Wow, just realized that it has been a month since I last updated our blog! My last one was when Brayden turned 14 months and today he's 15 months!! I can't believe it's been that long!! Although, time seems to be flying by, and I must admit that it is hard to find time to write now! I am just loving being a mom and when my little guy goes down for a nap or the night, there is always so much to do! Laundry, dishes, cleaning, catching up on shows on the DVR!! : ) I can't believe at this point last year we were just finishing up getting all our paperwork together and the reality of bringing our child home seemed so far away. Yet, here we are! A year later and we have a wonderful, beautiful son and couldn't be more blessed!
It is so strange to me that it was only SIX weeks ago that we brought Brayden home for good! Six weeks and I feel like he's been with us forever. He has changed so much in the short time he's been home & everyday we are just amazed with the strides he's making! He's so smart and he learns something new every day. He's very curious and determined, but he's also so silly and funny too. He has the best giggle in the whole world. His laugh is the best sound I think I've ever heard in my whole life. I love to see and hear how happy he is. It has made everything we went through to get him, all worthwhile. To be honest, it all doesn't even seem that bad now. You forget. I promise. You forget how difficult it all was, when you look into the face of your child and you see all that love and happiness. It is the best.
So, updates on Brayden, well as you will see from the pictures I am going to post he has gained weight at a pretty good rate. His doctors are very pleased! When he was home 2 weeks we had his appointment at the international adoption clinic at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. He met with two doctors and went through a battery of tests and screenings. It was a long day but he was a trooper. We were very excited to hear that he was on target for his fine motor skills, and advanced for his emotional and cognitive development! He was obviously delayed slightly for speech (10 months old) and gross motor (11 months) as he wasn't walking independently yet. However, there was no real concerns about these areas since he's starting to say some words and is cruising, so they feel he'll catch up in no time! The big concern, was his size. He was only 18 lbs and 28 inchs long. and was in the 3rd percentile for weight and 1st for height. (He had already gained one pound since Moscow.) The doctor recommended us starting him on Pediasure and told us to feed him lots of fats! (cheeses, oils, butter, ice cream..) They agreed to keep him on formula until we go back in 3 months to see how he's growing! The worst part of the day.. the blood work. : ( They needed to take 5 viles of blood from him to check his tiers for immunizations. (His record was completely wrong!) AND they did standardized testing to check for Hep, HIV, and parasites, etc. All came back normal!!
Since that appointment which was only a month ago, he has gained 3 lbs, grown almost an inch taller and is understanding and talking much more! He's still not completely walking on his own yet, but he's so close!! He takes at least 3-4 steps on his own everyday, but then realizes he did and either makes himself fall or grabs on to the closest piece of furniture or human! : ) He saw the pediatrician a couple weeks back and they though he was doing great! We were so excited that he was 21 lbs! He jumped from the 3rd to the 20th percentile!!! (still wearing 9 month clothes, so got a ways to go!) She told us to keep it up though because he needs the weight in order to get the height! He also started his 1st round of immunizations, and although he had to get 3 shots in a row, he did a great job! Cried only after the 2nd one and once the cookie came out when he was done, the tears were gone!
Other than that, everything has been amazing with him. He still sleeps amazing, 11-12 hours a night and takes about a 2 hour nap every afternoon! (We are so lucky!) He is eating great, although we have noticed that there are definitely a few things we've tried that hasn't gone over to well. He loves CHEESE, fruit, bread, potatoes, pasta, and most veggies! (except carrots, spits them right out or throws them on the floor!) One big change we've both noticed is that he will STOP eating now when he's full. Even if there is still food left, he stops and just plays with it, or shakes his head back and forth to say no. He will sometimes say "daa.." (which we know now means "done!") This was such a big step for him. The first few weeks he was home he'd eat anything and everything you put in front of him, and wouldn't stop. It was like he didn't know when or if he was full! Maybe he needed so much more food in the beginning, and now that his body is gaining weight and growing he feels full? We think it's great since he just has so much FUN at meal time. He loves to eat, and play and just babble! So different from when he 1st came home.
The other big change is the bath! HE LOVES THE WATER NOW!!! It just sort of happened slowly, but his fear and the crying are all gone! He now giggles like crazy when he's bathing! He loves me running the water over his soapy feet from the faucet, and getting water poured over his head when we are rinsing, is his favorite. He just laughs and laughs. What a difference!! : )
I could go on and on but I will stop! Randy and I just feel like the luckiest parents in the world. It's amazing how much life changes and how different you look at things. Oh and I have to admit, I am LOVING being home! I am dreading going back to work already, but I keep thinking it's only for 3 weeks and then I'm off for the entire summer with him too! : )
I have posted some recent pictures too from Easter and from his Christening that we just had this past weekend! Will update again soon! Before he's 16 months old! Ha. Also, just wanted to say I'm thinking of all my blogging friends out there still waiting for a referral or court date. Ugh, the waiting. It's the worst. People told me when we were there, that it's all worth it in the end, and I tried to believe them, but I promise you. It. Is. All. Worth. It! Till next time!
