Wonderful 1st Day with BOTH Our Boys!!

We had a wonderful day today - wonderful weather - great day with our two sons.

We got a lot accomplished today. My mom stayed over last night, and had already cut the veggies and gotten the meat for a beef stew in the Crock pot for dinner tonight, so that was perfect. In addition to just having a wonderful day playing with Aaron and Donovan, I got a lot done during the boys' naptime (while Rupert took a nap too). All of our trip laundry is done (four loads!!), Aaron's adoption paperwork has been filed away with our important documents, and a few other things. Tomorrow I plan to finish unpacking the luggage during naptime.

The weather was great so the boys played outside quite a bit - in the sand with their construction vehicles, and with the Cozy Coupe, bikes, etc. At bedtime Rupert asked Aaron if he had had a fun day, and the response was yes. However, there was one noticeable disappointment today for Aaron - when Donovan hopped on his 2 wheel bike and raced off with Rupert chasing after him, I put Aaron on a tricycle with a push handle and we followed, Aaron was screaming in Mandarin, "Daddy, Big Brother, wait for me!" and then became very upset that his tricycle would not go as fast as Donovan's. He stopped the tricycle and did cry a tiny bit in frustration. WE HAD NO IDEA THIS CHILD WHO LIVED IN AN ORPHANAGE FOR THREE YEARS WOULD BE READY TO RIDE A 2 WHEEL BIKE!!! In fact, we laughed that I had inquired a few months ago about an Early Intervention Assessment (specifically for gross and fine motor skills), something commonly done to assess kids who have lived in an orphanage. This son of ours continues to amaze us! He rides the tricycle with no assistance to the end of our road and back - much better than Donovan was able to in the weeks leading up to us purchasing his 2 wheel bike. Let's just say Rupert is taking him tomorrow to buy a 2 wheel bike for him!!

Needless to say after just having Donovan, and then only having Aaron in China, we have many routines that we need to fine tune now that we are home! I have no idea how I am going to do naptime on Monday when Rupert goes to work - Aaron sings LOUDLY to himself while falling asleep!! Bathtime we did separately tonight; I gave Aaron his bath while Donovan and Rupert spent some special time together for the "big" brother. Then, I got Aaron ready for bed while Rupert bathed Donovan, and finally I got Donovan ready for bed and read his books, while Rupert stayed with Aaron while he fell asleep. We've explained to Donovan that while Aaron will soon share his bedroom, as planned, Aaron needs some time on the mattress in mommy and daddy's bedroom floor to get used to falling asleep in a home vs. orphanage. We are already seeing progress.

Aaron sleeps very well. He napped 1-5 and went to bed at 8:30. He tends to sleep until someone wakes him (probably from the way it was at the orphanage). He eats well, and certainly coming home to different foods is an adjustment (one I can sympathize with after eating different foods for 18 days in China).

The boys are doing great. Obviously verbal communication is a challenge for all of us (although Rupert knows enough Mandarin to get by). Today Aaron learned "all done," after he and Donovan both drank glasses of milk at the same time. When Aaron wanted Donovan he would go and get him and take his arm and bring him to what he wanted to show him. Aaron put his sneakers on before we got Donovan's on and he waited to go outside with Donovan. Donovan was upset about something and Aaron brought several toy cars to Donovan to cheer him up. Donovan did a great job of sharing his toys and his parents' attention today with his new sibling.

This coming week Donovan is home from childcare. Rupert returns to work. I WILL BE TIRED!!
Enjoy the photos!
Nicole