Beautiful Life





Hey child up and go; A big world is out there waiting for us to live in every day. Outside you will find, there is love all around you; Takes you, makes you wanna' say; That it's a beautiful life and it's a beautiful world and it's a beautiful time to be here, to be here, to be here. -Fisher

Showing posts with label Asher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asher. Show all posts

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Three Months



Okay, it's really pushing 4 months since we made Asher a Gour.  But as usual, I haven't had time for the update.  Now that my summer has officially unofficially started, I hope to be more on the ball. 

Officially unofficial? 

Yeah, that is what happens when you can officially call it a year, but one of the kids still has some school work to finish before you feel like you can be done.  Gotta love homeschooling!

So, what have the last three almost four months looked like from here? I guess you remember the handful of a kid we picked up in China, right?  Well, he has settled in quite nicely!

Is he still a handful?  Sure.  But, we wouldn't have it any other way!

The little guy that screamed out in the night without fulling waking, now sleeps soundly on his hand-made dog print pillow every night.  As a matter-of-fact, he has graduated from Mom and Dad's room to sleeping in the room with the girls.  Why not the boys?  Well, after much consideration, we thought that since he went to bed at the same time as Claire, it would make more sense to put his jr. bed in there for now.  It will probably only last a few months and then we are hoping to move the big boys downstairs and give Asher his own room. 

The fella that would shake his head no at everything thing on his plate, now eats many American dishes without so much as a second thought.  There are things he doesn't care for, but he will usually take a bite or two anyway.  Could I ask more of a three year old?  I think not!  And he gobbled up my weak attempt at making a Chinese dish.....so maybe his palate isn't all that refined anyway.  Hmmm................

You remember the boy that threw an absolute fit every time we told him that he could not have something he decided he wanted? 

Well, he still hangs out here some days.

But, other days, Asher is just a big sweetie!



He and Claire are usually found playing together as best buds.  They enjoy many of the same things right now and that is working out great......except when they want the same toy at the same time.  But, since I have already been there done that with twins, I knew this was bound to happen. 


He has learned to say "Yucky" when we pass by the golden arches!

He expects me to say "no" when he asks for junk and toys in the stores.  He rarely makes a fuss anymore. He loves his doggies and his kitty cat!  He loves to jump on the trampoline, ride his bike and play whatever Claire is playing.  His trucks and cars are his favorite toys and he is all about Lighting McQueen! 

He loves his Mama and his Daddy.  He also loves his fingers and his Woobie.  Woobie is a rag.  Just a rag.....you know, like a wash cloth.  He came with Woobie.  It was explained to us that he could not sleep without Woobie.  But, he has.  Some nights he seems to need Woobie more than others.




When Woobie comes out, the fingers go in.  For that matter, so does Woobie.  He sticks his fingers in him mouth and his Woobie in his ear.  His ear?  A little strange maybe.  I'm sure we will never know why.  But, then why does Claire chew on her blankie?  No idea. 



Why do we call it a Woobie?  Ummm......yeah, I do not know.  I think I heard a lovey called that on tv and it stuck in my brain.  I started calling it that and now he does too.  At least it's more creative than blankie.  Isabel and Claire both have blankies.  If you ask me, that is akin to naming your cat, Kitty.  Of course, you didn't ask me and maybe you did name your cat, Kitty.


He loves the pool too and that is a good thing since we spend just about every afternoon there!  He is a little more cautions around spray pools and fountains, but eventually gets into the action. 









And his English?  Oh. My.  Immersion does wonders for language development, I tell you.  He is all English, all the time now.  Which is kind of sad.  He won't even say a word in Mandarin now and he gets upset if we ask some local Chinese to speak to him.  We hear this is normal when they are first fitting into the family and developing their English skills, but I'm sad just the same.  Of course, I wanted him to speak English, but I would have loved for him to hang onto his Madarin as well.  IF I had the money, we would have a tudor!

That's all for this update, but check back tomorrow!  I do intend to keep this up and I have something really cool to show you!  Plus also,  three of us are about to take a little trip that is exciting......at least to one of us and she really wants you to hear all about it.  So news of that coming soon.  And also, the big boys are on an adventure of their own right now that I might get to share about.  And, for my friend Andrea, more recipes!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Crash



I told you before that Paul dubbed this child "Crash" while we were in China.  Claire's physical therapist says that it's because his head is.....well....ummm.....large.  But, that he will grow into it!  He manages to bang it at least one good time each day.  Really.


In the mean time, we will call him Lumpy. we think he's a cute as he can be even if he does look like he went a few rounds with Rocky Balboa!  And, I keep a bag of frozen peas on hand.  At all times.



Because, by the time I posted this, Crash had already added a third lump to the middle of his forehead!

What is a mother to do?

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

These are a Few of My His Favorite Things

Before you break out in song from the reference to Sound of Music.....oh, is that just me?  Well fine.  Before I break out in song {yes, I know you don't want to hear it}, I thought I'd share a few photos from this morning's recess playtime.

As we've gotten to know our boy and he's gotten to do/have/experience things I'm not sure he ever did/had/experienced before, it's been pretty easy to see what he likes and doesn't like.  He's easy to read like that. 

I put broccoli in the buggy at the store and say "Yummy".  Asher looks at me, shakes his head and says "No yummy!" His likes are just as easy to distinguish as his dis-likes are. 