Having fun with Auntie Michelle! : )
It is so strange to me that it was only SIX weeks ago that we brought Brayden home for good! Six weeks and I feel like he's been with us forever. He has changed so much in the short time he's been home & everyday we are just amazed with the strides he's making! He's so smart and he learns something new every day. He's very curious and determined, but he's also so silly and funny too. He has the best giggle in the whole world. His laugh is the best sound I think I've ever heard in my whole life. I love to see and hear how happy he is. It has made everything we went through to get him, all worthwhile. To be honest, it all doesn't even seem that bad now. You forget. I promise. You forget how difficult it all was, when you look into the face of your child and you see all that love and happiness. It is the best.
So, updates on Brayden, well as you will see from the pictures I am going to post he has gained weight at a pretty good rate. His doctors are very pleased! When he was home 2 weeks we had his appointment at the international adoption clinic at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. He met with two doctors and went through a battery of tests and screenings. It was a long day but he was a trooper. We were very excited to hear that he was on target for his fine motor skills, and advanced for his emotional and cognitive development! He was obviously delayed slightly for speech (10 months old) and gross motor (11 months) as he wasn't walking independently yet. However, there was no real concerns about these areas since he's starting to say some words and is cruising, so they feel he'll catch up in no time! The big concern, was his size. He was only 18 lbs and 28 inchs long. and was in the 3rd percentile for weight and 1st for height. (He had already gained one pound since Moscow.) The doctor recommended us starting him on Pediasure and told us to feed him lots of fats! (cheeses, oils, butter, ice cream..) They agreed to keep him on formula until we go back in 3 months to see how he's growing! The worst part of the day.. the blood work. : ( They needed to take 5 viles of blood from him to check his tiers for immunizations. (His record was completely wrong!) AND they did standardized testing to check for Hep, HIV, and parasites, etc. All came back normal!!
Since that appointment which was only a month ago, he has gained 3 lbs, grown almost an inch taller and is understanding and talking much more! He's still not completely walking on his own yet, but he's so close!! He takes at least 3-4 steps on his own everyday, but then realizes he did and either makes himself fall or grabs on to the closest piece of furniture or human! : ) He saw the pediatrician a couple weeks back and they though he was doing great! We were so excited that he was 21 lbs! He jumped from the 3rd to the 20th percentile!!! (still wearing 9 month clothes, so got a ways to go!) She told us to keep it up though because he needs the weight in order to get the height! He also started his 1st round of immunizations, and although he had to get 3 shots in a row, he did a great job! Cried only after the 2nd one and once the cookie came out when he was done, the tears were gone!
Other than that, everything has been amazing with him. He still sleeps amazing, 11-12 hours a night and takes about a 2 hour nap every afternoon! (We are so lucky!) He is eating great, although we have noticed that there are definitely a few things we've tried that hasn't gone over to well. He loves CHEESE, fruit, bread, potatoes, pasta, and most veggies! (except carrots, spits them right out or throws them on the floor!) One big change we've both noticed is that he will STOP eating now when he's full. Even if there is still food left, he stops and just plays with it, or shakes his head back and forth to say no. He will sometimes say "daa.." (which we know now means "done!") This was such a big step for him. The first few weeks he was home he'd eat anything and everything you put in front of him, and wouldn't stop. It was like he didn't know when or if he was full! Maybe he needed so much more food in the beginning, and now that his body is gaining weight and growing he feels full? We think it's great since he just has so much FUN at meal time. He loves to eat, and play and just babble! So different from when he 1st came home.
The other big change is the bath! HE LOVES THE WATER NOW!!! It just sort of happened slowly, but his fear and the crying are all gone! He now giggles like crazy when he's bathing! He loves me running the water over his soapy feet from the faucet, and getting water poured over his head when we are rinsing, is his favorite. He just laughs and laughs. What a difference!! : )
I could go on and on but I will stop! Randy and I just feel like the luckiest parents in the world. It's amazing how much life changes and how different you look at things. Oh and I have to admit, I am LOVING being home! I am dreading going back to work already, but I keep thinking it's only for 3 weeks and then I'm off for the entire summer with him too! : )
I have posted some recent pictures too from Easter and from his Christening that we just had this past weekend! Will update again soon! Before he's 16 months old! Ha. Also, just wanted to say I'm thinking of all my blogging friends out there still waiting for a referral or court date. Ugh, the waiting. It's the worst. People told me when we were there, that it's all worth it in the end, and I tried to believe them, but I promise you. It. Is. All. Worth. It! Till next time!
Happy Easter! Having a few puffs before brunch! : )
Such a beautiful boy! So glad to see him blossom into an happy guy! All the best for you -
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