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.

~♥~ WELCOME HOME ~♥~

Tonight as you lie sleeping

For the first time in your bed,

There must be something lasting

And profound that should be said.

But as your face is gazed upon

Framed by your soft, black hair

No words can tell or quite express

The feelings that we share.

The wait is finally over

You're home, at last, to stay.

And there will always be the memories

 Of the joy that filled this day.

With a love that's running over

By the sight of you alone

Welcome home, dear cherished son,

At long last … welcome home!

Author Unknown

Coming to America

We're on the plane waiting to taxi toward the runway...one hour delay due to stormy weather. Documenting our plane taking off from Hong Kong - probably the closest I'll ever be to Australia. :)

14:53 hours until we arrive in Chicago...plus 1 hour for the delayed takeoff, plus another 45 minutes for the pilot to go around the stormy weather = 17 some hours on an airplane with a 2 year old = 2 beyond tired new parents.

The good news is that George Mason went with the ebb and flow and didn't have any meltdowns at all. He handled the flight really well and caught a few cat-naps while I held him. He liked the pretzels and tolerated the apple juice - still not a fan though. He ate some noodles and some rice too. But overall, I'd say it was a thumbs-down on the airplane food.

Getting ready for take off - he loved playing with the earphones - plugging them in and out of the tiny outlet on the arm of the chair. :) He also liked watching Kung Fu Panda 2. And for those who are wondering, yes, there were shoe prints on the toilets again! lol! I guess some people just can't go unless it is a squatty potty.

We chased the sun to the other side of the world. The clouds were so beautiful! Like celestial waves of white.

The only problem happened when the plane landed in Chicago. First of all, it was a rough landing with lots of up and down turbulence and he ended up having air-motion sickness again. We felt so bad for him. And I forgot to pack an extra outfit for him with our carry-ons, so we had to muddle through customs with a shirtless baby boy. We put my sweatshirt around him, but he didn't like that for some reason, so I'm sure everyone thought we were horrible parents carrying around our little guy with no shirt on. :(  That didn't stop him from becoming an American though, because as soon as his feet hit the ground in Chicago, he became a US Citizen - shirtless and all. lol!

We were so tired that we were barely walking when we landed in Chicago. Had to go through security, then immigration, wait for immigration to approve George Mason's paperwork, go through another security bag screening in customs, go up and down escalators until we find the tram to take us to the right terminal, run through the concourse to the terminal gate entrance because David is so freaked out that we only have 5 minutes to board the plane for Indy, go through another security check and take off all our shoes including the baby's sandals which just seemed a bit over the top to me, but I comply, only to have one of our bags get re-checked three times and have them unpack it because of a supposed "sharp object" which ends up being the jade Chinese tower that we purchased for Mason which I forgot about completely - luckily he allowed us to keep it, but while he was unwrapping it Dave is having a breakdown because he is beyond tired and thinks we are going to miss our flight because of the over-achiever TSA dude who certainly deserves extra stars on his stripes for his thorough investigation. Suddenly, I hear my usually calm husband shout out, "Oh Dear Lord! We are not going to blow up the plane because we just adopted our son and we are bringing him home! You have got to be kidding me!" To which I politely apologize for my husband's outburst and explain that we have just flown 17 some odd hours from Hong Kong to Chicago and we got zilch sleep and my husband is very, very tired, and of course, you are more than welcome to unwrap all our souvenirs, and yes, of course, we will be more than happy to comply with all of your requests because we realize you are just doing your job... all the while scared out of my mind that this guy is going to stand there and slowly unpack every single one of our carry-on bags or worse throw my husband in the airport lock-up. My midwest charm worked, and the TSA dude smiles and says he has taken that flight and knows it is a long one. Hands over the souvenir tower and tells me we are free to go. Somehow I feel like a Jedi who has just successfully used the force "These are not the droids you are looking for." heh. 

Anyway, we end up running from the security check to the gate (I'm wearing flip flops I might add) hauling all our carry-ons with us and Mason and just as we approach the gate, dripping with sweat and out of breath, we panic because there is no plane pulled up to the gate. Thinking the worse that the plane has left without us, David goes up to the attendant at the gate with our boarding passes and asks her if we've missed the flight. She looks at us like we are insane and explains that our flight isn't even scheduled to leave for another hour because we are in Chicago and Chicago is on Central Time, and if that wasn't enough humiliation, she then explains that had we taken the time to check the flight status on any of the monitors in the airport, we would have noticed that the flight has also been delayed an additional hour because of operation issues. So we have TWO HOURS before our flight leaves for Indy. I look at my native-Chicagoan husband, David, who by this time is sheepishly grinning at me, and I say in the sweetest voice I can muster...

"You realize you owe me big for this." 

"yah...big."

"No. I'm talking big. As in B.I.G. kinda big."




"But it did feel like the Amazing Race for a minute there, didn't it?"




"Yah, expect for the part where we are carrying a ton of luggage and oh yah, a new baby..."



"Well, yah, of course there's that. But honey, you were booking. I mean fast!"




"I just kept thinking - I'm getting on that plane, I am getting on that plane."

To which we both heave a sigh of relief slumping down in the nearest row of seats thankful to be in the USA! 

Only 2 more hours until we board our last plane, 30 minutes to fly, and then we'll finally be home. 

H.O.M.E.

Home. That is the sweetest word.