There are two things that Asher asks for as soon as he wakes every morning. Cereal!  Bicycle!  In that order, too.  He races to get dressed {in his Cwars shirts, of course} and get to the kitchen for some grub.  A bowl of cereal later and he is ready to ride!



And ride and ride! 


Like the pink shades? He found those yesterday and has decided they are the bomb! Claimed them for himself and I dare you to touch them.  He will have a fit.



What could be cooler than a Spider Man bike and pink polka dot shades?  I mean, really.  Does it get any better? 



Yes, he cuts his sister off like this all the time.  And, runs into her!  Don't worry about her too much.  She's got gumption.  She will take him down in b-ball!



When we need a break from biking, basketball is the fall back activity of choice!


Then we have to play with "My trucks!" that his super cool Godparents gifted him with last week. 



These are just a few of his favorite things!

Now, I'm off to find a copy of The Sound of Music somewhere.
At least I know that Isabel will watch it with me!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Bulldozers 101


So, this is what Godfathers are good for!





Thanks Steve, for making my little man so happy!
And just so you know, he said Mommy's a goober, Steve is awesome on the ride home.

Gee, thanks for that too.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Sand and Surf!


So, what's your guess?  Did he loathe or love his first beach day? Do you think he sat in the beach chair for hours on end because he didn't like the sand and was afraid of the big wide ocean?



Well.....he was definitely careful to contemplate the awesomeness of it.......



For about 2 minutes!




Then he spent hours running!



And jumping.


In and out of the surf.


Back and Forth.



Up and down Kiawah.




I have a feeling we will be spending quite a bit of our summer here!


Thursday, March 31, 2011

Yes!


YES!

We are still here!

YES!

We have been very busy with our busy boy!

YES!

We have had a few appointments that have helped us get to know our boy better. 
Want to know what we found out? 
I bet you do!

First off, and this came as no surprise to us at this point, there is no evidence {as seen with the naked eye} that Asher has CP.  Cerebral Palsy.  You know, his "special need".  Cerebral Palsy is what got him on the waiting child list.  Cerebral Palsy can be a pretty scary diagnosis, especially when all you know is what is on a few sheets of paper known in the adoption world as "a medical file".  And all you can see are a couple of grainy old photos.  So, I believe Cerebral Palsy is the reason that boy waited and waited on the list. 

We didn't have a CT scan and see no reason for one at this point.  He pretty much looks and acts like an ordinary extraordinary three year old boy!

Like any good international adoption parents, we also had him tested for everything under the sun.  Eleven vials of blood, one urine specimen and a stool sample later {TMI?}......WE STILL HAVE A HEALTHY BOY!  Everything that needed to, came back negative. 

Some even better news is that Asher's titers came back that all the vaccines he had in China were good!  So, he is actually up to date on all that and won't need anything until he turns four. 

What else did we learn?

We learned that Asher has a head full of cavities!  Bad genetics?  Too much junk?  Not enough brushing?  I don't know.  Probably a combo deal.  It doesn't matter now, anyway.  We have a head full of cavities so we just have to deal with it. 

By-the-way, he really enjoyed tolerated going to the dentist really well.  He followed Claire's lead all the way.  She had an appointment too, so we used this as an opportunity to let him see how it was done.  And it worked! 



Claire hopped in the chair for her annual x-rays!



Asher hopped in the chair...



And tried to give himself the x-rays!


Oh, that boy of mine!


What can you do....except snap pictures, of course!

Then it was time for cleanings.  Claire used to only sit in my lap, but with little brother watching?  Well, there was no way she wasn't going all the way this time!  Up in the big chair is the only way to go when showing little brother's how it's done. 


Open wide!

Monkey see, monkey do!

Good news for Claire! 
No cavities!


Bad news for Asher.


He's going to loose a few damaged front teeth.



Needs a few crowns.



And about a dozen fillings.


Great visit for Claire and her pretty smile.




And well, Asher got on his zebra and rode off .....'cause it seemed like the thing to do at a time like this.  You know, with all this dental work to look forward too.

It's what I would do!


Wednesday, March 16, 2011

First Days

So far, Asher has stolen the hearts of many here in Charleston, SC.  He flirts with our friends, enchants the neighbors and has his Godparents and Grandparents right where he wants them! 

Isabel is smitten.....and her mother-hen tendencies have kicked in big time!


And big brothers?


Are the bomb!

Especially when they play basketball with you, and give you piggy back rides.  And they boys say that we can keep him because he is at least as cute as YoYo! 

Whew.  Thank goodness for that!




For Asher's part, he has learned their English names, but continues to call them GeGe (GuhGuh for big brother) and JieJie (GiaGia for big sister). 

The English word he uses constantly? 
No.

Hmmmm, I wonder why?
The rest of the language is not so interesting to him yet.


His first church experience wasn't so bad.  He actually sat for all of the service and was......well, not as noisy as usual for him!  I personally, was very impressed because I figured one of us was going to missing church for a while until Asher got acclimated to the situation.  We will see how next week goes.



This boy?  Is fearless!  He climbs, runs and jumps with total abandon!  His exuberance is refreshing.....and also a little scary for Mama! 


And, after his first doctor's appointment, during which 11 vials of blood were drawn for a battery of tests, Mama took him to get a little bicycle.  I know it was an indulgence.  But with all the other boy stuff we already had, it was the only thing we needed to buy.  


And Claire is so thankful not to have to share her's anymore! 
Because, that was not her favorite part of having a little brother.


I just knew you wanted to see picture proof!