Davis, Our 2nd Month Home | Texture Tuesday

Oh month number 2!! The month we turned a corner! This month is when we started to feel attachment coming.  He was learning to trust and love us, and we were learning his personality.  He was beginning to understand we weren’t going anywhere, becoming more and more comfortable with us, and we were starting to be able to communicate better.  I think one thing coming into adopting a toddler from another country that I wasn’t truly prepared for was the lack of being able to communicate.  I mean toddlers have limited ways to communicate, period.  Then add him not understanding anything we are saying to him, and him not being able to tell us anything either.  Frustrating to say the least!! Thankfully, with my education background, I was able to teach him some basic signs to help him tell us what his needs were.  Things like, all done, eat, milk, water, chicken (this boy loves chicken!). Once we had a few basics down, it got much easier.  I focused on just nouns and named things all the time.  Once he knew the words, I added in some verbs, and slowly built it into short phrases.  By the end of May, I was really seeing his receptive language improve and I wasn’t getting that blank stare and crazy look on his face when I was talking to him. He was actually understand more and more of what I was saying.

So with that progress of attachment and comfortableness, we also started to see some more typically toddler behaviors and boundary pushing. Our social worker assured me that this was a good thing! It just means that he was feeling safe with us, therefore showing us his frustrations. So while we saw a lot more, “Happy Davis,” we were also seeing lots of “Grumpy Davis.”  Things we learned about him that month: He loves to slide, loves music and dancing, big fan of chicken, noodles, and bacon, loves to snack on anything, not a fan of sweets, LOVES his daddy, especially when he comes home from work, learning and playing with his grandparents are pretty fun, sleeping in his crib isn’t so bad and bath time is finally fun, and we got our first ochie (and I cried more than he did after he face planted the driveway). Take a look at our 2nd month of fun!

Cousin fun and comparing thighs! Davis’ chicken legs to Will’s yummy thighs! Trying to get my Blair time in while they were visiting.  I really struggled with them being here for their first visit.  I was so used to being just Aunt B and giving Blair and Will my full attention.  I struggled with giving Davis what he needed when my heart felt like I was disappointing my girl. Went to the zoo for the first time!  We got to have our first holiday together as a family! Easter! Davis thought the whole idea of picking up eggs to be a bit silly… but we took it all in and enjoyed our family time!  We had our first play date with the “other” Davis!!! We were in Korea at the same time for court and for custody. It is a bit confusing when I tell my Davis we are going to go play with Davis.  So now I just keep a picture of him and end up calling him the other Davis! The Other Davis’ mama and I have become good friends, and I have been so grateful to have her to go along this whole process with.   Breakfast with Mrs. Chesley!! 

Overall, it was a good month two! We definitely had our highs and lows, with lots of Grace thrown in as we navigate this world of parenting. Even with the 10+ hours of education on adoption, lots of texts to my social worker, and countless blogs/books being read all on the topics of bringing home a toddler from another country, there was still such an adjustment period.  We are still adjusting.  Going from zero children to a very busy toddler has turned our world completely around, in the most amazing way, but there has been bumps too. More to come next week.  Month 3 & 4 have been the best! By far! So can’t wait to share more next week!!