One month family anniversary

One month ago today we met Max. It's hard to believe that it's already been a month. We definitely are still settling into our new family roles and we're still figuring out who he is and how he fits into our family. Here's what we do know. Max is generally easygoing. Not much throws him for a loop. He has made this transition more easily that we thought was possible for any child. He's also a ham. He loves to grin his cheesy grin and wave at everyone. He loves being the center of attention. He loves to be outside and he loves to be active. Riding his tricycle, riding in his waggon, throwing balls, and just running around are probably his favorite activities. He also loves to push his cars and go "vroom, vroom". He also loves teddy bears. Not his lion or his dog, but teddy bears. He likes to go into Ellie's room and sort through her stuffed animals and pull out two or three teddy bears to carry around. He'll let you hold them for him when hes on the toilet or eating, but wants them right back when he's done. He loves to eat and he does it with gusto. He's actually pretty good with utensils, but somehow the food still gets EVERYWHERE. He also seems to be mechanically inclined. He watches how everything is done, built, put together, and then he attempts to do it himself. He loves to flush the toilet, push buttons on clocks (he's caused a couple of late mornings by turning off the alarm), turn water on and off, etc.

So far, there doesn't seem to be much he doesn't like. He definitely doesn't like to be told no. He doesn't like to be too far from food still (this may be a little pathologic). He also has a weird fear of a decorative stone rabbit in our bedroom. It's been temporarily relocated to the closet.

Lots of people have asked how language is coming. I think he's doing well, especially considering the duo insults of an unrepaired cleft palate and transitioning to a new language. So far these are the words that he consistently says in English. They're not enunciated perfectly, but he's trying really hard. Muh (more), mama, mama (baba), bye-bye, hi, Ehie (Ellie), ah-ee (doggie), i-ee (kitty), muh-ee (monkee), a-oo (thank you), vroom. There might be a couple more, but that's what I can think of right now. He also knows these signs: more, kitty, doggie, milk, water, and please (although it's use is limited). Considering it's only been a month, I'm impressed. It's probably more than the number of Mandarin words I know.

I think the most exciting part of the last month has been seeing him grow more comfortable with us and more comfortable in his environment. I love getting him up in the mornings and seeing him smile at me instead of cry. He knows that first we go to the bathroom, then he goes to his little table and waits for breakfast (or often gets to the refrigerator first to try and convince me t hat chocolate pudding is a healthy breakfast option). He "helps" me get him dressed and he knows where to find his clothes. He knows where all of the toys and books are and isn't afraid to dig right in and play. When we're in the carpool line to drop off Ellie he starts saying "bye bye Ellie" and when we're waiting to pick her up he's saying her name the whole time. He also knows that when we pull the curtains and get his bottle out it's bedtime (which he's less and less happy about). I'm just so happy that he seems to have settled into a new routine after all of the changes that he's had in the past month.