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In Other Words

He's been home 5 months and in weekly Developmental Therapy including Speech for a couple of those months. As you can tell, Mason has a language all his own. I have to say that we find it adorable! :) One thing is clear from this little video, he is able to completely process and understand what we are saying to him. So we might struggle sometimes and things are lost in translation, that's okay, we are finding ways to work around it, for instance using ASL to identify objects and his own system of using sounds to link objects to their names. And he is learning so much so fast, so for now, I just want to treasure these cute toddler moments with him - soon enough he'll be all grown up.

cool dude!

Mason has a thing for glasses. Sun glasses, snowman glasses, pink girly glasses, glasses with little hearts all over them, swim goggles, even lab goggles...doesn't matter really, if he sees them laying around, he'll put them on. So every time he puts them on, he looks at me to see my reaction. I always say the same thing, "Cool Dude!" complete with the thumbs up approval. Today, my little buddy helped me pick up the toys in the family room and during our clean-up time, he found these funny snowman glasses, put them on, and held up his little thumb and said, "Coo Doo". I laughed so hard!

cutest. ever.

He's having a hard time keeping these glasses on 'cause his cute little nose is so small. :)

"Coo Doo!"

heh. he put them on top of his head, then shot me the thumbs up... I think he looks like The Fonz... "Aaaaay" lol!

Random Cuteness

help! little boy smothered by two big sisters! :)

Curious George loves his monkey!

He rolled up in the blanket all by himself and thought it was the funniest thing in the whole world!

can you tell I have two sisters?

upside down or rightside up, either way, tickles from Daddy make me belly laugh!

love those smiles!

her "Popeye" pose! lol!

Out of the blue, he asked the girls if they wanted him to read them a book...BEST BIG BROTHER AWARD! He read them My Little Pony and let them sit on his lap. It's been days and days of squabbling with each other, so I just had to get this on film!

me & my orange balloon

This Kind Of Wonderful

Several times a day, I would study that precious little face wondering what his voice sounded like, what made him laugh, why he never seemed to be smiling, what life was like for him, why his eyes were always so sad, what God had in store for us, what mountains to climb, what summits to view, what life would be like when George Mason came home. And in all of my dreaming and hoping and praying, I never could have imagined....

this kind of wonderful!

this kind of joy!

this amount of happiness!

in one little boy!

God's given us a blessing - a son, a brother, we adore

by placing this sweet treasure

in our lives forevermore!

We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said, “What amazing things the
Lord has done for them.” ~ Psalm 126:2 (NLT)

george's giggles!

Jessa Li & George Mason played all evening and he couldn't get enough of her silliness! She had him giggling and belly laughing over and over again. :)

 playing King of the Mountain...with a Jessa Li twist...

 you WANT to fall off the mountain! lol! 

Monkey See.

 Monkey Do. :)

 He thought he was big stuff doing what his sister was doing. :)

 He loves to see her fall down whether that's on to pillows face first, backwards doing the "Nestea Dive" onto the couch, or after a fun time of Ring Around the Rosy. No one can get him giggling like his sister! Just had to share some of George's giggles!



ps. that's Dave's voice in the background talking to his dad on the phone about his first day's back teaching...

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

Three monkeys in a tub!    

George Mason's 1st bath-time at home and with the girls help...

he learned bath-time is bubbles,

bath-time is toys,

bath-time is lots of splashing,

and a lot more laughing,

because having two sisters to play with makes bath-time super FUN!

A Walk In The Park

Boy meets dog...sort of.

fun in the swing

giggles galore

helping him up the slide stairs

"please Mama, enough with the camera already." lol!

exploring the tunnels

brotherly love

watching her baby brother play...hmm, maybe he'll let me play too?

smiley girl - happy that he is letting her near him

playing together - she's learning to have patience. :)

We had a relaxing Labor Day at home trying to catch up on sleep and having fun playing with our new little guy. Of course, the house is a disaster with toys strewn from one end to the other, but I'll use the excuse of jet lag and hope no one will mind the clutter in the photos posted. :) George Mason woke up early, and we had a cozy morning snuggled together while I gave him his morning bottle.

AJ woke up just in time to go on a walk with Mason and I through the neighborhood. It was a quiet and peaceful walk. With the holiday morning, I guess everyone decided to stay tucked in bed, sleeping in, and surely thankful for a morning off of work. Can't believe the fall weather this morning, with temps in the low 60's, we are already wearing sweatshirts and long pants. I'm sure summer weather will return, but today it was really chilly. As I pushed the stroller, Mason kept turning around and smiling at me. He loves to be outside, and despite the chill in the air, he enjoyed the long walk.

