The First Annual Cousins (& Aunties) Christmas ADVENTURE!

My four & a half year old niece and her 2 year old brother have waited patiently for a local cousin. A new baby showed up at their house in August, but he is more in the sleep & eat phase right now. And the other extended cousins live on the East Coast, so cousin outings are infrequent. But today...TODAY was the First Annual Cousins (& Aunties...mostly because we flip the bill) Christmas ADVENTURE!!  Everyone knows the great thing about Adventures is you never know what is going to happen next...so after we met in Seattle:

Isaac's first trip to the Space Needle!

 

We took our first Monorail ride!  Cousin Vaughn is a train aficionado but was a little unsure of this wheel-less train that rode in the sky. (We all are, honey!)

Auntie Tavia & Cousin Vaughn

Cousin Magdalene super excited about the 'tall train'

How about I stick my tongue out? Why not?

 

Then, it was our first Holiday Carousel ride!  Isaac wasn't too sure about this one.  Up and down AND round and round??  Is someone in charge of this thing? A shared bag of mini donuts fixed everything for everyone.

Three kiddos & a Momma on a Carousel

I think he is smiling more because it stopped!

 

 

THEN, it was a field trip to Macy's to ride the escalator to Santaland! Cousin Magdalene was quick to point out that even though Macy's has a GIANT star on their building...Jesus was not born there. Truer words have never been spoken. At Santaland, we visited the reindeer while Santa serenaded us with some Christmas tunes.

Checking Santa out from afar

Magdalene found a "Merida" Angel!

 

 

THEN, we trekked a couple of blocks to a pretty impressive gingerbread house display. Turns out, they were all based on Disney castles and princess stories. What a special treat for a special 4 year old!  While we were walking back, a horse drawn carriage passed us on the street. What could be better??

 

THEN, it was hot chocolate time and back on the monorail...where we found a giant old-timey train display in a Christmas village at the Seattle Center. Cousin Vaughn declared seeing the "chugga-chuggas" his favorite part.

Seeing how fast we can give hugs!

Aunties & cousins
(Vaughn was keeping an eye out for the monorail)

 

 

It was a BIG afternoon in the city.  Little Cousin Zane was a tropper in the moby schlepping across town with the big kids. Isaac was strapped in the hip holster for nearly 3 hours and couldn't have been happier warm against his Momma & munching on his mittens. It's fun to be purposful in making memories: to skip down a city sidewalk belting Christmas carols as loud as you can; to take in the wonder of a giant Christmas tree; to get the whip cream on your hot chocolate just because you can. These are memories I want Isaac and his cousins to have...shoot, these are the memories I want to have!

 

Isaac's Dedication

     Baby Dedication is a special event in a Christian's life. Following the example of Hannah in the Bible, through Dedication, parents offer back their child to their Creator with a heartfelt dedication to raise the child to honor the Lord. Much like a wedding, it is a precious day and is very family centered. While it is the parents who are making the public declaration, at Northwest Church,  friends & family are encouraged to stand along side the parents & child as a public vow to speak Blessing and Life into the child's life. You can see from the photo below...ours was a PACKED stage!

Can you even find Isaac & I??

 

     Isaac was dressed in his traditional Chinese outfit (as were his cousins!), including his tribal Longevity Locket. We are almost certain that Isaac is from one of two ethnic minorities in China & both give silver Longevity Lockets to their newborn sons as a prayer for a long and healthy life. This is the single tribal souvenir I felt comfortable bringing home and joining with his customs of his cultural family I have prayed Jeremiah 29:11 over the locket & Isaac:

 

Isaac being blessed by Pastor Steve
(Thank you Cassandra for your sweet gift of photos!)

Momma being blessed....I was a crying mess.
 

     For the last 18months, trusting the Lord to bring Isaac home was the goal & focus of so many people in Isaac's life. Today in giving Isaac back to the Lord, there was a closing, in a sense, of that chapter of our story. Isaac's adoption as my son is such a small part of who he will become. It is my prayer that Isaac's life as a child of our Heavenly Father will be EVERYTHING that defines & influences him. Every Sunday Pastor Steve prays the Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26) over us as a congregation. It holds a powerful and special place in my heart so I was unbelievably excited when we "stumbled upon" an underground Christian souvenir shop in China and found the plaque below. Be blessed, sweet Isaac. In English, in Mandarin, in Hebrew, in Greek, in whatever language Heaven speaks to your heart...Be Blessed.  Happy Dedication Day!

 



 

Seventeen Weeks (plus one day) Together

     It was a quiet-ish week, but it finished with a bang...Isaac's dedication! That day is worthy of it's own post to follow.

