I Swear I Didn't Bribe Him!!

With the sleep training book, she recommended the kiddos having a lovie to help them self-soothe. With his complete aversion to stuffed animals in China I wasn't sure what we were going to do, but I remembered he didn't throw the little bear the hotel in Guangzhou left so I gave him the baby panda to my set with the momma since it was small like the little bear. Instant connection, but I noticed his nose was loose and I was afraid bray would bite it off and choke so one day after his nap I dragged the basket of stuffed animals out and just held them up. He looked at the first few with no real interest or fear so I kept going. Next was this Mickey and he started laughing and reached for it!!!! I promise the first few animals weren't scary or anything!! ;) he was soooo meant to be my baby boy!!!! :) Mickey comes with us from the crib in the mornings and after naps, but is quickly forgotten when the food comes out :)

No News is Good News

We have settled into a nice routine so there hasn't been too much to blog about. Sorry!! I'll make up for it with lots of cute pictures :)

I was too slow making his lunch one day and he fell asleep (passed out?!?! I swear there was only milk in that bottle!!) a good half hour before nap time. I debated leaving him there, but then risked moving him to his crib and he barely stirred.

He isn't ALWAYS this happy, but for the most part he really is :) more and more people have been stopping by (we even hosted small group last night with a total of nine people and he slept through the UFC night) and he takes it all in stride now while continuing to have good nights! Benson and I have so much to be thankful for and we remind ourselves how truly blessed we are!

The second I put him in the swing, Brayden started belly laughing! It looked different then the swing in Guangzhou, but our little smarty pants remembered what this was!! Luckily he was cold too when we left so no tantrums!

I just love him sooooooo much!!!!

Still his favorite thing to do....bang two things together to make noise! :)

I still don't know how I was able to take this picture, but he held on to my finger for quite awhile....melting my heart the whole time!!!!!

 

His new "toy" he found yesterday.

I could just see him thinking, "it goes on my finger....

....AND it shows my reflection?!?!?!" :)

Speaking of reflections, he noticed yesterday he can see his in our dishwasher and spent a good amount of time entertaining himself...both of them! ;) he would clap, stare, laugh, slap his belly, etc. I was trying sooo hard to laugh quietly so i wouldn't disturb "them" and of course my camera was in the other room, but it was precious!

Adjusting?

Brayden had a super busy past four days and seemed to hold up really well! We are cautiously optimistic that he is settling in well, but we know grief could hit him in a few weeks or even months.

On Thursday the two of us went to the library for a bit where he started crawling away to explore. Yay!! He would look back to see if I was still where he left me which is a HUGE sign of attachment, but then went up to a lady reading to two girls and wanted to share blocks with her?? Two steps forward....

Next, my dad's coworkers threw him a grandpa party after work so we stopped by and Brayden was the life of the party!!!! He even let my dad carry him around for a bit. The idea of the party was so sweet, and the execution was amazing!!!! All the little details!! :) I was nervous he would have a rough night since there were so many adults there, but he slept through the night.

Friday morning I brought him to my work since they had conferences and I LOVED having my son there and introducing him to some of the most supportive people I know!!!! I miss seeing them, but I don't miss working....well, teaching....staying home with Bray is hard work!!! ;) again, he held up well being the center of attention so I felt good that my parents were coming after his nap so Benson and I could sneak away to watch a movie and be home to put him to bed. It's like he knew because he was fussy after his nap!! :( my parents said he was fine and he was super excited to see us when we got home so no permanent damage ;)

Sat we celebrated my birthday at my parents house and Brayden explored a bit, but of course had more fun with things that aren't toys (the railing???) then the toys all their neighbors have lent or given them for him ;)

He was up later than normal but got up at his normal time Sun so we went to church for the second week in a row. He was a bit louder than last week, but still did a great job. He was watching a little girl dance at the end of the service next to us, so started showing off his "moves" of swaying in my arms :) 

After only a 45 minute nap, Benson's parents and Tita Doris came over for a bit, we did the ball pit, and then his tiredness hit him!! He was asleep before 8!!

