Hello, My Name Is Trouble

I think this picture says it all!

I can’t even come close to describing the emotional events of the past few days. When we got here we were so excited but also incredibly apprehensive about what was going to happen and what our little kiddo would be like - I think this was more difficult considering we were meeting an ‘older‘ child with an established personality. Combined with the major amounts of exhaustion it added up to being totally overwhelmed. The first night here in Semey I had a dream that I was told bonding had to stop and we had to fly home the next day. Even going to see Little M was hard  - a strange place, strange smells, people watching us, not being able to communicate with this child that was mine, etc., etc., etc. I don’t want to paint a dark picture but this process is not easy. I think we’ve entered into it very prepared  - well, as much as one can be the first time around. Our adoption agency has been great in letting us know what to expect and they’ve told us repeatedly not to worry about the first few days…it will be tough…don’t expect much…be flexible…and many other great words of wisdom. But it was still completely overwhelming.

Today has been an easier day! We all got some good rest last night and that makes it so much better, plus, we are already learning a little bit about our child and the environment that we visit with him in. This morning we played inside for the morning hour. No bias here, but our kid is smart! We were “reading” a word book and he went through and named everything, even the bizarre stuff…all in Kazakh of course!

He really likes purple…and wanted to put it on every picture!

When we show him how to do something he catches on right away. I don’t think he’s had much exposure to much…for example he doesn’t even know which hand he prefers to hold a crayon with, and his coloring ability is that of a much younger child, but considering where he’s lived most of his life it’s no wonder. The baby house does a fabulous job with all of the kids (about 80 or so here now) but it’s just not the same as a family.

Here he is on his horse… he would lean over to hit the buttons on the little toddler table thing so he could get a few seconds of music to dance to.

Near the end of the hour Matt pulled out his iPod and introduced his brother to the wonders of modern technology.  Way better than the toddler table! He was listening to Holding out for a Hero - with his sword at the ready, too bad his horse is green and not white!!

In the afternoon we played outside again and had a great time coloring, playing with cars, and of course, the beach ball.  

Love his "hello my name is trouble" shirt. Could he be any cuter?! 

Matt is doing great with him - very patient and engaged. Little M just adores him and definitely copies everything he does! If it's hard for us as adults I can only imagine how difficult it is as the twelve year old, but Matt has handled this whole situation wonderfully. It's also a lot easier for us since he provides most of the entertainment!!

I think we are beginning to feel like a family! Today we were told that he used to ask about his birth mother, but that he now asks only about his "family" -- too cool!!

Don't typically like shots of me from behind, but this one is kinda cool. Thank you God!!