     Isaac continues to explore and problem solve his little world. Most of this week's pictures I posted on Facebook, but they are just so darn cute, I'll post them here as well. Somehow a BOX came into our life.  Oh happy day!  He pushes the box, fills the box, climbs on the box, eats the box, pets the box, and one evening after dinner when I needed to contain him for just a few minutes I put him IN the box...and he played happily in there for an hour! I joked about taking all his Christmas gifts back and just giving him the boxes...I'm seriously considering it.  :)

     Isaac is also officially walking, although he is much faster on his knees and can chase his big cousins more effectively this way, he toddles through the family room into the kitchen tags the oven, turns three circles and walks back squealing.  Whomever it is he thinks he is racing, he is sure to win every time!  This week we took a field trip with our Physical Therapy friend to Gramma's house where she has stairs to practice climbing on. That I know of, Isaac has never been on stairs before, so the PT talked me through the normal movements and I took Isaac to the bottom of the steps prepared to coach him through climbing his Everest.  Isaac looked at me, looked at the balloon his therapy friend was holding at the top of the stairs and climbed right to the top!  Oh my!!  Thinking maybe it was a fluke, we brought him back down again and he STOOD UP, grabbed the hand rail and WALKED UP the stairs.  WHAT?!?!  This child who couldn't hold himself up 4 months ago just walked up the stairs. I'm hiding the keys to the car immediately!  The Physical Therapist and I just stared at each other...

     Some pictures from our week:

Best toy ever!

In box-heaven!

 

He was up in there for more than 20minutes.
Can you get to Narnia through a kitchen cupboard?

Poor kiddo...just waking up from a solid nap and his Momma was laughing hysterically at his nap-head.
I'm not ashamed to admit it...he gets it from my side of the family

 

Sixteen Weeks Together

Someone flipped Isaac's developmental switch in the last week.  He's stacking blocks, walking while carrying snacks, repeating back sounds, and even climbing up on the step stool by himself!  It's easy to say "So, what? He's a toddler he's supposed to do those things". But that's just it...for Isaac, until 16 weeks ago, every nature, nurture, developmental, cultural and genetic card had been stacked against him. He shouldn't have been able to do any of these things...at least not yet.  Even Isaac's adoption pediatrician has been amazed at how incredibly fast this little one is adapting: "I've never seen a child from his country progress so fast!"  It just makes my heart BEAM!  Isaac was created perfectly in his birth mother's womb & protected during his transition to his foster family. God orchestrated that Isaac would be so far out in his province that the only care option was one-on-one foster care (instead of institutionalize orphan care) where he received EXCELLENT love and care for 15 months. It's so amazing. I know I say it a lot, but I still just can't wrap my brain around the miracle of it all.  God is so very good!

 

Helping with yard work.
(Don't tell him...but he's sitting in the stroller! Shhhhhhh)

First trip to Starbucks
(No body get upset...it's peppermint milk)

So cute!

Apparently, I wasn't picking up the "I need a nap" signals.

Climbed up on the step stool by himself!!

Fell off the step stool...by himself...

The MOST handsome Monkey in town!!

 

Fifteen Weeks Together

Lots of exciting events this week:

Isaac turned two!  I don't know the circumstances of his birth, but I do know that in this household...we do birthdays!!  On this day we celebrate life, excitement, hope, joy and God's future. An entire day to declare "I'm thrilled that you are alive and a part of our lives!!"  I want Isaac to grow up joyfully anticipating his special day with full awareness that he is celebrated!  On this first birthday at home, he woke to balloons and Momma singing "Happy Birthday!"  You could tell he wasn't entirely clear what was happening...but don't let it stop. :)

 

I had to run to work for a few hours, so Isaac went to Kollege and brought some fun snacks & balloons to share.  He had been on a bit of an eating strike, so I wasn't sure how his treats would go...turns out he ate FOUR Go-Gurts in celebration with his little friends!  FOUR.  What a way to celebrate!  At home we had a some cake and opened a few presents (in anticipation of his big party next month).  I love the progression of these pictures:

Flaming pastries...?

This is a little different...

 

I think I could get used to this...

Nom-nom-nom!

Mom!  You gotta try some cake!!

Here he is playing with a few of his new toys.  The SUPER exciting gift of the day was a red hoodie string...he played with that thing for an hour!  I have a feeling I'm not going to get away with giving a Birthday String for many years in the future. (Although, in a move of pure genius, I tied the string to a pacifier clip which is now attached to his pants!)

 

The not-so-traditional although much appreciated Birthday String

This week, of course, was Isaac's first Thanksgiving.  (You can read about that is the previous post). The day was especially meaningful in remembering the Pilgrims who stepped out in faith to follow God's call and His provision every step of the way.  God is so very good...all the time.

 

The third big event this week was "Merry Christmas Music Day"... the day after Thanksgiving.  The Christmas Cd's & records are dusted off and the cider put to full boil. One of my favorite days of the year.  I wish I could have captured Isaac's face when he woke from nap and found a lit tree in his house!   "Whoa. Wait! Did you...? How did that...? What?!"  Although it didn't take long him to warm up to the idea, he was thoroughly confused...and I laughed hard.  :) 

As Chief-Ornament-Taste-Tester and Box Redistribution Specialist, Isaac did his part as I decorated the tree. If any of you are in my home over the next month and have an overwhelming urge to taste the ornaments...be forewarned...they've been pre-licked!