We went about 2 miles weaving through the various neighborhoods that are all connected together before we stopped at a little park. He was a little unsure of all the mulch, but soon began exploring the slides and the bridges with his big brother's help. It was so sweet watching AJ helping and encouraging him. He LOVED the swing and was giggling and smiling. Cute! He likes to repeat activities over and over again as though he is sealing in his mind how to maneuver obstacles. I think he went up and over the little bridge at least 10 times before deciding to try something new. Each time he reached up to hold AJ's hand to help him up the bridge. Still a little wobbly on his feet, he falls often but he doesn't stay down for long. lol! He picks himself back up and is off and running again!

We walked back home and he had scrambled eggs for breakfast. He really loves eggs - of all kinds! Scrambled, poached, hard-boiled, sunny-side up, steamed, stir-fried...you name it, he'll eat it. :) We can tell he hasn't tried too many foods. His diet at the orphanage consisted of bottles and congee. Perhaps some fruit, but they told us he doesn't really like it. We've introduced him to a lot of new foods already. His favorites are bananas, green beans, and pretty much an carb. :) Each new food, new texture takes some getting used too. He's spit out a fair share of first bites, but after some encouraging and a little bribing with Gerber's Yogurt Melts, we've been able to get him to try it again and he decides it is tolerable. He's able to feed himself little bites using his fingers, but for the most part we are feeding him.


He is sleeping really well in his crib - through the night and also for naptime, although he wants us to lay down with him for naptime. We put his crib in our room and it is working out really well. So far no night terrors either - I think he is also trying to adjust to jet lag. When he gets tired, he pulls down his sleeve and sucks his thumb while rubbing his fingers on the end of his sleeve. It is adorable!


Soon we'll have him evaluated for developmental needs. I think he will catch up very fast! He is super bright and has already learned two signs (more and all done). I love to hear his little voice. It is so sweet. I'm teaching him to say "up" and "Mama". So far he is just saying "up". He wasn't even trying to say words in China, so hearing him say "up" and seeing him smile really big when I say "good boy" is too precious for words! He also loves to imitate me. He puts a toy on his head and says "aaaa-ooo" which is what I was doing in China to make him laugh. Saying "achoo" and then letting the toy fall of my head and into my hands. He loves that game. :)

So far the only thing we are really having troubles with is our dog. Of all dogs, he is the calmest I've met. He doesn't jump up on us and rarely barks. Mason just isn't sure about animals in general, so he is having a hard time adjusting to Pippin. He is curious and keeps pointing at him and saying "who?" and we repeat the word for dog over and over again. We are taking baby steps and slowly introducing him to our dog. Sadly, Pippin's spent a lot of time in his kennel, but right now, I don't want to overwhelm Mason. Praying in time that he will see how soft and nice Pippin is - I'm sure it won't take that long. Happily, Pippin seems to understand Mason's fear, and he keeps his distance and is obeying wonderfully in moving away from Mason when we tell him too. Have a told you how much I love our dog? Can't believe how much I've missed him! He is the sweetest! :)

The girls decided to be super-heroes today, after all, we can't have too many of those. heh. Hollyn was "Super Girl" and she wore her outfit most of the day. Mason isn't too sure about her yet. Her high-energy and smothering might have a little to do with his standoffish behavior. :) She means well though. She would love to cuddle him close if he would let her. :) He isn't too sure about AJ or Jessa yet either. He lets them play near him, but really doesn't want anyone but Momma or Daddy to touch him.

So I wouldn't say life is a walk in the park just yet, but it is miles apart from where we thought we would be these first days home. George Mason is sleeping - which  is always good, he is eating new things, and he is allowing both Mama and Daddy to love on him- which is wonderful. But, he has moments of grief, times when our inability to communicate ends in temper tantrums, and a lot of tears about the dog and others touching him or trying to hold him, he's unsure of many new things, and is learning a little at a time to trust us with his heart.

We've been so proud of the kiddos through all of this adjusting. They love him to pieces and I think it will only be a few more days until the feeling is mutual. Each of them in their very own way has welcomed Mason home. AJ with his brotherly love and fun-loving ways. Hollyn with her silliness and happy heart. And Jessa, showing us her sensitive touch and compassion. She gives him lots of space and plays with his toys on his terms. Some of the sweetest moments have been watching her pat his back when he is upset, gently rubbing his head while he plays, and taking his photo with her pretend camera. God has answered so many prayers - I can't think of a more beautiful beginning, and for that, I am so very thankful.