One Year Forever Family Day Anniversary

It's hard to believe, but it's been a year ago today since Luke walked through the revolving doors of the Holiday Inn in Hohhot, China, on Father's Day, June 20, 2010, and into our lives forever.

June 20, 2010

June 20, 2010

We've watched him blossom before our very eyes this past year.  In some ways, it feels like we were just in China, but yet it feels like Luke has always been with us.  It's amazing how God does that - gives us such a perfect fit of a little boy for our family!  From the very beginning, it has felt natural - just like he belongs with us.  I'm sad for the time we missed, but joyful for the time we have!

April 2011

Luke has become such a little man - taking himself to the bathroom and proclaiming "Luke-ah do it myself" or putting on his own flip flops.  He can handle himself at the table and his eating utensils like nobody's business.  He's never used a high chair or booster seat from day one.  Never needed one and never wanted one.

Easter 2011

He now plays in rooms away from us, instead of having to bring his toys from room to room, wherever we are.  He is much more secure and confident.  We're still working on getting him to stay in a church class without Joy or me.  When we teach in children's church once a month, he stays with us.  Otherwise, he sits in big church with us.  If he ever goes to the toddler/preschool class, Joy is working in there.  He is still Joy's shadow and I don't see that changing for quite a long time.  That bond from the beginning between those two is strong indeed.  

May 2011 

The only Chinese he ever uses now is calling Colt gu gu (guh-guh), which is big brother in Chinese.  To Joy's dismay, he rarely calls her jie jie anymore.....it's Jo-eh, which by the way seems to be a million times a day.  I'm sure she would be rich if she had just a penny for each time he calls her name.  He occasionally says "bo bo" which is his Chinese form of hold me.  Most of the time now, he says, "Hold me Pah-nease" (please).  Jason calls him our little English major.  He talks "up a storm", constantly, and likes to use impressive vocabulary with authority, like "It doesn't make sense", "Well, not really", or "Are you sure", "Are you kiddin' me", or "Well, I don't know bout that". 

June 2011

He's grown alot in a year!  It's obvious by looking at him that he still loves to eat and is not picky!  He is now very close to 41" tall and weighs 47 lbs!  He is solid and all boy.  I call him a chunk.  The doctor called him "a tank".  

Can you tell he likes to cock that head and smile when we grab a camera?

Things Luke loves.....

- Hanging out with his Jo-eh (Joy)
- Cutting up with his gu gu (guh-guh - Colt)
- Mama's lap
- Daddy playing with him
- 18 wheelers - Watching them on the interstate, playing with toy ones, watching DVDs about them and talking about them (alot).  Says he wants to drive one.
- Repeating movie lines (thanks to his brother and sister) - especially some from Nacho Libre.
- Going to Lowe's and pretending he's going to Lowe's.  (loading and unloading).
- Trains - We have to pretend we are one of his coaches "coupled up" (so he says) and get off at different stations.
- Being outside (playing in sandbox, swimming, riding his little bike)
- Eating 
- Bossing the cat (Bambi) - she's VERY patient with him.
- Singing - constantly.  He stays on tune well, too.
- Watching Bob the Builder, Barney, & Caillou
- Eating other people's food
- Being read to
- "Reading" books (memorizes them)
- Helping Daddy or Pop outside
- Praying 
- Taking medicine (beats all I've ever seen)
- Talking....talking....talking.
- Eating yogurt with Grandmama
- Ice cream
- Music (pretends to play guitar and drums)
- Riding in the car (does very well in his car seat)
- Sweet iced tea
- Older kids

Summer 2011


Things Luke doesn't like.......

- Tags on clothes - Almost to the point of a phobia.  This is to the point that he cries when its time to get dressed.  We cut out alot of tags!
- Bugs (he calls them all spiders - so we never know when he's spotted a spider for real).
- Socializing with other kids - Prefers his small circle of family.  We're working on this.  I'm sure it stems from what he's been through.
- His stroller (I just sold it as a matter of fact -  he didn't want any part of it).  He's a big boy that either walks or rides in the shopping cart.
- To wait.  Let's just say patience is something we're working on as well.
- Getting his hair cut
- Brushing his teeth (has beautiful white teeth but doesn't like to have them brushed)
- Snakes (but then who does?)
- Cheese
- Some spicy hot food
- Vacuum cleaner
- Dogs (afraid of them).  He wants them put in jail (We just figured out this weekend what he was saying there while in Alabama.....and he was referring to their kennels).
- Cleaning up his toys

3rd Birthday

He can count to 20 something (although he leaves out 16 or 17).  He can sing his ABCs, recognize quite a few letters, write a few of them, spell his name aloud, tell his family's first and last names, recite a couple of Bible verses, sing many songs (Barney and praise songs). We just discovered he does very well with puzzles.  He has an excellent memory.  He never forgets places we've been and gives us driving directions.  He recognizes our home tree, Max PJ (you can read about our home tree here).

Loves his 18-wheelers!

He is very affectionate.  He gives lots of hugs and kisses and tells us all daily - going through the entire family with "I love you Mama", "I love you daddy", " I love you Jo-eh", "I love you gu gu".  He loves his Grandmama, Pop, Paw-Paw and Amber too. 

Blowing kisses...

Luke is still very slow to wake up..... meaning don't really try to have much conversation with him for at least 15 minutes.   After that, he's a different child.  Same way with meeting him at first.  Give him a little bit of time and he'll go from unsociable to non-stop talking or entertaining.

Our little Emperor

He's been very healthy.  Thank the Lord.  As a matter of fact, we just had a check-up with the Spina Bifida Clinic/Neurosurgeon and he was amazed at just how healthy of a three year old he is.  We don't have another appointment with them for another year.  He gave us signs of any changes that would trigger bringing him in for early intervention.  We really have peace about his entire health.  We praise the Lord for this and give Him the glory.

Mr. Mischievous

Overall, it's been a different year with all of us adjusting to a new lifestyle and routine, but I wouldn't change anything about it.  We've been home alot more this year and that's been great for our family.  This was exactly what we all needed and the benefits for all of us are apparent.

I'm so thankful....we're so thankful.... for the blessing of Luke and just can't imagine life without him.  God is good!

Making a mini toolbox for daddy for Father's Day this weekend.

Our family is very grateful for your prayers in bringing Luke home and for his adjustment and for sharing this journey with us and celebrating.  Thank you!


And as always, thank you for sticking with me through my blogging and non-bloggin' moments, and for stopping by today!  Have a blessed day!  :)