Getting To Know Each Other

So, I somehow managed to (hopefully temporarily) lose the content of all but the last two posts. I'm working on getting those posts back. In the meantime....

Things seem to be going really well with Elliott. When we got back to the hotel yesterday after running from the Civil Affairs Office to the notary to the photo shop (so Elliott could get passport photos taken), Elliott snacked again. He colored and played a bit, then I laid back on the bed with him on my lap, and he fell asleep. No struggling, no crying. He just laid there and fell asleep. He took a good nap, and even though we were both right there when he woke up, he just laid there for some time and cried....big crocodile silent tears. The poor thing.

We got ready and ventured out to dinner, this time to a King Steak place which has both Chinese and some Western offerings. Ordering was easy with a menu with photos and English subtitles. Many people walked by our table and took notice of us. Our waitress must have assumed we don't eat with chopsticks....and that extended to Elliott, as he was given a child-sized spoon/fork/knife set. He loved it. It was the first time we didn't see him eating right away. He spent some time trying out the new utensils by playing in his fruit salad. When he finally started eating, he had some bananas, lots of fried noodles, lots of rice, a few bites of steak and pizza.

I wasn't going to push the bath issue at all, but I did point to the bath tub to see what his reaction would be.  He seemed to want to get in, so he had his first bath under our care last night.  At first Elliott seemed intrigued by the water filling up around him . . . but then he started getting chilled (yes, I used warm water!) . . . and he did not like the water running down his face when we rinsed his hair.  So maybe it wasn't such a good idea for our first night.  But he warmed up quickly in his footed pajamas and doesn't seem to be holding a grudge.

This morning we had some time before needing to go to the police station to apply for Elliott's passport.  After we woke up and got ready . . .

. . . we were able to Skype with my parents and Reagan, Benjamin, and Maura at home.  How I miss my kids!  They were great and immediately signed a few things to Elliott (especially Reagan) . . . though, we have just gotten down 'more' and 'all done' over here at this point.  (I think he is recognizing a few more signs, but we found that we need to actually help his hands at first so he knows to actually sign himself.)

We ate breakfast in our hotel and still had some time before needing to meet our guide.

Have I mentioned he loves to draw and color?

He also loves changing the channels on t.v.  :)  In these photos, he is playing around with Matt (out of the photo), teasing with the remote and his banana.

Today we are starting to see lots of smiles and laughing from him.  Elliott waves to just about everyone he sees, but he looks for our hands to hold.  He understands the camera and is quick with a smile and a 'peace' sign that his foster family taught him.

Did I mention that Changchun is in NE China?

This is his cue to fall asleep.  We had a few more silent tears when I transferred him to the spot on the bed next to me, but he was okay waking up this time.

Baby steps.

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