Joy

It is spectacularly wonderful to have G home.  After all these weeks, still -every single night- I look at him sleeping and thank God for bringing him home.  There's a crazy joy that threatens to burst out of me sometimes.  Last week one night we were in the kitchen.  Caribbean music was playing and G & I started to dance.  Tears welled up in my eyes.  I had to say out loud: "This is a dance of joy for you, God."  Yeah.  Crazy.

I know that God is good, whether I can see it or not.  But - WOW - He has been so good to me.                                                                                                           (Photo from May)

He's Off

Joseph is gone to his summer program. We'll get to visit him once in a couple of weeks, but otherwise won't see him until late July.

I must confess that I am ready for this break.  It has not been easy to balance the summer expectations between this mom and this teenager.  I welcome the lull in our battle discussion series.  And I am totally ready for a break from the incessant chaffeuring.

I will miss the help Joseph has provided around the home.  Since he hasn't gotten any kind of work for himself (do you hear my annoyance?), I've been leaving him plenty of work to do around the house each day.  I haven't washed dishes in weeks!  I've had my floors scrubbed, windows cleaned, driveway swept, and more.  That has been nice.  I guess the chores will start piling up again for late July.

As much as I feel ready for Joseph to go, there's a certain someone around here who will certainly not do as well with the transition.  G's philosophy is that he should be wherever Joseph is... even cleaning out the gutters and returning the ladder to our neighbor.

I'm praying for G as he deals with the puzzle of why Joseph is gone.  Hope he can understand that Joseph will come back.  And praying for Joseph as he enjoys this awesome opportunity.  I'll keep you posted.

This day was made possible by friends

We got to enjoy today like this:

G was wearing the trunks Grammy gave him, while swimming in the pool our neighbors gave him, when our other neighbors brought over a sandbox for him.  I was sitting on the deck that Amy just refinished for us, on deck furniture that our other neighbors gave us, enjoying the flowers my dad gave us and the ones that Amy planted for us.

It was a nice day.

Proof

Joseph is an amazing big brother.  

(wearing the Blues Clues hat G made at school, and which he eagerly wanted Joseph to enjoy)

I had an idea

There's this book.  It's a tiny book - a super quick read.  But it's very thought-provoking. 

Randy Alcorn's "The Treasure Principle"  http://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Principle-Unlocking-Secret-LifeChange/dp/1590525086/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277433816&sr=8-1

Ever since I read it, I've been wanting to buy it for someone else.

But who?  It's not like you can just randomly mail a friend a book about Giving.  How would you know if they'd be interested?  (Although, I guarantee you: it's interesting.)

So here's the idea... I AM going to buy a few copies.  And I'll raffle them off.  Please leave me a comment or an email if you'd be interested to read this (tiny quick-read) book.  I'll draw names and will be so happy if I get to mail one to you.

Photo shoot

For 3 years I dreamed about the day when both of my sons would be together.  Since G came home I've taken TONS of photos of the boys.  I've captured memories, but haven't ever gotten anything worth framing.  I think that changed today!

This web site - www.celebratingadoption.org - lists bunches of professional photographers who are willing to donate their services to families who've recently welcomed home a child through adoption!

Not only did we get our own photo shoot, but we met a really nice photographer - Beth Maas of http://www.maasphotography.com/

(pausing here so that my Wheaton-ite friends can figure out how they know Beth. 

Because they surely do. 

That Wheaton World.)

Awesome way to spend a day.  Loved hearing her stories, and can't wait to see her work.

Here's the photo I took when we got home, just to tide me over...

Cooperation

It's not easy to get a good photo of this boy.  He's often way too busy to look at me.  

On Friday, more coworkers made dinner for us, and I was trying desperately to get a decent photo for them.  Finally I pleaded, "Please, G.  Let me see your eyes...."

Thanks.  I'm sure they'll love it.

Happy Father's Day, Bapi!

Love of Yogurt

Driving Home

Me: (spacing out)

G: Tuck!  Tuck!

Me: (spacing out)

G: Tuuuuuuuuck!  Tuck Mama Tuck!

Me: Hm.  Yes, that's a truck.

G: Lah-lo.  Lah-lo.

Me: Hm.  ...  Oh - Yellow!  Yes!  Yellow!  That truck is yellow!  Good job G!  Wow!  Give me 5!  You saw a yellow truck!  (and on & on)


Today G either had his first-ever color identification OR he learned that the word "Lah-lo" makes Mama go berserk.

Attachment Strategy

One of the attachment strategies I read about was encouraging a Comfort Object for your child.

Before I went down to Haiti the first time, I got 3 identical little blue bears.  The plan was for me to introduce the bear to G, for him to love it all week, for him to take the bear back to the orphanage to provide comfort until it was lost, and then for me to bring another bear when I went back to pick him up - thus jogging his wonderful memories and making him feel happy & secure.