Giving Thanks

The list is endless...friends, family, work, health, provision, Isaac...but it all comes down to Christ's endless love for us and living in a nation that allows us to set one day aside and say "Lord, we THANK YOU!"

Reading The Story of Thanksgiving with Cousin Vaughn & Cousin Magdalene

Isaac's first history lesson
 

The Dutch gramma & her Chinese grandson singing songs together on the American holiday

Before

During

After!

A good sign of a successful meal!

Happy Birthday Isaac!!

My boy is two today.
My boy that I had just found out about 1 year ago...
My boy that was in his birth momma's arms 2 years ago even as my heart was melting towards adoption...
My boy that has had God's plan and purpose written on his heart for a healthy & fruitful life even before he was born...
My boy that rocks his extra chromosome like it's going out of style!
My boy that will eat seafood pasta and artichokes before he'll go anywhere near mac & cheese and hotdogs...
My boy that jumps off the couch to tackle me on the floor, is also my boy who pats my shoulders after every meal as if to say "good job, Mom, that was yummy"...
My boy that dances to Aerosmith, Sinatra, Toby Mac and Elmo with equal amounts of passion...
My boy that hasn't quite mastered gentle touching, but always gives Pharoah a kiss when we read about Moses...
My boy that draws complete strangers to him with his exuberant smile and sweet almond eyes...
My boy is perfect and I am so very proud to be his Mommy.

 

Happy Second Birthday, my Isaac, my boy.

I am SO excited to see what the Lord does in and through you in the next year!!

Fourteen Weeks Together

     This week we were able to send an update package to Isaac's foster mother in China!  I am so unbelievably blessed to have been able to look into the eyes of the woman who cared for our son for nearly 15months. I had been told multiple times that there was no way I would meet anyone who had cared for Isaac, in fact, protocol was that he would have been moved to a group orphanage setting to lessen his attachment to his foster family in the weeks prior to my arrival.  It broke my heart to think that Isaac and the only family he had known would be torn away from each other like that.  BUT, our Heavenly Father took care of it! There was China Momma sitting and holding Isaac as I entered that upper room in south-central China. She had cared for him while I yearned for him; nurtured him while he grew; protected him from harm; and smiled over him as he slept, all with the full knowledge that her time with him was temporary.  I have such great respect for this lovely woman (and for all foster parents!) Her picture hangs in Isaac's nursery and she will always be apart of our family. I pray that she receives our package with joy and comfort. 

 

Isaac's Forever Momma and China Momma



     This week was also the first time I had to have the "Excuse me, but my son is NOT disabled" conversation.  I knew that it would come at some point, but I had assumed it would be when he was closer to school age, or maybe when he was 80, but not in the innocence of toddler hood. The comment was said without malice, I know that. I think in her own way, the woman was trying to protect Isaac; as if somehow his extra chromosome had jumped on him when we weren't looking. In the nanosecond I had to chose how to respond, I prayed quickly for grace & wisdom. The conversation went well and I appreciated her appropriate & loving response to Isaac afterwards, but I was surprised how it shook me. I seriously wanted to scream "He's not broken!"...it's probably good that I didn't, but someday Isaac's little heart will understand words that can hurt him and I so desperately want to protect him from that day!

 

     What he DOES understand right now is a couple more signs!  'Car' is a particularly fun one (imagine hands moving a steering wheel) and 'cracker' has taken on it's own translation (waving  his elbow in the air!). 'Bear' has been a favorite for a couple of weeks, but what makes it funny is that he signs it when he hears the word 'bear' (that's correct), 'pear' (makes sense)...or when someone burps. ???  (I won't say who he has heard burp. It doesn't help the story at all, but lets just say he has heard an isolated & totally non-bear-like burp, or two.) Like any two year old, he babbles with his communication, only it's with his hands...waving them in the air, touching particular fingers together in an attempt to make a word or sentence ( I think). And like any parent of a toddler, I have to figure out what is being communicated: "Bubbles music" = "Let's watch the Praise Baby video with the bubbles in it". "Cracker bath" = "I can have my special Chinese cracker while you are taking a shower, right Momma?". Sometimes it's like playing Wheel of Fortune without any vowels!  I went out on a limb this week and asked Isaac's speech therapist when she thought he would be speaking and she thinks definitely within a year.  Whoa!

     A couple photos from our week:

Watching our signing video together

Sometimes picking the sippy cup UP is just too much work!

Taking his task of stacking the bowls VERY seriously.

This is a surgical sponge used in the operating room...apparently, it's perfect for teething.
Who knew?!

All the cool kids can tum themselves around in the cart, Mom!

Akkk...teething!