Journey of Faith:Our Little Guy From China

Well, it has been so wonderful with Caleb in our lives that I just cannot seem to find the time to blog.

WARNING: LONG POST

We have spent our time on many, many things. Between now and the last post, we here in Minnesota have had a variety of weather conditions. We have been outside playing in the snow, getting to know the neighbors on our bikes when the weather was beautiful, kept inside because we have all been sick...

On Sunday nights we have had the joy of watching Weston for the last couple of months while Chad and Stephanie took a class. We have enjoyed it. Caleb has really too. It tested his sharing skills though. I think it did of Weston too. Here are a few photos: 

Caleb was invited to his cousin Tyler’s birthday party. It was at Space Aliens. They have a game room where the kids use tokens to play games and they can win tickets to take to a counter and get a prize. Caleb LOVED this! He did the games on his own and got a lot of tickets. He got a prize. He loved to follow Tyler and Brady and play the games they played. He got to see a giant space alien walk around and shake hands with the kids. He got a kick out of that. It was fun because the kids were older and he was trying to be just like them (of course, Mom and Dad had to keep hangin’ around-how annoying).  Here are a few photos-I hope I can get more and post them later.







Caleb started daycare with a Christian daycare center just about 3 weeks ago now. He did fine the first few days and then the third day he started pulling at my heart strings telling me he did not like daycare. He cried all the way to daycare that day. He started right when I put him in the car seat and tears were flowing. I started to cry, but did not want him to see me doing that so I ran in the house and got the tissue box. By that time he couldn’t tell I was crying and we headed off to daycare. Once I got him to the room he went to the toys and started playing. I told him I would be back to pick him up after I was done with work, told him I loved him and gave him a hug and kiss.

When I returned at the end of the day he was so happy to see me. He clung to me and was so giddy. He wanted me to hold him. I could tell right then that he was talking more (more words in a row together) and his independence had increased too.

I told him that I missed him. All the way home he kept saying “you come and get me”, “you bring me food” (I bring him oranges or other fruit and something to drink), “I missed you”. Then he said “me love you, mama”—my heart was overflowing with joy. To explain, in the past months when we told him we loved him, he generally would say “me love you too” or not respond. We never expected him to respond, he would do that on his own time. So when he said that on his own, I cried.

Each day he loves to see me and I him. We talk all the way home.

Below he is taking a bunch of stuff with to daycare.  They have naptime/quite time and the kids can bring a blanket, pillow and stuffed animal.  I wish I knew how to block out other children's faces on the updates we get almost every day from the day care.  The daily journals they sent us get me through the day.
My Sisters and my Mom put on a welcome home party for Caleb on March 19th! Caleb did not understand this was all for him. He was just so excited to have on the Buzz wings that his cousin Brady gave him! Caleb got so many nice gifts and Tim and I did too. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We really enjoyed this time and were glad to show off our treasure.  I don't have a lot of the photos that I would like to put on here, but it gives you an idea of our day!

He just loves Buzz Lightyear!

We were opening gifts--he got so many nice gifts.

Here, the guys are looking over a truck Caleb got trying to figure it out!

Church has been excellent. When we get close enough so he can see the church he says “thereya go”. He is recognizing the building and is excited to go. He goes into his Sunday school room to learn about Jesus and when he comes out he talks about Him and what they learned.

We have not talked to Joanna for quite some time now, but we do email every so often.  Now with me back to work and she finishing school it is hard to get on Skype, at least at the same time.  She sent Caleb a nice gift package.  It had a Brain Quest card game, shorts, shirt and a LA hat!  Tim was so jealous of the hat.  He wishes he had one.  I have not gotten the photo of the outfit and the hat, which by the way will be really cute, but I did manage to get a photo of him trying on the hat right when he got the package.  Joanna also sent me a really nice gift too.  It is a Willow Tree keepsake box with a mother holding a child.  It is beautiful and I think of her each time I see it.  Here is a couple of photos of him trying on his hat.  When he first got it he would wear it in bed.  Now nearly every night he will put it on before going to bed. 




