Will and Preschool

Today Will went to his third day of preschool. He actually started a week ago, August 12th, (Tuesdays and Thursdays only). I guess with everything else going on around here, I'm just now getting around to posting about it.

It's time for Will to discover independence. On the exterior, he looks like quite a natural go-getter and extrovert. But that's not quite right. Truth is he has always had Mama or Brother or someone he was comfortable with all his life right there with him. He held Ben's hand during swim lessons or new classes at church. He clings to me whenever someone he doesn't recognize tries to talk to him. And don't get me started on his mother... His favorite phrases include "sweet Mama," "cuddle, Mommy," or sometimes "I want Mommy!" But I'm hoping some of this will change now that he's started preschool.

So far Will has taken very well to preschool. He talks like he doesn't want to go, but when it's time, he goes willingly. The first day of preschool--the same day as his birthday-- Daddy, Ben and Will loaded up in the car for school. I dropped off Ben at Kindergarten, and Will and Daddy went to McDonalds for our "first day of school celebration breakfast." After that we drove to the preschool where he quickly found a familiar face from church (I'm so thankful for Ethan!). He went right in and started playing. His teacher, Miss Ginger, said that he did very well and was the "social butterfly" after he warmed up to the group. I'm excited about what is in store for Will in this new chapter of his life.

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Here are a few pictures I wanted to share that Ben and Will took with the camera the other day... future professional photographers, I'd say :)

New Pictures of Kate!!

Enjoy!!

Adoption Update

Everything still seems to be on track for traveling around the second week of September. So today we sent off our China visa applications, passport and some more fees. Basically, we're asking them to kindly let us into their country. I'm a little nervous putting my passport in the mail, but it should come back with this cool looking stamp on the inside of it saying that we are officially invited to come in. We also got most our vaccination shots... I still have to go back for my tetanus shot in a few weeks (they were out because of all the kids starting back to school).

Our next priority is to get our official changes made from the USCIS on our home study document (changing it to match with an older child with special needs)... which we're already expecting to come in the mail any time. They don't always expedite these changes, so we will have to stay on top of it.

Also, we want to get Kate's care package in the mail quickly. We are sending a blanket that we've been sleeping with for a couple weeks, a disposable camera, a picture album of her new family with Chinese written on it (check out my profile picture or other examples on Amy's post: http://raisingtomatoes.blogspot.com/2008/07/taras-rockstar.html), and a journal with questions written in Chinese that we are hoping one of her care workers will fill out for us with additional information about her last 21 months. You never know if the care packages are going to make it to their intended destinations, but it's certainly worth a shot.

Also, we got an email from our agency saying that we will not be able to take a tour of Beijing due to the recent tragedy of the stabbing death of the American at a tourist site at the start of the Olympics. It's unfortunate for us, but it's obviously not the point of our trip. And who knows, it may change again before we actually arrive.

* I hope my new web address hasn't caused problems for any of you, but I hope you understand that I changed it in order to remove our last name and other identifiers from this public forum. Thanks for your patience :)

Ben's first day of elementary school

This morning I dropped off Ben for his first day of Kindergarten. Yes, I knew it was coming, but I can't get over the feeling that our family has just crossed over into a whole new stage of life.

I'm not sure why this feels so big. I mean, after all, Ben's only going half a day. And he already had the experience of attending preschool last year three days a week... but that was just right next door to my office. And in comparison to the hugeness of the adoption, this seems like it should be tiny. But it's not. He started school!

Ben has got a real thirst for learning right now. Of course, he knows all the basic stuff. On top of that, his coloring, writing and addition are really coming along. But I'm completely amazed by his ability to read so well already. He is constantly taking on new books and more and more words. For example, he read the back of my Fall Break mission trip shirt last night: "I was in prison and you came to visit me... whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." And he's just starting Kindergarten!! Ben is ready; it's just me who's not.

So, this morning, we got up (while it was still dark) and got ready for school. Last year I took Ben out to breakfast before his first day, so we decided to keep the tradition alive. We headed over to McDonalds (which he asked on the way to school why McDonalds didn't have an "a" between the "m" and "c"... he's so smart!) and both ordered the cinnamon melts and an orange juice. There we enjoyed a breakfast, eye to eye and knee to knee.

Later as we walked into the elementary school, I couldn't stop thinking about how big he was and how proud I am of him. I don't know how I ever got so lucky as to have such a wonderful little boy... (*cough, cough*) I mean, young man.