six weeks

Thumbprint Wreath by Zeeb

Yesterday marked six weeks since Zeeb joined our family. I really can’t believe it’s only been six weeks… it feels like he’s been with us much longer and our trip to Vietnam seems like ages ago.

Zeeb’s a different boy than he was the first few days we knew him. He smiles all the time now, and everything cracks him up. He has this way of looking at me and laughing that makes it feel like we are sharing a private joke. It’s totally amazing to me the way that Zeeb just accepts whatever new thing is put in front of him. Snow? That looks like fun, let’s play. Christmas tree in the livingroom? Cool, I want to hang some ornaments too. I imagine he’s often thinking “these Americans are SO weird” but he just goes with the flow. Which is a very good thing in a family of six.

He still loves to be cuddled and wants to be picked up all the time, but now he will go in the stroller or walk holding our hands, if he’s in the right mood. (he can be rather stubborn when he doesn’t want to walk, but then most 3 year olds are!) He likes it when we read books to him, especially short books with lots of pictures or flaps to look behind. And he’s so good at playing quietly by himself when his big sister and brother are at school. I’ll be doing something nearby and he’ll call me every now and then (”mom!”) and tell me something in Vietnamese and then go back to playing. But when his siblings are home, look out! He wants to be right in the middle of the action, doing everything they are doing.

He’s picking up english slowly. Yesterday he was singing “Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh” but you’d have to know the tune to discern that’s what he was saying. He’ll repeat words back to us and a few are part of his regular vocabulary (thank you! hello!) but mostly he expects us to know what he’s saying in Vietnamese.

The other day K~ asked me if Zeeb is “totally bonded” to us. I didn’t really know how to reply. Bonding is such a gradual, subtle process and it’s only in looking back that you see how bonded you’ve become. And as much as I love Zeeb, I know we are still in process and have not yet hit the day where I think “I can’t imagine life without him” – though I think we’re close. I can imagine he must have some of the same feelings about us. Last night was something of a milestone though. We were praying before dinner and Zeeb was holding K’s hand and he leaned on her and said, “love you”. It’s the first time he’s ever said that and while I’m a tad jealous, I think it’s really neat that K~ got that special honor. R~ still has some misgivings about her new little brother and A~ is gradually warming up to Zeeb, but K~ handed him her heart the very first day. She’s been such an amazing big sister from the moment he got home. Playing with him, carrying him around, even sometimes sleeping in his room. So yes K~, I think the bonding is going very well.

~~~~~

I can’t end this post without a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Jeneflower who finally got a court date and will be headed to Russia to adopt her Pineapple Princess next week!! That was a long time in coming Jen and I’m so glad your wait is nearly over!