JOSEPH LI DAY!!

It has been an exciting day; we are now a family of 4.

Abigail's reaction when Joseph was
brought to the adoption office place.

First Family-of-4 Picture

"Playing" together

CCAI is a wonderful agency that really prepares its families for what it is like to adopt a child who has spent their first months and years in an institution.  For example, for every 3 months in an institution, a child can lose ~1 month of development.

When Abigail was put into our arms, she was 13 months old.  By 14 months, she was reaching milestones of 15 or 16 month old children and has always been ahead of the charts in abilities and milestones.  Abigail was in a very, VERY good orphanage, had a caretaker who loved her and doted on her and took her home, and it was evident the care and love she received because she was pretty much like any 13 month old.

Our son was not as fortunate.  At 16 months, he is more like a 9 month old, very much a baby, not a toddler.  We don't think he left his crib much, if at all because he has the muscle tone of a cooked Ramen noodle.  His 12 month clothes and size 3 diapers are falling right off of him.  He doesn't seem to know how to play, but Abigail is quickly teaching him.

We are starting to see his personality.
Like when he decided it was funny
to wear Abigail's snake as a hat.

He has a lot of catching up to do, but he is definitely *in* there and we love him very much.  Today, much with Abigail's help, he was giggling, playing, crawling, eating like a linebacker, and following her every movement.  He adores her.  Abigail has been a perfect big sister!

Sibs