So everyone who has been so patient and kind in giving us our space....I think we are ready!!!! Come on over....we are ready to play!!!!!! But please keep praying for Brayden's acceptance of us as his forever family....they are being answered! :)

Ball Pit! :)

Brayden received this gift at the shower my mom threw (thank you Miss Kathy and Miss Elaine!!!) and I waited as long as I could to bring it out so we wouldn't overwhelm him too much.

Daddy started blowing it up, but was about to pass out so...

...he's so smart and resourceful :)

Even though he was in the middle of drinking his bottle, this big new toy intrigued him!

He started throwing the balls out of the pit from the entrance until we showed him the sides.

But this was more fun. :)

When all the balls were thrown OUT of the ball pit, he laid down to finish his bottle ;) it's hard work being 20 months old (today!!!!)

My living room is now over-run with toys....and I'd have it no other way!!!!! 

Picture to go with New Normal post

The panda is upside down, but it's still touching him so baby steps!! 

My mom took this pic Monday, but it wouldn't let me add it to the other post since the pic is on my phone and I typed the other on the iPad. I love technology :)

New Normal

3rd day solo and things seem to be going well!!  I cut back having one thing in the am and one in the pm to just one all day since the second we got home from story time he made a beline for his blocks and just seemed so content. I want to broaden his horizons, but if he feels safe and comfortable just in one place, I'm not going to push him. Plus, it's kind of cold (I know, it's just going to get worse boo!!!!!) and he doesn't like wearing a coat when in his car seat (he is a little furnace!!), so I'm still trying to figure that whole thing out.

We had our first play date at the house yesterday with Baby Joey, who is two months old. Brayden was fascinated by him! When he was nursing under the privacy cloth, Brayden was waiting for peek a boo and seemed very confused by how long the game was taking :) he likes to hold out his hand for people to touch and he did that to Joey so I would move him closer and usually once is enough, but he just kept reaching. He seemed familiar with babies, so I'm very curious how the orphanage was set up. They both napped through most of the play date so new mommy Lauren and I got to catch up :) thanks again for coming out....and for lunch! 

I didn't get a chance to shower yesterday, but I made a slow cooker meal for dinner! I've done two loads of laundry and showered today so progress!! ;)

Sleep training seems to be going well as well. Benson is in charge for the next three days where one of us sits halfway from his crib. Brayden has gotten up the past two nights at 1 am, but I just put the closet light back on and sit down and wait him out. He doesn't cry TOO much, but tosses and turns right as I think he is asleep....he knows I'm ready to head back to my room! ;)

I've been introducing one new toy each day and he seems to like them, but he always goes back to his blocks. I like that he likes simple toys. He is NOT a fan of toys that make electronic sounds, much to my delight!!!!!! :) he's slowly coming around to stuffed animals, but they have to be very small. He'll snuggle a bit with the baby panda in his crib from Sunday when sleep training started, and even brought it with him after his nap yesterday, but that and tv still aren't his thing. I worry I'm not stimulating him enough (darn you Pinterest!!!!!! ;) but I know Rome wasn't built in a day. The physical therapist comes tomorrow for an evaluation and I can't wait to hear the suggestions to help Brayden! Our first post-adoption visit from our social worker is next Friday (China requires six....up to the age of five!) and I have appointments for his eyes and ears at the end of the month. I'm going to try and stop overthinking everything, remember that repetition and routine, even with food, is comforting for ANY child, and try working on thank you cards!!!!

Why won't blogger let me upload videos??????? 

First Story Time

I'm proud of myself for getting us out of the house by 9:30!! We had to drop off a stool sample (sorry if that's TMI, but that's the life right now of a recently home internationally adopted kiddo ;) at the lab and Barnes and Noble does story time on Tuesdays at 10:30 so it was perfect!! I met some moms and got invited to join a moms group for the area so that was a pleasant surprise/added bonus of today. The story lady read five great books and Brayden listened attentively from his stroller....with a bottle so it kept him quiet ;) I was entertained haha and the cafe had samples of salted caramel mochas for the moms passed around and vanilla milkshakes for the kids. 

