Guaranteed By Thanksgiving

This week my wise Uncle Lawrence's words had reason to be ringing in my ears. You see, when we brought Little Addie Ting Ting home just two months ago, and she could just barely sit up, and she could really not hold much weight on her legs, it was Uncle Lawrence who kept remarking how she really was quite strong, while the rest of us shook our heads at how weak she seemed. When we commented how sad it was that she was delayed and didn't know how to communicate or give good loves, Uncle Lawrence claimed she was one of the smartest babies he had met. I just rolled my eyes and said, "Sure she is." One day after we had been home just a week, he said, "I guarantee she'll be walking by Thanksgiving!" Considering that head control and sitting were just emerging, I replied "Yeah right." Well, Addie Mei Ting decided to prove me wrong and her Uncle Lawrence right. Just a few nights ago she was playing with some of Jo-Jo's handcuffs, and I remarked how they were dangerous toys, and I would be taking them away. Just as I said this, she stood up in the middle of the floor and took several wobbly steps. From then on those wobbly few steps have turned into more and more steps, though she is very cautious and still trying to figure out the balance thing. She has a wonderful bruise on her nose from her first major fall, and her physical therapist said I could keep trying to promote crawling, but it looked like Addie was going to do things her way.

Here is a short video Ron made to document how thankful we are to have Addie in our lives and home at last with her brothers and sister where she belongs.

And the answer is "NO"

Most often when I think of November, I think of cool days and cold nights, turkeys and pies, and of course giving thanks for family and friends. This November something else also comes to mind, because November is National Adoption Month.


Not flesh of my flesh
Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
You didn't grow under my heart,
But in it.

anonymous



Another week has flown by, and Addie Mei Ting continues to surprise us with all she is learning. She has developed a great love of shoes. Several weeks ago, she started just by playing with laces, but this week she loves putting her own feet in anyone's shoes that are available. On Saturday, Addie enjoyed visiting with many, many people at a baby shower for her soon to be cousin Natalie. The way she enjoyed playing with the presents and pulling on the bows and ribbons, lets us know that her first Christmas at home will be a magical one. In the eating department, Ting Ting has decided that she likes to use a spoon by herself. Now, she cannot quite get the spoon into the dish and get food on it, but once someone gets the food on the spoon, she snatches the utensil, and in the mouth it goes. This is quite an accomplishment considering just several weeks ago, she freaked out whenever a spoon came near her mouth. Mobility-wise, we are getting faster scoots across the room, some pretty good balance while standing, and a few steps here and there. She is also showing improvements with her fine motor skills as she plays with toys and especially blocks. And of course we cannot forget to mention Ting Ting's new fascination with shaking her head "No" at EVERYTHING. The kids get quite a kick out of it when we ask her "Do you love Mama?" or "Are you a good girl?" and she vigorously shakes her head "NO."

Smiles, Some Standing, and a Very Slimy Nose

Addie Ting Ting continues to grow and change each and every day. Indeed she is still a mighty serious girl, and we are still bombarded with the question by both strangers and acquaintances, "Does she ever smile?" The answer is "yes" but only in the very safest surroundings and with familiar faces. To be sure, it is a most precious smile. Addie is also making big changes in the amount of time she is willing to spend on her stomach. This week she is doing a tiny bit of a scoot on her bottom and then into a crawl position and then a forward flop on her belly. It is extremely awkward looking, but the important thing is - it is movement, and we think she rather likes the idea of being able to independently move, even if it is just a bit.






Addie is doing better in the eating department as well. She has decided on two favorite foods this week. Banana is number one. Number two we discovered quite by accident when dining out with Nannie (Ting Ting's great grandmother). Nannie ordered graham cracker pie with lots of real whip cream. Little Miss Addie quickly moved into attack mode, grabbing both the spoon and plate from Nannie. Her smacking lips and pig-like noises were quite entertaining.



Addie is doing more and more standing now. It seems that her muscle strength has improved a great deal, but now what really is the stumbling block is balance and slow reflexes when falling. We have great hopes that piece by piece the walking puzzle will eventually fit together. Oh and certainly another first for Addie has been her first American cold. It has lasted and lasted, and every day she wakes in the morning with a slimy nose, and despite boxes and boxes of tissues, she still usually has that same slimy look at bedtime.






Jo-Jo and Addie are truly becoming best friends. Bayley and Addie are already fashion sisters in their matching pajamas, and brother Thomas continues to touch our hearts with comments about the adoption. Just tonight he added, "It is so wonderful that God gave us this perfect child so filled with curiosity."

A Little Ladybug

Happy Halloween- Bayley and Tommy picked out this little ladybug costume for Addie months before she ever came home. At the rate she has been growing it was a tight fit, but a definite must for her costume considering that ladybugs are a good luck symbol to those who are or have adopted from China. Trick or Treating was quite a challenge with our crew. Addie decided she wouldn't ride in her stroller, and Jo-Jo decided he wouldn't walk, and so we pushed a heavy stroller with a 4 and a half year old bat, and carried a pretty hefty ladybug, all while trying to keep up with Bayley , the corpse bride, Tommy, explorer Samuel Champlain, Myah, the vampire, Brynn, a real spooky creature, and frightful looking but friendly witch, Anna.





Addie is making some very positive steps forward, but her many therapies require lots of time. Sadly she did have a few scary medical issues with her bowels that needed immediate attention, and perhaps we are now on our way to some less scary days with her not passing out when it comes time for having a poopy. Last week she visited the daycare she will soon be attending and really seemed to enjoy watching all the kids. She even gave a few kisses to some children. Super exciting, is the way she now enjoys looking at herself in the mirror. It sure is cute to watch her kiss herself in the mirror. We now have a toddler sized medical walker from Addie's physical therapist. Clearly Addie Ting wants to walk and hopefully her muscles will cooperate soon. She is so proud after she walks across the kitchen using her walker, and she is very impressed when Jo-Jo does wheelies with her walker.





Bath time is becoming much more fun for Addie with all the splashing, and since she bathes in the sink, Jo-Jo has changed his pattern of tub or shower bathing to sink bathing.



At last she stole her Mama's diet coke. Coke was one of Jo-Jo's first words. Will it be one of Ting-Ting's too? She is now looking around and glancing toward the floor when asked "where's the kitty-cat?", so it seems there is some receptive language starting to emerge. Also when we are snuggling in bed, and I ask if she wants her bottle, she sits right up, and looks toward the door as if to say-"Yes-go get it please."



Oh and if trying to drink diet coke wasn't unhealthy enough, she ended the week by having her first Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. After a doctor's appointment in Bangor, she went to meet her Aunt Becky and Timmy at their store. While there I tried to feed her a healthy lunch, but she opted to raid the shelves of candy. Auntie didn't say "no."