clothes. What sized shoe is he wearing? We all look forward to your posts...thank you!
ReplyDeleteWell that is great that he likes the rain considering that he is coming to Seattle. I wonder if he will like the snow. Doing a little research it seems that snow is very rare in Chongqing as they have very mild winters. I cannot wait to meet O and see how he reacts and soaks in the world around him when he comes to the PNW. I wonder if the clear air here will be a shock to him. What about the food? Are there places around in the PNW that may remind him of home? Maybe China Town in Seattle? I have so many questions and am so excited to meet him.
ReplyDeleteYou say that you think about all of the first that you have missed, but think about the rare opportunity that you do have...you have a child that is able to process, comprehend, and communicate that has not experienced much in his life. You get to bring him to the beautiful PNW and take him to a ball pit, or a bouncey house, or a baseball game, or a movie, out for pizza, out to a playground, etc....these are all things that your girls have grown up with, but these will be the "firsts" that you will get to experience with him and you will get to see the joy on his face. It will be awesome!
So, true. He's going to get to experience life in such a new and profound way. I'm so thankful.
DeleteI am so glad that you started this blog to share this part of your journey in such detail. I love reading every single word, and I can't wait to hear more! Praying for you all daily.
ReplyDeleteThanks you guys! And thank you Dylan. You are so right. So fun to do these new firsts that are really cool to him. Watching him in a toy store is pretty spectacular. We did try pizza last night. They have a good papa johns but he wasn't super excited about it. He liked the very American styled sweet and sour pork and fried rice the other night. Luckily we do make Asian food quite often. And, no, they don't get much snow here so that will be awesome for him to see. Can't wait.
ReplyDeleteKaren, he seems to be over all the same as D. Size ten shoes and size 5 clothes. Size fours are fitting him just right right now but he will be out of them soon.
ReplyDeleteWell, praise God, he's a growing boy! We'll keep him clothed and looking good :)
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