Samuel woke up a bit more subdued yesterday.  We had a few moments of tears.  More than the obvious situation called for and we looked at each other and were slightly relieved.  Grief. While it’s not fun to know our kids have to grieve, we are so glad he is coming to us for the comforting.  Each of our kids has experienced their grief in a unique way and not always in an initially healthy way.   Samuel is beginning to grieve, but in a much healthier way.  Tears and acceopting comfort.  Saying a few words.  Telling us if he likes or doesn’t like something.  Putting on the cheesy grin less and less.  He’s going to be alright. 

We had a really interesting morning at the embroidery exhibition and ancient university (amazing and beautiful!) and then a really delicious lunch out (green tea dumplings with a yolk centre – yum!).  Then Grandma and Grandpa spent the afternoon with me searching for a file or hacksaw to cut the ground off of Grandma’s netbook.  Grandpa bought one in a small plumbing shop, streetside, and Grandma and I found and adapter (that didn’t work out) with much motioning, Chinglish and a lot of staff help at the Friendship store.  

We also bought formula and diapers to take to the Yueyang County SWI today.  We will be visitingf and also meeting with his first foster family.  We are really excited to meet them! 

We know it will be a difficult day for Samuel, so if you happen to be awake, please pray for him.  We’ll do everything in our power to make it easier for him, but having adopted older, we know how significant having all these ties can be for the kids as they grow.  We need to balance things.   

His heart is for his heart and we are entrusting our son to Him and doing the best to be sensitive to what He is doing.

Thank you for each of your comments.  I won’tbe able to post photos right now, but will add more in the future.  K.  sorry no video in the near future.  I promise you’ll have it once we are home. 

I hear him singing the Clean Up song (you know: Clean Up!  Clean Up!  Everybody everywhere!)  I better get organized for the long drive (2.5 – 3 hours each way).

Love,

{Click on individual photos to see them larger.  A few will not be able to be resized this time due to operator error.} 

We are amazed at how outgoing and joyful this little guy is!  It has been such a fun day as we watched him charm construction workers, drivers, school children and bowling alley staff at the hotel to name a few.  Oh, and if anyone needs a bus flagged down, he’s your man (“Bus-sy!”).  

He loves to sing and chatter.  He’s sleeping, but I can still hear his voice saying, “Ai You!” (more).  His counting goes like this consistently: Yi, Er, Wu… (1, 2, 5, 3, 9).  He sings Frere Jacques, Wheels on the Bus, Twinkle, Twinkle, Old MacDonald, Mary Had a Little Lamb and Row, Row, Row Your Boat – all in English, but with varying degrees of accuracy, although always adorable.    

He snuggles in so well and comes to us for affection and comfort and his needs and wants.  It is amazing.  He’ll mischeviously push out a bit, but always returns to what we ask of him.  I’m sure that we will see more of that as he settles into real life with our family, but for now it is hard not to just smile and be drawn into his sunshine. 

He does show his anxiety though.  He chews his nails.  Sometimes he’ll chew on other things or bite his bottom lip a titch.  Just subtle signs, but just enough to let us help him.  

He slept 9 hours last night after only a few minutes of tears.  Today he napped for an hour and a half.  This evening he layed down and we sat near him while he settled.  We are building routines and trying hard to follow the one he had until yesterday.  So far so good. 

He is eating really well too!  We even gave him a bit of ice cream (he shuddered with every bite adn then clutched my arm for more!) after his dim sum tonight, and he sampled some McD’s fries for lunch (no worries, he ate healthfully otherwise :). 

When we completed our paperwork at the Civil Affairs office today, we helped him explore the wooden benches and he climbed and crawled and raced and simply wowed everyone he met.  Us too! 

I say this each and every time that we receive a child into our family, but it is so true.  I feel as though my heart has grown and not just grown but exploded. It is so full right now. 

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In other news, Miss Grace has lost one of her top front teeth!  The second is sure to follow.  She was so concerned about how she looked and realy wanted it to fall out before we made it to Zhongshan.  Finally it came out with a bit of help from Dad tonight.  

Garnet’s comment: Is there a Chinese tooth fairy?  {smile} 

I know.  Not what you all want to hear.  But it’s necessary for now. 

Priceless.  That is what today was. 

We have another priceless day tomorrow and then we head south.  Forever a family of seven.

If it’s any consolation, today was filled with some of the most precious moments of my life.  And I think the feeling was mutual.

{And Kristi?  I’ve got video.}

Safe travels.
Seriously amazing connections.
Last night of CNY = Lantern Festival
Tons of fireworks!
BIG day tomorrow. T minus 12 hours.
Thank you for praying!
Love,