I missed 4 months. There is very little time. I can't believe it's only been 5 months. It seems like always. I can't remember when we didn't have a little boy. Obviously I can, but it seems like we have had him always! He has been very easy to transition into our family. There hasn't been too much adjustment past the first couple of weeks home. He's wicked smart and picks up on everything and doesn't forget it, so that has made it easier I think.
We took a spring break trip to southern Utah, my favorite little bit of earth for some hiking and play time. It was so funny, Tate was terrified to walk on the red rock and sand. It took me back to China when he wouldn't walk on grass. I forget how little experience he has. The first day he was so afraid, the second only a little and by the third he was DONE with the pack and he let the entire state park know it.
Emily loved everything. She is so easy and so easy going and just enjoys herself immensely.
The more sand the better. She loved it all.
My 5. There is no greater peace in my life than to know that my kids are all home. It was a very long and very hard fight. There was and is sacrifice all around but there is not a greater blessing.
Warm spring days have taken us out of doors and these two are in heaven. Emily can run a mile. Really. Her legs are tiny, but she starts running and she does not stop. I follow along, and she will run all the way around the block, a rather large block, and still not want to stop when we come in. Out side is the best place to be. I guess if I got tackled this frequently, I'd run long and fast too.
I fancy myself a hair-cutter even though I completely stink at it. I cut Tate's hair, and it went poorly to say the least. He ended up with a buzz cut and I LOVE it so much! He looks big, and less shabby.
Tate discovered candy over spring break. For no real reason except I don't keep it around, he's never really had candy. Well turns out, he quite likes it! An easter egg hunt with candy abounding all over the place was just his speed.
Emily could have cared less for the candy. She just wanted to run. Tate wanted ALL of the candy!
Easter Sunday at home was nice. I somehow missed Chloe in my photos. It was a nice day. Lots of candy!
Cute Em fell asleep waiting for lunch
Sleep is my biggest hardest thing. Emily is finally a really good sleeper. She wakes up too early, but usually goes back to sleep on her own. Tate will now put himself to sleep and sleep most of the night. I have woken up in my own bed for the first times since being home from China, several days a week. His sleep transition has been a beautiful thing compared with Emily's. So thankful for sleep!
Emily has big things happening with her, she is FINALLY starting to speak! Not too often and not consistently with all of her words. She mostly signs still, but she has grasped the idea of spoken language. She is progressing brilliantly! She will say a new word or two every day, and use her new words along with signs often. It has been such an honor to be her mother and watch her work so hard and organize this world in her little head and really come alive in it. We are thrilled.
Tate today for the first time referred to himself as Tate instead of his Chinese name. It was cute but it made me sad. China is so INCREDIBLE! It's sad to me that he will forget everything he knew. Emily never knew anything, so I haven't gone through this with her. Tate still says some things in Chinese and he adds tones to the English words that he says. He totally speaks with a Chinese accent. He is an American now. It's perfect, and how it was meant to be, but he did lose an amazing heritage, and it's hard. No matter how many holidays and festivals we attempt to celebrate, and no matter how much China we try to keep in our family, we're American. It is so much more than I thought it would be.
See you at 6 months.
