Last Post-placment report

Before this month passes by completely, there's more to say about our one year anniversary with Iris. First, the post-placement visit by our agency's social worker is done and we think that the information will be favorable. Iris played while our conversation about her was happening. At one point, she stood up in her new chair/table set (from Aunt Ruth!), and mama asked her to sit down. She did...and other times, she didn't. There's definitely independence happening. The words we used to describe Iris: active, fast learner, happy, and fearless. Today after her playgroup, one lady described Iris as a go-getter.

She's usually a great eater and sleeper. As you can see in the photo, she can make a real mess! Yet one new developments: Iris is not eating some of her favorite foods, such as banana (She eats all other kinds of fruit!), french toast, yams, carrots, and rice. She's not eating vegetables, except for frozen peas. Each day is a challenge to give her good nutrition.


Another new development: She communicates more with pseudo-words, such as "day-do" for "playdough" (See photo with her friend Grayson). So far, she says: uh-oh (a lot!), dada, mama, Mmmmm (for cow sound), "guh" for "all gone/I'm done", "ticka ticka ticka" for "tickle tickle tickle" (which ma and dada like to do to her).

As she will turn two years old in November, we are slowly seeing her assert her independence and sometimes, defiance. It reminds me of how as a Christian, sometimes I don't listen to God's Spirit to guide me in the right paths. That's when I get stressed and feel out of sorts. In parenthood, I realize that one of the most important roles is to protect the child. Therefore, I will need to meditate and pray more in listening mode to understand fully how much Jesus loves and protects me. After all, this is what children learn to sing at at young age: "Jesus loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so."

1st Anniversary of Gotcha Day

It's amazing to think that one year ago, we met our fun, happy daughter Iris. We were in China fumbling our way around what to do with our 9-month old. Wow! We've learned a lot, yet it seems that we still know so little about raising a child.

For example, I think Iris is ready for potty training, ...but how? Once again, I try to consult books and videos. Other parents may try to help, but oftentimes their recollection is not tied to a "method." So, we're going to try different things-potty in her room, potty in the bathroom, regular times after drinking or eating to "try". It's just strange that we are doing this, but she can't really express herself in words.

But onto more pleasant thoughts: a reunion with one of the families that we met one year ago. We met Iris's friends, Isabella and Alexandra, at Tilden Park. All the girls enjoyed petting calves, feeding cows, chickens, ducks, and seeing rabbits, and sheep in the little farm. Iris enjoyed feeding them the lettuce leaves that Isabella's dad and mom brought. It was a joyous and sunny day. Here are some photos:

From Psalm 104 that celebrates our Creator God:
"May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the LORD."

Preparing for our one year anniversary

It's been over three weeks of new beginnings and busyness in our home. B. started a new job, still in town; and I started teaching fall classes without much of a break between summer and fall classes. I've been overwhelmed by the amount of "kick-off" work I think I need to do and how the home schedule (feeding, playing, sleeping) is with Iris. I'm truly leaning on God's power through the Holy Spirit to help me accomplish what I can. Needless to say, transitions are usually tiring and uncomfortable.

It's noticeable how Iris is starting to respond to verbal commands with understanding of what we're saying. For example, I ask her to get her shoes before she goes outside and she goes over to where the shoes are. She is fascinated with her shoes, as well as her parents' shoes. She wants to put them on and take them off multiple times. Her other concentrated effort goes into buckling herself into things- high chair, car seat, stroller. This would make it easier for us to get her ready to go somewhere (or eat). She points a lot to things and makes a noise that sounds like a request to get something to her. We (the parents) just have to guess what she really wants through trial and error (e.g. a book among her large piles of books). She is starting to use Da-da and Ma-ma when we are around, as well as for other things or people, but I'm going to take the "Ma-ma" enthusiastically as her calling for me.

As she gets closer to two years of age, she definitely shows signs of temper tantrum-like crying and refusals to do something she can (e.g. walking somewhere) because she doesn't want to. Still, overall she is a very happy, sociable, smart, and active toddler. Iris's appetite is also doing well, and here is proof at the strawberry patch (the strawberries were soooo sweet!) we visited:

Some August events:
Iris was stung by a bee! Dada acted quickly and took out the stinger, soothed her and put a baking soda paste on her finger as a salve for the poison and pain. Iris screamed very loudly! (Mommy was gone at the time).

Iris met her Uncle J. and Aunt L.C. for the first time. They'll be visiting us soon, so I hope she can get to know them better.

Brian had a week off between jobs and completed outside chores that was probably equivalent to three months worth of pruning. We now have a rock pathway in the backyard that leads to our vegetable garden.

Ho Gao (our dog) continues to sleep a lot and is pretty much deaf, but Iris is starting to pet H.G. more.

Iris is starting to drink from a plastic (non-sippy) cup without totally spilling the liquid down the front of her torso. She smiles almost after each swallow.

Active Iris

We've been thinking about what we were doing one year ago: The Summer Olympics began, Cindy was in hot Visalia drying peaches (YWAM), Brian was busy getting the final documents and money in order for our trip to China, and we were waiting for our travel date to meet our dear little Iris. A year makes a big difference!

Lately, Iris continues to show signs of understanding us, but not saying words that are distinct. The most adorable thing that she started doing a couple of weeks ago is before meals with Mom, she puts her hands together and a speaks "quiet words" as if praying. I wish I could capture it on camera, but I'm praying along with her. You'll just have to imagine this. Afterwards, I say "Amen" with a fond smile to her.

Another of her new habits is trying to put on her own shoes, as well as mom's. She even can walk with mom's shoes/slippers at times. Here are a couple of pictures: