More About Willem

Well, I said Nanjing next, but just have to get a few things down about Willem.

So this is our 3rd day with Willem.  He's amazing.  Wait I think I may have said that before. 

First I have to talk about a mama's worries of her child.  The day we got Willem was Monday.  He didn't make a sound.  He whimpered a bit but didn't even cry really.  He was just very, very sad looking.  Broke this mama's heart.  

We brought him back to the hotel and played and as I said we got smiles and even a giggle.  But not a sound, except maybe a humming sound.  That night I went to sleep thinking of him, of course.  And I woke up in the middle of the night and all of a sudden was so worried cuz I hadn't heard him say a word. Not really even a sound, just the humming.  Maybe this was an exaggerated worry an unrealistic middle of the night worry that a parent might have? But it just hit me - what if he's deaf! Like I said it was the middle of the night.  But I laid awake there for the rest of the night worried sick, that what if he can't hear.  I knew he was my son, but it just really hit me. So in the morning I did some testing to see if he could hear, and of course he could.  But he still didn't talk.  So when we went in for the formal adoption, I had the guide ask them if he could talk at all.  They said, "Oh, yes, he can talk.  He will say many words and says up to maybe 3 word sentences." So that made me feel better and then when the people from the orphanage were leaving, Willem was watching from the window pointing at them and said a full sentence, or I'm assuming it was.  I couldn't understand anything except the first word - Baba. They told me that in his area they don't speak Mandarin or Cantonese, but a local dialect. Anyway that made me feel much better. 

Now, he is still not talking alot, but is for sure talking and we have even heard him say a few English things he's picked up on.  He has a 'Big Bird' book that he loves and he brought the book to me today and told me 'Big Bird'.  And then he was doing something with Meikiina and she said 'Woa' and he repeated it after her.

Yesterday when he woke up from his nap, again he was so sad looking and lip quivering. I picked him up and he started crying.  He doesn't cry loud, but has the softest most heart breaking cry.  He cried and grieved for about 20 minutes just clinging to me. And of course I was crying along with him a bit.  Just so sad.  You could tell he was so missing someone.  Then he was ok and back to his smiley self.  When I put him to bed last night and again this afternoon nap, you can tell he is thinking and is so sad.  Waahh...  Makes me cry for what I'm doing. I know it will be better, but it's all he's known.

During the day today I think we are seeing the true little boy he is.  He loves to throw things and gets this little grin on his face and a gleam in his eye right before he does it.  Also, as I've said, he loves to draw.  Well, he draws on the paper and then looks up at me and gives that little grin and puts the pen on his hand, with the look on his face, of look at me, I'm gonna draw on my hand. :)  He's going after everything!  He's reaching for everything, pushing every button he can find, opening every drawer to see what he can throw out, and all with a grin on his face.

I know he was given lots of attention.  He has been read to and knows what a book is and likes to turn the pages himself.  Makes the book real easy to read. :)  He has had his body and his feet lotioned. He wants me to put lotion on his hands (both hands thank you very much!) and then he rubs it on his legs and his feet.  He's very chunky so I know he's had lots to eat, but just like his paperwork said, he loves to share his food with his mama.  And he's so proud when he does. He is a super cuddle bug.  He just cuddles right into me when I'm holding him before naps or night or just anytime I pick him up for a hug.  I feel very fortunate because I know there are other children from this orphanage that have not received the attention that I'm sure he has.

I started this post this morning and am now adding in the evening.  We went down to the mall for a treat for Meikiina and we were standing watching the fountain display.  Above the display there's a huge TV screen. Of course that caught Willem's eye and he pointed to it and said something.  I told him that's a TV. He repeated it after me many times.  It's interesting because the words he's now saying sound like they are coming from a 'rusty pipe'. I don't know how to describe it, but it was the same with Brynlee.  It was like they didn't use their voice so they don't know how to make the sounds.  I don't know.  But he is for sure starting to mimic words.  He also loves the water and says 'water' when he sees it.

Here's a bunch of pictures I took today.

 So sad when I wake up. :(

The handsome dude!

 I just threw my sister's pizza across the table, my cookie across the table, my napkin across the table, dropped my water cup on the floor and now you're telling me I can't have your glass plate!

One of my favorite things to do - flush the toilet 50 times in a row.