Only, G hated the bear.  He delighted in throwing it as far away from him as possible.

I tried the same concept before he transitioned to preschool - using a blanket - a lovely blanket that would provide him extra security & comfort as he learned to sleep at school.

Absolutely no interest in the blanket.

Now, I happen to have this shirt:

It's a nasty old painting shirt, but one that I've been wearing often since G came home.  It's the kind of shirt that you wouldn't be sad if your toddler made a mess of - the perfect shirt for wearing around G.

Only, I can't wear it any more, because this has become the beloved Comfort Object. 

Mercy.

Bizarreness

Weird things happening at my house.

Exhibit A

This is a photo of my arm - showing my WOUND.  I came home today to find Amy here working on my yard again.  She'd brought her dogs.  G was so completely freaked out over the (beautiful, calm) dogs, that it was not enough to just be held by me while he screamed.  No.  It was also necessary to bite down freakishly on my arm.  What?








Exhibit B

This is a photo of a miniature garden.  Joseph & I decided that my mom would enjoy having one as her birthday gift.  We then spent ages selecting the little garden furniture, choosing the mini plants, placing the items, sculpting the path, etc.  "Obsessive" would not be too strong a word for our approach to making the garden.  Very weird.








Exhibit C

Do you realize that something compelled me to take this photo?  I sat & arranged my arm and somehow maneuvered my other hand to take the photo.  All because I believe that this will be fascinating to you.

Is any of this behavior normal?








Side note:  Did you catch that Amy was out working on my house AGAIN?  Remember when I posted the "After" photos?  Oh, no, friends... that was nowhere near After.  She has created a little patio for my garbage cans, planted hostas all down the (formerly disaster) side of my house, added 3 new gorgeous flower beds, mulched everywhere, and it just keeps coming.  Today I expressed concern over my ability to keep it all weeded, and she said: "Oh, I'm going to come and weed.  That's part of the deal."  What deal I ask you?  I have done nothing towards a deal except receive this gift.  How about that.

We did it.

G's first trip to the barber.  I did tear up when the curls started falling. 

I really wanted to grow his hair this summer and loc it this fall, but that dream had to go.  Too much time & tears were being spent on hair in the morning.  This style will be much more our speed.

G thinks he looks pretty good.  He's been rubbing his head & admiring himself in mirrors.

Who could blame him?

Self Awareness

Lately, whenever G sees a photo of himself, he's been pointing to his chest and saying (his version of) his name. 

My favorite is when we came across this photo:

G was on my lap at the time.  He turned around & started pulling at me, getting more & more frustrated that I wasn't doing what he wanted.  Finally I realized that he wanted me to wrap my arms around him, just like the photo.

Capturing the moment

I LOVE my new flowers.

I had to capture these beauties for you:

And how about these 2 sweet little orange poppies:

I didn't think that photo captured them well enough, so I zeroed in to try again:

Where are those 2 little poppies, you ask?

It's just possible that before Photo #2, they were whisked up into 2 little fists.

I did not take a photo of that.  It's possible I was not happy.

Weekend Weather

Mostly rainy

With a bit of ice cream sunshine

Post-bath

This is the current demand.  The towel must be tucked right up & around his neck, with his arms wrapped inside.  Funny boy.

p.s. Have you noticed that all of my photos are taken in that same spot?  That is because it's usually the only spot in my house that's clean enough to allow photo documentation.  sigh

Emily!

I now have 3 beautiful nieces.  EMILY SUZANNE was born June 1st!

Big sister Avery likes the way their names sound together: "Avery & Emily!... and Mallory!"

Big sister Mallory just wants Mama to come home.  Mama's girl Mallory may soon be practicing more sharing than she would like.

I wish they weren't so far away.

Wild Child

Did I mention that G was in the ER on Saturday? 

So, if I told you that he almost ended up in the ER again on Monday, would you think "thank goodness the child made it safely through Sunday"?  Or is that just the way I'm thinking these days?

Yes, on Monday, the boy flew out of my room, rounded the corner, and collided face-first with the metal closet door.  As I peered into his bloody little mouth, I saw white bits down by his gums.  Those would be teeth bits.  I've never seen teeth bits before.  G certainly is providing a new glimpse into parenting for me.

It's hard to tell, but his bottom front left tooth is definitely chipped, and I think the one next to it is also chipped.  His teeth are pretty bad to start with, so it's hard to be sure of the new damage.

The dentist has pronounced G fine, and G is not complaining, so I'm feeling free to take a light-hearted tone.  But there is a part of me that worries: exactly how accident-prone can one boy be?


p.s. I can't make a real announcement until my sister & bro-in-law have a chance to do it, but it's possible that my new little niece/nephew has arrived safely in our world :)