Three Years!

June 29 marked our three year anniversary with Silas!  In some ways it seems like it has been so much longer than three years, but it others it seems like we were just in China.  What a three years it has been!  God has lead us through deep valleys and high mountains and taught us to trust Him more.  Just look at my little man three years ago -

He was so tiny!  He only weighed around 20 lbs soaking wet and was almost 2.  He had no idea what hit him when these two crazy white people picked him up at his orphanage.  We had no idea what we were in for!  Silas has brought energy, stubbornness, laughter, tears, silliness and so many other things to our family.  We love him to pieces!

So many things have changed in Silas' three years with us.  He went from being non-verbal except for LOTS of crying and tantrums to being on level with his speech - YAY Silas!!  He went from having two deformed ears to having ears!  He went from having hearing loss in two ears to now only one ear!  He is so smart - knows all his ABC's and sounds, numbers, and he loves to sing and dance.  He is academically ready to start Kindergarten this fall, but we are keeping him at his wonderful school for hearing impaired kids.  He will do Kindergarten there and then our plan is next year to send him to public Kindergarten since he will not turn 5 until September.

Behavior/attachment wise we still have some ups and downs.  The ups last longer and the downs are not as traumatic as they have been.  Silas has a strong need for routine.  Weekends are often hard since they vary from day to day.  Even though we tell him what is happening, since it differs from the norm of M-F it makes him nervous which often equals acting out or just really annoying behaviors.  We have learned to deal with this and he is making progress.  Big things like birthdays, trips or something he is looking forward to also set off this behavior.  We know this now and can anticipate what will set him off to help him.

Silas is very much looking forward to being a big brother!  I know we will have transition time where we all adjust and it will be challenging for a while.  That is normal.  He does adore babies and little toddlers and is so gentle and loving with them.  He often talks about the baby and he thinks it is a girl.  I think he would love having a little brother though!

Silas is currently in swim lessons and is becoming quite a little fish.  We just returned from vacation and he loved swimming all day and playing in the ocean.  In the fall we are planning on signing him up for T-ball.  He is a lefty and has an awesome arm for a 4 year old!  It will be so cute so see him playing a sport!

Silas - we all love you unconditionally.  You keep life exciting and I can't imagine our family without our Little Man.  You have taught Mommy so much about everything.  I thank God that he brought you to our family.  I thank God that I saw your little picture on a website one day and everything changed.  You continue to amaze me with your spunk and zeal for life.  I cannot wait to see what God has planned for you!