I like the idea of having one or two things planned for each day just to break it up. We'll attempt some quick grocery shopping this afternoon...exciting stuff :) Brayden is going to meet two month old Joe tomorrow so that will be fun....can't wait to see his mommy!!! :)

Cute animal on the butt is the best....on itty bitty kids!! ;)

Love this one of my mom and him!

Meeting and playing with cousins on Saturday....I don't know who had more fun with Brayden's toys ;) thanks for coming over BJ and Brian!! :)

Two pics :)

 

It only took him a week of being home to figure out that the mat in his room can be lifted up and the letters come out!  We're in trouble! :) 

 

 

He's sooooo messy....and soooooo stinking cute!!!!!  (That would be oatmeal, and some kind of puff cereal kids love) 

 

Sleep Training

One of the few perks of waiting longer to be parents is you see what you want and don't want to do when it's your turn.  I knew I wouldn't like an ultra strict schedule (it's 8:47 so it must be snack time) and I knew we wouldn't be doing the cry it out method (nothing wrong with that IF your child is attached to you; the trainings we did last summer stressed it doesn't send the right message to a recently adopted child). Post jet-lag, Brayden kind of fell back into his schedule from the orphanage, but each night would be very inconsistent (fell asleep during his bottle, had to be rocked to sleep, held him until he fell asleep) and it was starting to drive me crazy, but on the other hand, we waited so long to be able to rock a baby to sleep, and on a third hand (???) I knew I wouldn't be able to rock for hours when I went back to work (which seems so far away, but I know will be here in no time).  Sarah had recommended the weekend we all got home the Sleep Lady book, and I kind of brushed it off since I obviously wasn't exactly sure what I (we) wanted to do, but by Tuesday I was ready to give it a shot.  Between having to read and a few glitches (falling asleep sweetly in Grandma O's arms last night! :) :) tonight was the night!  I mentally prepared myself for two hours of screaming and it was only (?!?!) 30 minutes or so, with another 15-20 of rolling around in the crib and checking to see if I was still there (for 3 days you sit right next to the crib and reassure, then you move halfway across the room for 3 days, and then the door for 3....it teaches them to self-soothe and learn to sleep on their own, not needing sleep "crutches" would be the cliff notes of the cliff notes version.  At one point I had put my hand in the crib to soothe (for 10 seconds only!) and he grabbed on to my finger and of course my heart melted as my brain was screaming, "No!  You can't be his lovie/sleep crutch!" My brain won out after a few minutes, but I did put a baby panda in his crib and he's still holding it!  This is the first time Brayden has held onto anything with eyes for more than two seconds before throwing it!

Benson admitted to me that he would have caved and picked Brayden up so I feel like Superwoman now :)  I know, don't brag too much: it's only night one and it's only 9:40 ;)

One last thing: Brayden started crawling on hands and knees 99% of the time tonight (I think he was exhausted by the end of the night since we kept making him do it to check!)!!! :)  With the doctor calling Friday night saying the blood work he had received back so far looked good and a developmental milestone reached today, I'm super proud of my little boy!!!! :)  I'm curious if other adoptive moms think/do this, but each time he reaches a milestone, I send a mental note to his birthmother thanking her for leaving him in a crowded place to be found and reassuring her that he is amazing!!!  Going to brag on Brayden one more time: he is signing more, all done, and milk.  I'm working on eat and water with sleep coming up. :)

Prayers please for Benson as tomorrow he heads back to work aka leaves Brayden...and me! ;)

A Little More Halloween (thanks to my mom's photos)

 

A fun Halloween present from my parent's neighbors.  Plus checking out my new winter hat.

 

 

Benson put the hat on to see if it would fit his big head and it didn't phase him from finding out what was in that bucket!

 

 

I can't see the bottom...what else is in here? 

Brayden LOVES taking things out and putting them back in and his attention span is pretty remarkable....up to 15 minutes of doing one thing.  My dad mentioned how he can entertain himself/play by himself, which made me sad because that's probably what he did in the orphanage, but it passed quickly because he loves to tease people by pretending to give them a toy or he actually will share a block (we're going to teach him to keep that poker face since no one knows if he'll share or tease and this will come in handy in Vegas ;) so he engages with the people around him.  He's the perfect blend of being able to be independent and dependent...can't ask for much more!