first two days with Ty

Well of course it's been a few days of learning about our son, adjusting to his moods and grieving, earning his trust, feeding all of us, getting enough rest to function with two toddlers/preschoolers and well, thriving as best we can  for the next 9 days in China to get home to our big kids. Thank goodness we have been able to Skype with them. What a blessing that has been!

Ok. Here's for a quick recap...

Son of Courage (newly adopted son)

he loves to eat
he loves to play with Hot Wheels
he loves bouncy balls
he throw pretty hard with his left hand
he gets around well
he puts most of this weight on his right leg (short leg) most of the time
he does "stand up" on his left leg sometimes
he doesn't have any symptoms of being sick
he is used to the nannies doing most everything for him (carrying, feeding...)
he's not a fan of changes that concern his body (diaper changes, changing clothes, baths!)
---when I say "not a fan" I mean blood-curdling screams of fear ---poor guy, so many new things
he has an adorable, full faced smile and giggle
his eyes light up the room
he loves to share with his little sister
he loves to share his food
he likes his new shoes
he wondered where his feet went in his footie jammies
he sleeps well at night
he has begun to let go (trash related to food) and put them in the garbage himself
he responds to being tickled in a favorable way
he called her by name all on his own today to pass her a toy (Amazing!)


Lightning Hope

she loves her new brother
she loves to share most of the time (unless it's something special to her)
she wants him to wake up if she's awake and he's still sleeping
she loves to comfort him and bring me a tissue if he's crying
her eyes actually filled with tears of compassion one of the first times he cried (It was an amazing sight. She was genuinely concerned for him.)
she doesn't mind being used as an example for me to show him how to do something
she got a fever in the night which kept us home from visiting his orphanage (This may have been a huge blessing. He had a very hard morning. Both doing well now.)
in her little person way she has stepped up to meet this challenge of welcoming him in

Us (the parents)

we are doing well
the jet-lag has finally seemed to be subsiding
the hotel upgraded our room "just because" which has been amazing! lots of space
our schedule this trip is much slower, thus lots of time to connect with our kids
good conversations about our transition
enjoying teamwork as we transition with our SOC and LH
each of us using our gifts to make this transition go as well as possible
natural feelings of "What on earth are we doing?" and "We are so excited to see him reach his potential!"
we are learning to rely on God in new ways, understanding our own spiritual adoption even more

Forever Family Day

(adoption finalization)

let's do this!

There you go! Another Obwald! 11.10.2015

Customary trip to Walmart for supplies. Christmas decor already up.

We are all suited up for a 20 minute walk back to our hotel, including masks because of the toxic pollution at an all-time high.

 I love this frozen bicycle we passed. Icicles actually formed.

We spent a good 2.5 hours in our big bed yesterday playing while baby girl slept.

Last night at story time before bed...two kids, two blankets, two stuffed elephants, two water cups...check!

Today he got himself onto our bed without help.

He didn't do that when we first got him. New things everyday.

We got the double stroller out today to play in this afternoon. We cannot carry them through the airport (in 3 days) so we wanted him to get used to get it. He seemed to love it.

Baby girl told him just where to sit or course.

love to you all! Keep those prayers comin'!