handsful

So, I googled Val Kilmer today.

He used to be THAT actor for me.  Well, one of them.  Kiefer Sutherland was on the list, too.  You know, the actors that you thought were “cute”.  Most of my friends swooned over Tom Cruise….he seemed too full of himself (still is, I believe).

I was commenting on a friend’s FB question (fav actors and their movies) – and I couldn’t remember the name of one of his films I like (Real Genius) and a current picture of Val popped on the screen.

Guess I’ll have to remember the way he used to look.  No offense, but he’s not aging as well as he’d probably like.

It’s interesting how time works…I still feel like that teenager sometimes (no hysterical laughing, please).  Hearing my old tunes, 80’s movies, etc.  Then, it takes me by surprise when I see how we’ve all aged on the outside.  Oh well…I’ll look forward to heaven, when we’ll all look however God chooses and we won’t care about it one bit.

Hope you enjoyed my little Saturday morning observation.

Not all orphanages in China are the same…some have more resources, some have less.   A lot depends on what part of the country they’re in, and how much outside support they receive.

Lainey’s orphanage was located in a very poor city and, though I think they did their best, it was lacking in many things.  At least in Lainey’s room, there was no stimulation on the walls.  There were no toys that we ever saw (we were told they were put away unless it was playtime).  And, the nannies were told to avoid making attachments to the children – they were rotated regularly to keep this from happening.  This might be the same in all orphanages, but I’m not sure.  Given the circumstances that Lainey came from, she has done amazingly well and is thriving.

After learning that Dylan was from Luoyang, CWI in Henan province, we researched as much as we could, trying to get a glimpse into what kind of care he might be receiving there.  We were thrilled to learn that the Half the Sky Foundation worked in Luoyang, to provide the children with individual attention and stimulation.  Specially trained volunteers through HTS work with the children in programs like “Baby Sisters” – working with infants to provide stimulation and early play skills, and “Little Sisters” – preschool play and activities to develop their bodies and minds.

We were told that, after Dylan’s adoption was complete and we were home from China, we could request the reports that had been written by the HTS volunteers.  We received these a few weeks later, and I was amazed at what we saw.

Forgive the picture of a picture, but…this is a baby picture of Dylan.   The reports say he is 3 months old here.  Funny thing is, our initial referral for Dylan says he was abandoned in January 08.  Which would have made him 6 months old.  ??  We weren’t completely surprised by this, because several others with children from Luoyang told us they had similar experiences with the orphanage and HTS reports conflicting.

He’s 9 months here, and it’s quite obvious it’s him.  I love seeing these, but it also makes me sad that we missed so much of his life.  We received a 6 month photo, too, but I’m not posting it.  We’re honestly not sure it’s him – maybe they mixed up the photos?  He looks much older than 6 months, the face isn’t quite the same…Oh well.

15 months.  Oh my, is he cute or what??  Are you noticing that the nanny is always the same?  I love that HTS did this, giving him someone to bond with for a long period of time.  When Dylan saw these pictures, he called her “momma”.

about 20 months.  That’s our boy.

About 2 years.  Sitting on the potty.  This is the first photo/report of him being in the HTS preschool program.  Look at the adorable baby fat on his neck.  Gracious.

The other photos look very similar to one we already had from his referral.   We also received quarterly reports, which contain precious information on his time with the HTS nanny.  She documented each “session”, what they did, what YuHai played with, and what she was focusing on that day.  Things like improving his head control when he was a baby, and teaching him the parts of his face or how to put on his shoe by himself when he was older.  We have written reports from Fall 2007 through Fall 2010.

I am extremely thankful that Dylan had this amazing head start, and the love of a Half The Sky volunteer.  I wish I could tell her thank you for all that she did for our son. We now have a deeper history to share with Dylan.

If you get a chance, check out this amazing organization and the work that they do.  www.halfthesky.org

I think I’ll go swoon over his baby pictures for a little while longer.  :)

While walking through our little downtown around Christmas time last year, we found out the the local artist’s guild was having a youth art exhibit in March.  Three of our kids decided to get artsy and turn a project in.  Lainey and Dylan weren’t quite old enough, and Ethan…well, he told me when he was 4 that he hated arts and crafts at preschool.  That’s not changed.

Last night was the reception for the artists.

Abbey poses with the beautiful photo she took of a flower in our yard last spring.  A bee is contentedly drinking right on top.

Marley decided to do a colored pencil drawing of her latest passion…birds.  Specifically, a blue crowned conure.

