Playtime!

Out for a walk with some new friends.

Guangzhou so far has been a great place for Kathleen and Kellin to be.  I always thought it was so weird to have all the adopting families have to complete the process.  But it is actually nice this way.  In Jinan, when Kathleen and Kellin were out and about they would get a lot of looks.  Since there are so many adopting families in Guangzhou they don't get those looks.  Even better, she has had the chance to visit with these other families.  Nothing is better for a person then to get to socialize with others that are in the same boat.  The playroom has been so great for Kellin.  It is great to see him exploring all the different toys and showing interest in so many things.

In the play room.

I feel like I have already written this next thing, but I looked back on my blog from before and didn't see it, so sorry if this is a repeat.  Kathleen has been working on getting to Kellin to not do some of his stims any more.  And he is hitting himself in the eye less.  The other one she is working on is he plays with his lips a lot, which in and of itself is not a big deal, but he tends to let a lot of saliva out when he does it so that it makes a big mess.  He is getting it a little bit, because with the hitting himself, he will do it once and then grin at Kathleen, so it has become a bit of a game.  A couple of the behaviors she is just letting be because they are harmless.  Things like just pressing on his eyes, and pulling down on his cheeks to open up his eyes more.

Kellin still loves to be sung to.  Kathleen is trying to teach him some games like pat-a-cake.  The other day she had him sitting on her lap and was singing "Row, row, row your boat" to him while pulling back and forth on his hands.  After she stopped, he pulled on her hands to get her to do it again.  Even more exciting, the next day, he initiated it again!  Putting a song to an experience definitely seems to get him to pay attention.  So much progress in such a small amount of time.

Great to see him exploring the world around him!

Here at home things are going pretty well.  Except for right now, having issues with Rabbit being Rabbit, even Grandma can't fix that.  It has been nice to have a second adult to rely on to help with the kids.  I was able to get partway caught up with schoolwork.  I got a project finished up.  I brought the dog to be bathed and nails done.  The one thing I regret that I didn't get done with this warm weather, I'm just realizing I still have not taken the Christmas lights off the house.  Oh well.

New week starting.  Hopefully we can all plow through it and Kathleen and Kellin will be home before we know it.