Growing

I just found this photo on my camera. This was from the day we spent with Zac at the orphanage, two months ago. I can't believe how teeny tiny skinny he looked back then!! I barely recognized him! Zac might have been at a nice orphanage (clean, structured, friendly), but this is why these babies need to be in loving homes. He continues to grow like crazy. He gained three pounds in just a couple of weeks when he first came home. I'd be curious to see what he weighs now. I love to see how life changes for  these babies that God places in families!

Christmas Clapping

Last night we attended Rachel's Christmas concert. Zac was so excited. He spontaneously clapped during the songs. It was so adorable. I just had to upload!
Look at my husband's smile. I love his smile.

Here's the youtube link in case this one isn't good quality:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0HHENNgo9o&feature=youtu.be

First Visit with the Social Worker

Thursday, December 6, we had our first visit by the Little Angels social worker.
She was really nice. We chatted about our adjustment period, and she watched us with Zac for a while. She looked to see where he sleeps and saw the types of things we do during the day.

She saw a can of spray snow and wondered what it was. (We have about half our Christmas decorations up; the rest is in a box in the corner.) I'm not sure if she has ever dealt with Americans before, or even seen American housing. I hope we didn't completely overwhelm her. I am curious what her report says though! Overall I think it was a good visit.

Gotcha Day Video

I hope this works! I finally was able to upload our Gotcha Day Video. Enjoy :)

I uploaded it to YouTube in case this upload here doesn't work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4DGUpMh8ko

Being Needed

Zac is sick. Had 104.3 fever during the night. The tylenol helped wonders and it went away.
I took him to the med unit this morning and he has a throat infection that has slipped over to a middle ear infection as well.
Yesterday he was very lethargic and the fever started around 5pm.

The weird thing is, his personality has been completely different these 24 hours and it totally changes the way I view him.

For the past couple of weeks, Zac has been naughty, naughty, naughty.
We are definitely working through behavioral issues like him slapping my 4 year old and then laughing about it (while the 4 year old cries). Or emptying out a drawer and laughing about it. Or pulling all the workbox numbers off all the kids' workboxes and then laughing about it. It outRAGES me.
Needless to say, I haven't been too happy with him lately. And I feel the disconnect with my other kids. The 4 year old is acting out now a bit and disobeying. Same with the others.

But since Zac has been sick, he isn't running around like a little Terror. He is sweet and cuddly. And funny! And fun to be with. I realized today: He Needs Me. Zac needs me. In all his naughtiness and mischievousness  I sort of feel like he doesn't need my love sometimes (which I KNOW isn't true). But today I realized he DOES need me. That's the whole reason we adopted him! He has never had a mommy to rock him while he has a fever. He has never had a daddy to read to him and splash him when he is in the bathtub.

It's kind of cool, this "being needed". So while I hate that Zac has this throat infection, I am glad for the amazing things we have learned about each other in the process. Romans 8:28

Blessed,

The Mischievousness

This looks like a sweet little smile, doesn't it? 

This is the "I-just-took-your-phone-and-I-know-exactly-what-I'm-doing" smirk. He does this all day long, pulling things off the shelf, pulling the neighbor's cat's tail, hitting Nick, etc. etc. I just happened to have the camera in my hand taking pictures of our school day when he snuck over, grabbed the phone, and ran off...