Payton is our cartoonist and he’s good (if we do say so ourselves).  His favorite character is “Harry the Stick Dude” and here he’s drawn Harry in 9 of his favorite personas.   I like the gangster one the best.

Our kids didn’t win any ribbons, but it’s okay.  They got to see some amazing art by other kids like them and hopefully it will inspire them to keep creating, if they so choose.  We’re glad they wanted to have the experience, and we loved seeing their art on display!

One of my kids decided to use their free time today to make duct tape shoes.  Or socks.  Not sure which.  Did Einstein ever do anything like this?

His favorite thing lately is helping put away the clean dishes.  I sit him on the counter, so he can reach.

Lainey empties the top, and Dylan the bottom (after I remove anything breakable or sharp!)  Lainey knows where everything goes (even better than the big kids), and she’s helping to teach Dylan.

Sometimes, he gets confused and puts HIMSELF away.  Ha…

Well, technically his Gotcha day with us was on the 29th, but since there IS no 29th of February this year, the 28th will have to do :)

Our man has been with us for 3 months.  Feels like 3 years in some ways, and 3 weeks in others.  It’s all good, he’s a sweetheart – giggle box – funny faces – kinda kid.  In other words, he fits right in with the rest of us.

He’s still a little guy…holding steady at 27 pounds.  I’m not worried yet, he’s eating much better these days.  But, he’s really only gained maybe a pound or two since China.

What’s new with Dylan?

BIG BOY PANTS.  As of early this month, he’s only in diapers/pull ups at bedtime.  Accidents during the day?  NONE.  Not one.  And, he’s recently been going all by himself with only a bit of supervision.

Speaking of that, his middle name lately is INDEPENDENT.  He wants to do it all.  “I wanna do it” is a common phrase.

He’s also been in his OWN BED since mid month.  Randy encouraged (read “pushed”) me to try it and it was easy-peasy.  One of us sits on his bed until he drifts off and then we leave.  Sleeps all night, no problems.  Lainey is our light sleeper and Dylan sleeps like a rock.  So, she doesn’t normally wake him when she’s up and getting dressed.

Let’s see, what else…

Language.  Mandarin is slowly being pushed aside and replaced with English.  We knew it would happen, and it’s obviously a good thing.  A little sad at the same time – we’ll get them both in Mandarin classes when they’re older.

Please humor me as I share some favorite words/phrases.  He doesn’t pronounce these all correctly, but it’s what he’s saying!

“little bit” (as in, he’ll have a “little bit” of meat)

“full tummy” (we’ve encouraged him to eat more by praising him when he eats well and has a full tummy – so he tells us “full tummy” when he wants to eat it ALL)

“one more time” (as in he wants to jump off the potty “one more time”!)

“all done”

“that’s mine” (he says this one A LOT)

“you do it” (as in, you take a bite of that, not me!)

“match!” (as in the red on my shirt and the red truck MATCH!”

heavy = “hebby”

potty = “bolly”

dirty = “dirly”

flower = “balower”

banana = “beenana”

birdie = “birly”

Lainey = “lammy”

Daddy = “dally”

Dylan, you are our little rock star!

** Added on the next day – wouldn’t you know it?  The night after I write that he NEVER wakes up during the night, he wakes up THREE times. Not sure why, but he was very upset and Randy and I took turns lying with him until he fell back asleep.  The 3rd time, I assured him that we were in the next room and he had to sleep in “Dylan’s room”.  He cried, but not for very long and went back to sleep till late morning.  I guess we’ll see what tonight brings.

I received our “official” Chinese New Year photos in the mail and was most pleased!  We’re all looking at the camera.  We’re all smiling.  No one has a goofy look on their face.  It’s a first, I think.

Forgive the picture of a picture thing, but…

Not bad!  We’re having our family portraits taken again in April…the natural, casual clothes, outside kind.  I’m extremely excited, since MckMama is taking them!  Her blog is on the sidebar under “Love to Read – My Charming Kids”.  She’s seriously good, and had a handful of openings for her shoots while in Charlotte.  We snagged one.  Now, I’ll start to fret over what we’re wearing pretty soon.

We let the littles have their photos taken individually since…well, they get to be the privileged ones at CNY :)

Maybe not her best smile ever, but such a cutie with gorgeous Chinese eyes :)

Caught in the middle of a giggle, I think.  And, his outfit will last him for YEARS.  Seriously.

I think we all cleaned up pretty well!