Green-Land to China: Four Month "Gotcha-versary!"

Wow! Four months already, and yet in some respects, it seems like Asher has always been with us. I've said that before, haven't I? Seriously though, I've never been through this before, but I think that it has gone so much more smoothly than we were told to anticipate. God is so good! We are so blessed! Sure, there are trying moments, and there will likely be unexpected bumps down the road, but isn't that the case with life in general, and kids in general? So, let's just get on with the update then...

Medically speaking, nothing much has happened in Asher's world this past month... and I am very ok with that! He's doing really well. I can now see a definite difference, post-ear-tubes, in his speech and language. He is trying to say so many new words. Many of them are still really, REALLY difficult for me to decipher, mostly (I assume) due to the cleft issues, but we can figure out his meaning without too much effort... most of the time. I do also notice an increase in his frustration level sometimes when he's trying to speak to me. He knows what he's trying to say, and I think that he knows what it's supposed to sound like... he may even think that he is making the sounds properly... but crazy Mommy just can't seem to catch on sometimes! However, it is progress nonetheless, and I am amazed at how quickly he's caught on to the language. I feel like any trouble he may have understanding what we say, at this point, is pretty much due to "convenient language comprehension issues." For example:

Me: "Asher, put down the Thomas Train and come over here so we can change your diaper."

Asher: "Oh... what's that? Put down the what? Umm... no hablo Ingles? What is a diaper? Maybe if I don't look at her directly in the eye she will be convinced that I don't know what a diaper change is... no... boo!... She's still looking at me and holding the diaper... oh wait! I'm not supposed to know what a diaper is... ok, fine... I'll come over there and have a change... but I'm still not putting down this train!"

The temper tantrums have also subsided quite a bit. He still tries every once in a while. He is, after all, still a nearly-two-year-old. He does, however, really enjoy shrieking loudly... particularly in the car. It's not for any particular reason. This scenario plays out thusly:

Asher: (in a normal volume level) "Mommy"

Me: "Yes, Asher?"

Asher: (in a normal volume level) "Mommy"

Me: "What, Asher?"

Asher: (in an ear-piercingly, painfully loud shriek) "MAAAAAH-MEEEEEEEEE!"

Me: (crank up the radio volume)

... then he stops eventually. I tried for a while just telling him to stop, but playing into it just made the noise go on longer. Drowning him out makes him stop quickly. For those who may be concerned that I am inappropriately neglecting him, please let me remind you that this all goes down in the car. In the car where he is safely, correctly, and responsibly buckled into a safely strapped-in, well-constructed, age and size-appropriate carseat; just a few feet away from me. We are able to see each other the whole time, and he can also see Benjamin. He usually has a toy or book or something in his hand already, has either just eaten or is on the way home to eat, and at the very least had a clean, dry diaper when he entered the vehicle. So, don't go thinking I am neglecting parental duties... sometimes preserving Mommy's sanity is more vital to child safety than responding to every call for attention, and Mommy's sanity is preserved by blasting Jimmy Needham and Audrey Assad for a block or two.

He is also sleeping better than before too, I think. He's been sleeping through the night for a while now, but naptime was always a source of frustration, as he and Benjamin would keep each other awake by jumping in their cribs and talking to each other. After taking the advice of a couple genuis Moms on Facebook and napping the Minions in separate rooms, naptime is going much more smoothly. It took a couple weeks for them to get used to it, as they are now so used to always being together that they don't really appreciate being separated very often, but they are really very good nappers now... which also helps in that "sanity preservation effort" we discussed in the previous paragraph!

He still eats anything and everything, and is growing, growing, growing! I don't remember numbers, so I can't give you height/weight specifics, but he's still taller than Benjamin, and although he's still quite the beanpole, and his toddler-ness has him outgrowing the jowls that he had in the chubby baby pictures, he's doing just fine, nutrition-wise.

He and Benjamin LOVE the Wiggles, which I believe I mentioned in last month's update, but he has started trying to sing the songs quite a bit, which is entertaining. He also immediately started doing the hand motions to "Hot Potato, Hot Potato" the other day when we were in the produce section of the grocery store and I said the word "potato." It was very funny! He has no desire to do real sign language, but if it's a word from a Wiggles song, he's all over the hand motions!

He feeds himself. He can walk up and down the stairs unassisted at home (unassisted, but NOT unattended... once again, I feel the need to defend my vigilance and supervision for some strange reason. The boys are not allowed near the stairs without me! Why the paranoia? I have no clue. It's just one of those days). He still loves being outside and enjoyed playing at the water table on the back porch for the first time the other day. He also had a blast, I'm told, in Grandma's pool, but I wan't there to supervise that. Daddy and Grandma covered that venture while I was helping Aunt Hana with Asher's newest little cousin, Eva! So... also no pool pictures. The camera was being used for baby pictures... sorry about that...

I think that about does it for the moment, update-wise. I am formulating a more journal-y post about my first encounter with a total stranger who had some trouble wrapping their mind around our adoption and had questions... it just got me thinking, but this post is long enough already. So, look for that in the next little while.

Also, little man's 2nd birthday is coming up in just a few days. So, there will definitely be pictures of that. Hey, wait... didn't I say a few months back that I was going to stop blogging here and switch back to the regular Greenland blog? Hmmm... apparently I was wrong. Oh well...

If you have any questions, or feel like there's something I'm not updating you on, feel free to ask away in the comment section... it reassures me that someone out there in the world is reading this!

And now, pictures from the past month:

Family picture from dedication Sunday,

courtesy of William Lachenal, photographer