Other miscellaneous things I have thought of to update you with:  now when we pray before a meal and at bedtime he says the prayers with us. The other day at dinner he said on his own “God is good”. That is the kind of thing I wish I could get on video.

To top it all off, the last week and a half the three of us have been fighting strep throat.  We are all on medicine now.  Caleb has been a trooper.  He never showed any signs of being sick, but on Tuesday one of the teachers said we may want to get him checked out.  So I brought him in and he was positive.  I am glad I was proactive on that and my work is so flexible.  I hope that we are on the right path now!

A few extra photos of things Caleb has enjoyed.




We will see Stephanie, Chad and Weston for sure on Saturday and hopefully more family for an Easter Egg hunt, then we will see my Mom's side on Easter.  Looking forward to a great weekend.

HAPPY EASTER!

Life with Caleb could not be better.  He is such a joy to be around!

Full of moves!

He loves helmets and masks

Groovin' again

Watching the Packers with Baba

My aunt made a BEAUTIFUL button up sweater and scarf and hat for Caleb

He loves to give Montie treats

Playing Don't Break the Ice with uncles and cousins

As I said before, he loves helmets and masks

Just a goofball...he wanted to wear this at dinner the other night

Happy Chinese New Year!  Love, the Melser's

I figured it was about time to post something. It has been one month home already.  It is hard for me to believe that time has passed.  At this point I so have the desire to blog, but I just do not find the time and therefore will probably not blog much if at all.  I am so focused on Caleb and finding things to do with him while I am home that I do not blog.  But I thought this was a good time to at least do a post of photos.  This is not all inclusive of what has been going on the past month because I have not received some photos.  I will try and post the rest later.

This past month we have been part of Weston's birthday party, Stephanie and Chad's wedding, Kyle's birthday party, many doctor appointments, Miss and Jamie and the boys stopping over to play a little with Caleb, a post-placement appointment, Skyping with Joanna and her Mom and Dad, and a funeral for Jamie's beloved Grandmother.  We have all been sick one week.  Caleb and I went swimming once so far.  We have played a lot!  We went sledding by putting a sled behind our 4-wheeler and Caleb and I got on the sled.  He loved it.  We were able to stop over at Gwen's over the weekend and visit for a while.  Thank you, Gwen for letting us take part of your afternoon and thanks for the fresh cookies!

It has been a little tough in that we knew we should not be going to all these events, especially where there are so many people, but we felt they were very important.  At our first International Adoption Clinic appointment we were reminded that "this should be the most boring 4-6 months of your lives".  The next day from being reminded of that we were headed to Kyle's birthday party and my aunt and uncle were there that had not met Caleb before and Brian's parents and Sister were there too.  This is where we had to tell them that they could not hold Caleb.  It was tough for us, but we know this is for the best.  Tim and I are monitoring what we do and where we bring him. 

Caleb has been bonding very well, but we do not want that to regress.  He gets very excited when seeing Jamie, Grandpa and Brian and of course Baba.  We are pretty sure it is because they all like to wrestle and have fun in a way that us girls just do not.  It is great that he sees these family members and likes to play, but now it is hard that they can not hold him.  He wants them to hold him, but as part of our adoption education we need to "funnel" everything and show Caleb that Mama and Baba give him and meet ALL his needs.

He is truly a blessing to us. I have said it before, but I have to say it again...his smile and his laugh is so contagious.  I will try and find a video of him giggling away...

Here are photos to enjoy!

He loves taking all the pillows in the house and jumping on them.

Not so happy when he had to get all bundled up.

Playing with cousin Tyler and Brady.

Getting a hug from Weston.

He is very ticklish.

He loves the doctor kit the doctors office gave him (I was taking the picture and I had on a hair net and some other medical things he got a kick out of)

Being really good at Kyle's birthday party.  The kids were asked to stay behind the red Duplo blocks but they kept creeping in past them and no one could take photos.

Kyle into his cake!

Watching football with Baba.

First time playing with Play Doh (Tim REALLY dislikes Play Doh!)

 

First time fingerpainting.

Second time outside and this time he loved it!

Baba taking Caleb and Mama for a ride behind the-wheeler.  He really liked this.

Big Happy Smile!