The people that got us through

Six months ago today we walked into Baby Home #2 in Khabarovsk, Russia a childless couple. Six months ago today we walked out parents.

Has it been 6 months already? We have had Pickle longer than we waited between trips. Everyone said that after 6 months we would see a definite difference in his behavior. This is somewhat true. He wakes up a different child everyday. He can speak better, he gets more sounds, he knows more letters, he can climb, run, jump and manipulate like a pro. He is on the verge of speaking in full sentences. It is amazing.

He no longer hits and only rarely will throw something directly at us. He still screams, but it isn't for prolonged periods. He no longer perseverates on things. He is learning to ask for help. He is starting to eat solid meat. He loves music, cars and truck, things that go round and round and the outdoors. Pickle has gone from a shy little boy to one who loves to make friends. He is learning to share and does so with abandon.

While he likes to make new friends he still is cautious of strangers. Especially men. He shows the correct amount of concern when he is left with someone. I wouldn't say he is 100% attached, but he is doing well.

Our only hangup is still rocking. 6 months later he still rocks. If I look at his rocking when we first got him compared to now I would say it has improved greatly. It is no longer a distressed freak out. It is now him simply soothing himself. Some nights he rocks for almost an hour. Some nights it is only 10 minutes. Wake up rocking is getting better too. He may only rock for 10 minutes before he calls for us. The simple fact that he calls for us is amazing! That is something he didn't do just a month ago. He has cried in his bed once. That was the most wonderful sound we had ever heard. He had a tummy ache and didn't want to go down for a nap.

I can honestly say that even though we've had our ups and downs parenthood is the best thing that has ever happened to us.